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

Director of the State Land Service Guntis Grube in an interview for

Director of the State Land Service Guntis Grube in an interview for "Panorama Latvii" stressed that, according to amendments to the Land Law, non-citizens had the right to purchase land in rural areas. He also mentioned draft acts allowing non-citizens to buy land in towns. According to Grube, the acts will be considered by the Saeima after parliamentary vacations are over. "DIENA" refers to Juridical Director of the Privatization Agency Schadinovs who said that the Cabinet of Ministers might adopt new regulations introducing a free land market in towns and cities. The Cabinet is planning to adopt corresponding regulations in February during the Saeima vacations in accordance with Article 81 of the Satversme. Diena, Panorama Latvii

An article in

An article in "SM" by Leonid Fedoseyev points at the necessity of forming a political nation in Latvia. Fedoseyev singles out the approaches to the issue of non-Latvian population that predominate among Latvian politicians. "Latvijas Cels" suggests assimilating non-Latvians, while "Tevzemei un Brivibai" and other nationalist parties openly name repatriation as the most suitable solution. All the parties, including "Saimnieks" liberals, ignore recommendations given by Latvian and foreign scholars on forming a political nation in the country. Fedoseyev shows that it is only a political nation that can guarantee stability in Latvia. Currently, the majority of the Russian-speaking population is isolated from political life and tends to form a closed community. The most dangerous tendency is a shift of non-Latvians "to the left" under a "right-wing" government supported by ethnic Latvians. The author believes that Latvians who hold the control of "the political machinery" should make first steps toward the forming of a political nation. The concept is not new to Latvia since it was a multinational state once with state-financed education in eight languages and three official languages in the Saeima. Nationalistic policy of Ulmanis' regime in the thirties to a great extend accounts for the loss of independence by Latvia. SM

US Ambassador Napper in his speech at a meeting of a Jewish scientific club said that the US supported Latvia's efforts aimed at joining the EU and NATO. He also stressed the importance of improving Latvia's relations with Russia. "Some people in Latvia are against improving relations with Russia. But they are not numerous," said Napper.

US Ambassador Napper in his speech at a meeting of a Jewish scientific club said that the US supported Latvia's efforts aimed at joining the EU and NATO. He also stressed the importance of improving Latvia's relations with Russia. "Some people in Latvia are against improving relations with Russia. But they are not numerous," said Napper. SM