Integration monitor is a daily Latvian press digest on ethnic minority and society integration issues. The Monitor reviews the biggest Latvian dailies: Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga (in Latvian language), Vesti Segodnya (in Russian language). In specific cases other information sources are used. Latvian Centre for Human Rights is not responsible for information published by the media.

Press Report

Press Report

The Saeima Juridical Commission started to discuss draft laws that stipulate a radical increase of accessibility of the Satversme (Constitutional) Court. The amendments have been prepared basing on the experience of other countries and in close co-operation with EU experts, and they expand the circle of persons holding the right to submit an application to this court.

The Saeima Juridical Commission started to discuss draft laws that stipulate a radical increase of accessibility of the Satversme (Constitutional) Court. The amendments have been prepared basing on the experience of other countries and in close co-operation with EU experts, and they expand the circle of persons holding the right to submit an application to this court. Diena, Neatkariga, Jauna Avize

On Tuesday Prime Minister A.Berzins, answering to a journalist’s question, said that if citizens constituted 75% of the total number of electorate, there was no reason not to grant non-citizen the municipal election right. He just added that this was his personal opinion. EU officials had not interested about this issue during Prime Minister’s visit to Brussels.

On Tuesday Prime Minister A.Berzins, answering to a journalists question, said that if citizens constituted 75% of the total number of electorate, there was no reason not to grant non-citizen the municipal election right. He just added that this was his personal opinion. EU officials had not interested about this issue during Prime Ministers visit to Brussels. Diena

Russia once again criticised the statements, made by Latvian President V.V.Freiberga to the German magazine “Der Spiegel”, and announced that the tone of the President when speaking about Russia “was aggressive” and therefore “with no perspective”. This opinion was voiced in the official MFA announcement, made by its representative A.Jakovenko.

Russia once again criticised the statements, made by Latvian President V.V.Freiberga to the German magazine Der Spiegel, and announced that the tone of the President when speaking about Russia was aggressive and therefore with no perspective. This opinion was voiced in the official MFA announcement, made by its representative A.Jakovenko. Diena, Neatkariga, Respublika, Chas,

Latvian Prosecutor’s General Office Press Secretary Dz.Shubrovska informed that, disregarding the fact that a high Russian Federal Security Service official had expressed readiness of this Service to provide Latvia materials on Nazi war time criminals, the repeated requests of the Office for assistance had not been answered. Latvia had several times requested information on K.Kalejs and K.Ozols’s cases, but no answers were received.

Latvian Prosecutors General Office Press Secretary Dz.Shubrovska informed that, disregarding the fact that a high Russian Federal Security Service official had expressed readiness of this Service to provide Latvia materials on Nazi war time criminals, the repeated requests of the Office for assistance had not been answered. Latvia had several times requested information on K.Kalejs and K.Ozolss cases, but no answers were received. Diena, Neatkariga, Respublika

On Tuesday Estonian Government adopted a Regulation to combine the Estonian language graduation exam in non-Estonian schools with the state language exam for receiving Estonian citizenship. This will essentially ease the possibilities to acquire Estonian citizenship.

On Tuesday Estonian Government adopted a Regulation to combine the Estonian language graduation exam in non-Estonian schools with the state language exam for receiving Estonian citizenship. This will essentially ease the possibilities to acquire Estonian citizenship. Diena

Prime Minister A.Berzins finds his first foreign visit to be successful. EU Expansion Commissioner G.Verheugen had promised that the candidate states would not be divided into groups any more, but A.Berzins in his turn had promised that Latvia would be ready to start joining negotiations in 10 - 12 more topics in the next half a year.

Prime Minister A.Berzins finds his first foreign visit to be successful. EU Expansion Commissioner G.Verheugen had promised that the candidate states would not be divided into groups any more, but A.Berzins in his turn had promised that Latvia would be ready to start joining negotiations in 10 - 12 more topics in the next half a year. Neatkariga, Respublika

Publicist V.Avotins in

Publicist V.Avotins in Neatkariga writes about the campaign of collecting signatures under the call to organise a referendum to grant municipal election right to non-citizens and finds it to be a political action. It will show whether Latvia is a two- community state and whether the society is ready to overcome this. Neatkariga

Chas

informs that the first six Latvian citizens have signed the call for a referendum to grant municipal election right to non-citizens. The action is organised by a public organisation Union of Citizens and Non-citizens, and they need 10 000 signatures to organise a referendum. The Chairman of Latvijas Cels A.Pantelejevs analyses the political situation in Latvia and states that Latvians have got the President, Prime Minister and Saeima deputies what they deserved.

The Chairman of Latvijas Cels A.Pantelejevs analyses the political situation in Latvia and states that Latvians have got the President, Prime Minister and Saeima deputies what they deserved. Neatkariga

According to the Central Statistics Board data the population number in Latvia in 1999 decreased for 15 200 people. 13 400 persons passed away but 1800 migrated.

According to the Central Statistics Board data the population number in Latvia in 1999 decreased for 15 200 people. 13 400 persons passed away but 1800 migrated. Neatkariga

The Saeima deputy J.Vidins informed about a person from Middle East, who was staying in Latvia in the Centre for Illegal Immigrants saying that he probably was connected with terrorism. German and Turkish special services had showed their interest about this person.

The Saeima deputy J.Vidins informed about a person from Middle East, who was staying in Latvia in the Centre for Illegal Immigrants saying that he probably was connected with terrorism. German and Turkish special services had showed their interest about this person. Neatkariga

Today President V.V.Freiberga is visiting Daugavpils and meeting with the City Mayor A.Vidauskis.

Today President V.V.Freiberga is visiting Daugavpils and meeting with the City Mayor A.Vidauskis. Jauna Avize

The Minister of Foreign Affairs I.Berzins announced that the Minister of Communications A.Gorbunovs would continue to head the intergovernmental delegation for negations with Russia.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs I.Berzins announced that the Minister of Communications A.Gorbunovs would continue to head the intergovernmental delegation for negations with Russia. Jauna Avize, Respublika, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Riga Organisation of the party “Equality and Latvian Human Rights Committee published an article criticising the draft law on the State language Centre that would grant the officials of this Centre practically unlimited rights to punish. They may test any employee’s state language knowledge at his/her work place or ask him/her to come to the Centre. Adopting of such a regulation on the State language Centre would open the road to mass reprisals, briberies, create an atmosphere of total reporting and escalate the already tense interethnic relations.

Riga Organisation of the party Equality and Latvian Human Rights Committee published an article criticising the draft law on the State language Centre that would grant the officials of this Centre practically unlimited rights to punish. They may test any employees state language knowledge at his/her work place or ask him/her to come to the Centre. Adopting of such a regulation on the State language Centre would open the road to mass reprisals, briberies, create an atmosphere of total reporting and escalate the already tense interethnic relations. Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Vestnesis

published a sociologic research on a person and his rights in Latvia.