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.

LATVIAN MEDIA REVIEW

LATVIAN MEDIA REVIEW

People's Party (TP), FF/LNNK, Latvian Social Democratic WorkerТs Party and Union of Social Democrats Saeima factions do not back the proposal made by Vike-Freiberga on amending the Election Law by lifting the requirement set for Saeima and municipal deputies that they must have knowledge of the Latvian language at the highest level. Even FHRUL now is refraining from backing the president's proposal as they think that removal of language requirement is useless if at the same time other stricter norms concerning language usage are introduced. PeopleТs Party leader Skele stressed that during the meeting the deputies informed the President on how people perceive her proposals for the Election Law, and about the situation in local governments. "We asked numerous questions and received answers that did not convinced us about the necessity of amendments to the law," Skele said. PeopleТs Party leader stressed that the state language is an important ingredient for social integration. Skele expressed his view that preserving the requirement would not be an obstacle for Latvia's integration into NATO by any means because laws pertaining to elections and use of the state language are not the same for all NATO member states. Skele pointed out that at none of the meetings with OSCE representatives there was a requirement mentioned for amending the Election Law, and it was not set as a pre-condition for losing the OSCE Mission in Latvia. Skele predicted that a majority of Saeima deputies would oppose the president's proposal.

People's Party (TP), FF/LNNK, Latvian Social Democratic WorkerТs Party and Union of Social Democrats Saeima factions do not back the proposal made by Vike-Freiberga on amending the Election Law by lifting the requirement set for Saeima and municipal deputies that they must have knowledge of the Latvian language at the highest level. Even FHRUL now is refraining from backing the president's proposal as they think that removal of language requirement is useless if at the same time other stricter norms concerning language usage are introduced. PeopleТs Party leader Skele stressed that during the meeting the deputies informed the President on how people perceive her proposals for the Election Law, and about the situation in local governments. "We asked numerous questions and received answers that did not convinced us about the necessity of amendments to the law," Skele said. PeopleТs Party leader stressed that the state language is an important ingredient for social integration. Skele expressed his view that preserving the requirement would not be an obstacle for Latvia's integration into NATO by any means because laws pertaining to elections and use of the state language are not the same for all NATO member states. Skele pointed out that at none of the meetings with OSCE representatives there was a requirement mentioned for amending the Election Law, and it was not set as a pre-condition for losing the OSCE Mission in Latvia. Skele predicted that a majority of Saeima deputies would oppose the president's proposal.

Viola Lazo, head of the LSDSP Saeima faction after the meeting with the President said that the party believes that it is too hasty to lift the requirement set for deputy candidates and the issue could be reviewed again during the 8th Saeima. According to Lazo, it would be impossible to lift the requirements for the deputy candidates and simultaneously amend the legislation in order to provide protection of the state language during the 7th Saeima. Lazo believes that without amending the laws LatviaТs move to the EU and NATO has not been hampered because a requirement for amending the election law was not included in the directives set by the OSCE Mission to Latvia. Lazo admits that the President's initiative to amend the election laws had facilitated the closure of the OSCE Mission in Latvia but the OSCE Mission set no time limitation for amending the laws.

Viola Lazo, head of the LSDSP Saeima faction after the meeting with the President said that the party believes that it is too hasty to lift the requirement set for deputy candidates and the issue could be reviewed again during the 8th Saeima. According to Lazo, it would be impossible to lift the requirements for the deputy candidates and simultaneously amend the legislation in order to provide protection of the state language during the 7th Saeima. Lazo believes that without amending the laws LatviaТs move to the EU and NATO has not been hampered because a requirement for amending the election law was not included in the directives set by the OSCE Mission to Latvia. Lazo admits that the President's initiative to amend the election laws had facilitated the closure of the OSCE Mission in Latvia but the OSCE Mission set no time limitation for amending the laws.

Latvia's Way (LC) Saeima faction agrees on opening of the Election Law for amendments but backs only a complex approach to amending the law not just crossing out certain requirements, LC faction head Kristiana Lоbane told after the meeting with President Vaira Vонe-Freiberga. Lоbane could not give an unequivocal answer to the question whether LC deputies would back the president's proposal to lift the requirement from the Election Law. This would be decided after the President has turned with her proposal to Saeima, Libane said, adding that the President "can count on a constructive attitude from the LC factionФ. Libane declined to comment whether amendments to the Election Law would be reviewed by the next Saeima elections. The LC faction leader reminded that Latvia's NATO membership is a priority "for us" and the Saeima must review the amendments to the Election Law "if they are the key to NATO."

Latvia's Way (LC) Saeima faction agrees on opening of the Election Law for amendments but backs only a complex approach to amending the law not just crossing out certain requirements, LC faction head Kristiana Lоbane told after the meeting with President Vaira Vонe-Freiberga. Lоbane could not give an unequivocal answer to the question whether LC deputies would back the president's proposal to lift the requirement from the Election Law. This would be decided after the President has turned with her proposal to Saeima, Libane said, adding that the President "can count on a constructive attitude from the LC factionФ. Libane declined to comment whether amendments to the Election Law would be reviewed by the next Saeima elections. The LC faction leader reminded that Latvia's NATO membership is a priority "for us" and the Saeima must review the amendments to the Election Law "if they are the key to NATO."

New Christian Party SaeimaТs faction does not have one opinion about PresidentТs initiative, but PartyТs member Special Task Minister Janis Krumins has voiced support to the initiative.

New Christian Party SaeimaТs faction does not have one opinion about PresidentТs initiative, but PartyТs member Special Task Minister Janis Krumins has voiced support to the initiative.

Vike-Freiberga has not yet decided on her next move on the proposals after yesterdayТs consultations with political forces represented at Saeima, a majority of which does not back them.

Vike-Freiberga has not yet decided on her next move on the proposals after yesterdayТs consultations with political forces represented at Saeima, a majority of which does not back them. Latvijas Vestnesis, Diena, Neatkariga, Chas, Vesti Segodnja, Telegraf, Panorama Latvii

Lauku Avize stresses that the President when talking to MPs voiced for several times that her initiative to remove language requirement for election candidates resulted from the pressure of international community.

Lauku Avize stresses that the President when talking to MPs voiced for several times that her initiative to remove language requirement for election candidates resulted from the pressure of international community.

The initiative of the Latvian President to delete from the Election Law requirement for people running for elections to have top level state language proficiency could help Latvia emerge as leader among NATO candidate countries, Latvian ambassador to the United States believes. "By rejecting these proposals the parliament actually would say no to NATO's values," Latvian embassy to the US quoted ambassador Aivis Ronis as saying adding that "inability to strengthen the role of the Latvian language without restricting election rights will seriously hinder Latvia's dialogue with the Western countries on invitation to NATO as soon as this fall". Ronis said "the OSCE Mission would have still been in Latvia" if President Vaira Vike-Freiberga had not launched discussion on amendments to the election law. "The US supported the mission closure, convinced Europe's countries about it exactly because the president's initiative indicated of maturity of society and understanding of Western democratic values," the ambassador said. The OSCE is considering to appoint a high commissioner to Latvia to continue supervising Latvia's attitude towards the Russian speaking minority, announced the Netherlands Foreign Minister Joziass Artsen. OSCE members met in Lisbon on Monday in order to co-ordinate supervision missions at hot spots around the world. The Portuguese Foreign Minister stated the Balkans, Moldavia, the Caucasus and Central Asia as hot spots for the organisation.

The initiative of the Latvian President to delete from the Election Law requirement for people running for elections to have top level state language proficiency could help Latvia emerge as leader among NATO candidate countries, Latvian ambassador to the United States believes. "By rejecting these proposals the parliament actually would say no to NATO's values," Latvian embassy to the US quoted ambassador Aivis Ronis as saying adding that "inability to strengthen the role of the Latvian language without restricting election rights will seriously hinder Latvia's dialogue with the Western countries on invitation to NATO as soon as this fall". Ronis said "the OSCE Mission would have still been in Latvia" if President Vaira Vike-Freiberga had not launched discussion on amendments to the election law. "The US supported the mission closure, convinced Europe's countries about it exactly because the president's initiative indicated of maturity of society and understanding of Western democratic values," the ambassador said. The OSCE is considering to appoint a high commissioner to Latvia to continue supervising Latvia's attitude towards the Russian speaking minority, announced the Netherlands Foreign Minister Joziass Artsen. OSCE members met in Lisbon on Monday in order to co-ordinate supervision missions at hot spots around the world. The Portuguese Foreign Minister stated the Balkans, Moldavia, the Caucasus and Central Asia as hot spots for the organisation. BNS

Lauku Avize

publishes satire article devoting ironic comments to one of Public Awareness and Citizenship Promotion CampaignТs promotion materials which is in the format of the Latvian citizenТs passport. The УpassportФ is in two languages Ц Russian and Latvian Ц and in the opinion of the columnist the Naturalisation Board which is running the campaign has already introduced two-language system in Latvia. publishes satire article devoting ironic comments to one of Public Awareness and Citizenship Promotion CampaignТs promotion materials which is in the format of the Latvian citizenТs passport. The УpassportФ is in two languages Ц Russian and Latvian Ц and in the opinion of the columnist the Naturalisation Board which is running the campaign has already introduced two-language system in Latvia.

Lauku Avize

interviews newly established State Language Commission chairperson Mara Zalite. She considers that also the representatives of national minority schools should be the members of the Commission. Concerning PresidentТs initiative she says that losses could be even greater if the requirement set for deputy nominees pertaining to their knowledge of the Latvian language in election laws is not abolished. Zalite explained that lifting the requirements has been recommended by the international organizations, which Latvia wants to join. If the requirements are not lifted, Latvia will fail to meet its commitments in these organizations and therefore atvia's entry would be jeopardized. As a result, losses could be even higher, the poet believes. In her opinion, the Commission should work with the following issues: the protection of the Latvian language and its development; the role of the Latvian language after the accession to the EU; Latvian language learning at national minority schools. interviews newly established State Language Commission chairperson Mara Zalite. She considers that also the representatives of national minority schools should be the members of the Commission. Concerning PresidentТs initiative she says that losses could be even greater if the requirement set for deputy nominees pertaining to their knowledge of the Latvian language in election laws is not abolished. Zalite explained that lifting the requirements has been recommended by the international organizations, which Latvia wants to join. If the requirements are not lifted, Latvia will fail to meet its commitments in these organizations and therefore atvia's entry would be jeopardized. As a result, losses could be even higher, the poet believes. In her opinion, the Commission should work with the following issues: the protection of the Latvian language and its development; the role of the Latvian language after the accession to the EU; Latvian language learning at national minority schools. The session of PACE is to be held this week and it is expected that Russia will attack Baltic States for not observing the rights of Russian-speakers in these countries.

The session of PACE is to be held this week and it is expected that Russia will attack Baltic States for not observing the rights of Russian-speakers in these countries. Lauku Avize talks to LatviaТs delegation to PACE head Vaira Paegle. She is going to take part in discussions and ask the PACE Committee of Ministers why the definition for Уnational minorityФ has not been developed yet. Vaira Paegle is also concerned about the possibility that European Democratic group wants to nominate RussiaТs representative Dmitry Ragozin for the post of the chairperson of the Political Committee.

Vesti Segodnja

publishes the press release where the European Commission refuted the assertion that Romano Prodi had demanded for Russian the status of a second official language in Estonia and the other Baltic countries. publishes the press release where the European Commission refuted the assertion that Romano Prodi had demanded for Russian the status of a second official language in Estonia and the other Baltic countries. Lauku AvizeLauku Avize