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

The United States NATO Committee hailed the proposal of Latvian president to delete from election law the norm requiring candidates running for elections to have top state language proficiency level, US embassy in Latvia reported. The committee said it regards the initiative of Vaira Vike-Freiberga as a courageous step. "Passage of this important reform by the Latvian parliament will be the last major step in confirming Latvia's impeccable democratic credentials and should lock in an invitation to join NATO at the historic Prague Summit," Committee President Bruce Jackson said in a statement Friday. BNS

Newspaper

Newspaper Rigas Balss asked several Latvian politicians about the latest initiative of the President Vaira Vike-Freiberga concerning the election law, and they answered that if the President submitted such amendments to the election law they would not be supported. Chairman of FF/LNNK faction V.Balodis told the journalist that the President possibly had such an opinion due to the case lost at the Strasbourg court and constant pressure of Russia. Social Democrat MP E.Baldzens said that he would not support such an initiative. If a deputy does not now the Latvian language he will not be able to work. Poet and publicist J.Peters thinks that it is even impossible to measure what is the highest state language proficiency level. If a person works for the state, he has to know the language.

Vesti Segodnya

did the same as did the same as Rigas BalssRigas Balss. Vice-President of PACE V.Paegle answered that for the last two weeks the Head of the OSCE Mission, different foreign experts constantly raised this problem, and international pressure increased, therefore she was not surprised by this initiative of the President. But if the President wanted to abolish this norm she should do it already a year ago. Not the atmosphere, especially at the Saeima before the election is very politicised. It will be difficult for Vaira Vike-Freiberga to get support from the majority deputies. Minister of Foreign Affairs I.Berzins said that the President had acted as a responsible state official understanding real democratic values. These amendments will just improve our democracy. A.Bartashevich from For Human Rights in United Latvia said that their faction just two weeks ago made the same proposal at the plenary sitting of the Saeima. What did prevent the President to support their proposal then? He pointed out that the President had not come forth with concrete draft amendments. She just threw the idea and passed it to experts for long consideration. A.Bartashevich thinks this is a pure tactic move to close the OSCE Mission to Latvia. It is interesting that the President made her move on the arrival day of the OSCE delegation. . Vice-President of PACE V.Paegle answered that for the last two weeks the Head of the OSCE Mission, different foreign experts constantly raised this problem, and international pressure increased, therefore she was not surprised by this initiative of the President. But if the President wanted to abolish this norm she should do it already a year ago. Not the atmosphere, especially at the Saeima before the election is very politicised. It will be difficult for Vaira Vike-Freiberga to get support from the majority deputies. Minister of Foreign Affairs I.Berzins said that the President had acted as a responsible state official understanding real democratic values. These amendments will just improve our democracy. A.Bartashevich from For Human Rights in United Latvia said that their faction just two weeks ago made the same proposal at the plenary sitting of the Saeima. What did prevent the President to support their proposal then? He pointed out that the President had not come forth with concrete draft amendments. She just threw the idea and passed it to experts for long consideration. A.Bartashevich thinks this is a pure tactic move to close the OSCE Mission to Latvia. It is interesting that the President made her move on the arrival day of the OSCE delegation. Newspaper

Newspaper Chas states that two major Latvian newspapers Diena and Neatkariga were positive concerning the proposal of the President to abolish the norm stipulating the highest language proficiency level for deputy candidates.

V.Sorokin in

V.Sorokin in Vechernyaya Riga writes about the proposal of the President stating that before this move she wanted to get support from experts. Therefore she invited the representatives of National Human Rights Office, Centre of Ethnic Studies and Human Rights, Human Rights Institute and State Language Centre to her office. The President reminded experts of the statement of the Head of the Mission P.Semneby that amending this norm was one of the prerequisites for closing the OSCE Mission to Latvia.

The political union For Human Rights in a United Latvia's (PCTVL) rally was held this afternoon in Riga's Kronvalda Park with about 250 mostly elderly people participating. The rally was opened with a speech by Riga City councilman Genadijs Kotovs, who accented that all of Latvia's residents must have equal rights. The demonstrators are concerned that after 2004, ethnic Russian school children will no longer be able to be taught in the Russian language. Other speakers noted that it is not permissible for Russian schools to be closed and emphasised the need to be united in the fight for ethnic Russian rights in Latvia.

The political union For Human Rights in a United Latvia's (PCTVL) rally was held this afternoon in Riga's Kronvalda Park with about 250 mostly elderly people participating. The rally was opened with a speech by Riga City councilman Genadijs Kotovs, who accented that all of Latvia's residents must have equal rights. The demonstrators are concerned that after 2004, ethnic Russian school children will no longer be able to be taught in the Russian language. Other speakers noted that it is not permissible for Russian schools to be closed and emphasised the need to be united in the fight for ethnic Russian rights in Latvia. LETA, Telegraf, Chas, Vesti Segodnya,

Issuing new passports could be delayed by another half-year due to required amendments to the law. The Citizenship and Migration Administration says that it is technically ready to introduce the new passports already at the beginning of 2002. Meanwhile, delays on introduction of machine-readable passports create problems for people at borders, as border guards of other countries regard the current outdated and easy-to-counterfeit passports with distrust, says

Issuing new passports could be delayed by another half-year due to required amendments to the law. The Citizenship and Migration Administration says that it is technically ready to introduce the new passports already at the beginning of 2002. Meanwhile, delays on introduction of machine-readable passports create problems for people at borders, as border guards of other countries regard the current outdated and easy-to-counterfeit passports with distrust, says Diena.

Diena

published a letter of D.Baltruma about the latest government decisions concerning the rights of the state language inspectors. It is just not serious because everybody knows how much you can trust to language certificates. They will not help if we do not respect ourselves and the endless articles of the state language law and exams just irritate non-Latvians. While the Latvian language is not implemented in our everyday life as a self-evident thing in all spheres of public life, it will remain the major pain of the Latvian nation. published a letter of D.Baltruma about the latest government decisions concerning the rights of the state language inspectors. It is just not serious because everybody knows how much you can trust to language certificates. They will not help if we do not respect ourselves and the endless articles of the state language law and exams just irritate non-Latvians. While the Latvian language is not implemented in our everyday life as a self-evident thing in all spheres of public life, it will remain the major pain of the Latvian nation. Today at the government committee will be considered a draft agreement on co-operation between the Latvian and Russian ministries of culture. It envisages establishing an atmosphere of utmost benevolence for exchange and developing co-operation in the field of cinematography, theatre, fine arts etc.

Today at the government committee will be considered a draft agreement on co-operation between the Latvian and Russian ministries of culture. It envisages establishing an atmosphere of utmost benevolence for exchange and developing co-operation in the field of cinematography, theatre, fine arts etc. Chas