Press Report

Press Report

"Tevzemei un Brivibai", "Latvijas Cels"

, , "Tautai un Taisnibai""Tautai un Taisnibai" representatives told the press that the parties would support Vasily Melnik's candidature for Minister of Finance. The representatives told the press that the parties would support Vasily Melnik's candidature for Minister of Finance. The LNNKLNNK, the Farmers, the Farmers´´ Union, and the Unity Party will make their official opinion known to the press today. Union, and the Unity Party will make their official opinion known to the press today. "TB""TB" faction leader Straume said that his personal attitude to the candidate was negative. Still, he will vote in accordance with an agreement between the factions. Head of the faction leader Straume said that his personal attitude to the candidate was negative. Still, he will vote in accordance with an agreement between the factions. Head of the LNNKLNNK faction Lambergs also has certain doubts admitting that he has too little information on Mr. Melnik to make his final judgment. Melnik has violated an anti-corruption law by being a member of the Riga Port Board and the Riga Shipyard Board member simultaneously. Currently, the case is considered by the Procurator's Office. If appointed, Melnik will have to resign from the post of faction Lambergs also has certain doubts admitting that he has too little information on Mr. Melnik to make his final judgment. Melnik has violated an anti-corruption law by being a member of the Riga Port Board and the Riga Shipyard Board member simultaneously. Currently, the case is considered by the Procurator's Office. If appointed, Melnik will have to resign from the post of Lacon Ltd.Lacon Ltd. Vice-President. Vice-President. DienaDiena Owner of the Russian Ambassador's residence in Jurmala, Mr. Antons Benjamins, will not agree to accept two other houses offered to him by the Latvian Government as compensation for his property. Benjamins says that he has not been offered any adequate compensation or rent for the mansion. Being a US citizen, he addressed US Senators on the issue. One of them has already applied to the US Ambassador to Latvia with an inquiry on the issue. The Government can draft a law on nationalizing Benjamin's property in Jurmala to be adopted by the Saeima. If adopted, the law can be appealed in court. The Russian Embassy refused to comment on the issue.

Owner of the Russian Ambassador's residence in Jurmala, Mr. Antons Benjamins, will not agree to accept two other houses offered to him by the Latvian Government as compensation for his property. Benjamins says that he has not been offered any adequate compensation or rent for the mansion. Being a US citizen, he addressed US Senators on the issue. One of them has already applied to the US Ambassador to Latvia with an inquiry on the issue. The Government can draft a law on nationalizing Benjamin's property in Jurmala to be adopted by the Saeima. If adopted, the law can be appealed in court. The Russian Embassy refused to comment on the issue. Neatkariga

Boris Tsilevich in an article in

Boris Tsilevich in an article in "SM" analyzes the activities of the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs aimed at maintaining the country's attractive image in the UN. The Ministry prepared a report "On Issues of Human Rights Protection in the Republic of Latvia in 1994-1995". Tsilevich stresses that the report intentionally avoids mentioning several important points inLatvian legislation related to the rights of non-citizens. Its introductory part lays emphasis on the rights on an individual in a broad sense as opposed to a "narrow approach" to the issue focusing only on the rights of minorities. The report gives a detailed description of the Human Rights Office claiming it could be used as a model by other countries. Tsilevich believes an LNNK member has a strong chance of being appointed Director of the Office. The document praises the National Program for Human Rights Protection claiming it was drafted in close collaboration with Latvian NGO's. Tsilevich points at the fact that NGO representatives were invited to discuss the Program only after it had already been adopted. The Consultative Council on Minorities, its forming mentioned among Latvia's major achievements, has not reached any tangible results yet. The report claims that the state finances school education in Russian even when the number of students is low. According to the document, university education is available both in Latvian and Russian. The UNDP Program for the study of the Latvian language by non-Latvians is presented in its "UNDP version", i.e., as program for teaching Latvian as a second language. The Latvian side, according to Tsilevich, tries to use the program as a tool for introducing Latvian as the language of instruction in Russian schools. The report does not mention the fact that Latvia has not ratified the European Human Rights Convention. The part of the report on non-citizens does not refer to them as to the stateless. Using the term would mean that Latvia should base naturalization on the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.

Press Report

Press Report

The Cabinet of Ministers adopted a program for bringing Latvian legislation in compliance with the European Union acts. The process will be divided into two stages. The first stage will be accomplished by 1999. The program does not define time-frames for the second stage. Its implementation will be considered by the Council for Integration into Europe at its monthly meetings.

The Cabinet of Ministers adopted a program for bringing Latvian legislation in compliance with the European Union acts. The process will be divided into two stages. The first stage will be accomplished by 1999. The program does not define time-frames for the second stage. Its implementation will be considered by the Council for Integration into Europe at its monthly meetings. Diena

Prime-Minister Skele agreed to

Prime-Minister Skele agreed to "Tevzemei un Brivibai" demands on land privatization in urban areas. The law on land privatization will not allow non-citizens to privatize land in towns and cities with an exception of land under buildings that have been already privatized. The Cabinet of Ministers is to adopt the law in accordance with Article 81 of the Satversme during the Saeima break. SM

The prime-Minister agreed to Vasily Melnik of

The prime-Minister agreed to Vasily Melnik of "Saimnieks" taking the post of Minister of Finance. Earlier, Skele declined Sarmite Jegere's candidature. According to the coalition agreement, the office is to be held by a "Saimnieks" member. SM

President Yeltsin in a letter addressed to Byelorussian President Lukashenko suggested holding a referendum on uniting the two countries. Deputy-Head of the President's Administration Shakhray said that the step would be the most adequate response to NATO enlargement. In his letter Yeltsin called upon the Byelorussian President to observe democratic norms and human rights.

President Yeltsin in a letter addressed to Byelorussian President Lukashenko suggested holding a referendum on uniting the two countries. Deputy-Head of the President's Administration Shakhray said that the step would be the most adequate response to NATO enlargement. In his letter Yeltsin called upon the Byelorussian President to observe democratic norms and human rights. Diena

Press Report

International Director of the American Jewish Human Rights Organization Leonid Stonov in an interview for

International Director of the American Jewish Human Rights Organization Leonid Stonov in an interview for "SM" singled out a large number of non-citizens in Latvia as the country's most important problem. He believes that "a zero option" could improve psychological climate in the country and contribute to the development of its economy. Stonov is surprised by the indifference toward naturalization displayed by non-citizens. The organization headed by Stonov is opening its Baltic office in Riga. The office will study the legislation of the Baltic states and the human rights situation in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. Stonov had meetings with Saeima Speaker Cepanis, Prime-Minister Skele, and Chairman of the Saeima Human Rights Committee Seiksts. SM

Press Report

Press Report

Chairman of the

Chairman of the Duma Committee on Defense Lev Rohlin in an interview said that Russia would be forced "to search for new strategic partners" in case NATO did not take into consideration Russian demands. Rohlin believes that NATO should provide security guarantees to Russia. The block should not deploy nuclear weapons on the territory of its new members, stresses Rohlin. Diena

Five Latvian Russian-language newspapers ("PANORAMA LATVII", "RUSSKAYA GAZETA", "SM", "DINABURG" and "MILLION" (Daugavpils) support inhabitants of Daugavpils and call upon their readers to participate in a referendum on self-government elections. The referendum is aimed at amending the Law on Self-Government Elections to allow non-citizens to participate in the elections and to run for posts in self-governments.

Five Latvian Russian-language newspapers ("PANORAMA LATVII", "RUSSKAYA GAZETA", "SM", "DINABURG" and "MILLION" (Daugavpils) support inhabitants of Daugavpils and call upon their readers to participate in a referendum on self-government elections. The referendum is aimed at amending the Law on Self-Government Elections to allow non-citizens to participate in the elections and to run for posts in self-governments. SM

The Latvian Association of Anti-Nazi Coalition Veterans, the Society of the 130-th Latvian Army Corps and Latvian Guerrilla Brigade Veterans, the Latvian Jewish Veteran Association, and the Society of Military Pensioners addressed President Ulmanis with an open letter. The organizations call upon the President to prevent demolition of the Victory Memorial. A draft decree on "relocating" the Memorial was adopted by the Riga City Council last December.

The Latvian Association of Anti-Nazi Coalition Veterans, the Society of the 130-th Latvian Army Corps and Latvian Guerrilla Brigade Veterans, the Latvian Jewish Veteran Association, and the Society of Military Pensioners addressed President Ulmanis with an open letter. The organizations call upon the President to prevent demolition of the Victory Memorial. A draft decree on "relocating" the Memorial was adopted by the Riga City Council last December. SM

President Ulmanis in an interview for

President Ulmanis in an interview for "SM SEVODNYA" said that he was attentively following the discussion of whether nationality should be stated in passports. The President believes that most of non-citizens' problems are caused by "bureaucratic problems". He is satisfied with the work of the Consultative Council on Ethnic problems and stresses that problems to be resolved by the Council require thorough consideration. SM