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

Latvia's President Vaira Vike-Freiberga gave three interviews to the Spanish mass media on Thursday in which she mainly explained Latvia's situation from historical and current points of view.

Latvia's President Vaira Vike-Freiberga gave three interviews to the Spanish mass media on Thursday in which she mainly explained Latvia's situation from historical and current points of view. BNS

Signing of Russian-Latvian border agreement before the next round of NATO enlargement late in 2002 is unlikely and the process will be delayed also by decision of Russian president to remove Russia's co-chairman of the Latvian-Russian intergovernmental committee, Latvian lawmakers said. The remark by MP Aleksandrs Kirsteins and parliament defence and interior affairs committee head

Signing of Russian-Latvian border agreement before the next round of NATO enlargement late in 2002 is unlikely and the process will be delayed also by decision of Russian president to remove Russia's co-chairman of the Latvian-Russian intergovernmental committee, Latvian lawmakers said. The remark by MP Aleksandrs Kirsteins and parliament defence and interior affairs committee head Dzintars Kudums to BNS came on Thursday after their return from a visit in Moscow. BNS, Vesti Segodnya

Parliament faction head of Latvia's Way, a ruling coalition party, admitted there indeed is tension between the coalition partners Latvia's Way and People's Party but said the difficulties can be solved if both parties have sufficient political will.

Parliament faction head of Latvia's Way, a ruling coalition party, admitted there indeed is tension between the coalition partners Latvia's Way and People's Party but said the difficulties can be solved if both parties have sufficient political will.

Kristiana Libane said Latvia's Way wants to keep the government but "not at any cost".

Kristiana Libane said Latvia's Way wants to keep the government but "not at any cost". BNS

The Centre for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO Centre) will hold its fifth annual NGO forum at the Riga Latvian Society House today NGO Centre PR co-ordinator.

The Centre for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO Centre) will hold its fifth annual NGO forum at the Riga Latvian Society House today NGO Centre PR co-ordinator. Diena, LETA

The UN Human Rights Committee has been informed about the Latvian government's decision to set up a task force to evaluate the committee's decision in favour of Antonina Ignatane, the Cabinet of Ministers' representative at international human rights organisations. As reported, Prime Minister Andris Berzins signed a decree on October 11 on setting up a task force to review the UN Human Rights Committee's decision on the Ignatane case and draw up proposals to implement the decision.

The UN Human Rights Committee has been informed about the Latvian government's decision to set up a task force to evaluate the committee's decision in favour of Antonina Ignatane, the Cabinet of Ministers' representative at international human rights organisations. As reported, Prime Minister Andris Berzins signed a decree on October 11 on setting up a task force to review the UN Human Rights Committee's decision on the Ignatane case and draw up proposals to implement the decision. LETA

Riga City Executive Director Maris Tralmaks has denied the radical Russian youth organisation a permit to hold a rally and concert at the Riflemen’s (Strelnieku) Monument in Old Town Riga. The leader of the organisation, I.Stalnoy, said however that the picket would take place (but not the concert) as approval had been granted by Tralmaks.

Riga City Executive Director Maris Tralmaks has denied the radical Russian youth organisation a permit to hold a rally and concert at the Riflemens (Strelnieku) Monument in Old Town Riga. The leader of the organisation, I.Stalnoy, said however that the picket would take place (but not the concert) as approval had been granted by Tralmaks. LETA, Diena, Rigas Balss

Stalnoy informed journalists that he would explain the people present that the concert had been forbidden and they would march to the Saeima and hold a picket there.

Stalnoy informed journalists that he would explain the people present that the concert had been forbidden and they would march to the Saeima and hold a picket there. Vesti Segodnya, Chas

He called the editor’s office of the newspaper

He called the editors office of the newspaper Vechernyaya Riga and invited journalists to an extraordinary press conference at the Saeima building and promised to present the victims of integration – 3 Russian students who were beaten by their classmates in a Latvian school. Journalists turned to the police and emergency service for some additional information but could not get any.

On Thursday the Saeima did not submit for consideration the proposal by For Human Rights in United Latvia to amend the election law. Only 14 deputies voted for these amendments. Government parties objected to it by referring to international norms stipulating that every country held the right to establish restrictions for running for elections. And they reminded that before this norm was adopted to the Saeima were elected persons who could not participate in the Saeima work do to the lack of knowledge of the language. FHRUL leader J.Jurkans reminded that the issue was about citizens’ right to be elected. Amending the election law is one of the proposals made by the OSCE Mission before closing this mission.

On Thursday the Saeima did not submit for consideration the proposal by For Human Rights in United Latvia to amend the election law. Only 14 deputies voted for these amendments. Government parties objected to it by referring to international norms stipulating that every country held the right to establish restrictions for running for elections. And they reminded that before this norm was adopted to the Saeima were elected persons who could not participate in the Saeima work do to the lack of knowledge of the language. FHRUL leader J.Jurkans reminded that the issue was about citizens right to be elected. Amending the election law is one of the proposals made by the OSCE Mission before closing this mission. Diena, Neatkariga, Vesti Segodnya

Speaking in the Saeima K.Libane argued that the government would not discuss the election law prior to a decision from the court in Strasbourg in order not to interfere in an ongoing process. She referred explicitly to the Prime Minister’s statement of 11.10.01 stressing that the case in Strasbourg concerned procedural questions.

Speaking in the Saeima K.Libane argued that the government would not discuss the election law prior to a decision from the court in Strasbourg in order not to interfere in an ongoing process. She referred explicitly to the Prime Ministers statement of 11.10.01 stressing that the case in Strasbourg concerned procedural questions. Latvian Radio

Former Minister of Culture R.Umblija was elected the Chairman of the Society Integration Foundation Council.

Former Minister of Culture R.Umblija was elected the Chairman of the Society Integration Foundation Council. Diena, Neatkariga, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

MP from the faction For Human Rights in United Latvia Y.Pliner analyses the situation with ratification of Framework Convention on National Minorities. The opposition proposed already twice to ratify it, but the ruling coalition used different, even funny (e.g. bad translation) pretexts not to do it. Why are they afraid to do it? The answer is simple; they are afraid that after this ratification they would have to democratise language, education and other laws and legal norms. Y.Pliner cites articles 10 and 11 of the Convention where there are stipulated rights of national minorities to use their language in communicating with state authorities and the right to have their names and family names spelt in their ID in their mother tongue. One more thing that contradicts the Convention is the attempt to transfer education into the state language. And summing up his article Y.Pliner says that ratification will return signs of street names in the Russian language to the streets of Latvian towns and cities, where resides a large Russian minority, because this is stipulated by Article 13 of the Convention.

Vesti Segodnya