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 Press Secretary of the Ministry of Justice informed that OSCE experts had objected to the too strict norms concerning the use of the Latvian language stipulated in the draft regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers which should take effect on September 1. The experts had studied these drafts and expressed their objections to the Minister of Justice. They think that in the regulations more explicitly should be divided the state and private spheres where employees should not be demanded to have so high state language knowledge. According to the experts’ opinion, not all meetings concerning property management should be conducted in the state language – this regulation could be acceptable if more than 25% of participants are Latvians. They also objected to the demand to spell company and personal names according to Latvian spelling rules. The Press Secretary acknowledged that the experts often had referred to the CoE national minority protection convention that was not binding for Latvia

The Press Secretary of the Ministry of Justice informed that OSCE experts had objected to the too strict norms concerning the use of the Latvian language stipulated in the draft regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers which should take effect on September 1. The experts had studied these drafts and expressed their objections to the Minister of Justice. They think that in the regulations more explicitly should be divided the state and private spheres where employees should not be demanded to have so high state language knowledge. According to the experts opinion, not all meetings concerning property management should be conducted in the state language – this regulation could be acceptable if more than 25% of participants are Latvians. They also objected to the demand to spell company and personal names according to Latvian spelling rules. The Press Secretary acknowledged that the experts often had referred to the CoE national minority protection convention that was not binding for Latvia. Diena

The main topics of the discussion between the Minister of Justice I.Labucka and the Head of the OSCE Mission to Latvia T.Orn were the Public Integration Program and the implementation of the State Language Law. The Ambassador showed interest about the Minister’s work in the Public Integration Council, people’s attitude and integration process in major cities.

The main topics of the discussion between the Minister of Justice I.Labucka and the Head of the OSCE Mission to Latvia T.Orn were the Public Integration Program and the implementation of the State Language Law. The Ambassador showed interest about the Ministers work in the Public Integration Council, peoples attitude and integration process in major cities. Diena

On Monday the Coalition Council will evaluate the move of the New Party when three NP deputies signed a proposal to summon an extraordinary Council meeting on agricultural issues, thus violating the coalition agreement. The partners do not promise a strict penalty, but they want to hear a clearly formulated attitude of the New Party towards this Government and an intention to preserve unity.

On Monday the Coalition Council will evaluate the move of the New Party when three NP deputies signed a proposal to summon an extraordinary Council meeting on agricultural issues, thus violating the coalition agreement. The partners do not promise a strict penalty, but they want to hear a clearly formulated attitude of the New Party towards this Government and an intention to preserve unity. Diena, Neatkariga

Publicist V.Avotins in Neatkariga writes that Latvian politicians have started talks on the national minority protection convention once more, but these talks repeatedly are senseless because the politicians are not ready to go any further than discussions. There is no clarity what to do with Russians in Latvia. The other minorities do not cause many headaches here. It is difficult to see the Integration Program, State Language Law, naturalisation and education policy as a convincing integrated state position.

Publicist V.Avotins in Neatkariga writes that Latvian politicians have started talks on the national minority protection convention once more, but these talks repeatedly are senseless because the politicians are not ready to go any further than discussions. There is no clarity what to do with Russians in Latvia. The other minorities do not cause many headaches here. It is difficult to see the Integration Program, State Language Law, naturalisation and education policy as a convincing integrated state position. Neatkariga

On Wednesday Latvian Ambassador to the USA A.Ronis submitted the letter of accreditation to President B.Clinton. During the ceremony the President prised Latvian policy in forming an integration society and establishing good relations with neighbouring countries. Diena ,

On Wednesday Latvian Ambassador to the USA A.Ronis submitted the letter of accreditation to President B.Clinton. During the ceremony the President prised Latvian policy in forming an integration society and establishing good relations with neighbouring countries. Diena , Neatkariga

Latvia will exchange her Ambassadors to Austria, Belgium and the Latvian Permanent Representative to UN in Geneva. Yesterday the Saeima Foreign Affairs Commission supported three candidates for the ambassadorial posts. The new Ambassador to Austria will be the MFA Deputy State Secretary E.Kuzmane, the Prime Minister’s Councillor in Foreign Affairs A.Groza will be the Ambassador to Belgium and MFA Deputy State Secretary J.Karklins will be posted in Geneva.

Latvia will exchange her Ambassadors to Austria, Belgium and the Latvian Permanent Representative to UN in Geneva. Yesterday the Saeima Foreign Affairs Commission supported three candidates for the ambassadorial posts. The new Ambassador to Austria will be the MFA Deputy State Secretary E.Kuzmane, the Prime Ministers Councillor in Foreign Affairs A.Groza will be the Ambassador to Belgium and MFA Deputy State Secretary J.Karklins will be posted in Geneva. Rigas Balss

On Tuesday, June 22 the last spring session of the Saeima will take place. On the agenda there are 22 issues.

On Tuesday, June 22 the last spring session of the Saeima will take place. On the agenda there are 22 issues. Respublika

Yesterday the Saeima deputies adopted in the 2nd reading amendments to the Law On the status of former USSR citizens who are not citizens of Latvia or any other country. The major disagreement was that the radical wing of the Parliament did not agree to adopt a unified procedure for depriving the status for citizens and non-citizens. A citizen may be deprived of his status by a court decree. The procedure of depriving the status for non-citizens was the same but the radical wing proposed to return to the old procedure when state officials could do it without a court decree. The Saeima found a compromise formula – a non-citizen may be deprived of his status for different violations by and administrative decision but if the person was not satisfied with it, he might appeal to the court within one month, and the status would be preserved until the court decree was passed.

Yesterday the Saeima deputies adopted in the 2nd reading amendments to the Law On the status of former USSR citizens who are not citizens of Latvia or any other country. The major disagreement was that the radical wing of the Parliament did not agree to adopt a unified procedure for depriving the status for citizens and non-citizens. A citizen may be deprived of his status by a court decree. The procedure of depriving the status for non-citizens was the same but the radical wing proposed to return to the old procedure when state officials could do it without a court decree. The Saeima found a compromise formula – a non-citizen may be deprived of his status for different violations by and administrative decision but if the person was not satisfied with it, he might appeal to the court within one month, and the status would be preserved until the court decree was passed. Chas

Anti-Russian policy of the Baltic States made Moscow politicians to be more careful towards the possible expansion of EU. This topic was discussed during the last sitting of the Russian National Council. Most of the speakers hold the position that Russia was not an enemy of this expansion eastwards if it did not endanger Russian security. They were ready to support this process, but the new memberstates should observe interests of Russia.

Anti-Russian policy of the Baltic States made Moscow politicians to be more careful towards the possible expansion of EU. This topic was discussed during the last sitting of the Russian National Council. Most of the speakers hold the position that Russia was not an enemy of this expansion eastwards if it did not endanger Russian security. They were ready to support this process, but the new memberstates should observe interests of Russia. Vesti Segodnya

One of the leaders of the Union For Human Rights in United Latvia A.Rubiks met with the Chairman of the Russian Parliament on the same day when A.Seleznev had a meeting with B.Clinton. A.Rubiks said that they exchanged information about the situation in two countries. The Speaker had repeated that most of Russian people wanted good relations with Latvia, but when Russia expressed her readiness for a normal dialog, it did not receive any positive reaction from the Latvian Government.

One of the leaders of the Union For Human Rights in United Latvia A.Rubiks met with the Chairman of the Russian Parliament on the same day when A.Seleznev had a meeting with B.Clinton. A.Rubiks said that they exchanged information about the situation in two countries. The Speaker had repeated that most of Russian people wanted good relations with Latvia, but when Russia expressed her readiness for a normal dialog, it did not receive any positive reaction from the Latvian Government. Vesti Segodnya