Press Report

Yesterday President Ulmanis demanded recalling a heading in a

Yesterday President Ulmanis demanded recalling a heading in a "DIENA" article on violations of the Anti-Corruption Law. The article entitled "Ulmanis Has Also Violated the Anti-Corruption Law" was published by the Latvian version of "DIENA" on June 2 claims the President to be on the boards of two limited liability companies and the Karlis Ulmanis Memorial Foundation after the Law came into force. According to the President's representatives, Mr. Ulmanis has not been working as a member of the boards since his election. Mr. Ulmanis says that he may sue "DIENA" should the newspaper refuse to recall the heading. The comment in today's (June 4) "DIENA" says that the heading will not be recalled and suggests that a court examination would help in finding a proper interpretation of the Anti-Corruption Law.

Press Report

Yesterday President Ulmanis in an interview for the National Radio objected to amending the Law on the

Yesterday President Ulmanis in an interview for the National Radio objected to amending the Law on the Saeima Elections. The President criticized the amendments for "banning new parties from the Parliament." The first reading of the draft amendments has been adopted by the Saeima and bans political parties formed later than three years before the election day from participating in the Saeima elections. Diena

Yesterday State Human Rights Office Director Olafs Bruvers and his Deputy Kaija Gertnere held a meeting with President Ulmanis. The President said that he expected the Office to work out recommendations on naturalization and general integration of Latvia's society. Mr. Bruvers noted that the Human Rights Office had not received any complaints related to naturalization. The agenda of the meeting included a discussion of the immediate tasks of the Office. Those are protection of the rights of the most vulnerable social groups (children, the disabled, the poor). Mr. Bruvers told the President that he did not see any human rights problems in Latvia that would not allow the country to enter the European Union. Still, he pointed at the necessity of abolishing employment restrictions for non-citizens that contradict the freedom of a free choice of vocation supported by international human rights instruments. Mr. Bruvers also stressed the importance of abolishing death penalty for bringing the Latvian legislation into compliance with the European Human Rights Convention Protocol.

Yesterday State Human Rights Office Director Olafs Bruvers and his Deputy Kaija Gertnere held a meeting with President Ulmanis. The President said that he expected the Office to work out recommendations on naturalization and general integration of Latvia's society. Mr. Bruvers noted that the Human Rights Office had not received any complaints related to naturalization. The agenda of the meeting included a discussion of the immediate tasks of the Office. Those are protection of the rights of the most vulnerable social groups (children, the disabled, the poor). Mr. Bruvers told the President that he did not see any human rights problems in Latvia that would not allow the country to enter the European Union. Still, he pointed at the necessity of abolishing employment restrictions for non-citizens that contradict the freedom of a free choice of vocation supported by international human rights instruments. Mr. Bruvers also stressed the importance of abolishing death penalty for bringing the Latvian legislation into compliance with the European Human Rights Convention Protocol. Diena, Neatkariga

Andrejs Krastins, former Minister of Defense and a co-founder of National Party for Reforms, told

Andrejs Krastins, former Minister of Defense and a co-founder of National Party for Reforms, told "SM" that the new party would support market economy reforms and would occupy a niche between "Latvijas Cels" and "Tevzemei un Brivibai" in Latvia's political spectrum. The party recognizes the right of non-citizens for naturalization and participation in the country's economic life.

Press Report

Yesterday the

Yesterday the Saeima voted in support of amending the Law on Saeima Elections. The amendments require that parties running for seats in the Saeima should have existed for at least three years while coalitions should win at least 7% of votes. The amendments were supported by "Tevzemei un Brivibai", "Latvijas Cels" and "Saimnieks". 32 deputies voted against the amendments and three deputies abstained. Diena

President Ulmanis circulated an open letter in response to such a letter by Daugavpils Mayor Vidavsky. The President's letter points at special attention lately paid to Latgale and Daugavpils by the President and the Government. Mr. Ulmanis hopes that he will visits Daugavpils in the nearest future to discuss the development of Latgale, and the issues of non-citizens, education and the teaching of the state language. The letter also mentions the low pace of the naturalization process.

President Ulmanis circulated an open letter in response to such a letter by Daugavpils Mayor Vidavsky. The President's letter points at special attention lately paid to Latgale and Daugavpils by the President and the Government. Mr. Ulmanis hopes that he will visits Daugavpils in the nearest future to discuss the development of Latgale, and the issues of non-citizens, education and the teaching of the state language. The letter also mentions the low pace of the naturalization process. Diena, SM

Press Report

Press Report

Yesterday the

Yesterday the Saeima elected former State Minister for Human Rights Olafs Bruveris ("Saimnieks") Director of the State Human Rights Office. 58 deputies voted for the candidate while 18 voted against Bruveris and 5 abstained. Mr. Bruveris' candidature was opposed by "Tevzemei un Brivibai". Its representative Juris Vidins questioned Mr. Bruveris' past pointing at a mild punishment for his dissident activities in Soviet times. He also criticized Mr. Bruveris for being biased and focusing only on the rights of non-citizens. Mr. Cevers ("Saimnieks") called Vidins' remarks "an evidence a moral crisis in the country." In a brief interview for "SM" Mr. Bruveris said that he saw bringing Latvia's human rights legislation into compliance with European norms as his basic task. SM, Diena

Russian Ambassador Udaltsov has been holding meetings with

Russian Ambassador Udaltsov has been holding meetings with Saeima faction representatives and independent deputies. The Ambassador had meetings with "Saimnieks", "Latvijas Cels", "People's Harmony", the Socialists, "The Equal Rights", "Tevzemei un Brivibai" and "Latvijai". The Ambassador told "SM" that there were notable differences in the approach of different political parties to the issue of Russian-speakers. Mr. Udaltsov believes that repatriation of Russian-speakers suggested by "Tevzemei un Brivibai" would be a violation of human rights. He said that he had a constructive discussion with "Latvijai" representatives. The faction suggested an amendment to the Citizenship Law that would allow granting Latvian citizenship to all Latvian language school and university graduates. The governing coalition declined the amendment. The Russian Ambassador said that most of the deputies showed a constructive approach to existing problems allowing "to consider future perspectives with moderate optimism." SM

Yesterday the

Yesterday the Saeima adopted the first reading of draft amendments to the Satversme extending the term of the Saeima power for one year (four years instead of current three years). Neatkariga

Press Report

Press Report

The Presidents of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine signed a joint declaration in Tallinn yesterday. The document stresses the importance of NATO openness to all countries willing to join the bloc ant the right of all nations to choose the ways of maintaining their security. The agenda of the Tallinn Summit also included economic and political issues.

The Presidents of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine signed a joint declaration in Tallinn yesterday. The document stresses the importance of NATO openness to all countries willing to join the bloc ant the right of all nations to choose the ways of maintaining their security. The agenda of the Tallinn Summit also included economic and political issues. Diena

Russian President Yeltsin signed the Basic Agreement between Russia and NATO in Paris yesterday. The Agreement provides for non-deployment of nuclear arms on the territories of new members of the bloc. In his speech Boris Yeltsin stressed Russia's negative attitude to NATO enlargement. Still, he pointed at the positive effect of the Agreement on further development of partnership between NATO and Russia. The Russian President also mentioned the role of the OSCE in forming a comprehensive security system in Europe for the coming century.

Russian President Yeltsin signed the Basic Agreement between Russia and NATO in Paris yesterday. The Agreement provides for non-deployment of nuclear arms on the territories of new members of the bloc. In his speech Boris Yeltsin stressed Russia's negative attitude to NATO enlargement. Still, he pointed at the positive effect of the Agreement on further development of partnership between NATO and Russia. The Russian President also mentioned the role of the OSCE in forming a comprehensive security system in Europe for the coming century. Diena

Yesterday Russian Ambassador Udaltsov had a meting with

Yesterday Russian Ambassador Udaltsov had a meting with "Tevzemei un Brivibai" representatives. Member of the "TB" delegation Mr. Juris Vidins told the press that his party and the Russian Ambassador had opposite opinions on the issues of Latvia's security and the situation of non-citizens. "TB" representatives suggested "taking into consideration historical aspects" while dealing with the problem of non-citizens. The Russian side, according to the Russian Embassy Press-AttachJ Tsatsurin, used "arguments based on the current situation and put a special accent on future relations between the two countries." According to "TB" representatives at the meeting, the party will not support naturalization and will insist on preserving restrictions of the rights of non-citizens. "TB" members also did not agree to Ambassador Udaltsov who suggested that Latvia would gain more substantial security guarantees by joining the EU than by becoming a NATO member. Mr. Vidins noted that the sides had agreed that Russian residing in Latvia should have a command of the Latvian language. B&B

Prime-Minister Skele requested the Prosecutor General's Office and the State Revenue Service to investigate business activities of Cabinet members. Almost half of the Ministers is suspected of retaining their posts in private businesses, thus violating the Anti-Corruption Law.

Prime-Minister Skele requested the Prosecutor General's Office and the State Revenue Service to investigate business activities of Cabinet members. Almost half of the Ministers is suspected of retaining their posts in private businesses, thus violating the Anti-Corruption Law. Diena

Boris Tsilevich in an article for

Boris Tsilevich in an article for "SM" made a brief survey of attempts to start a dialogue between non-citizens and ethnic minorities and the Government. The Supreme Council of Latvia decreed to establish the Consultative Council for national Minorities in 1990. The Council should have had the right of a legislative initiative. After one year and a half the Saeima voted against establishing the Council. The founding of the Stateless League was another futile attempt of forming a body that would represent the interests of non-citizens. The Government refused to recognize the League. The Department for the Affairs of Nationalities formed in 1991 was shrunk to an office at the Ministry of Justice. According to Tsilevich, President Ulmanis became aware of the necessity to pay more attention to the issue of minorities after receiving recommendations from the OSCE and other international organizations. Still, he failed to choose between "an expert model" and "a representative model" of a council. As a result, six members of the Council were nominated by cultural societies while ten members were selected by the President himself. Tsilevich stresses that the President did not react ton any of the recommendations submitted by the Council. Last meeting of the Council showed that its members would not agree to act as puppets in a show aimed at demonstrating the participation of minorities in political decision-making, writes Tsilevich. SM