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 election of city and regional council chairmen has started with a remarkable leadership of People’s Party although it was the first local government election for this party and it suffered a serious loss of popularity in ratings. Nevertheless from ten local government chairmen, elected by Tuesday, seven were representatives of People’s Party.

The election of city and regional council chairmen has started with a remarkable leadership of Peoples Party although it was the first local government election for this party and it suffered a serious loss of popularity in ratings. Nevertheless from ten local government chairmen, elected by Tuesday, seven were representatives of Peoples Party. Diena

Negotiations of Social Democrats with other political forces elected to Riga City Council came to a break. FF/LNNK whom the right wing parties have authorised to talk with Social Democrats consider that negotiations could be renewed only when Social Democrats name their candidate for the Riga Mayor. LSDWP plans to do it on Wednesday.

Negotiations of Social Democrats with other political forces elected to Riga City Council came to a break. FF/LNNK whom the right wing parties have authorised to talk with Social Democrats consider that negotiations could be renewed only when Social Democrats name their candidate for the Riga Mayor. LSDWP plans to do it on Wednesday. Diena

The Latvian parliamentary defence and interior committee supported for the final reading the bill under which only Latvia's citizens will be able to receive licenses of private detectives, committee chairman Dzintars Kudums reported to

The Latvian parliamentary defence and interior committee supported for the final reading the bill under which only Latvia's citizens will be able to receive licenses of private detectives, committee chairman Dzintars Kudums reported to BNS. The draft law about detective business says that licenses will be granted only to Latvian citizens and detective agencies employing at least one certified detective.

The Latvian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday rejected Russia's accusations about official Latvian authorities supporting the commemoration of soldiers from the Latvian Nazi Waffen SS unit or the so-called Legionnaires and attempting to revise the outcome of World War Two. Foreign Ministry deputy state secretary Armands Gutmanis, who also represents Latvia in the international commission of historians under presidential auspices, told BNS that March 16 commemorations were organised by non-governmental organisations according to the principles of a democratic state, not the Latvian government.

The Latvian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday rejected Russia's accusations about official Latvian authorities supporting the commemoration of soldiers from the Latvian Nazi Waffen SS unit or the so-called Legionnaires and attempting to revise the outcome of World War Two. Foreign Ministry deputy state secretary Armands Gutmanis, who also represents Latvia in the international commission of historians under presidential auspices, told BNS that March 16 commemorations were organised by non-governmental organisations according to the principles of a democratic state, not the Latvian government. BNS

The Russian Foreign Ministry Tuesday criticised the annual March 16 commemoration of soldiers from the Latvian Nazi Waffen SS unit or the so-called Latvian Legion in this Baltic state, stressing the attendance of Latvian lawmakers as well as support and consent of official authorities to the event.

The Russian Foreign Ministry Tuesday criticised the annual March 16 commemoration of soldiers from the Latvian Nazi Waffen SS unit or the so-called Latvian Legion in this Baltic state, stressing the attendance of Latvian lawmakers as well as support and consent of official authorities to the event. BNS, Vesti Segodnya, Panorama Latvii

Saeima Citizenship Implementation Commission considered that was a necessity to introduce residents ID cards, but acknowledged that was not possible to ensure issuing of these cards by the deadline established by the government – July 1 next year.

Saeima Citizenship Implementation Commission considered that was a necessity to introduce residents ID cards, but acknowledged that was not possible to ensure issuing of these cards by the deadline established by the government – July 1 next year. Neatkariga

OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel is coming on his farewell visit to Latvia tomorrow. He will meet the President, Minister of Justice I.Labucka, Head of the Naturalisation Board E.Aldermane and the Chairman of Saeima Juridical Commission L.Mucins.

OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel is coming on his farewell visit to Latvia tomorrow. He will meet the President, Minister of Justice I.Labucka, Head of the Naturalisation Board E.Aldermane and the Chairman of Saeima Juridical Commission L.Mucins. Chas

Vesti Segodnya

interviewed the former Councillor to Prime Minister Y.Primakov I.Yurgen when he arrived to Latvia to prepare the conference Russia – Byelorussia – Baltic States in Jurmala. He told the journalist that processes taking place in all those countries were similar. Along with that co-operation of Russia and Byelorussia proceeded, and according to plan all works on establishing a united state should be accomplished in 2005. Therefore it was necessary to collect political scientists and economists to discuss European integration and the future co-operation in this sub-region. interviewed the former Councillor to Prime Minister Y.Primakov I.Yurgen when he arrived to Latvia to prepare the conference “Russia – Byelorussia – Baltic States” in Jurmala. He told the journalist that processes taking place in all those countries were similar. Along with that co-operation of Russia and Byelorussia proceeded, and according to plan all works on establishing a united state should be accomplished in 2005. Therefore it was necessary to collect political scientists and economists to discuss European integration and the future co-operation in this sub-region.