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

Today the Council for Cooperation between the Governing Factions will discuss the cooperation agreement drafted by Prime-Minister Skele. According to

Today the Council for Cooperation between the Governing Factions will discuss the cooperation agreement drafted by Prime-Minister Skele. According to "DIENA", the draft agreement allows the factions to adopt a decision even if it is opposed by one or two coalition factions. Although Skele suggested that all deputies should sign the agreement it will be signed only be the heads of the factions. The agreement is not likely to be signed this week, as some factions are putting forward their conditions. "Tevzemei un Brivibai" demands the post of the Saeima Deputy-Speaker for its member and objects against "Saimnieks" having three seats in the Saeima Presidium. The Prime-Minister hopes the agreement will facilitate decision-making in the Saeima. Analysts believe it will actually eliminate the "internal opposition" within the governing coalition while the "external opposition" has a minor importance after the split of the "Peoples' Harmony' and "Latvijai" factions. Diena, SM

The Latvian Human Rights Committee in its monthly report published by the

The Latvian Human Rights Committee in its monthly report published by the "SM" points at an increase of the number of complaints related to dwelling issues. The Committee doubts the efficiency of the measures recently taken by the Minister of The Interior to ensure the observance of the law by the CID. The CID issued thirteen expulsion orders and canceled twenty-six Register stamps in July. The CID officers continue the practice of pressing noncitizens to take foreign citizenship in order to obtain a residence permit. The Committee claims the issuing of residence permits to Russian citizenship ("instead of the Register of Inhabitants" stamp") to be illegal. The report quotes a letter by a provincial town procurator denying the right to reside in Latvia to a person who renounced her "propiska" in the country in 1989 and returned to Latvia in 1991. The procurator ignores the "Law on the Status of Former USSR Citizens..." that grants the right to return to Latvia to those who had "propiska' in the country "BEFORE" (but not "AS OF") June 1, 1992. The report also informs about the founding of the party "For Social Justice and Equality" with its program focused on human rights problems. Tatjana Zhdanok has been elected its Coordinator. SM