Press Report

Yesterday the Third International Conference on Ombudsman and Human Rights Institutions was opened in Riga. President Ulmanis in his opening speech marked the contribution made by the UNDP to the forming of democratic society in Latvia and positively evaluated the activities of the State Human Rights Office. The President had a meeting with UN Deputy-Secretary General Rafiudin Ahmed who is participating in the Conference. The agenda of the meeting included UNDP assistance to Latvia in implementing the Latvian language training program and accomplishing social reforms. Mr. Ahmed also met Saeima Speaker Cepanis. The Deputy-Secretary General said that he was satisfied with Latvia's achievements in forming a harmonious multi-national society and offered UN expert assistance to

Yesterday the Third International Conference on Ombudsman and Human Rights Institutions was opened in Riga. President Ulmanis in his opening speech marked the contribution made by the UNDP to the forming of democratic society in Latvia and positively evaluated the activities of the State Human Rights Office. The President had a meeting with UN Deputy-Secretary General Rafiudin Ahmed who is participating in the Conference. The agenda of the meeting included UNDP assistance to Latvia in implementing the Latvian language training program and accomplishing social reforms. Mr. Ahmed also met Saeima Speaker Cepanis. The Deputy-Secretary General said that he was satisfied with Latvia's achievements in forming a harmonious multi-national society and offered UN expert assistance to Saeima Committees in drafting of relevant legal acts. Representative of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights Brian Burdekin also stressed the role of the State Human Rights Office and laid a special emphasis on its educating and conflict preventing role. Diena, Neatkariga

Chairman of the Riga City Council Andris Berzins told the press yesterday that the Monument to the Liberators of Riga will not be dismantled although its restoration might demand restructuring of the city budget. According to

Chairman of the Riga City Council Andris Berzins told the press yesterday that the Monument to the Liberators of Riga will not be dismantled although its restoration might demand restructuring of the city budget. According to "BIZNES I BALTIYA", the police discovered the bodies of two persons killed during the explosion at the Monument to the Liberators of Riga last Friday. The paper refers to unofficial sources that claim both persons to belong to a paramilitary "Aizsargi" ("The Guards") organization. According to the same sources, the organization has contacts with the pro-"Tevzemei un Brivibai" wing of the LNNK. The investigation if the incident is supervised by the State Bureau for Protection of the Satversme. B&B, SM

The Russian Embassy to Latvia informed the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Evgeny Primakov would not take part in the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of eleven Baltic Council states. Russia will be represented by Mr. Primakov's deputy Mr. Alexander Avdeyev. According to the Russian Embassy, Minister of Foreign Affairs Primakov will visit Hong-Kong on June 2-3, the time when the Ministers' meeting will be held in Riga.

The Russian Embassy to Latvia informed the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Evgeny Primakov would not take part in the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of eleven Baltic Council states. Russia will be represented by Mr. Primakov's deputy Mr. Alexander Avdeyev. According to the Russian Embassy, Minister of Foreign Affairs Primakov will visit Hong-Kong on June 2-3, the time when the Ministers' meeting will be held in Riga. B&B

Saeima

deputy Dozortsev believes that the President's recommendation to reduce the naturalization fee has slowed down the naturalization process. Many applicants now are waiting for a Ls 3 fee suggested by the President to be introduced in the nearest future. Mr. Dozortsev referred to Head of the Naturalization Board Aldermane who said that the process of naturalization virtually halted. deputy Dozortsev believes that the President's recommendation to reduce the naturalization fee has slowed down the naturalization process. Many applicants now are waiting for a Ls 3 fee suggested by the President to be introduced in the nearest future. Mr. Dozortsev referred to Head of the Naturalization Board Aldermane who said that the process of naturalization virtually halted. SM SM Boris Tsilevich in an article for

Boris Tsilevich in an article for "SM" points at the prompt appointment of Human Rights Office Director, the ratification of the European Human Rights Convention and the President's recommendations on simplifying naturalization terms. He believes that these steps can be explained by the upcoming parliamentary vacations that will give the Cabinet and the Prime-Minister an opportunity to adopt legal acts independently in accordance with Article 81 of the Satversme. "Tevzemei un Brivibai" is more interested in retaining its seats in the Cabinet than in blocking the decisions taken by its coalition partners. None of "Latvijas Cels" and "Saimnieks" members voted against the new draft Language law. B.Tsilevich believes that the main purpose of the Law is creating new sources of income for Government officials since the draft Law requires translation of all documents submitted to the state institutions into Latvian. SM

Press Report

Director of the Human Rights Bureau Olafs Bruvers in an interview for

Director of the Human Rights Bureau Olafs Bruvers in an interview for "NEATKARIGA" singled out two categories of human rights problems encountered in Latvia. Resolving one group of problems would require financing. Those include social benefits for elderly people or improving living conditions in prisons. Still, resolving some of the problems would not require any financing. The rights of individuals are often violated by bureaucrats. Mr. Bruvers believes that officials should be educated and taught to treat each individual with respect. Mr. Bruvers named non-implementation of court decrees the most important problem he had to deal with as a State Minister of Human Rights. Neatkariga

Head of the Naturalization Board Eizenija Aldermane in a TV talk-show explained the low pace of naturalization by frequent changes of "political accents". She believes that many potential applicants expect the law to be "softened". She admitted that people over thirty years of age dominated among applicants for naturalization. Mrs. Aldermane stressed the importance of a program aimed at supporting the forming of civic society in Latvia. The program is supported by the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, the State Human Rights Office, the CID, the OSCE Mission to Latvia and the Soros Foundation. Mrs. Aldermane believes that naturalization tests are not too complicated; the history test has been simplified while text-books to be used by applicants are widely available.

Head of the Naturalization Board Eizenija Aldermane in a TV talk-show explained the low pace of naturalization by frequent changes of "political accents". She believes that many potential applicants expect the law to be "softened". She admitted that people over thirty years of age dominated among applicants for naturalization. Mrs. Aldermane stressed the importance of a program aimed at supporting the forming of civic society in Latvia. The program is supported by the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, the State Human Rights Office, the CID, the OSCE Mission to Latvia and the Soros Foundation. Mrs. Aldermane believes that naturalization tests are not too complicated; the history test has been simplified while text-books to be used by applicants are widely available. SM

Press Report

Press Report

Last Friday at 00:50 a.m. the Monument to the Liberators of Riga was heavily damaged by an explosion. The police found remnants of an unidentified person near the monument the next morning. A special group of detectives has been formed to investigate the terrorist act. Russian Ambassador Udaltsov characterized the incident as a "political action". Spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Gennady Tarasov in a statement circulated by the Russian Embassy to Latvia stressed that Latvia's reaction to the provocation will allow to assess the country's interest toward improving its relations with Russia. State Secretary of the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maris Riekstins told

Last Friday at 00:50 a.m. the Monument to the Liberators of Riga was heavily damaged by an explosion. The police found remnants of an unidentified person near the monument the next morning. A special group of detectives has been formed to investigate the terrorist act. Russian Ambassador Udaltsov characterized the incident as a "political action". Spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Gennady Tarasov in a statement circulated by the Russian Embassy to Latvia stressed that Latvia's reaction to the provocation will allow to assess the country's interest toward improving its relations with Russia. State Secretary of the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maris Riekstins told "DIENA" that he would request the Russian side not to make hasty conclusions that might influence the relations between the two countries. Executive Director of the Riga City Council Andris Grinbergs told the press that experts should decide whether the monument is still can be restored or it should be dismantled. Diena, SM, B&B

State

State Duma Vice-Speaker Baburin told the press that the Russian Parliament would demand the introduction of economic sanction to Latvia should the Saeima adopt the new Language Law in its current reading. SM

The Prosecutor General's Office did not find President Ulmanis guilty of violating the Anti-Corruption Law. The investigation showed that Mr. Ulmanis

The Prosecutor General's Office did not find President Ulmanis guilty of violating the Anti-Corruption Law. The investigation showed that Mr. Ulmanis de facto was not on the boards of two private companies and a memorial foundation. According to "NEATKARIGA", the President is not likely to sue "DIENA" for groundless accusations. Several "Latvijas Cels", "Saimnieks" and "Tevzemei un Brivibai" politicians suggest amending the Law to allow Government officials to retain their posts in private companies. Diena, Neatkariga

Press Report

President Ulmanis might have formally violated the

President Ulmanis might have formally violated the Satversme by retaining posts in two companies. Article 38 of the Satversme does not allow the President to hold any other positions. According to the Register of Enterprises, Mr. Ulmanis still heads two companies, thus violating the Anti-Corruption Law and the Satversme. The President says that he resigned from the posts in 1993 while the companies have not informed the Register of Enterprises in due time. One of the companies ceased to exist in 1994. Diena

The Saeima supported Talavs Jundzis' candidature for the post of Minister of Defense. The post was held by

The Saeima supported Talavs Jundzis' candidature for the post of Minister of Defense. The post was held by LNNK member Krastins who was accused of "ignoring the state interests" and dismissed by the Prime-Minister. Mr. Jundzis held the post of Minister of Defense in 1991-93. Later he founded the Baltic Strategic Center and studied military and strategic issues abroad. Talavs Jundzis is a member the Christian People's party. Neatkariga

Yesterday the

Yesterday the Saeima adopted the concept of the new Language Law. The draft Law is more strict as compared to the Language Law currently in force. According to the new Law, state and self-government institutions will accept applications and document only in the Latvian language. Should a document be in a language other than Latvian, it should be accompanied by a notarized translation. Names of companies founded in Latvia should be spelt according to Latvian language rules. State-financed non-Latvian schools are to use Latvian as the language of instruction for at least half of the subjects while the Latvian language is to become the only language of instruction after 2005. The new Law, if adopted, is to come into force this autumn. SM Head of the Latvian Delegation to the Council of the Baltic States Janis Ritenis at a press-conference said that the Council focused a large part of its attention on human rights issues. The working group on human rights headed by Mr. Ole Espersen provides recommendations to the countries of the Council. Russia raised the issue of human rights in Estonia and Latvia during last meeting of the Council. SM

A report on a recent visit of OSCE Mission members to Liepaja published by

A report on a recent visit of OSCE Mission members to Liepaja published by "SM" points at a frequent arbitrary interpretation of the Law by local CID officers. According to Russian Council to Liepaja Ruslan Bakalo, serious problems are often faced by former Russian citizens who have renounce their citizenship. Several complaints are connected with delays in the issuing of new alien passports. Director of the local CID office explained that the data on applicants often needed additional checking due to a large number of individuals illegally residing in Liepaja. Thirty-seven non-citizens applied to the local office of the Naturalization Board for naturalization. SM

Press Report

Yesterday President Ulmanis suggested amending regulations on naturalization to encourage potential applicants for naturalization. A letter by the President to the Prime-Minister says that "the time has come to change the attitude of the State to its inhabitants willing to prove their loyalty to the State and to become its citizens." The President suggests reducing the naturalization fee to three Lats (currently Ls 30) and to exempt day department students from paying the tax. The suggestions include canceling the provision that allows applicants who failed during a naturalization test to take the test only six months after the failure. The Prime-Minister's Advisor Jurgis Liepnieks told

Yesterday President Ulmanis suggested amending regulations on naturalization to encourage potential applicants for naturalization. A letter by the President to the Prime-Minister says that "the time has come to change the attitude of the State to its inhabitants willing to prove their loyalty to the State and to become its citizens." The President suggests reducing the naturalization fee to three Lats (currently Ls 30) and to exempt day department students from paying the tax. The suggestions include canceling the provision that allows applicants who failed during a naturalization test to take the test only six months after the failure. The Prime-Minister's Advisor Jurgis Liepnieks told "BIZNES I BALTIYA" that the Office of the Prime-Minister is studying the President's proposals. According to Mr. Liepnieks, Prime-Minister Skele supports amending the regulations on naturalization. Diena, SM

Yesterday the

Yesterday the Saeima ratified the European Human Rights Convention. All inhabitants of Latvia now can apply to the European Human Rights Committee and to the Human Rights Court in Strasbourg. SM