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

France's President Jacques Chirac supports Latvia's rights to NATO integration, as he believes that each country has the right to choose its own allies in the field of security. Chirac spoke of his views in an interview published in daily Diena on Friday, given before his visit to the Baltic States began in Lithuania yesterday. "...I support Latvia's legitimate rights to integrate into the North Atlantic alliance, as each country has the right to freely choose its allies in the field of security," said Chirac. He also said that while visiting in Latvia he would like to emphasize a number of things. "Firstly that France completely supports Latvia's EU candidacy and I am glad that the Nice treaty has confirmed the country's belonging to the Europe of tomorrow," said Chirac in the interview.

France's President Jacques Chirac supports Latvia's rights to NATO integration, as he believes that each country has the right to choose its own allies in the field of security. Chirac spoke of his views in an interview published in daily Diena on Friday, given before his visit to the Baltic States began in Lithuania yesterday. "...I support Latvia's legitimate rights to integrate into the North Atlantic alliance, as each country has the right to freely choose its allies in the field of security," said Chirac. He also said that while visiting in Latvia he would like to emphasize a number of things. "Firstly that France completely supports Latvia's EU candidacy and I am glad that the Nice treaty has confirmed the country's belonging to the Europe of tomorrow," said Chirac in the interview. BNS, Diena, Neatkariga, Jauna Avize, Chas, Panorama Latvii, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Vestnesis

The intentions of the Mayor of Riga, social democrat, Gundars Bojars, in distributing jobs between his deputies has caused a conflict between the social democrats and the left-wing alliance, which helped the social democrats elect their man as mayor of Riga after the municipal elections in March. The Fore Human Rights in a United Latvia (FHRUL) left-wing alliance claims that it could break its cooperation agreement with the social democrats if their demands are not carried out. The conflict is rooted in the fact that the cooperation agreement expected that the left-wing alliance takes care of city development, while Mayor Bojars offered these responsibilities to his right-from-center deputy from For Fatherland and Freedom (FF)/LNNK, with whom the social democrats have a coalition agreement on the council.

The intentions of the Mayor of Riga, social democrat, Gundars Bojars, in distributing jobs between his deputies has caused a conflict between the social democrats and the left-wing alliance, which helped the social democrats elect their man as mayor of Riga after the municipal elections in March. The Fore Human Rights in a United Latvia (FHRUL) left-wing alliance claims that it could break its cooperation agreement with the social democrats if their demands are not carried out. The conflict is rooted in the fact that the cooperation agreement expected that the left-wing alliance takes care of city development, while Mayor Bojars offered these responsibilities to his right-from-center deputy from For Fatherland and Freedom (FF)/LNNK, with whom the social democrats have a coalition agreement on the council. BNS, Jauna Avize, Respublika, Diena

The intention of changing the Latvian Social Democratic Workers Party parliament faction chairman, Egils Baldzens, has caused rumors of a split-up kindling within the party, currently at the top of the popularity polls. The social democrat parliament faction is preparing to discuss the faction's work in parliament and the need to change its chairman, Egils Baldzens. Behind the scenes some say that social democrat Janis Adamsons, currently refusing to give an assessment of Baldzens' work, but saying that everyone can work better, is one of those behind suggesting the change of chairman. The second person behind ousting Baldzens from leading the faction is supposedly party chairman Juris Bojars, refusing to give any comment until the faction meeting.

The intention of changing the Latvian Social Democratic Workers Party parliament faction chairman, Egils Baldzens, has caused rumors of a split-up kindling within the party, currently at the top of the popularity polls. The social democrat parliament faction is preparing to discuss the faction's work in parliament and the need to change its chairman, Egils Baldzens. Behind the scenes some say that social democrat Janis Adamsons, currently refusing to give an assessment of Baldzens' work, but saying that everyone can work better, is one of those behind suggesting the change of chairman. The second person behind ousting Baldzens from leading the faction is supposedly party chairman Juris Bojars, refusing to give any comment until the faction meeting. BNS, Rigas Balss, Jauna Avize

This fall the Baltic states are to be visited by Prince Charles of Wales reported Estonia's British embassy. Prince Charles will be in the Baltic’s from November 5 to 9. Latvia's Foreign Ministry and British embassy in Riga could give no more details on the trip.

This fall the Baltic states are to be visited by Prince Charles of Wales reported Estonia's British embassy. Prince Charles will be in the Baltics from November 5 to 9. Latvia's Foreign Ministry and British embassy in Riga could give no more details on the trip. BNS

Yesterday during the second public political forum Latvian Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Center Director N.Muiznieks collected signatures under an open letter titled “Garda – against Latvia” that was addressed to the Chairman of FF/LNNK M.Grinblats and Social Democrats – J.Bojars and the Saeima faction leaders of these parties. The letter condemns the latest activities of the publisher A.Garda and asks the leaders of FF/LNNK and Social Democrats to dissociate themselves from the deputies who supported those actions. N.Muiznieks collected 30 signatures under this letter.

Yesterday during the second public political forum Latvian Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Center Director N.Muiznieks collected signatures under an open letter titled Garda – against Latvia that was addressed to the Chairman of FF/LNNK M.Grinblats and Social Democrats – J.Bojars and the Saeima faction leaders of these parties. The letter condemns the latest activities of the publisher A.Garda and asks the leaders of FF/LNNK and Social Democrats to dissociate themselves from the deputies who supported those actions. N.Muiznieks collected 30 signatures under this letter. Panorama Latvii, Diena,

Latvia's Foreign Minister Indulis Berzins believes that after EU and NATO accession, Latvia will be the "biggest advocate" for cooperation between the West and Russia. This view was published in an interview with Berzins in Friday's daily

Latvia's Foreign Minister Indulis Berzins believes that after EU and NATO accession, Latvia will be the "biggest advocate" for cooperation between the West and Russia. This view was published in an interview with Berzins in Friday's daily Dienas Bizness. BNS

The European Court of Human Rights has registered a complaint from Latvia's resident over changing a Russian surname, adapting it to Latvian language rules in a non-citizen's passport, a Riga city council member who also is on Latvian Human Rights Committee said. The complaint has been sent by Lidija Kuharec whose surname has been changed to Kuhareca in her Latvian non-citizen passport issued in 1999. She believes this has violated her right to inviolability of privacy. In her claim to the court she asks the violation of her right be eliminated as well as demands compensation for moral and material damage incurred as a result of distortion of her surname.

BNS, Diena, Neatkariga

Mikhail Marynich, a bidder in Belarus 2001 presidential race, told reporters in Minsk that he had submitted resignation as ambassador to Latvia, Estonia and Finland, BBC reported Thursday citing Belarus news agency Belapan. In his resignation letter to Belarus Foreign Minister Mikhail Khvastow, Marynich said that he would work against dictatorship toward democratic changes. BNS, Chas, Vesti Segodnya,

Advisor to the Mayor of Moscow A.Pereligin was included in the list of persons non grata of Latvia. He is an expert on economic relations between Russia and Latvia, and he was quite frequently visiting Latvia. But now it is almost a year since he is not allowed to come here. And it could turn into a political scandal because Mr.Pereligin was included in the official delegation of Moscow’ s delegation to the celebration of Riga 800 anniversary.

Advisor to the Mayor of Moscow A.Pereligin was included in the list of persons non grata of Latvia. He is an expert on economic relations between Russia and Latvia, and he was quite frequently visiting Latvia. But now it is almost a year since he is not allowed to come here. And it could turn into a political scandal because Mr.Pereligin was included in the official delegation of Moscow s delegation to the celebration of Riga 800 anniversary. Vesti Segodnya