Press Report

Today Prime-Minister Skele will hand in the resignation of the government. On Friday leaders of the government-forming parties declared that they did not see any possibility to continue working in a government headed by Mr. Skele, and they would quit it. According to Valdis Birkavs, it was a mistake to have a person without party affiliation in the Prime-Minister’s office. Ziedonis Cevers, leader of

Today Prime-Minister Skele will hand in the resignation of the government. On Friday leaders of the government-forming parties declared that they did not see any possibility to continue working in a government headed by Mr. Skele, and they would quit it. According to Valdis Birkavs, it was a mistake to have a person without party affiliation in the Prime-Ministers office. Ziedonis Cevers, leader of Democratic Party Saimnieks, assured journalists that a new government would be headed by a Prime-Minister having a party affiliation. Valdis Birkavs, Anatolijs Gorbunovs, Andrejs Pantelejevs (all Latvijas Cels), Ziedonis Cevers (Saimnieks), Guntars Krasts (Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK) were named as possible candidates for the Prime-Ministers office. Juris Dobelis, Deputy Chair of Tevzemei un Briviba/LNNK, informed DIENA that a new government might look similar to the present government, since parties tended to keep the present ministers. It is also possible that the resigned ministers return to the office. Diena, B&B

Vladymir Shustov, Russian Special Affairs Envoy, who took part in an international conference on Democracy and Security in the Baltics organized by NGO “Peace Quest“, told journalists that Russia did not support the Baltic willingness to join the NATO. He also noted that Russia would not like Latvia pay its membership in the NATO with Russia’s transit money. With referring to the Russian-speaking population, Mr. Shustov admitted that they should learn Latvian as quickly as possible. Still, he stressed that Latvian authorities should help people with that.

Vladymir Shustov, Russian Special Affairs Envoy, who took part in an international conference on Democracy and Security in the Baltics organized by NGO Peace Quest, told journalists that Russia did not support the Baltic willingness to join the NATO. He also noted that Russia would not like Latvia pay its membership in the NATO with Russias transit money. With referring to the Russian-speaking population, Mr. Shustov admitted that they should learn Latvian as quickly as possible. Still, he stressed that Latvian authorities should help people with that. Panorama Latvii

The Citizenship and Immigration Department informs that 13% of citizens still have not exchanged the USSR passports for Latvian passports. As was informed earlier, the former USSR internal passports carried by Latvian citizens would not be recognized as valid by Latvian authorities starting November 1. The CID also informed that by 24 July a little more than 17,000 non-citizens had received non-citizen passports. Most of them live in Riga and Daugavpils.

The Citizenship and Immigration Department informs that 13% of citizens still have not exchanged the USSR passports for Latvian passports. As was informed earlier, the former USSR internal passports carried by Latvian citizens would not be recognized as valid by Latvian authorities starting November 1. The CID also informed that by 24 July a little more than 17,000 non-citizens had received non-citizen passports. Most of them live in Riga and Daugavpils. Neatkariga

Press Report

Andris Stars, State Secretary of Ministry of Interior, informed that those officials at Ministry of Interior who did not know Latvian would be gradually dismissed. The “cleansing” would start with the ministry’s leadership.

Andris Stars, State Secretary of Ministry of Interior, informed that those officials at Ministry of Interior who did not know Latvian would be gradually dismissed. The cleansing would start with the ministrys leadership. Neatkariga

Press Report

Press Report

All the government-forming parties, except the Christian Democratic Union, agree with Mr. Birkavs’ criticism of the plan to save the government. At the same time, Prime-Minister Skele expresses incomprehension of Mr. Birkavs’ statements, since Mr. Birkavs himself had proposed some ideas that subsequently were incorporated into the plan. According to Mr. Skele, it will be very difficult to continue working with Mr. Birkavs in the same government. Although the Prime-Minister stresses that he will not resign, he mentions the vote of non-confidence in the Saeima as a “normal” possibility.

All the government-forming parties, except the Christian Democratic Union, agree with Mr. Birkavs criticism of the plan to save the government. At the same time, Prime-Minister Skele expresses incomprehension of Mr. Birkavs statements, since Mr. Birkavs himself had proposed some ideas that subsequently were incorporated into the plan. According to Mr. Skele, it will be very difficult to continue working with Mr. Birkavs in the same government. Although the Prime-Minister stresses that he will not resign, he mentions the vote of non-confidence in the Saeima as a normal possibility. Diena, Neatkariga

As was mentioned earlier this week, the Prime-Minister suggested that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs within 10 days should present a plan which by December would improve the work of foreign affairs departments and the Latvian diplomatic corps. Valdis Birkavs, Minister of Foreign Affairs, thinks that the Prime-Minister has wrongly stressed the need for improvements only in the work of the MFA. According to Mr. Birkavs, the improvement of other ministries’ work is more urgent, since the European Commission resolution has particularly stressed the shortcomings in legal, internal and economic spheres. The MFA has already distributed the European Commission resolution to all ministries with the request to submit evaluations by July 23. It is planned to review those reports at the meeting of the European Integration Council on July 28.

As was mentioned earlier this week, the Prime-Minister suggested that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs within 10 days should present a plan which by December would improve the work of foreign affairs departments and the Latvian diplomatic corps. Valdis Birkavs, Minister of Foreign Affairs, thinks that the Prime-Minister has wrongly stressed the need for improvements only in the work of the MFA. According to Mr. Birkavs, the improvement of other ministries work is more urgent, since the European Commission resolution has particularly stressed the shortcomings in legal, internal and economic spheres. The MFA has already distributed the European Commission resolution to all ministries with the request to submit evaluations by July 23. It is planned to review those reports at the meeting of the European Integration Council on July 28. Diena

SM informs that in response to the statements of Alexander Perelygyn, Advisor to the Mayor of Moscow, on the impossibility to have good-neighbour relations between Riga and Moscow while Latvia has not solved the problems of the Russian speaking population, Andris Berzins, Mayor of Riga, said that all accusations apply to the work of the previous City Council. Besides, Mr. Berzins thinks that it is absurd to relate the ethnic situation to the co-operation between two cities. SM

SM informs that in response to the statements of Alexander Perelygyn, Advisor to the Mayor of Moscow, on the impossibility to have good-neighbour relations between Riga and Moscow while Latvia has not solved the problems of the Russian speaking population, Andris Berzins, Mayor of Riga, said that all accusations apply to the work of the previous City Council. Besides, Mr. Berzins thinks that it is absurd to relate the ethnic situation to the co-operation between two cities. SM

Press Report

Press Report

Valdis Birkavs, Chair of “

Valdis Birkavs, Chair of Latvijas Cels, criticizes the plan proposed by Prime-Minister Andris Skele, according to which fractions should submit candidates for the vacant ministerial offices for the Prime-Ministers approval by August 4. Otherwise, the Prime-Minister himself would name the candidates. According to Birkavs, the Prime-Minister does not understand what parliamentary democracy means. He also expresses doubts that this plan could actually solve the governmental crisis. Ziedonis Cevers, Chair of Democratic Party Saimnieks, expresses incomprehension about the Prime-Ministers readiness to accept the resigned ministers as new candidates. Latvian Farmers Union has decided to start consultations with other parties, having in mind a possibility to form a government with a politically responsible Prime-Minister. Diena

DIENA (in Latvian) informs that the Cabinet has decided to work out a draft for amendments in Naturalization regulations that would incorporate the following principles: to lower the naturalization fees for students of state and technical schools, and for persons of limited means, as well as to lessen the period between the first and repeated exams.

DIENA (in Latvian) informs that the Cabinet has decided to work out a draft for amendments in Naturalization regulations that would incorporate the following principles: to lower the naturalization fees for students of state and technical schools, and for persons of limited means, as well as to lessen the period between the first and repeated exams.

Sixty draftees intensively study Latvian in the draftee-camp Licupe. A three week course of the Latvian language for draftees in the Latvian Army was worked out by specialists of the UNDP State Language Program and was sponsored by the UN. Almost all draftees who are taking this course come from Daugavpils, Preili, Ludza and Riga where the majority of the population speak Russian. As one of the teachers, Uldis Svinks, told “DIENA”, although it is impossible to learn Latvian within 21 days, the draftees will acquire the basics of spoken language as well as military terminology in Latvian. Mr. Svinks also stressed that the draftees have a positive attitude toward this course.

Sixty draftees intensively study Latvian in the draftee-camp Licupe. A three week course of the Latvian language for draftees in the Latvian Army was worked out by specialists of the UNDP State Language Program and was sponsored by the UN. Almost all draftees who are taking this course come from Daugavpils, Preili, Ludza and Riga where the majority of the population speak Russian. As one of the teachers, Uldis Svinks, told DIENA, although it is impossible to learn Latvian within 21 days, the draftees will acquire the basics of spoken language as well as military terminology in Latvian. Mr. Svinks also stressed that the draftees have a positive attitude toward this course.

TAVA BALSS, a local newspaper of Valka District, writes about the visit of OSCE Mission to Latvia representatives Mr. Falk Lange and Mr. Martin Jensen to Valka on Wednesday, July 16. The representatives have noted that the situation in Valka and Valga was more complicated than on the Latvian-Lithuanian border. The conclusion was that this situation had not only created inconveniences for inhabitants of Valka and Valga, but also had made obstacles for Valka’s development.

TAVA BALSS, a local newspaper of Valka District, writes about the visit of OSCE Mission to Latvia representatives Mr. Falk Lange and Mr. Martin Jensen to Valka on Wednesday, July 16. The representatives have noted that the situation in Valka and Valga was more complicated than on the Latvian-Lithuanian border. The conclusion was that this situation had not only created inconveniences for inhabitants of Valka and Valga, but also had made obstacles for Valkas development. Tava Balss

Press Report 

Press Report

Yesterday Prime-Minister Skele met with leaders of the factions constituting the Government to discuss the solution to the governmental crisis. According to the plan proposed by Mr. Skele, factions should submit candidates for the vacant ministerial offices for the Prime-Minister’s approval by August 4. The Prime-Minister also proposed to convene the Saeima on August 6 to give new ministers a vote of confidence. The Prime-Minister noted that at the meeting none of the leaders mentioned the resignation of the Cabinet. With regard to the resolution of the European Commission on new candidates to the EU, the Prime-Minister suggested that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Foreign Affairs Commission in the Saeima within 10 days present a plan which by December would improve the work of foreign affairs departments and the Latvian diplomatic corps. The Minister for European Affairs should present a plan how to speed up Latvia’s preparation for integration into the EU. President Ulmanis thinks that the Government under the leadership of Mr. Skele should continue its work until the next elections of the Saeima.

Yesterday Prime-Minister Skele met with leaders of the factions constituting the Government to discuss the solution to the governmental crisis. According to the plan proposed by Mr. Skele, factions should submit candidates for the vacant ministerial offices for the Prime-Ministers approval by August 4. The Prime-Minister also proposed to convene the Saeima on August 6 to give new ministers a vote of confidence. The Prime-Minister noted that at the meeting none of the leaders mentioned the resignation of the Cabinet. With regard to the resolution of the European Commission on new candidates to the EU, the Prime-Minister suggested that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Foreign Affairs Commission in the Saeima within 10 days present a plan which by December would improve the work of foreign affairs departments and the Latvian diplomatic corps. The Minister for European Affairs should present a plan how to speed up Latvias preparation for integration into the EU. President Ulmanis thinks that the Government under the leadership of Mr. Skele should continue its work until the next elections of the Saeima. Diena

“SM” has published an interview with Janis Jaudzems, Advisor to the Director of the Citizenship and Immigration Department. He commented on the dismissal of Ms. Ermansone, Director of the CID of the Ziemelu District in Riga. The CID received many complaints not only from non-citizens but also from citizens about Ms. Ermansone’s activities. As an example Mr. Jaudzems mentioned a case when a woman was forced to renounce her Latvian citizenship that, in Ms. Ermansone’s opinion, was acquired in an illegal way. He also noted that Ms. Ermansone had been rude to visitors and had taken fees for issuing documents that were supposed to be free of charge. Referring to amendments in laws on citizens and non-citizens in Latvia, Mr. Jaudzems told that the CID had prepared amendments to three laws: on Entry and Stay of Foreigners, on Status of Former USSR Citizens, and on Citizenship. The amendment that stated that a person who at the moment of departure from Latvia had received financial help from Latvia or any other country cannot return to Latvia for permanent residency, was passed by the Saeima. Other proposals, such as the amendment that would allow to prolong the stay of elderly relatives from other countries, and the amendment that would simplify the system of “naturalization windows”, were put on hold. The CID had also proposed to eliminate the provision of mandatory permanent

SM has published an interview with Janis Jaudzems, Advisor to the Director of the Citizenship and Immigration Department. He commented on the dismissal of Ms. Ermansone, Director of the CID of the Ziemelu District in Riga. The CID received many complaints not only from non-citizens but also from citizens about Ms. Ermansones activities. As an example Mr. Jaudzems mentioned a case when a woman was forced to renounce her Latvian citizenship that, in Ms. Ermansones opinion, was acquired in an illegal way. He also noted that Ms. Ermansone had been rude to visitors and had taken fees for issuing documents that were supposed to be free of charge. Referring to amendments in laws on citizens and non-citizens in Latvia, Mr. Jaudzems told that the CID had prepared amendments to three laws: on Entry and Stay of Foreigners, on Status of Former USSR Citizens, and on Citizenship. The amendment that stated that a person who at the moment of departure from Latvia had received financial help from Latvia or any other country cannot return to Latvia for permanent residency, was passed by the Saeima. Other proposals, such as the amendment that would allow to prolong the stay of elderly relatives from other countries, and the amendment that would simplify the system of naturalization windows, were put on hold. The CID had also proposed to eliminate the provision of mandatory permanent propiska from the Law on Non-Citizens. According to Jaudzems, this could be possible after all inhabitants would have either citizen or non-citizen passports, and former USSR passports would be out of circulation. SM