Sept. 2, 1997
Press Review
Prime-Minister Guntars Krasts appointed Mr. Ritums Rozenbergs his Press-Secretary. Mr. Rozenbergs is a professional journalist and has worked for several Latvian newspapers and for the National Radio and TV. Former Minister of Public Health Juris Vinkelis was appointed Head of the Prime Minister's Bureau. The Premier's team will be completed by the middle of September.Prime-Minister Guntars Krasts appointed Mr. Ritums Rozenbergs his Press-Secretary. Mr. Rozenbergs is a professional journalist and has worked for several Latvian newspapers and for the National Radio and TV. Former Minister of Public Health Juris Vinkelis was appointed Head of the Prime Minister's Bureau. The Premier's team will be completed by the middle of September. Diena
Minister of Education and Science Juris Celmins in an interview forMinister of Education and Science Juris Celmins in an interview for Diena stressed that the reform of the country's education system should be implemented on a step-by-step basis. He pointed at the importance of a legislative basis for the reform. The Ministry of Education has drafted the new General Law on Education, the Law on the Elementary Education and the Law on Vocational Education. The Minister did not mention the issue of minority schools and the status of the Russian language in schools under the new Law.
An Australian Latvian (J.A.Ziedars) in an article forAn Australian Latvian (J.A.Ziedars) in an article for Diena argues with Nils Muiznieks who suggested to pay closer attention to the process of naturalization. The author believes the Citizenship Law to be democratic and compares naturalization rate in Latvia to that in Australia. He points at the fact that the Latvian Citizenship Law allows a much higher naturalization rate than the Australian legislation. The author suggests that imposing citizenship on ethnic Russians would be a violation of their human rights since many Russians in Latvia feel a strong affinity with Russia and are still to decide whether they will take the side of Latvia in case of a conflict. The author of the article believes that the citizenship issue is exaggerated by EU politicians. He suggests that the OSCE, the EU and Russia should contribute to naturalizing non-citizens in Latvia. Russia should declare that it has no objections to naturalization. It should ratify the border agreement with Latvia and officially confirm Latvia's sovereignty. Among other measures to be taken by Russia the author also mentions the establishment of a non-visa regime for Latvian citizens. Russia and the international community should provide financial support to Latvian language study programs for non-citizens. Diena
Aug. 29, 1997
Press Report
European Parliament Deputy Ernesto Cacavale is currently visiting Latvia. The aim of the visit is collecting information for a report to the European Parliament. The EP is to adopt its recommendation on Latvia's compliance with the EU requirements during its Plenary Session in December. An EP delegation is expected to visit Latvia in November. Mr. Cacavale is studying the political situation in the country, political and human rights situation, economic problems, etc. During his yesterday's meeting withEuropean Parliament Deputy Ernesto Cacavale is currently visiting Latvia. The aim of the visit is collecting information for a report to the European Parliament. The EP is to adopt its recommendation on Latvia's compliance with the EU requirements during its Plenary Session in December. An EP delegation is expected to visit Latvia in November. Mr. Cacavale is studying the political situation in the country, political and human rights situation, economic problems, etc. During his yesterday's meeting with Saeima deputies, the European Parliament Deputy discussed naturalization, implementation of laws and criminal situation in the country. Prime-Minister Krasts said that he would actively monitor the process of Latvia's integration to Europe. Diena
Boris Tsilevich in an article published byBoris Tsilevich in an article published by "SM" suggests that the governing parties are tending to act as a single party in their policy with a primary goal to retain the control over the country. "Latvijas Cels" and "Saimnieks" would like "Tevzemei un Brivibai"/LNNK to bear responsibility for naturalization and citizenship issues. "TB" will have to agree to a certain compromise, thus losing votes in the next elections. B.Tsilevich points at the awkwardness of the final version of the Memorandum for the European Commission. The document names the analysis of naturalization processes and the assessment of employment restrictions for non-citizens among the country's priority tasks. Still, both issues have been already studied and analyzed by governmental organizations and NGOs (naturalization) and by the State Human Rights Office (employment restrictions).
TheThe Saeima re-elected Mr. Einars Repse President of the Bank of Latvia for another five-year term. He was supported by sixty-two Saeima deputies with twenty voting against him. Diena, Neatkariga
Aug. 28, 1997
Press Report
Last Tuesday the Latvian Government accepted the activity plan for integration in the European Union. The Bureau for Integration in Europe will work out the final version of the document and submit it to the State Chancellery. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in its turn, will submit the document to the European Commission. The plan provides for strengthening Latvia's Eastern borders, the country's involvement in EU programs, the reform of the institution of bailiffs, the establishment of a refugee center, etc. The document also lists several steps to be taken in the economic domain. Still, a paragraph on ratifying the Universal Convention on Protection of National Minorities by December 1997 and a paragraph providing for applying the Law on Amnesty to non-citizens were removed from the plan.Last Tuesday the Latvian Government accepted the activity plan for integration in the European Union. The Bureau for Integration in Europe will work out the final version of the document and submit it to the State Chancellery. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in its turn, will submit the document to the European Commission. The plan provides for strengthening Latvia's Eastern borders, the country's involvement in EU programs, the reform of the institution of bailiffs, the establishment of a refugee center, etc. The document also lists several steps to be taken in the economic domain. Still, a paragraph on ratifying the Universal Convention on Protection of National Minorities by December 1997 and a paragraph providing for applying the Law on Amnesty to non-citizens were removed from the plan. Diena
TheThe Saeima Juridical Committee supports lifting a ban on running in the elections currently applied to individuals who were members (after January 13, 1993) of the Communist Party and other political organizations acting against Latvia's independence. The ban will remain in force for former KGB (and other foreign secret service) officers. B&B
A spokesman for the Russian Embassy to Latvia at a meeting at the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that the Jelgava city authorities dismantled the Monument to the Liberators of Jelgava without informing the Russian side thus violating the agreement between the two countries. The Monument was in a very bad condition and threatened the safety of Jelgava's inhabitants. The city authorities plan to erect a stone with an inscription in memory of the liberators or a much smaller copy of the dismantled monument.A spokesman for the Russian Embassy to Latvia at a meeting at the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that the Jelgava city authorities dismantled the Monument to the Liberators of Jelgava without informing the Russian side thus violating the agreement between the two countries. The Monument was in a very bad condition and threatened the safety of Jelgava's inhabitants. The city authorities plan to erect a stone with an inscription in memory of the liberators or a much smaller copy of the dismantled monument. Chas, SM
Aug. 27, 1997
Press Report
Director of the Institute of International Relations Juris Bojars believes that the right to receive citizenship through naturalization should have been provided first to ethnic Latvians repatriating from Russia, and then to ethnic Estonians, Lithuanians and Poles residing in Latvia. The next stage should have covered ethnic Russians who could have been divided into groups depending on the number of years spent in Latvia. In an interview forDirector of the Institute of International Relations Juris Bojars believes that the right to receive citizenship through naturalization should have been provided first to ethnic Latvians repatriating from Russia, and then to ethnic Estonians, Lithuanians and Poles residing in Latvia. The next stage should have covered ethnic Russians who could have been divided into groups depending on the number of years spent in Latvia. In an interview for "DIENA" Mr. Bojars did not agree that the Convention on the Child's Rights require granting of citizenship to children of stateless residents of Latvia. He also noted that the study of international practice showed that many countries had a considerably stricter citizenship legislation than Latvia. Diena
Director of the Estonian Citizenship and Immigration Department Andres Kollist in an interview forDirector of the Estonian Citizenship and Immigration Department Andres Kollist in an interview for BNS said that public opinion in his country tended to accept granting of Estonian citizenship to non-citizens' children. Mr. Kollist noted that OSCE High Commissioner van der Stoel supported a simplified procedure of naturalization of children born in Estonia. SM
According to the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Ulmanis may have meetings with Russian Premier Chernomyrdin and Byelorussian President Lukashenko during an international conference in Vilnius on September 5. The agenda of Mr. Ulmanis' meeting with the Russian Prime-Minister will focus mainly on economic issues and on the work of the Inter-Governmental Commission.According to the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Ulmanis may have meetings with Russian Premier Chernomyrdin and Byelorussian President Lukashenko during an international conference in Vilnius on September 5. The agenda of Mr. Ulmanis' meeting with the Russian Prime-Minister will focus mainly on economic issues and on the work of the Inter-Governmental Commission. Chas
Aug. 26, 1997
Press Report
The Russian Embassy will issue entry visas free of charge to World War II veterans, first and second category invalids and persons over seventy years of age. The unemployed and pensioners with a monthly income lower than Ls 50 are given a 50% discount. The fee to be paid by applicants for entry visas to Russia is Ls. 5.The Russian Embassy will issue entry visas free of charge to World War II veterans, first and second category invalids and persons over seventy years of age. The unemployed and pensioners with a monthly income lower than Ls 50 are given a 50% discount. The fee to be paid by applicants for entry visas to Russia is Ls. 5. B&B
Minister of Foreign Affairs Valdis Birkavs in an interview forMinister of Foreign Affairs Valdis Birkavs in an interview for "The Washington Post" said that Latvia was ready to co-operate with Russia and to establish "pragmatic" relations with the country. Mr. Birkavs criticized Russia's attempts to force Latvia "to change the Citizenship Law" and stressed that the problem of citizenship was an internal affair of the Republic of Latvia. SM