Press Report

The Luxembourg meeting of EU Ministers worked out a new approach to potential EU members. Each candidate country will be offered its own program and will have individual talks on its admission to the EU. The main purpose of the new approach is to minimize the tension between the candidates.

The Luxembourg meeting of EU Ministers worked out a new approach to potential EU members. Each candidate country will be offered its own program and will have individual talks on its admission to the EU. The main purpose of the new approach is to minimize the tension between the candidates. Diena

Last Saturday (October 4) the Third Congress of the Democratic Party

Last Saturday (October 4) the Third Congress of the Democratic Party Saimnieks adopted state nationalism as the partys new ideology. Party Chairman Ziedonis Cevers opposed state nationalism to ethnic nationalism and stressed the importance of forming a political nation and integrating non-Latvians in the Latvian society. Mr. Cevers was elected Chairman of the Party for another term. Diena, SM

Mr. George Soros visited Latvia for the annual presentation of the Soros Foundation Awards. In his speech delivered at the event Mr. Soros expressed concern about the indifference of the Latvian Government toward integration of non-Latvians in the Latvian society.

Mr. George Soros visited Latvia for the annual presentation of the Soros Foundation Awards. In his speech delivered at the event Mr. Soros expressed concern about the indifference of the Latvian Government toward integration of non-Latvians in the Latvian society. Chas

Press Review

Press Review

“People’s Harmony” circulated an open letter to Prime-Minister Guntars Krasts signed by its Chairman Janis Jurkans. “PH” requests the Prime-Minister to demand a more simple procedure for the issuing of new alien passports. The letter points to a three-month term often required for issuing a passport. “PH” believes such delays to be purposeful. CID Deputy-Director Atis Leins told

Peoples Harmony circulated an open letter to Prime-Minister Guntars Krasts signed by its Chairman Janis Jurkans. PH requests the Prime-Minister to demand a more simple procedure for the issuing of new alien passports. The letter points to a three-month term often required for issuing a passport. PH believes such delays to be purposeful. CID Deputy-Director Atis Leins told DIENA that applicants received new passports within twenty working days unless additional check-ups of Register of Inhabitants data were required. He believes that the slow exchange of old USSR passports for new alien passports could be explained by Russia having suspended the recognition of the new documents. According to BIZNES & BALTIYA only 5.45% of non-citizens have received new alien passports. Diena, B&B

Press Report

Press Report

Yesterday the

Yesterday the Saeima adopted amendments to the Law on the ratification of the 1951 Geneva Convention on the Status of Refugees. The amendments provide for applying the status to refugees entering Latvia from any part of the World. The initial version of the Law adopted on June 19 allowed to apply it only to refugees from European countries. Adoption of the amendments will allow Latvia to establish a non-visa regime with Sweden and Finland. Diena

Former USSR passports with Register of Inhabitants stamps held by non-citizens will not be valid for traveling abroad starting January 1, 1998. Such passports held by citizens will not be valid for leaving Latvia starting November 1, 1997. Still, non-citizens do not hurry to apply for new alien passports. According to the CID, new passports are held only by 4% of non-citizens.

Former USSR passports with Register of Inhabitants stamps held by non-citizens will not be valid for traveling abroad starting January 1, 1998. Such passports held by citizens will not be valid for leaving Latvia starting November 1, 1997. Still, non-citizens do not hurry to apply for new alien passports. According to the CID, new passports are held only by 4% of non-citizens. Chas

"Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK"

Deputy-Chairman Juris Dobelis in an interview for Deputy-Chairman Juris Dobelis in an interview for "BIZNES & BALTIYA""BIZNES & BALTIYA" said that the party chose "a pragmatic approach" toward current political issues. As an example he mentioned its participation in the discussion of employment restrictions for non-citizens. Mr. Dobelis claimed the Prime-Minister and said that the party chose "a pragmatic approach" toward current political issues. As an example he mentioned its participation in the discussion of employment restrictions for non-citizens. Mr. Dobelis claimed the Prime-Minister and "TB"/LNNK"TB"/LNNK to have similar standpoints on the most essential issues. to have similar standpoints on the most essential issues.

Press Report

The agenda of the yesterday's extraordinary plenary session of the

The agenda of the yesterday's extraordinary plenary session of the Saeima included the final reading of an amendment to the "Employment Law". The amendment suggested by Mr. A.Bartashevich ("Equal Rights") did not allow to deprive an individual of his/her status of an unemployed "on the basis of language, nationality and race". Currently, persons who have graduated from non-Latvian schools are to produce an official certificate of their command of Latvian when applying for unemployment benefits. Persons having no certificates are not registered as the unemployed. The requirement is contained in a decree by the Cabinet of Ministers while the "Employment Law" does not provide for any restrictions on the right to apply for the status of the unemployed with regard to an applicant's command of the state language. Currently, over 11,000 unemployed not holding language certificates cannot apply for benefits. The Saeima declined the amendment. Mr. Bartashevich believes the restriction to be a violation of the European Human Rights Convention and admitted that his faction failed to collect twenty signatures by Saeima members to apply to the Satversme Court.

Yesterday the Saeima failed to vote on canceling the ban on employment of non-citizens as aircraft pilots due to a breakdown of a computer polling system. The voting is to be held today.

Yesterday the Saeima failed to vote on canceling the ban on employment of non-citizens as aircraft pilots due to a breakdown of a computer polling system. The voting is to be held today. Diena

Head of the analytical center of the Russian Duma

Head of the analytical center of the Russian Duma "Yabloko" faction Aleksey Kuzmin in an interview for "DIENA" said that Latvia would be forced to fulfill EU recommendations, including those on citizenship and naturalization. Mr. Kuzmin believes that Russia should support the integration of the three Baltic states in the EU and to influence their policy toward Russian-speakers through the European Union. Diena

Press Report

Press Report

Yesterday Procurator General Skrastins told the press that rumors of his possible resignation "were not serious". Mr. Krastins had a meeting with members of the Saeima investigation commission on the loss of three million dollars by the

Yesterday Procurator General Skrastins told the press that rumors of his possible resignation "were not serious". Mr. Krastins had a meeting with members of the Saeima investigation commission on the loss of three million dollars by the "Latvenergo" state company. The commission called upon the procurator General not to yield to any pressure in connection with the case. Diena

According to

According to "NEATKARIGA", Prime-Minister Krasts had a meeting with the leaders of his party ("Tevzemei un Brivibai"/LNNK) on the Refugee Convention. "TB"/LNNK deputy-Chairmen told the newspaper that the party was open to a discussion on the problem. Still, Mr. Dobelis added that Latvia should not rush to fulfill all EU recommendations. Prime-Minister Krasts is trying to persuade his party colleagues to support the draft law on the ratification of the UN Refugee Convention that would allow to grant refugee status to all asylum seekers. "TB"/LNNK supports the option suggested by Saeima human Rights Committee that provides for applying the Convention to all refugees only after the year 2000. Neatkariga

Boris Tsilevich in an article for

Boris Tsilevich in an article for "SM" points to the lack of interest toward the cultural autonomy for ethnic minorities displayed by the Latvian authorities. Although the law guaranteeing the autonomy was adopted in 1991, no mechanisms for implementing the law have been developed. Cultural societies are constantly facing grave financial problems and are systematically deprived of their premises. Mr. Tsilevich advises activists of minority societies to inform the European Commission on the situation. SM