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

Yesterday Latvian ambassador to the USA Aivis Ronis was summoned to the joint meeting of Saeima's Defense and Foreign Affairs Commissions where he had to inform about Latvia’s movement towards NATO. Politicians also wanted to find out particularly who and when voiced that Latvia should remove language requirement for election candidates from the Election Law for the first time. FF/LNNK G.Krasts voiced that the Parliament was the last one that learned about the USA’s requirement to amend election laws and that these amendments were directly linked to Latvia’s invitation to NATO this fall. The agreement on intensified communication between the MoF and the Saeima was reached. MoF was also charged to examine whether any new requirements, like the ones Russia just put forward for Estonia, could be set for Latvia, as well as MoF has to analyze whether USA partners in Europe will not use such requirements as new conditions for Latvia’s acceptance to NATO.

Yesterday Latvian ambassador to the USA Aivis Ronis was summoned to the joint meeting of Saeima's Defense and Foreign Affairs Commissions where he had to inform about Latvias movement towards NATO. Politicians also wanted to find out particularly who and when voiced that Latvia should remove language requirement for election candidates from the Election Law for the first time. FF/LNNK G.Krasts voiced that the Parliament was the last one that learned about the USAs requirement to amend election laws and that these amendments were directly linked to Latvias invitation to NATO this fall. The agreement on intensified communication between the MoF and the Saeima was reached. MoF was also charged to examine whether any new requirements, like the ones Russia just put forward for Estonia, could be set for Latvia, as well as MoF has to analyze whether USA partners in Europe will not use such requirements as new conditions for Latvias acceptance to NATO. Diena, Neatkariga, Telegraf, Panorama Latvii

Vesti Segodnja and

Vesti Segodnja and Chas believes that other requirements, in particular, providing Latvian non-citizens with rights to participate at municipal elections and ensuring possibilities to study secondary school program in the Russian language, will follow.

Latvian-EU Association Council at the meeting Tuesday in Brussels assessed Latvia's readiness to join the organization, noting in particular the progress in society integration, reported the Latvian Foreign Ministry. The Association Council at its 5th meeting welcomed important steps made by Latvia to facilitate integration of non-citizens and called for continued action, especially through implementation of the Society Integration Program. The Council also noted initiatives aimed at amending election laws as regards language qualifications for candidates and commitment of the Latvian government to go on with public administration and judicial reforms as well as with anti-corruption efforts. Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Indulis Berzins said that he hopes that MPs will be courageous to amend the Law and not because the USA or Europe requires the amendments but because it is important for Latvia and its integration into the EU and NATO.

Latvian-EU Association Council at the meeting Tuesday in Brussels assessed Latvia's readiness to join the organization, noting in particular the progress in society integration, reported the Latvian Foreign Ministry. The Association Council at its 5th meeting welcomed important steps made by Latvia to facilitate integration of non-citizens and called for continued action, especially through implementation of the Society Integration Program. The Council also noted initiatives aimed at amending election laws as regards language qualifications for candidates and commitment of the Latvian government to go on with public administration and judicial reforms as well as with anti-corruption efforts. Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Indulis Berzins said that he hopes that MPs will be courageous to amend the Law and not because the USA or Europe requires the amendments but because it is important for Latvia and its integration into the EU and NATO. Diena, Neatkariga

Amending the Election Law is not my personal wish, President Vaira Vike-Freiberga stressed in an interview on National Radio yesterday. Such a proposal was put forward after the OSCE completed evaluation of Latvia’s legislation, the President said. Both NATO and European Union countries are the members of the OSCE. Countries that support Latvia's move to both these organizations have clearly said that Latvia must observe OSCE's recommendations, explained Vike-Freiberga. The President said that if the OSCE Mission had not been closed in Latvia, Latvia's chances of joining NATO would have been much poorer. "In this context, when questions arose about the closing of the OSCE Mission, I came out with the proposal, as this law is not in order in Latvia, as it should be," said Vike-Freiberga. "Our deputies, our government knew for a long time about it, they "played ostrich” and thought: if no one pays attention to the problem, it would disappear."

Amending the Election Law is not my personal wish, President Vaira Vike-Freiberga stressed in an interview on National Radio yesterday. Such a proposal was put forward after the OSCE completed evaluation of Latvias legislation, the President said. Both NATO and European Union countries are the members of the OSCE. Countries that support Latvia's move to both these organizations have clearly said that Latvia must observe OSCE's recommendations, explained Vike-Freiberga. The President said that if the OSCE Mission had not been closed in Latvia, Latvia's chances of joining NATO would have been much poorer. "In this context, when questions arose about the closing of the OSCE Mission, I came out with the proposal, as this law is not in order in Latvia, as it should be," said Vike-Freiberga. "Our deputies, our government knew for a long time about it, they "played ostrich and thought: if no one pays attention to the problem, it would disappear." Latvijas Vestnesis

Public Awareness Campaign has caused sharp increase in naturalization rate. This past January, compared to December 2001, the number of naturalization applications increased nearly threefold. Askolds Rodins says in Diena’s commentary that naturalization is one of the strongest processes that promotes integration, and it would be desirable for the state that the naturalization rate is faster but does not become a formality, as in such a case, the outcome could be just the opposite. Today the 50,000th citizen will be presented with a copy of the Cabinet of Minister’s decree on Latvian citizenship through naturalization at the Naturalization Board.

Public Awareness Campaign has caused sharp increase in naturalization rate. This past January, compared to December 2001, the number of naturalization applications increased nearly threefold. Askolds Rodins says in Dienas commentary that naturalization is one of the strongest processes that promotes integration, and it would be desirable for the state that the naturalization rate is faster but does not become a formality, as in such a case, the outcome could be just the opposite. Today the 50,000th citizen will be presented with a copy of the Cabinet of Ministers decree on Latvian citizenship through naturalization at the Naturalization Board. Diena

The working group of ruling parties which is tasked to develop a joint proposal concerning the amendments to the Satversme to secure the status of the state language has voiced a political support to FF/LNNKs proposal to include in the Satversme the norm providing for that only Latvian citizens have the rights to participate at municipal elections. However, politicians did not considered that at the same time the task group of the Government has developed the amendments to the Law on Municipalities, which provides for that EU citizens are also entitled to participate at municipal elections. The Committee of the Government decided to postpone the revision of the amendments to the Law on Municipalities.

Diena

Vesti Segodnja

informs about the draft Law on European Parliament Elections emphasizing the norm, which provides for that EU citizens will have rights to participate at municipal elections in Latvia. informs about the draft Law on European Parliament Elections emphasizing the norm, which provides for that EU citizens will have rights to participate at municipal elections in Latvia. Latvian Social Democrat Workers Party chairperson Juris Bojars introduces with his party’s proposals regarding the amendments to the Constitution to secure the status of the state language.

Latvian Social Democrat Workers Party chairperson Juris Bojars introduces with his partys proposals regarding the amendments to the Constitution to secure the status of the state language. Neatkariga

The members of Daugavpils society has sent an open letter to the President stating that Daugavpils officials ignore the Latvian language and do not observe the Law on the State Language.

Neatkariga

Vesti Segodnja

talks to party New Force leader Y.Zuravlev. His party stands for neutrality between the West and East and believes that it is the last time to get rid of dictatorship of western countries. Regarding the language issue, Zuravlev says that the national referendum about awarding the Russian language with the status of the second state language should be held and that all education programs at Russian schools should be in Russian. Partys leader does not see a possibility to co-operate with FHRUL as he believes that they are the same as ruling parties – only interested in getting more for themselves. talks to party New Force leader Y.Zuravlev. His party stands for neutrality between the West and East and believes that it is the last time to get rid of dictatorship of western countries. Regarding the language issue, Zuravlev says that the national referendum about awarding the Russian language with the status of the second state language should be held and that all education programs at Russian schools should be in Russian. Party’s leader does not see a possibility to co-operate with FHRUL as he believes that “they are the same as ruling parties – only interested in getting more for themselves.”

Chas

publishes the summary of on-line forum with Naturalization Board head E.Aldermane. The questions are mainly about the recent scandal concerning the selling of Latvian citizenship by two Naturalization Board employees. Aldermane assures that these were just exceptional cases and that the investigation by the Constitution Protection Office has established that the Naturalization Board is not a corrupted institution. She also believes that the scandal is exaggerated and artificially kindled. publishes the summary of on-line forum with Naturalization Board head E.Aldermane. The questions are mainly about the recent scandal concerning the selling of Latvian citizenship by two Naturalization Board employees. Aldermane assures that these were just exceptional cases and that the investigation by the Constitution Protection Office has established that the Naturalization Board is not a corrupted institution. She also believes that the scandal is exaggerated and artificially kindled.