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 Government excluded the norm in the Regulations on Acquiring Citizenship after Nnaturalisation, which determined easier language and knowledge tests for pensioners whose state of health according to doctors’ conclusions were equivalent to the state of health of persons with disabilities.

The Government excluded the norm in the Regulations on Acquiring Citizenship after Nnaturalisation, which determined easier language and knowledge tests for pensioners whose state of health according to doctors conclusions were equivalent to the state of health of persons with disabilities. Diena

The newspaper

The newspaper Chas comments this exclusion the life of the older people is made more difficult. NB press secretary K.Poljakovs says that these amendments have only technical character. The Ministry of Justice that implemented this amendment says that pensioners felt psychological discomfort for being equalised with persons having mental or psychological disabilities. Panorama Latvii.

According to the pool carried out in August the most popular politician is the President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, the most popular member of the Government is the Prime Minister Andris Berzins. The popularity of left wing (the Union for Human Rights in the United Latvia) has dropped. The most unpopular person is the leader of Peoples’ Party Andris Skele. Among the political parties the most popular is Latvia’s Social Democratic Workers Party and the least popular – the New Party.

According to the pool carried out in August the most popular politician is the President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, the most popular member of the Government is the Prime Minister Andris Berzins. The popularity of left wing (the Union for Human Rights in the United Latvia) has dropped. The most unpopular person is the leader of Peoples Party Andris Skele. Among the political parties the most popular is Latvias Social Democratic Workers Party and the least popular – the New Party. Diena, Rigas Balss, Jauna

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of 3 Baltic and 5 Scandinavian countries have a meeting in Denmark. The main discussion topics of the meeting are safety issues, EU, regional co-operation and relations with Russia.

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of 3 Baltic and 5 Scandinavian countries have a meeting in Denmark. The main discussion topics of the meeting are safety issues, EU, regional co-operation and relations with Russia. Neatkariga

On Thursday the President of Latvia after her vacation in Ukraine will have meetings with several high officials of Latvia – the Prime Minister A.Berzins, the Minister of Foreign Affairs I.Berzins, the Minister of Education K.Greiskalns. And already at this weekend the President is going to the US to attend the Millenniums Session of the United Nations

On Thursday the President of Latvia after her vacation in Ukraine will have meetings with several high officials of Latvia – the Prime Minister A.Berzins, the Minister of Foreign Affairs I.Berzins, the Minister of Education K.Greiskalns. And already at this weekend the President is going to the US to attend the Millenniums Session of the United Nations. Neatkariga, Rigas Balss, Jauna, Vesti Segodnja

Russia’s newspapers

Russias newspapers Nezavisimaja Gazeta and Vremja MN wrote that the addopted State Language Law is not favourable for Russian-speaking people and Latvia has fooled Europe again. The most unacceptable norm from their point of view is the prohibition to use Russian in communication with state administrative institutions. The newspapers admit that Latvias officials made strategy that will receive positive approval of international organisations. Neatkariga, Panorama Latvii

On the invitation of the Union for Human Rights in the United Latvia (UHRUL) Austria’s Freedom Party General Secretary Peter Zihrosky arrived in Riga. P.Zihrovskis came to Riga to learn more about Baltijas Banka ex-head Aleksandr Lavent’s claim to the European Court of Human Rights. P.Zihrovskis did not receive a permission to visit A.Lavents

On the invitation of the Union for Human Rights in the United Latvia (UHRUL) Austrias Freedom Party General Secretary Peter Zihrosky arrived in Riga. P.Zihrovskis came to Riga to learn more about Baltijas Banka ex-head Aleksandr Lavents claim to the European Court of Human Rights. P.Zihrovskis did not receive a permission to visit A.Lavents. Neatkariga, Chas