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

Estonian diplomats told

Estonian diplomats told "DIENA", that the country would not accept Russia's attempts to connect Estonia's policy toward the joining of NATO with the forming of relations between the two countries. Officials at the Estonian Embassy stressed that OSCE principles allow Estonia to choose a security system suiting its needs. According to a statement by the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Estonia does not see any necessity in discussing its legislation with Russia. The country's legislation has been already accepted by the OSCE and the UN, says the statement. A spokesman for the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told "DIENA" that Lithuania would not accept any alternative to NATO membership. Western countries, according to "DIENA" journalists, are working on a security model that would allow the three Baltic states "to feel safe" if they were not admitted to NATO at the first stage of its enlargement. The US Department of State in its statement stressed that it saw no reasons for Russia to link border delimitation issues to the situation of ethnic Russians and Russian-speakers. The Department of State believes that Latvia and Estonia have achieved progress in integrating national minorities and will work on their legislation in co-operation with the OSCE. Diena