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 calls people not to submit to the provocative calls of left-wingers to start non-violent resistance. The aim of these calls is to split society, create distrust and hate between nationalities. On Tuesday Latvian authorities received one more confirmation that the State Language Law recommendations complied with international standards – a positive statement from the OSCE stating that these regulation were a serious step in a successful public integration process in Latvia.

The Government calls people not to submit to the provocative calls of left-wingers to start non-violent resistance. The aim of these calls is to split society, create distrust and hate between nationalities. On Tuesday Latvian authorities received one more confirmation that the State Language Law recommendations complied with international standards – a positive statement from the OSCE stating that these regulation were a serious step in a successful public integration process in Latvia. Diena, Chas, Respublika

Answering to this call of the Government the opposition MP J.Urbanovics from For Human Rights in United Latvia said that the society had split long tome ago, just the Government had not noticed it so far. And the reason there were no ethnic conflicts was thanks to non-Latvians who had hoped for common sense of politicians, but in vain. The Chairman of the Saeima Human Rights Commission A.Seiksts was sure that national minorities would not support this left wingers' action.

Answering to this call of the Government the opposition MP J.Urbanovics from For Human Rights in United Latvia said that the society had split long tome ago, just the Government had not noticed it so far. And the reason there were no ethnic conflicts was thanks to non-Latvians who had hoped for common sense of politicians, but in vain. The Chairman of the Saeima Human Rights Commission A.Seiksts was sure that national minorities would not support this left wingers' action. Vesti Segodnya

Jauna Avize

interviewed the Director of the Latvian Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Centre N.Muiznieks about this call. Mr.Muiznieks said that there were some constructive demands, e.g. Latvia should ratify the General Convention on National Minorities. On Wednesday Latvia for one month will become the presiding state of the OSCE Co-operation Forum, that on its regular weekly plenary sittings discusses arms limiting and control activities.

On Wednesday Latvia for one month will become the presiding state of the OSCE Co-operation Forum, that on its regular weekly plenary sittings discusses arms limiting and control activities. Diena, Neatkariga, Respublika, Vesti Segodnya

The leaders of the New Party and Latvijas Cels signed an intention protocol on bilateral co-operation in the Government, Saeima and for the next municipal election. This protocol will be some kind of guarantee that there will be any changes in the Government because both sides undertake to support the ministers of the other party. In they turn, the five deputies from the New Party, who had left the party met with the Prime Minister A.Berzins and assured of their support to the Government.

The leaders of the New Party and Latvijas Cels signed an intention protocol on bilateral co-operation in the Government, Saeima and for the next municipal election. This protocol will be some kind of guarantee that there will be any changes in the Government because both sides undertake to support the ministers of the other party. In they turn, the five deputies from the New Party, who had left the party met with the Prime Minister A.Berzins and assured of their support to the Government. Diena, Neatkariga, Respublika, Vesti Segodnya

On Tuesday the Supreme Court passed a decision to deprive the Riga City Council deputy J.Zhuravlyov of Latvian citizenship. J.Zhuravlyov, loosing his Latvian citizenship, may loose also his City Council deputy mandate. Riga Mayor A.Argalis promised that J.Zhuravlov’s mandate would be annulled as soon as the City Council received the SC decision.

On Tuesday the Supreme Court passed a decision to deprive the Riga City Council deputy J.Zhuravlyov of Latvian citizenship. J.Zhuravlyov, loosing his Latvian citizenship, may loose also his City Council deputy mandate. Riga Mayor A.Argalis promised that J.Zhuravlovs mandate would be annulled as soon as the City Council received the SC decision. Diena, Neatkariga, Respublika

The Council of Fatherland Union, led by Estonian Prime Minister M.Laar, took a decision to propose the Baltic Assembly to discuss a possibility for the Baltic States to start a joint discussion with Russia on compensating the losses made to those countries during the 50 years of Soviet occupation.

The Council of Fatherland Union, led by Estonian Prime Minister M.Laar, took a decision to propose the Baltic Assembly to discuss a possibility for the Baltic States to start a joint discussion with Russia on compensating the losses made to those countries during the 50 years of Soviet occupation. Diena

The Government accepted the Law on Declaring Person’s Place of Residence that stipulates abolishing of domicile registration system. The new law charges persons to declare their place of residence and it will take effect on July 1, 2001.

The Government accepted the Law on Declaring Persons Place of Residence that stipulates abolishing of domicile registration system. The new law charges persons to declare their place of residence and it will take effect on July 1, 2001. Jauna Avize

Yesterday the Government adopted amendments to the regulations on the procedure of receiving people’s complains. The main thing in these amendments is that now state officials have to record not only written complains but also oral; they have to listen to the visitor, record the complain and give it to the person for signing. If a visitor speaks Russian then it is up to the official to translate the complain in to the state language.

Yesterday the Government adopted amendments to the regulations on the procedure of receiving peoples complains. The main thing in these amendments is that now state officials have to record not only written complains but also oral; they have to listen to the visitor, record the complain and give it to the person for signing. If a visitor speaks Russian then it is up to the official to translate the complain in to the state language. Chas

Chas

interviewed the new head of the DCMA M.Bicevskis. Mr.Bicevskis assured that soon there would be more civilised procedure of residents registration. Answering to the question on the possible changes when Latvia joined EU the DCMA Head said that EU residents would be able to come to Latvia and work here with no visas, but the procedure of receiving permanent residence permit would not change much PRPs would be granted after 10 years of legal residence in Latvia. Mr. Bicevskis answered also to the questions about 6000 illegals saying that most of them had already left Latvia but the ones, who decided to stay, had started court proceedings against the DCMA. interviewed the new head of the DCMA M.Bicevskis. Mr.Bicevskis assured that soon there would be more civilised procedure of residents’ registration. Answering to the question on the possible changes when Latvia joined EU the DCMA Head said that EU residents would be able to come to Latvia and work here with no visas, but the procedure of receiving permanent residence permit would not change much PRPs would be granted after 10 years of legal residence in Latvia. Mr. Bicevskis answered also to the questions about 6000 illegals saying that most of them had already left Latvia but the ones, who decided to stay, had started court proceedings against the DCMA.

Vesti Segodnya

interviewed the Press Secretary of the Naturalisation Board K.Apkalns about the situation in the naturalisation process, especially about persons who had been a secret service agent or officer of some other country. Mr.Apkalns said that there were many cases when people were refused in receiving documents for naturalisation, among them also persons whom the Centre of Documenting the consequences of Totalitarism and Security Police consider to be a former agent or officer of some secret service. Then it depends on the person himself; he may appeal this decision in court and during the last 5 years about such 20 people had won their court cases. interviewed the Press Secretary of the Naturalisation Board K.Apkalns about the situation in the naturalisation process, especially about persons who had been a secret service agent or officer of some other country. Mr.Apkalns said that there were many cases when people were refused in receiving documents for naturalisation, among them also persons whom the Centre of Documenting the consequences of Totalitarism and Security Police consider to be a former agent or officer of some secret service. Then it depends on the person himself; he may appeal this decision in court and during the last 5 years about such 20 people had won their court cases.