Press Report

People's Party and Fartherland and Freedom/LNNK during the yesterday's meeting agreed that the concept of Integration Program needs several changes to be entered thus it cannot be passed by the government on October 19 as planned earlier. TB/LNNK ministers submitted 34 objections regarding the concept suggesting to stress the Soviet occupation and colonization as the main cause of integration problems. Both parties agreed not to support the suggestion to consider the centralized secondary school exam as the naturalization test. Both parties will not agree to the president's suggestion to allow a foreign language along with Latvian to be placed in public signs and information.

People's Party and Fartherland and Freedom/LNNK during the yesterday's meeting agreed that the concept of Integration Program needs several changes to be entered thus it cannot be passed by the government on October 19 as planned earlier. TB/LNNK ministers submitted 34 objections regarding the concept suggesting to stress the Soviet occupation and colonization as the main cause of integration problems. Both parties agreed not to support the suggestion to consider the centralized secondary school exam as the naturalization test. Both parties will not agree to the president's suggestion to allow a foreign language along with Latvian to be placed in public signs and information. Diena, Panorama Latvii

Diena runs a longer article about the results of naturalization after abolishing the age window system. During the 11 months since abolishing the age restructions almost as many people have applied for naturalization (13,031) as during the four years since naturalization was started in 1995.

Diena runs a longer article about the results of naturalization after abolishing the age window system. During the 11 months since abolishing the age restructions almost as many people have applied for naturalization (13,031) as during the four years since naturalization was started in 1995.

The idea of making public the KGB files suggested by the People's Party and FF/LNNK has not been supported by other parliament factions yet. However, Latvia's Prosecutor General Janis Skrastins expressed very strong support for this move and suggested that along with that restrictions for former KGB collaborators to be elected should be abolished. The president advised to have a public discussion about the desired result of the move.

The idea of making public the KGB files suggested by the People's Party and FF/LNNK has not been supported by other parliament factions yet. However, Latvia's Prosecutor General Janis Skrastins expressed very strong support for this move and suggested that along with that restrictions for former KGB collaborators to be elected should be abolished. The president advised to have a public discussion about the desired result of the move. Diena, Neatkariga

Latvia has been nominated by the European Commission among the six second group countries to join the EU accession negotiations. European Commission has supported the strategy allowing for the more successful applicants to move forward faster than other countries.

Latvia has been nominated by the European Commission among the six second group countries to join the EU accession negotiations. European Commission has supported the strategy allowing for the more successful applicants to move forward faster than other countries. Diena, Neatkariga, Chas,

The association of Latvia's Jews in the US is ready to grant the support for Latvia's commission of historians for the research of the facts of history connected with Holocaust .

The association of Latvia's Jews in the US is ready to grant the support for Latvia's commission of historians for the research of the facts of history connected with Holocaust .

Press Report

Referendum on Pension Law amendments will take place November 13. The decision was made by a majority vote of the Central Election Commission yesterday. 822,750 lats were allotted for financing of the referendum. Representatives of the ruling factions supported the above date as they want to have clarity in the issue as soon as possible before passing the next year’s budget. Diena, Neatkariga

Referendum on Pension Law amendments will take place November 13. The decision was made by a majority vote of the Central Election Commission yesterday. 822,750 lats were allotted for financing of the referendum. Representatives of the ruling factions supported the above date as they want to have clarity in the issue as soon as possible before passing the next years budget. Diena, Neatkariga

During the yesterday’s meeting People’s Party and Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK agreed on issues, like starting the work on draft law providing for making public the information on people who co-operated with KGB. Also, both parties have assigned their government ministers to deal with the draft concept of Society Integration in Latvia. Both parties agreed to cooperate in the issues related to the Language Law and naturalization exams. Neatkariga, Diena, Russian Diena

During the yesterdays meeting Peoples Party and Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK agreed on issues, like starting the work on draft law providing for making public the information on people who co-operated with KGB. Also, both parties have assigned their government ministers to deal with the draft concept of Society Integration in Latvia. Both parties agreed to cooperate in the issues related to the Language Law and naturalization exams. Neatkariga, Diena, Russian Diena

An official of the European Commission told the Diena reporter in Brussels that the report of European Commission on the progress of EU candidate countries to be released on Wednesday is most likely to directly advise the member countries to invite four countries - Latvia, Malta, Lithuania and Slovakia - to the accession negotiations. Latvian Foreign Minister Indulis Berzins after meeting the EU enlargement commissioner yesterday told Diena that his optimism about the possibility for Latvia to get invited to accession negotiations has grown.

An official of the European Commission told the Diena reporter in Brussels that the report of European Commission on the progress of EU candidate countries to be released on Wednesday is most likely to directly advise the member countries to invite four countries - Latvia, Malta, Lithuania and Slovakia - to the accession negotiations. Latvian Foreign Minister Indulis Berzins after meeting the EU enlargement commissioner yesterday told Diena that his optimism about the possibility for Latvia to get invited to accession negotiations has grown.

Press Report

Preliminary results of the signature collecting campaign show that referendum on Pension Law amendments will be held as more than one tenth of the voters have signed. Preliminary figures are 183,231 (184,569 in

Preliminary results of the signature collecting campaign show that referendum on Pension Law amendments will be held as more than one tenth of the voters have signed. Preliminary figures are 183,231 (184,569 in Neatkariga) or 13.7% of the voters. Official data will be released October 11. Referendum should take place in November or December. Diena, other national dailies

Neatkariga

runs an article about the goals and results of the Latvian Language Training Program and the study about the attitude of Russian school students, their parents and teachers toward Latvia and Latvian language. runs an article about the goals and results of the Latvian Language Training Program and the study about the attitude of Russian school students, their parents and teachers toward Latvia and Latvian language. Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga believes that Latvia has made its effort to improve the relations between Latvia and Russia. The reasons for periodical pressure coming from Russia both in economics and politics should be looked for in Russia itself. She made the statement during her visit in Ventspils.

Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga believes that Latvia has made its effort to improve the relations between Latvia and Russia. The reasons for periodical pressure coming from Russia both in economics and politics should be looked for in Russia itself. She made the statement during her visit in Ventspils. Neatkariga

The former students of the liquidated Riga Aviation University, now students of Riga Technical University are having almost all lectures in Russian which is a violation of the Language Law. Chancellor of the University has promised that lectures will be conducted in Latvian in near future.

The former students of the liquidated Riga Aviation University, now students of Riga Technical University are having almost all lectures in Russian which is a violation of the Language Law. Chancellor of the University has promised that lectures will be conducted in Latvian in near future. Neatkariga

Saeima's Commission for Social and Labor Affairs yesterday did not support submitting of the new Pension Law amendments to the Saeima as the opposition wanted to find out additional information about them as well as to see the results of signature collecting campaign.

Saeima's Commission for Social and Labor Affairs yesterday did not support submitting of the new Pension Law amendments to the Saeima as the opposition wanted to find out additional information about them as well as to see the results of signature collecting campaign. Diena

Latvian government postponed for two weeks considering of the issue of whether to allow the Latvian language exam taken by graduates in non-Latvian schools to be counted for naturalization test.

Latvian government postponed for two weeks considering of the issue of whether to allow the Latvian language exam taken by graduates in non-Latvian schools to be counted for naturalization test. BB

Press Report

The activity of voters during the last days of collecting signatures in support of starting the referendum on Pension Law amendments will decide whether the referendum will be held. People were queuing on Monday in several polling stations in Riga. Public opinion survey states that roughly 40% of citizens would vote against amendments and 11% would vote for keeping them.

The activity of voters during the last days of collecting signatures in support of starting the referendum on Pension Law amendments will decide whether the referendum will be held. People were queuing on Monday in several polling stations in Riga. Public opinion survey states that roughly 40% of citizens would vote against amendments and 11% would vote for keeping them. Diena, Neatkariga

Board of Citizenship and Migration Matters a new concept of the person's place of residence but due to financial reasons is not submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers. Under the concept the residents are supposed to declare their permanent place of residence , the Board will administrate the process to ensure entering of precise data, municipalities are to take responsibility for persons who cannot or do not declare.

Neatkariga Yesterday during the meeting of Estonian and Lithuanian presidents in Tallinn they stated that the Baltic Countries should maintain mutual solidarity. Lennart Meri noted that competition between the Baltic Countries concerning the rights to join NATO and the EU could seriously damage relations between Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

Yesterday during the meeting of Estonian and Lithuanian presidents in Tallinn they stated that the Baltic Countries should maintain mutual solidarity. Lennart Meri noted that competition between the Baltic Countries concerning the rights to join NATO and the EU could seriously damage relations between Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Neatkariga

Delegation of the Polish Seim on Monday visited the Board of Naturalization. After data provided by the Board the activity of Poles in getting Latvian citizenship is higher than among other ethnic groups. Insufficient knowledge of Latvian language was mentioned as the most serious obstacle. The Polish representatives suggested that the language could be taught in Polish schools.

Delegation of the Polish Seim on Monday visited the Board of Naturalization. After data provided by the Board the activity of Poles in getting Latvian citizenship is higher than among other ethnic groups. Insufficient knowledge of Latvian language was mentioned as the most serious obstacle. The Polish representatives suggested that the language could be taught in Polish schools. Diena

After the information provided by the Latvian Committee for Human Rights more than three thousand visitors turned for help there. Every tenth application was connected with potential extradiction from Latvia, 1685 complaints concerning accomodationproblems. 95% of the visitors were from Riga.

After the information provided by the Latvian Committee for Human Rights more than three thousand visitors turned for help there. Every tenth application was connected with potential extradiction from Latvia, 1685 complaints concerning accomodationproblems. 95% of the visitors were from Riga. Vesti Segodna

Press Report

Saeima’s interfaction working group yesterday agreed on new amendments to the Pension Law to be submitted to the Saeima on September 30. The new amendments provide for a slower increase in pension age and the rights for all working pensioners to get pensions up to 60 lats.

Saeimas interfaction working group yesterday agreed on new amendments to the Pension Law to be submitted to the Saeima on September 30. The new amendments provide for a slower increase in pension age and the rights for all working pensioners to get pensions up to 60 lats. Neatkariga, Diena, Lauku Avize

In response to the results of the study released by Eurostat about the low living level in Latvia Latvian politicians and experts say that there are many poor people in Latvia, especially in Latgale but on the other hand - Latvia is a dynamically developing country and it was not correct to use data of 1996. Foreign Ministry has expressed incomprehension with the practise of using old statistics as Latvia regularly delivers the latest statistics to the EU.

In response to the results of the study released by Eurostat about the low living level in Latvia Latvian politicians and experts say that there are many poor people in Latvia, especially in Latgale but on the other hand - Latvia is a dynamically developing country and it was not correct to use data of 1996. Foreign Ministry has expressed incomprehension with the practise of using old statistics as Latvia regularly delivers the latest statistics to the EU. Neatkariga

The report

The report Russia and the Baltics developed by Russias Foreign and Defence Policy Council and presented by a member of the council Igor Yurgen yesterday in Riga does not forecast a considerable improvement of the relations between Russia and Latvia while there is a possibility for active cooperation in economics. Yurgen commented that Russian diplomacy would be satisfied to see neutral Baltic countries integrated in the EU but a soon NATO integration would be considered by Russia as a growing threat of war. Diena, Neatkariga

Vesti Segodna runs an inteview with Igor Yurgen.

Vesti Segodna runs an inteview with Igor Yurgen.

Vesti Segodna

comments on the discussion supported by the Latvian Foreign Ministry concerning the usefulness of having the commissioner of CBSS for ethnic minorities. Also, the newspaper has asked the opinions of several MPs on this issue. Antons Seiksts from Latvias Way thinks that the initiatives started by Mr. Ole Espersen often duplicate those raised by the OSCE High Commissioner and that the OSCE mandate is more clear. comments on the discussion supported by the Latvian Foreign Ministry concerning the usefulness of having the commissioner of CBSS for ethnic minorities. Also, the newspaper has asked the opinions of several MPs on this issue. Antons Seiksts from Latvia’s Way thinks that the initiatives started by Mr. Ole Espersen often duplicate those raised by the OSCE High Commissioner and that the OSCE mandate is more clear. Participants of the seminar on developing the model of cultural autonomy of ethnic minorities in Latvia think that respective regulations on ethnic autonomy should be drafted as this is the only way how to prove other nations living in Latvia that the goal of society integration is not assimilation. Diena

Participants of the seminar on developing the model of cultural autonomy of ethnic minorities in Latvia think that respective regulations on ethnic autonomy should be drafted as this is the only way how to prove other nations living in Latvia that the goal of society integration is not assimilation. Diena

Diena

runs an article on the current results of bi-lingual instruction started in non-Latvian schools. Director of the Latvian Language Training State Program Aija Priedite thinks that the shift to the above system will be slow, gradual and difficult as teachers are not prepared and there is a lack of teaching aids. runs an article on the current results of bi-lingual instruction started in non-Latvian schools. Director of the Latvian Language Training State Program Aija Priedite thinks that the shift to the above system will be slow, gradual and difficult as teachers are not prepared and there is a lack of teaching aids.