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 third Latvian SS Waffen legion reunion on Saturday resolved in urging Latvia's President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, the parliament and government to assess the guilt of the communist party in genocide against the Latvian nation. The Latvian government has also been urged to objectively assess the importance of the Latvian legion in World War II, and demand compensation from Russia and Germany for losses caused during their occupation. Mentioning Russian President Putin's call for Russians to return home, the legion veterans also want the government to ask the international society to offer financial assistance to disloyal residents of Latvia who wish to return to Russia. A document signed at the reunion also urges that those guilty of genocide against the Latvian nation during both occupations be found and tried. Author of the document, Nikolajs Romanovskis, chairman of the Latvian national soldier society, announced that the document has been prepared following a similar one issued last year to which there was no response.

The third Latvian SS Waffen legion reunion on Saturday resolved in urging Latvia's President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, the parliament and government to assess the guilt of the communist party in genocide against the Latvian nation. The Latvian government has also been urged to objectively assess the importance of the Latvian legion in World War II, and demand compensation from Russia and Germany for losses caused during their occupation. Mentioning Russian President Putin's call for Russians to return home, the legion veterans also want the government to ask the international society to offer financial assistance to disloyal residents of Latvia who wish to return to Russia. A document signed at the reunion also urges that those guilty of genocide against the Latvian nation during both occupations be found and tried. Author of the document, Nikolajs Romanovskis, chairman of the Latvian national soldier society, announced that the document has been prepared following a similar one issued last year to which there was no response. BNS

The UN Human Rights Committee will in its next session in October look into a complaint made by a Latvian citizen for not being allowed to run for local government elections in 1997, due to her insufficient knowledge of the state language. Antonina Ignatane's representative Tatjana Zdanoka, a member of the Latvian Human Rights committee, said that her case was meant to be looked at in the UN committee's previous session in July, however, cases are often postponed because of the large amount to be looked into by the human rights committee. Experts have already given Ignatane a positive report, leading her to believe that the UN committee may also satisfy her claim.

The UN Human Rights Committee will in its next session in October look into a complaint made by a Latvian citizen for not being allowed to run for local government elections in 1997, due to her insufficient knowledge of the state language. Antonina Ignatane's representative Tatjana Zdanoka, a member of the Latvian Human Rights committee, said that her case was meant to be looked at in the UN committee's previous session in July, however, cases are often postponed because of the large amount to be looked into by the human rights committee. Experts have already given Ignatane a positive report, leading her to believe that the UN committee may also satisfy her claim. BNS

Two US Republican senators, who strongly support admission of the Baltic States to NATO, will visit Latvia late August, the Latvian Foreign Ministry reported. Senators Richard G.Lugar and John McCain are expected to meet with top Latvian officials, including President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, said the presidential office said. No other details of the senators' agenda in Latvia were released as it is still being drafted.

Two US Republican senators, who strongly support admission of the Baltic States to NATO, will visit Latvia late August, the Latvian Foreign Ministry reported. Senators Richard G.Lugar and John McCain are expected to meet with top Latvian officials, including President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, said the presidential office said. No other details of the senators' agenda in Latvia were released as it is still being drafted. BNS

MP from Social Democrats J.Leja published “Open letter to proletarian internationalists”. There he gives his opinion on the statement of Director of some human rights and ethnic studies center about existing individual cases of nationalism in Latvia. J.Leja stated that such a statement should have a scientific basis but only Bolshevics and ideologists of proletarian internationalism defamed nationalism. And the very intense and one-sided hustle about A.Garda’s book and his letter to EU Commissioner Verheugen speaks about a comparatively united ideology in the ruling tops and mass media. There is a proverb “Don’t come with your statutes in a strange monastery”. Our Russian speakers and people with different point of view have not only entered with their statutes in a strange monastery but also instruct us loudly and reprimand that we do not observe they statutes, but just opposite to their wish want to cherish Latvian traditions and speak in our mother tongue. And strange is the position of Russian speaking mass media against the authors of A.Garda’s letter. It evidently brings harm to Russia’s interests to prevent compatriots to follow the friendly call of Russian government top return to their fatherland.

MP from Social Democrats J.Leja published Open letter to proletarian internationalists. There he gives his opinion on the statement of Director of some human rights and ethnic studies center about existing individual cases of nationalism in Latvia. J.Leja stated that such a statement should have a scientific basis but only Bolshevics and ideologists of proletarian internationalism defamed nationalism. And the very intense and one-sided hustle about A.Gardas book and his letter to EU Commissioner Verheugen speaks about a comparatively united ideology in the ruling tops and mass media. There is a proverb Dont come with your statutes in a strange monastery. Our Russian speakers and people with different point of view have not only entered with their statutes in a strange monastery but also instruct us loudly and reprimand that we do not observe they statutes, but just opposite to their wish want to cherish Latvian traditions and speak in our mother tongue. And strange is the position of Russian speaking mass media against the authors of A.Gardas letter. It evidently brings harm to Russias interests to prevent compatriots to follow the friendly call of Russian government top return to their fatherland. Lauku Avize

Saeima Security Office warned publisher A.Garda about unacceptability of his creative activities to the state security. From different sources, also foreign, SSO got convinced that Garda’s activities were actively used by Russian MFA to prove that Latvia was not ready for participation in EU and NATO.

Saeima Security Office warned publisher A.Garda about unacceptability of his creative activities to the state security. From different sources, also foreign, SSO got convinced that Gardas activities were actively used by Russian MFA to prove that Latvia was not ready for participation in EU and NATO. Lauku Avize

During a TV show J.Leja assured that he was nationalist and announced that they were gradually constructing a national state in Latvia. He did not agree to all statements of A.Garda but felt offended by the tone of Russian speaking newspapers writing about A.Garda that decided to sign Garda’s letter. Answering to a question about the position of his party concerning Garda’s activities MP answered that in Party’s program was stated that there was no alternative to a national state. But a theory and practice of building a national state – it is nationalism. And there is nothing bad in it.

During a TV show J.Leja assured that he was nationalist and announced that they were gradually constructing a national state in Latvia. He did not agree to all statements of A.Garda but felt offended by the tone of Russian speaking newspapers writing about A.Garda that decided to sign Gardas letter. Answering to a question about the position of his party concerning Gardas activities MP answered that in Partys program was stated that there was no alternative to a national state. But a theory and practice of building a national state – it is nationalism. And there is nothing bad in it. Vesti Segodnya, Panorama Latvii

Russian speaking newspaper

Russian speaking newspaper Vesti Segodnya announced campaign offering free advertising in this newspaper for any service and trading enterprises that had their signboard both in Latvian and Russian languages. They ask to inform about such a signboard and within few days the picture of it will be published in the newspaper.