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

Mr. Aivars Kreituss said yesterday he would resign on Wednesday.

Mr. Aivars Kreituss said yesterday he would resign on Wednesday. "Saimnieks" has not named its candidates for the post of the Minister of Finance. Party Chairman Ziedonis Cevers says "Saimnieks" has "seven and a half candidates" meaning there were no official candidates yet. Kreituss told "SM" he believed Prime-Minister Skele could perform the duties of a Minister of Finance for the period of the adoption of the budget. Mr. Kreituss will act as an independent deputy and later may form a faction of his own. According to the regulations, a faction can be formed by not less than five deputies representing one party or one list of candidates. This allows suggesting the Kreitusses are still more likely to join one of the Saeima factions. Diena, SM, Neatkariga

Prime-Minister Skele agreed to discuss the termination of the posts of two State Minister in the Ministry of Finance with the Saeima deputies.

Prime-Minister Skele agreed to discuss the termination of the posts of two State Minister in the Ministry of Finance with the Saeima deputies. "Latvijas Cels" insists on keeping the post of a State Minister of State Revenues. Head of the "LC" faction Pantelejevs told the press the Prime-Minister "looked interested and showed understanding of the problem". The termination of the two posts held by an "LC" member and by a "Saimnieks" member would ruin the existing political balance in the Cabinet with "Tevzemei un Brivibai" gaining a larger share of control over the Government. Diena

According to the Citizenship and Immigration Department first noncitizens' passports will be issued by the end of this year. All noncitizens will be provided with new passports within next two years. The new document will allow them to travel freely without going through complicated bureaucratic procedures at the CID. The passport will be better fraud-protected than the existing citizens' passport.

According to the Citizenship and Immigration Department first noncitizens' passports will be issued by the end of this year. All noncitizens will be provided with new passports within next two years. The new document will allow them to travel freely without going through complicated bureaucratic procedures at the CID. The passport will be better fraud-protected than the existing citizens' passport. Diena

Ex-President of the European Parliament Egon Klepsch in an interview for

Ex-President of the European Parliament Egon Klepsch in an interview for "DIENA" said Latvia should focus during next two years on "changing its position" in the rating of the EU potential members worked out by the European Commission. Estonia has the highest rating among the three Baltic countries. Mr. Klepsch does not believe the joining of NATO could facilitate Latvia's admission to the EU. Diena