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

Latvian government yesterday accepted the extradition agreement with Australia while the first page news stories in Australian papers write about the announcement of the Latvian Prosecutor’s Office about the possible bringing up charges against Konrads Kalejs as well as information about his poor health.

Latvian government yesterday accepted the extradition agreement with Australia while the first page news stories in Australian papers write about the announcement of the Latvian Prosecutors Office about the possible bringing up charges against Konrads Kalejs as well as information about his poor health. Diena, Jauna Avize, Chas

Especially stressing the need to improve the state administration and the role of education in development of small countries the European Commission representative responsible for EU enlargement praised Latvia’s progress already reached in the accession talks.

Especially stressing the need to improve the state administration and the role of education in development of small countries the European Commission representative responsible for EU enlargement praised Latvias progress already reached in the accession talks. Diena

Latvian President Freiberga in yesterday’s radio interview said that the Russian people should re-review its Soviet time history because at the moment many residents of the country do not realize the harm their government incurred to countries like Latvia. Freiberga believes that many residents of Russia nostalgically want to maintain the mood that ruled in the Soviet times. The president would support a public dialogue of the Latvian and Russian historians.

Latvian President Freiberga in yesterdays radio interview said that the Russian people should re-review its Soviet time history because at the moment many residents of the country do not realize the harm their government incurred to countries like Latvia. Freiberga believes that many residents of Russia nostalgically want to maintain the mood that ruled in the Soviet times. The president would support a public dialogue of the Latvian and Russian historians. Diena, Neatkariga, Chas, Respublika, Latvijas Vestnesis

The end of June will be a busy time for representing Latvia in Germany: there will be activities like joint Baltic Midsummer celebration in Berlin, President Freiberga will pay an official visit to meet the German President and other officials and to participate in the opening of the building of Latvian Embassy in Berlin.

The end of June will be a busy time for representing Latvia in Germany: there will be activities like joint Baltic Midsummer celebration in Berlin, President Freiberga will pay an official visit to meet the German President and other officials and to participate in the opening of the building of Latvian Embassy in Berlin. Diena

The inability of politicians to agree on which state institution should coordinate society integration issues reduces the prospects that the integration concept passed by the government last year will be implemented this year. People’s Party faction believes that integration should be carried out through the education system. Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK supports this approach and does not want to assign responsibility to Naturalization Board because “naturalization is only one of the aspects of integration”. Latvia’s Way tends to support the Naturalization board.

The inability of politicians to agree on which state institution should coordinate society integration issues reduces the prospects that the integration concept passed by the government last year will be implemented this year. Peoples Party faction believes that integration should be carried out through the education system. Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK supports this approach and does not want to assign responsibility to Naturalization Board because naturalization is only one of the aspects of integration. Latvias Way tends to support the Naturalization board. Diena

Anonymous “fighters of the democratic Latvia”, taking responsibility for the recent explosion on railway yesterday in a letter to Diena and 4 more papers demand to release the persons accused for war crimes, legalize the activities of the Communist party, abolish the institution of non-citizens, allot equal rights to the Russian language.

Anonymous fighters of the democratic Latvia, taking responsibility for the recent explosion on railway yesterday in a letter to Diena and 4 more papers demand to release the persons accused for war crimes, legalize the activities of the Communist party, abolish the institution of non-citizens, allot equal rights to the Russian language. Diena, Chas

Russian Foreign Ministry announced that the meeting of CBSS will pay special attention to the situation of Russian citizens and compatriates in the Baltic countries. The meeting takes place today and tomorrow in Norway on a ministerial level.

Russian Foreign Ministry announced that the meeting of CBSS will pay special attention to the situation of Russian citizens and compatriates in the Baltic countries. The meeting takes place today and tomorrow in Norway on a ministerial level. Diena, Respublika, Lauku Avize, Panorama Latvii

Yesterday at the National Human Rights Office a student Sarmîte Dukâte presented her research on relations between Latvians and Gypsies. The biggest problems Gypsies face are the low education level, unemployment and the fact that they don’t want to reveal their problems. Head of the Latvian Gypsy National Cultural Association Aba Gercbahs said that officially there are 9000 Gypsies in Latvia and at least as many who conceal their ethnicity.

Yesterday at the National Human Rights Office a student Sarmîte Dukâte presented her research on relations between Latvians and Gypsies. The biggest problems Gypsies face are the low education level, unemployment and the fact that they dont want to reveal their problems. Head of the Latvian Gypsy National Cultural Association Aba Gercbahs said that officially there are 9000 Gypsies in Latvia and at least as many who conceal their ethnicity. Neatkariga, Lauku Avize, Vesti

The Estonia’s Russian Baltic Party established last Sunday supports granting Estonian citizenship without special requirements, exams and restrictions to everybody who are born and live in Estonia since it became independent. The party plans to grant the Russian language the official status, first of all in places where Russian speakers form a majority of population.

The Estonias Russian Baltic Party established last Sunday supports granting Estonian citizenship without special requirements, exams and restrictions to everybody who are born and live in Estonia since it became independent. The party plans to grant the Russian language the official status, first of all in places where Russian speakers form a majority of population. Lauku Avize

Russian government decided in June to allot a single payment to Russian pensioners who permanently live in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia

Russian government decided in June to allot a single payment to Russian pensioners who permanently live in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Lauku Avize, Respublika

Russian Ambassador to Latvia Alexander Udaltsov and Head of the Embassies Consular Department Nikolayev answered questions on a hot-line organized by

Russian Ambassador to Latvia Alexander Udaltsov and Head of the Embassies Consular Department Nikolayev answered questions on a hot-line organized by Chas. The questions came about history, pensions and political asylum in Russia.

Yesterday the Press Service of the Russian President released President’s personal gratitude to the Russian Ambassador to Latvia about organizing the celebration of Victory Day and the care about the war veterans in Latvia. Chas comments that this kind of a statement is unprecedented in the Cremlin’s political practice

Yesterday the Press Service of the Russian President released Presidents personal gratitude to the Russian Ambassador to Latvia about organizing the celebration of Victory Day and the care about the war veterans in Latvia. Chas comments that this kind of a statement is unprecedented in the Cremlins political practice. Chas, Vesti

Member of the Committy for State Security of the Russian Duma Viktor Ilyuhin has found and explanation to the initiatives in the Baltics, especially Lithuania, to demand from Russia “compensation for the occupation”. He explains that by the difficult economic situation

Member of the Committy for State Security of the Russian Duma Viktor Ilyuhin has found and explanation to the initiatives in the Baltics, especially Lithuania, to demand from Russia compensation for the occupation. He explains that by the difficult economic situation. Vesti, Panorama Latvii

Vesti write that the amendments to the non-citizen status law passed in the second reading by the Saeima last Thursday actually force a big part of the Latvian residents accept Russian citizenship.