Press Report

Press Report

Last Friday the Cabinet of Ministers adopted the Memorandum for the European Union and the European Commission confirming Latvia's commitment to eliminating the flaws mentioned in the report by the Commission. Among the steps to be taken the Memorandum mentions the strengthening of the country's Eastern border, the accomplishment of the privatization program, the improvement of the efficiency of the banking system, etc. The document does not contain obligations related to acceding European conventions on minorities. The Cabinet adopted the paragraph on naturalization in the reading suggested by

Last Friday the Cabinet of Ministers adopted the Memorandum for the European Union and the European Commission confirming Latvia's commitment to eliminating the flaws mentioned in the report by the Commission. Among the steps to be taken the Memorandum mentions the strengthening of the country's Eastern border, the accomplishment of the privatization program, the improvement of the efficiency of the banking system, etc. The document does not contain obligations related to acceding European conventions on minorities. The Cabinet adopted the paragraph on naturalization in the reading suggested by "Tevzemei un Brivibai"/LNNK. Measures to be taken by Latvia, according to the memorandum, will include a thorough analysis of the reasons of slow naturalization (instead of facilitating the process, as suggested by the draft document). Other points of the document include analyzing employment restrictions for non-citizens (instead of canceling the restrictions) and reducing the naturalization fee for certain social groups (but not for all applicants). Latvia will attach a program for implementing the points of the Memorandum to the document. A Government committee will consider the program next week. Diena, B&B

Mr. Egils Levits, a judge at the Human Rights Court, in an interview for

Mr. Egils Levits, a judge at the Human Rights Court, in an interview for "FOKUSS" said that Latvia's inhabitants had not applied to the Court yet since the corresponding convention came into force in Latvia only in June. An individual can apply to the Human Rights Court after he or she applied to the courts of all instances in his/her country. The convention is not retroactive, therefore the Court accepts complaints related to the facts that took place after the date on which the convention came into force in Latvia. Fokuss

Press Report

Press Report

Yesterday President Ulmanis opened the working meeting of the heads of the Latvian diplomatic missions on Latvia's integration into the European Union. The President spoke in support of establishing the Institute of Latvia and launching the "Latvia as a Future EU Member" program. Mr. Ulmanis stressed that the UN and other international organizations stopped their criticism of Latvia in connection with human rights violations. That, according to the President, was a major achievement of the Latvian diplomacy. Still, the international community was not informed sufficiently well about the real situation of minorities, admitted the President. He noted that sometimes Latvia was still accused of failing to resolve minority problems.

Yesterday President Ulmanis opened the working meeting of the heads of the Latvian diplomatic missions on Latvia's integration into the European Union. The President spoke in support of establishing the Institute of Latvia and launching the "Latvia as a Future EU Member" program. Mr. Ulmanis stressed that the UN and other international organizations stopped their criticism of Latvia in connection with human rights violations. That, according to the President, was a major achievement of the Latvian diplomacy. Still, the international community was not informed sufficiently well about the real situation of minorities, admitted the President. He noted that sometimes Latvia was still accused of failing to resolve minority problems. "Tevzemei un Brivibai"/LNNK supported President Ulmanis' suggestion to focus on informing the international community of the peculiar situation in Latvia and suggested to publish "The White Book of Latvia" describing the condition of ethnic Latvians during the occupation and showing the cause of a large inflow of immigrants to the country. Diena, B&B

"Tevzemei un Brivibai"/LNNK

are expected to suggest their own draft version of the Memorandum on the European Commission document on Latvia. The draft is a compromise decision suggesting to analyze thoroughly the reasons of slow naturalization instead of simply trying to facilitate the process. Other points of the draft include analyzing employment restrictions for non-citizens (instead of canceling the restrictions) and reducing the naturalization fee for certain social groups (but not for all applicants). are expected to suggest their own draft version of the Memorandum on the European Commission document on Latvia. The draft is a compromise decision suggesting to analyze thoroughly the reasons of slow naturalization instead of simply trying to facilitate the process. Other points of the draft include analyzing employment restrictions for non-citizens (instead of canceling the restrictions) and reducing the naturalization fee for certain social groups (but not for all applicants). DienaDiena

"PANORAMA LATVII"

quoted Co-chairman of the Latvian Human Rights Committee Mr. Buzayev who criticized the OSCE Mission and its member Falk Lange for not taking adequate steps after being informed about A.Tsimbalyuk's case. The article also points at a slow reaction of the Russian Embassy to Tsimbalyuk's problem. Mr. Tsimbalyuk, a retired Russian officer, was given an expulsion order by the CID. The decision was supported by the Supreme Court. The Russian Embassy is said to prepare a diplomatic note on the case while its Social Department will contact Latvian Plenipotentiary for the implementation of the Agreement on Demobilized Servicemen Mr. Ikvilds. PL quoted Co-chairman of the Latvian Human Rights Committee Mr. Buzayev who criticized the OSCE Mission and its member Falk Lange for not taking adequate steps after being informed about A.Tsimbalyuk's case. The article also points at a slow reaction of the Russian Embassy to Tsimbalyuk's problem. Mr. Tsimbalyuk, a retired Russian officer, was given an expulsion order by the CID. The decision was supported by the Supreme Court. The Russian Embassy is said to prepare a diplomatic note on the case while its Social Department will contact Latvian Plenipotentiary for the implementation of the Agreement on Demobilized Servicemen Mr. Ikvilds. PL

Press Report

Press Report

Yesterday the Council of the Governing factions decided not to adopt the Memorandum on the conclusion by the European Commission before Friday. Several points of the draft Memorandum caused objections on the part of

Yesterday the Council of the Governing factions decided not to adopt the Memorandum on the conclusion by the European Commission before Friday. Several points of the draft Memorandum caused objections on the part of "Tevzemei un Brivibai"/LNNK. "TB"/LNNK would not agree to the point suggesting to discuss a program for encouraging non-citizens to undergo naturalization. The final decision on the issue will be made public by "TB"/LNNK today. The Latvian Government believes simultaneous talks with all potential EU members to be the only acceptable political decision. Diena

On August 19 Russian consular departments in Latvia started issuing multi-entry permissions valid for one year to holders of new Latvian alien passports. Applicants for permission stamps should submit a photo and a passport to a consular department. The permissions are issued within three working days and cost Ls.5. Residents of Latvia can also enter Russia holding former USSR passports (no visas are required), former USSR travel passports (valid for leaving Latvia until 31 December 1997 and for entering Latvia until 31 July 1998, return guarantees are required), non-citizens' "brown" identification documents (entrance permits are required) and citizens' passports (visas are required). Moscow authorities will not require registration of "compatriots from the near abroad" including Latvian non-citizens.

On August 19 Russian consular departments in Latvia started issuing multi-entry permissions valid for one year to holders of new Latvian alien passports. Applicants for permission stamps should submit a photo and a passport to a consular department. The permissions are issued within three working days and cost Ls.5. Residents of Latvia can also enter Russia holding former USSR passports (no visas are required), former USSR travel passports (valid for leaving Latvia until 31 December 1997 and for entering Latvia until 31 July 1998, return guarantees are required), non-citizens' "brown" identification documents (entrance permits are required) and citizens' passports (visas are required). Moscow authorities will not require registration of "compatriots from the near abroad" including Latvian non-citizens. B&B

Press Report

Press Report

The Cabinet of Ministers has postponed the adoption of the Memorandum for the European Commission and will launch a discussion on certain requirements to be fulfilled by Latvia to join the EU. According to

The Cabinet of Ministers has postponed the adoption of the Memorandum for the European Commission and will launch a discussion on certain requirements to be fulfilled by Latvia to join the EU. According to "BIZNES & BALTIYA", the requirements are mainly related to non-citizen and minority problems. Yesterday the Government started the examination of the draft Memorandum to be submitted to the European Commission and to all EU countries. The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expects the document to change the decision by the European Commission taken in July this year that did not include Latvia in the group of countries to participate in the talks on their admission to the EU. State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maris Riekstins told "BIZNES & BALTIYA" that the discussion will focus on naturalization and on the possibility of acceding to several European Conventions including the Convention on Regional and Minority Languages. "BIZNES & BALTIYA" suggests that the discussion mentioned by Mr. Riekstins will be an attempt to persuade "Tevzemei un Brivibai" to give up its standpoints on naturalization and minorities. The newly adopted agreement between the governing factions allows to amend the Citizenship Law and the Law on the Status of Former USSR Citizens solely on the basis of a consensus.

"DIENA"

in its report on the progress of naturalization processes in Rezekne highly praised the efforts of the head of the regional Naturalization Board office Mrs. Rita Zommere. Mrs. Zommere organized special consultations on naturalization issues for the staff of local companies. in its report on the progress of naturalization processes in Rezekne highly praised the efforts of the head of the regional Naturalization Board office Mrs. Rita Zommere. Mrs. Zommere organized special consultations on naturalization issues for the staff of local companies. "REBIR""REBIR", the largest factory in the area, even agreed to cover a half of the naturalization fee to be paid by its employees. The area covered by the Rezekne office includes the city of Rezekne and the Rezekne, Ludza and Preili Regions with total population of 179,039. The number of non-citizens in the area is 18,014. Rezekne Mayor Janis June supports the idea of granting Latvian citizenship to all children born in Latvia. He considers the opportunity of providing financial aid to school graduates willing to undergo naturalization but finding it hard to pay the fee. Currently, there are four Russian language and two Latvian language schools in Rezekne. , the largest factory in the area, even agreed to cover a half of the naturalization fee to be paid by its employees. The area covered by the Rezekne office includes the city of Rezekne and the Rezekne, Ludza and Preili Regions with total population of 179,039. The number of non-citizens in the area is 18,014. Rezekne Mayor Janis June supports the idea of granting Latvian citizenship to all children born in Latvia. He considers the opportunity of providing financial aid to school graduates willing to undergo naturalization but finding it hard to pay the fee. Currently, there are four Russian language and two Latvian language schools in Rezekne. DienaDiena The Senate of the Latvian Supreme Court supported the verdict by the Riga Regional Court on the expulsion of military pensioner Anatoly Tsimbalyuk. Mr. Tsimbalyuk was demobilized in 1983 and worked as a stoker in an army unit. Although he had the right to receive the status of a permanent inhabitant, he took a residence permit by mistake. After his wife died, he lived in Lutsk (Ukraine) for a short time, then canceled his

The Senate of the Latvian Supreme Court supported the verdict by the Riga Regional Court on the expulsion of military pensioner Anatoly Tsimbalyuk. Mr. Tsimbalyuk was demobilized in 1983 and worked as a stoker in an army unit. Although he had the right to receive the status of a permanent inhabitant, he took a residence permit by mistake. After his wife died, he lived in Lutsk (Ukraine) for a short time, then canceled his "propiska" there, returned to Latvia and married a permanent resident. Having lost his passport, Mr. Tsimbalyuk applied for a new one to his local CID office. Head of the office refused to issue the passport and advised Tsimbalyuk to take Russian citizenship. He did so, and the CID issued him with an expulsion order after his temporary residence permit expired. The final verdict is "expulsion to Ukraine" although Mr. Tsimbalyuk is a Russian citizen now. The Court has not recognized his marriage to a resident of Latvia, the marriage being concluded at the Russian Embassy. The author of the article (Natalya Lebedeva) criticizes OSCE Mission member Falk Lange for being indifferent toward the case that was submitted to the Mission by members of the Latvian Human Rights Committee.

Press Report

Press Report

The agenda of the extraordinary session of the

The agenda of the extraordinary session of the Saeima scheduled for 28 August will include the election of the President of the Bank of Latvia. Deputy-Head of the "Saimnieks" faction Ernests Jurkans said that "Saimnieks" was likely to support Mr. Repse's candidature. Previously, "Saimnieks" leaders suggested that other candidates could be nominated for the post. Major Saeima factions support Mr. Einars Repse, currently the President of the Bank of Latvia. Diena

"BIZNES & BALTIYA"

while analyzing the naturalization process points out that young non-citizens tend to be indifferent toward naturalization. Middle-aged and elderly people are more active. They either have the right for extraordinary naturalization, are former Lithuanian or Estonian citizens, or are spouses of Latvian citizens. Mandatory conscription accounts for the unwillingness to take citizenship common among the young. Other reasons include the possibility to travel easily to Russia and free university education in Russia for Russian citizens (a citizenship inset is issued by the Russian Embassy for a Ls 3 fee). Head of the Naturalization Board Mrs. Eizenija Aldermane does not believe naturalization tests to be too complicated. Still, she agrees that elderly applicants should be exempt from a written summary of a text. According to Mrs. Aldermane, the number of applicants has increased this summer. She expects a further increase this year and says that the major raise of the naturalization rate should be expected in one year when persons thirty to forty years of age will have the right to apply for citizenship. She stressed that underage children of naturalized non-citizens were granted citizenship automatically. while analyzing the naturalization process points out that young non-citizens tend to be indifferent toward naturalization. Middle-aged and elderly people are more active. They either have the right for extraordinary naturalization, are former Lithuanian or Estonian citizens, or are spouses of Latvian citizens. Mandatory conscription accounts for the unwillingness to take citizenship common among the young. Other reasons include the possibility to travel easily to Russia and free university education in Russia for Russian citizens (a citizenship inset is issued by the Russian Embassy for a Ls 3 fee). Head of the Naturalization Board Mrs. Eizenija Aldermane does not believe naturalization tests to be too complicated. Still, she agrees that elderly applicants should be exempt from a written summary of a text. According to Mrs. Aldermane, the number of applicants has increased this summer. She expects a further increase this year and says that the major raise of the naturalization rate should be expected in one year when persons thirty to forty years of age will have the right to apply for citizenship. She stressed that underage children of naturalized non-citizens were granted citizenship automatically.