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

Russian Border Guard Forces Director Konstantin Tocky is on working visit in Latvia. Yesterday he held the meeting with Latvian National Border Guard Forces Chief Gunars Dabolins. No "Berlin Wall" will be built on the eastern border of Latvia after it joins the EU and NATO, but measures will be taken to fight illegal migration and crime. Russia in its turn will enforce border control, commented both officials after the meeting. Tocky admitted that Russia would reinforce control on the Latvian-Russian border following Latvia's would-be accession into the EU and NATO. Control however will be more liberal, the Russian official voiced.

Russian Border Guard Forces Director Konstantin Tocky is on working visit in Latvia. Yesterday he held the meeting with Latvian National Border Guard Forces Chief Gunars Dabolins. No "Berlin Wall" will be built on the eastern border of Latvia after it joins the EU and NATO, but measures will be taken to fight illegal migration and crime. Russia in its turn will enforce border control, commented both officials after the meeting. Tocky admitted that Russia would reinforce control on the Latvian-Russian border following Latvia's would-be accession into the EU and NATO. Control however will be more liberal, the Russian official voiced. Latvijas Vestnesis, Diena, Neatkariga, Chas, Vesti Segodnja, Panorama Latvii

The working group of the ruling coalition parties conceptually agreed on the amendments to four provisions under the Latvian Constitution to strengthen the status of the Latvian language. The working group suggests to introduce the following amendments:

The working group of the ruling coalition parties conceptually agreed on the amendments to four provisions under the Latvian Constitution to strengthen the status of the Latvian language. The working group suggests to introduce the following amendments:

• the Saeima itself is entitled to examine the mandates of its members
• a MP when undertaking his/her duties takes a solemn oath in the state language
• the working language in the Saeima is the Latvian language
• the working language at state and municipal institutions is the Latvian language

Wording of the final proposal will be drafted by the end of the week and discussed by decision making bodies of parties before submission to the Parliament.

Wording of the final proposal will be drafted by the end of the week and discussed by decision making bodies of parties before submission to the Parliament. Diena, Telegraf, Lauku Avize

Lauku Avize Board member Voldemars Krustins writes about PresidentТs initiative to lift language requirement for election candidates from the Election Law. Krustins agrees that the requirement could be abolished, however, he blames the President for not succeeding with the removal as she had to prepare deputies and society before asking to abolish the requirement. Krustins writes ironically about the readiness of Latvian top politicians to listen and implement all requirements set by foreign countries.

Lauku Avize Board member Voldemars Krustins writes about PresidentТs initiative to lift language requirement for election candidates from the Election Law. Krustins agrees that the requirement could be abolished, however, he blames the President for not succeeding with the removal as she had to prepare deputies and society before asking to abolish the requirement. Krustins writes ironically about the readiness of Latvian top politicians to listen and implement all requirements set by foreign countries.

Lauku Avize

informs about the conference УThe Role of National-Cultural Communities in the Integration of CulturesФ. informs about the conference УThe Role of National-Cultural Communities in the Integration of CulturesФ.

Lauku Avize

talks to Naturalization Board Deputy Head Janis Kahanovics about the recent scandal concerning the selling of Latvian citizenship by two Naturalization Board employees. He characterizes the both involved as very good and qualified employees and considers that their main reason for violating the law were the low salaries and financial problems. Kahanovics does not really see the sense of this bribing mechanism as the applicants who bribed the two Commission members still had to know the language and pass other tests without of the support of the bribed Examination Commission members. talks to Naturalization Board Deputy Head Janis Kahanovics about the recent scandal concerning the selling of Latvian citizenship by two Naturalization Board employees. He characterizes the both involved as very good and qualified employees and considers that their main reason for violating the law were the low salaries and financial problems. Kahanovics does not really see the sense of this bribing mechanism as the applicants who bribed the two Commission members still had to know the language and pass other tests without of the support of the bribed Examination Commission members.

Lauku Avize

publishes a long article about the activities of LatviaТs National Bolsheviks. The newspaper notes that in the interviews for Russian press bolsheviks do not attempt to conceal their that they are not grieving the shooting death of Judge Janis Laukroze who was the judge in the case of national bolshevists occupying PeterТs Church. PartyТs leader Lindermanis does not comment how they are going to fulfil the given promises, such as, give citizenship to everybody and write off debts for utilities payments, however, the leader claims that the number of his supporters already amounts to several hundreds. National Security Commission chairperson A.Panteпejevs believes that national bolshevists could be charged with criminal violations under Latvian Criminal Violation Code. publishes a long article about the activities of LatviaТs National Bolsheviks. The newspaper notes that in the interviews for Russian press bolsheviks do not attempt to conceal their that they are not grieving the shooting death of Judge Janis Laukroze who was the judge in the case of national bolshevists occupying PeterТs Church. PartyТs leader Lindermanis does not comment how they are going to fulfil the given promises, such as, give citizenship to everybody and write off debts for utilities payments, however, the leader claims that the number of his supporters already amounts to several hundreds. National Security Commission chairperson A.Panteпejevs believes that national bolshevists could be charged with criminal violations under Latvian Criminal Violation Code.

Vecernaya Riga

interviews Naturalization Board Head Eizenija Aldermane. Aldermane informs about the course of investigation at the Naturalization Board. When asked what she thinks about the suggestions to dismiss her Aldermane replies that she does not know any case when a head of organization is dismissed because his/her employee being bribed. She also informs that the number of people who want to naturalize has increased after the scandal. interviews Naturalization Board Head Eizenija Aldermane. Aldermane informs about the course of investigation at the Naturalization Board. When asked what she thinks about the suggestions to dismiss her Aldermane replies that she does not know any case when a head of organization is dismissed because his/her employee being bribed. She also informs that the number of people who want to naturalize has increased after the scandal.

Chas

informs that it is still possible to find advertisements promising to obtain Latvian citizenship for money. This time the journalist calls to the company УEuroshore&PartnersФ which advertised selling of Latvian citizenship for USD 20 000 in the newspaper informs that it is still possible to find advertisements promising to obtain Latvian citizenship for money. This time the journalist calls to the company УEuroshore&Partners;Ф which advertised selling of Latvian citizenship for USD 20 000 in the newspaper Komersant-VlastjKomersant-Vlastj. When Constitution Protection Office Head Lainis Kamaldiтр is asked why such advertisements keep appearing, he provides 3 explanations whether it is simple fraud or it is well organized campaign to degrade Latvia or Уthere is no smoke without fireФ. . When Constitution Protection Office Head Lainis Kamaldiтр is asked why such advertisements keep appearing, he provides 3 explanations whether it is simple fraud or it is well organized campaign to degrade Latvia or Уthere is no smoke without fireФ.

Chas

looks into the reasons why Russian Party has practically ceased its activities. As the main argument is the unwillingness of partyТs chairperson Gavrilov to form coalition with FHRUL, as well as his authoritarian leadership style. The newspaper concludes that not all establishments and organizations which have name УRussianФ in their titles do protect the interests of the Russians. looks into the reasons why Russian Party has practically ceased its activities. As the main argument is the unwillingness of partyТs chairperson Gavrilov to form coalition with FHRUL, as well as his authoritarian leadership style. The newspaper concludes that not all establishments and organizations which have name УRussianФ in their titles do protect the interests of the Russians.

Chas

editorial is about the proposals of the Saeima ruling partiesТ working group concerning the amendments to the Constitution to secure the status of the state language. The columnist concludes that this time the opposite forces, that is the ruling parties of the Saeima and Russian extremists, have one stance as these both parties are the ones, which fight against the removal of these norms, resultantly they are against LatviaТs membership to the EU and NATO. editorial is about the proposals of the Saeima ruling partiesТ working group concerning the amendments to the Constitution to secure the status of the state language. The columnist concludes that this time the opposite forces, that is the ruling parties of the Saeima and Russian extremists, have one stance as these both parties are the ones, which fight against the removal of these norms, resultantly they are against LatviaТs membership to the EU and NATO.

Chas

talks with Democracy Party Chairperson Andris Ameriks. Democracy Party has recently established the first pre-election alliance with the Labor Party. When informing about his partyТs program, Ameriks says that his party supports the removal of language requirement for election candidates, he also believes that the transfer of bilingual secondary schools to studies in Latvian as the main instruction language in 2004 is premature and should be postponed. The party supports countryТs membership to the EU and NATO as well as building good relationship with Russia. talks with Democracy Party Chairperson Andris Ameriks. Democracy Party has recently established the first pre-election alliance with the Labor Party. When informing about his partyТs program, Ameriks says that his party supports the removal of language requirement for election candidates, he also believes that the transfer of bilingual secondary schools to studies in Latvian as the main instruction language in 2004 is premature and should be postponed. The party supports countryТs membership to the EU and NATO as well as building good relationship with Russia.

Vesti Segodnja

columnist comments on the probable, in his opinion absurd situation in the future when Latvia becomes the member of the EU and any citizen of other EU member states is entitled to participate at municipal elections in Latvia but Latvian non-citizens do not have this right. The columnist also notes that all ruling right parties have included in their pre-election programs the provision depriving non-citizens the rights to vote at municipal elections and that FF/LLNK has also suggested to introduce the norm in the Satversme which provides for that only citizens are entitled to vote at municipal elections. columnist comments on the probable, in his opinion absurd situation in the future when Latvia becomes the member of the EU and any citizen of other EU member states is entitled to participate at municipal elections in Latvia but Latvian non-citizens do not have this right. The columnist also notes that all ruling right parties have included in their pre-election programs the provision depriving non-citizens the rights to vote at municipal elections and that FF/LLNK has also suggested to introduce the norm in the Satversme which provides for that only citizens are entitled to vote at municipal elections. Social Democrats Welfare Party has launched the collection of signatures in support of holding a national referendum concerning LatviaТs membership to the EU and NATO simultaneously with 8th Saeima elections. The party has asked the opinion of other political parties. The majority of the parties views the idea rather reserved, only LatviaТs Way admits that they have considered holding 8th Saeima elections and national referendum at the same time.

Social Democrats Welfare Party has launched the collection of signatures in support of holding a national referendum concerning LatviaТs membership to the EU and NATO simultaneously with 8th Saeima elections. The party has asked the opinion of other political parties. The majority of the parties views the idea rather reserved, only LatviaТs Way admits that they have considered holding 8th Saeima elections and national referendum at the same time. Telegraf