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

President Vaira Vike-Freiberga had an informal meeting in Madrid with former U.S. President Bill Clinton. During the meeting, Clinton recalled his 1994 visit to Latvia.

President Vaira Vike-Freiberga had an informal meeting in Madrid with former U.S. President Bill Clinton. During the meeting, Clinton recalled his 1994 visit to Latvia. LETA, Lauku Avize, Chas

On Thursday the Saeima deputies had to discuss whether to sent to the Saeima committees for consideration the draft laws, submitted by the faction For Human Rights in United Latvia, to amend the election law stipulating that deputies would not need to know the state language on the highest level. As according to the Roll of Procedures only two deputies are allowed to speak, against them spoke faction FF/LNNK MP J.Dobelis. He reminded that the Latvian language had been suffered attacks for many centuries, but the worst was that after 10 years of Latvia’s independence such attacks took place a the Saeima. In favour of the amendments spoke the leader of For Human Rights in United Latvia J.Jurkans. He reminded that it was not just their proposal but also a suggestion of the OSCE and other international institution. The vote showed that left wingers did not have much support – for submitting voted only 15 Jurkans’s party members, 55 were against and 17 abstained.

On Thursday the Saeima deputies had to discuss whether to sent to the Saeima committees for consideration the draft laws, submitted by the faction For Human Rights in United Latvia, to amend the election law stipulating that deputies would not need to know the state language on the highest level. As according to the Roll of Procedures only two deputies are allowed to speak, against them spoke faction FF/LNNK MP J.Dobelis. He reminded that the Latvian language had been suffered attacks for many centuries, but the worst was that after 10 years of Latvias independence such attacks took place a the Saeima. In favour of the amendments spoke the leader of For Human Rights in United Latvia J.Jurkans. He reminded that it was not just their proposal but also a suggestion of the OSCE and other international institution. The vote showed that left wingers did not have much support – for submitting voted only 15 Jurkanss party members, 55 were against and 17 abstained. Lauku Avize

LSDSP leader Juris Bojars was elected again during party’s 33rd congress on Saturday. Valdis Lauskis and Janis Adamsons were elected deputy chairmen of the Latvian Social Democratic Workers Party (LSDSP). Diena believes that refusal of leaders of the LSDSP factions at Saeima and the Riga City Council to work with Bojars proves there is a serious crisis within the party. Diena also says that none of Bojars’ opponents has said he/she wishes to quit the party. Even though several proposals by opposition within the party were not approved by the congress, a convincing majority voted for a simpler procedure for ousting party members – two-thirds of LSDSP council members’ votes will be sufficient, not all council members’ approval as before.

LSDSP leader Juris Bojars was elected again during partys 33rd congress on Saturday. Valdis Lauskis and Janis Adamsons were elected deputy chairmen of the Latvian Social Democratic Workers Party (LSDSP). Diena believes that refusal of leaders of the LSDSP factions at Saeima and the Riga City Council to work with Bojars proves there is a serious crisis within the party. Diena also says that none of Bojars opponents has said he/she wishes to quit the party. Even though several proposals by opposition within the party were not approved by the congress, a convincing majority voted for a simpler procedure for ousting party members – two-thirds of LSDSP council members votes will be sufficient, not all council members approval as before. LETA, BNS, Diena, Neatkariga, Vechernyaya Riga, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

The ninth conference of the Baltic Sea States Subregional Co-operation (BSSSC), "The Baltic Sea Region Becoming a Model Region of Europe", concluded in Riga today, its participants emphasised the need for strengthening the Baltic Sea states' influence on a European scale. In conclusion of the conference, a resolution was passed in which the conference's participants emphasise the need for developing the Baltic Sea region's potential and co-operation among the region's countries.

The ninth conference of the Baltic Sea States Subregional Co-operation (BSSSC), "The Baltic Sea Region Becoming a Model Region of Europe", concluded in Riga today, its participants emphasised the need for strengthening the Baltic Sea states' influence on a European scale. In conclusion of the conference, a resolution was passed in which the conference's participants emphasise the need for developing the Baltic Sea region's potential and co-operation among the region's countries. LETA

On Friday at the Saeima building took place a picket organised by the youth movement Solidarnost to support education in the Russian language. Russian-speaking newspaper speak about 100 participants, Latvian – counted about 40 teenagers and pensioners.

On Friday at the Saeima building took place a picket organised by the youth movement Solidarnost to support education in the Russian language. Russian-speaking newspaper speak about 100 participants, Latvian – counted about 40 teenagers and pensioners. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Vechernyaya Riga

On Friday the Russian Community in Latvia tried to hold a picket to support the newspaper

Panorama Latvii at the building of the insurance company Balta that is the major shareholder of the newspaper, but the newspaper people were not very pleased about this initiative. Chas

Yesterday the Robert Schuman Institute organised a conference where DHoM of the OSCE Mission to Latvia N.Brennan gave a speech. He said that Latvia would have to follow the Estonian example anyway and abolish the norm stipulating the state language knowledge on the highest level for local government and Saeima deputy candidates. He agreed that it was not natural if a deputy did not know the language but the choice had to be left to the electorate. At the same time some Latvian politicians are getting more and more disappointed about the fact that the OSCE Mission to Latvia continued operating here. Also the Saeima Commission on Human Rights A.Seiksts joined them. He stated that according to the set procedure such missions operated in the areas where human rights were violated, but there were no missions in Bosnia, Near East or Southern Russia. And presence of a mission in Latvia could be a result of schemes of Europe and Russia.

Chas

Saeima deputies, representatives of the right wing parties Dz.Kudums and A.Kirsteins went to Moscow for a three-day conference on fighting organised crime and corruption. They tried to use this possibility to influence their Russian colleagues let they supported concluding the border agreement between Latvia and Russia. But Russian MPs answered that the Russian National Council would not ratify this agreement. Latvian deputies explained it with their wish to prevent Latvias joining NATO. Vesti Segodnya