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

Leaders of FF/LNNK M.Grinblats and Latvian Social Democratic Workers’ Party J.Bojars rejected the information about their agreement to co-operate in the Riga City Council after the local government election, but they did not exclude such a possibility. It could happen it those two parties would collect more voices than the rest of parties, but then this layout could influence stability of A.Berzins’s government.

Leaders of FF/LNNK M.Grinblats and Latvian Social Democratic Workers Party J.Bojars rejected the information about their agreement to co-operate in the Riga City Council after the local government election, but they did not exclude such a possibility. It could happen it those two parties would collect more voices than the rest of parties, but then this layout could influence stability of A.Berzinss government. Diena

During the night from Monday to Tuesday some hooligans smashed the door and ground floor windows of Latvian Consulate General in St.Petersburg. Although such acts of vandalism have repeated already 5 times, Russian authorities have not fulfilled their promise to provide security.

During the night from Monday to Tuesday some hooligans smashed the door and ground floor windows of Latvian Consulate General in St.Petersburg. Although such acts of vandalism have repeated already 5 times, Russian authorities have not fulfilled their promise to provide security. Diena, Neatkariga, Respublika

On Tuesday the New Christian Party submitted an application to the Enterprise Register requesting to exchange party’s name.

On Tuesday the New Christian Party submitted an application to the Enterprise Register requesting to exchange partys name. Diena

Saeima State Administration and Local Governments Affairs Commission accepted the amendments to the law on the procedure for considering applications of residents, proposed by National Civil Service Council. The amendments envisage that henceforth requests and complaints might be submitted to the state institutions also orally. To ease the work of officials, uniformed forms will be prepared to receive oral applications.

Saeima State Administration and Local Governments Affairs Commission accepted the amendments to the law on the procedure for considering applications of residents, proposed by National Civil Service Council. The amendments envisage that henceforth requests and complaints might be submitted to the state institutions also orally. To ease the work of officials, uniformed forms will be prepared to receive oral applications. Diena

On Tuesday with a majority of voices PACE decided to stop so called monitoring procedure of Latvia. This was suggested by both responsible observers T.Deivis and G.Janson. The experts still pointed out that after this monitoring procedure a dialog with Latvia would be continued and said that in the future PACE expected from Latvia two major things – to ratify CoE Framework Convention and to stimulate non-citizens to be more active and apply for citizenship. Latvian President V.Vike-Freiberga in her address to the deputies expressed satisfaction about this decision.

On Tuesday with a majority of voices PACE decided to stop so called monitoring procedure of Latvia. This was suggested by both responsible observers T.Deivis and G.Janson. The experts still pointed out that after this monitoring procedure a dialog with Latvia would be continued and said that in the future PACE expected from Latvia two major things – to ratify CoE Framework Convention and to stimulate non-citizens to be more active and apply for citizenship. Latvian President V.Vike-Freiberga in her address to the deputies expressed satisfaction about this decision. Diena, Neatkariga

Answering to the questions of PACE deputies, V.Vike-Freiberga said that Latvia was ready to ratify the Framework Convention but she did not mention any time.

Answering to the questions of PACE deputies, V.Vike-Freiberga said that Latvia was ready to ratify the Framework Convention but she did not mention any time. Chas

The top issue of this PACE meeting was Latvia and Russia. In the first round Russian deputies lobbied the decision for Latvian authorities to adopt a law on protection of national minorities, they also were the major opponents to the decision to stop monitoring. In the second round Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs I.Berzins reported on the situation in Chechnya.

The top issue of this PACE meeting was Latvia and Russia. In the first round Russian deputies lobbied the decision for Latvian authorities to adopt a law on protection of national minorities, they also were the major opponents to the decision to stop monitoring. In the second round Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs I.Berzins reported on the situation in Chechnya. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Disregarding the fact that authority of the present Russian Ambassador to Latvia A.Udaltsov expired at the end of last year, accreditation of the new Ambassador is delayed due to the protracted farewell procedure of A.Udaltsov. According to internationally accepted diplomatic procedure a new ambassador may be accredited only when the previous one has written an official farewell letter and officially submitted it to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the hosting state. Unofficial sources inform that the new ambassador will be I.Studennikov, who was for a comparatively short time an ambassador to Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Disregarding the fact that authority of the present Russian Ambassador to Latvia A.Udaltsov expired at the end of last year, accreditation of the new Ambassador is delayed due to the protracted farewell procedure of A.Udaltsov. According to internationally accepted diplomatic procedure a new ambassador may be accredited only when the previous one has written an official farewell letter and officially submitted it to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the hosting state. Unofficial sources inform that the new ambassador will be I.Studennikov, who was for a comparatively short time an ambassador to Guinea and Sierra Leone. Diena

Already in the nearest future the Baltic States will be able to apply for different public integration projects in a USA program where there are allocated 5 million USD. This promise was made by the former US Ambassador to Latvia L.Napper to the Councilor to Latvian President M.Bondars. Money will be spent on projects concerning public integration as well as language training. During this meeting L.Napper showed his interests about the events in Latvia.

Already in the nearest future the Baltic States will be able to apply for different public integration projects in a USA program where there are allocated 5 million USD. This promise was made by the former US Ambassador to Latvia L.Napper to the Councilor to Latvian President M.Bondars. Money will be spent on projects concerning public integration as well as language training. During this meeting L.Napper showed his interests about the events in Latvia. Neatkariga

Some experts think that program e-Latvia, developed by the Ministry of Economics, could be a desperate attempt of the political forces linked to the former Ave Lat Group (A.Skele’s property) to take under their control all IT development projects. For involved businessmen they promise huge profit but for politicians – wide possibilities of manipulating. D.Zanfelde describes the scheme of this attempt.

Some experts think that program e-Latvia, developed by the Ministry of Economics, could be a desperate attempt of the political forces linked to the former Ave Lat Group (A.Skeles property) to take under their control all IT development projects. For involved businessmen they promise huge profit but for politicians – wide possibilities of manipulating. D.Zanfelde describes the scheme of this attempt. Neatkariga

Lord Rassel-Jonston described the input of Latvia in the CoE presidency to the Latvian President V.Vike-Freiberga as a very recognizable. During this meeting both officials discussed the process of public integration in Latvia. Also CoE Secretary General V.Schimmer was positive about Latvian CoE presidency.

Lord Rassel-Jonston described the input of Latvia in the CoE presidency to the Latvian President V.Vike-Freiberga as a very recognizable. During this meeting both officials discussed the process of public integration in Latvia. Also CoE Secretary General V.Schimmer was positive about Latvian CoE presidency. Neatkariga

The government supporting New Faction in the nearest future could sign a co-operation agreement with the opposition faction Latvian Social Democratic Workers’ Party. The Chairman of the New Faction I.Udre confirmed that this faction could sign such an agreement on solving social and welfare questions. The Chairman thinks that this planned co-operation should not be linked with the faction’s support to A.Berzins’s government.

The government supporting New Faction in the nearest future could sign a co-operation agreement with the opposition faction Latvian Social Democratic Workers Party. The Chairman of the New Faction I.Udre confirmed that this faction could sign such an agreement on solving social and welfare questions. The Chairman thinks that this planned co-operation should not be linked with the factions support to A.Berzinss government. Jauna Avize

Director of the National State Language Training Program A.Priedite tells a journalist from the newspaper Respublika about the NSLTP activities. A.Priedite finds that the current situation with state language training “normal” because they have received from the state budget 428 000 Ls for 2001. It was an important step from the government and it showed that the state realized the importance of the language training.

Director of the National State Language Training Program A.Priedite tells a journalist from the newspaper Respublika about the NSLTP activities. A.Priedite finds that the current situation with state language training normal because they have received from the state budget 428 000 Ls for 2001. It was an important step from the government and it showed that the state realized the importance of the language training. Respublika