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.

• Committee of the Cabinet Minister supports draft amendments which provide inclusion of the loyalty criteria in the Citizenship Law
• Riga City Council does not issue permission to the Russian National Union to organise the ‘March of Resistance
• Political scientist Zanete Ozolina: state should provide a possibility for non-citizens to express their views at municipal level
• Vesti Segodnya comments on the human right report 2004 published by the LCHRES
• Latvias Way and Latvian First Party may join for the next Saeimas elections
• Israeli President is on the official visit to Latvia
• Latvian President becomes a patroness of the International Forum on the Holocaust

Yesterday the Committee of the Cabinet of Ministers supported draft amendments to the Citizenship Law, which provide the inclusion of the loyalty criteria in naturalisation procedure. Loyalty of a naturalisation applicant will be evaluated by the Naturalisation Board staff, however, if their decision is not clear, the government would take the final decision. The draft amendments do not provide what is loyalty. The Minister of Justice Solvita Aboltina states that ‘there is no common evaluation criteria of one’s loyalty, each applicant should be evaluated on individual basis.’ The Latvian National Human Rights Office states that ‘the introduction of the loyalty criteria brings in subjectivity in the Law and provides the ruling parties with a possibility to take tendentious decisions. The Saeima left-wing opposition parties voted against the introduction of the loyalty criteria in the Law.

Yesterday the Committee of the Cabinet of Ministers supported draft amendments to the Citizenship Law, which provide the inclusion of the loyalty criteria in naturalisation procedure. Loyalty of a naturalisation applicant will be evaluated by the Naturalisation Board staff, however, if their decision is not clear, the government would take the final decision. The draft amendments do not provide what is loyalty. The Minister of Justice Solvita Aboltina states that ‘there is no common evaluation criteria of ones loyalty, each applicant should be evaluated on individual basis. The Latvian National Human Rights Office states that ‘the introduction of the loyalty criteria brings in subjectivity in the Law and provides the ruling parties with a possibility to take tendentious decisions. The Saeima left-wing opposition parties voted against the introduction of the loyalty criteria in the Law. Latvijas Avize, NRA, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

The Committee of the Riga Council has not issued confirmation to the application submitted by the Russian National Union Rodina. The Union wanted to hold ‘The March of Resistance’ and demand granting the status of a Latvian citizen to all non-citizens in Latvia and the status of the official language to Russian. The spokesperson of the Riga City Council says that according to the information at the disposal of police the applicant of the march Eduards Goncharevs has been imposed administrative fines for several times and according to the Law on Meetings, Marches and Pickets such persons may not file an application to organise such events.

The Committee of the Riga Council has not issued confirmation to the application submitted by the Russian National Union Rodina. The Union wanted to hold ‘The March of Resistance and demand granting the status of a Latvian citizen to all non-citizens in Latvia and the status of the official language to Russian. The spokesperson of the Riga City Council says that according to the information at the disposal of police the applicant of the march Eduards Goncharevs has been imposed administrative fines for several times and according to the Law on Meetings, Marches and Pickets such persons may not file an application to organise such events. Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Newspapers report that yesterday the study ‘Democracy Audit,’ which evaluates the level of democracy in a number of areas in Latvia was presented to the international community in Latvia. The study was conducted under auspices of the Strategic Analysis Committee established by the President. The Chair of the Committee Zanete Ozolina admits that Latvian legislation is in line with democratic values, however, more efforts should be made to implement and observe these norms in practice. She refers to the Citizenship Law and argues that the Law is ‘absolutely democratic… however, there are thousands of non-citizens in Latvia. The state is not democratic, if she does not talk to these people… They should be given a possibility to express their views at municipal level.’

Newspapers report that yesterday the study ‘Democracy Audit, which evaluates the level of democracy in a number of areas in Latvia was presented to the international community in Latvia. The study was conducted under auspices of the Strategic Analysis Committee established by the President. The Chair of the Committee Zanete Ozolina admits that Latvian legislation is in line with democratic values, however, more efforts should be made to implement and observe these norms in practice. She refers to the Citizenship Law and argues that the Law is ‘absolutely democratic… however, there are thousands of non-citizens in Latvia. The state is not democratic, if she does not talk to these people… They should be given a possibility to express their views at municipal level. Chas, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya comments on the human rights report of 2004 developed by the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies. The author of the article believes that in several places the report provides tendentious information about left-wing parties and Russian organisations.

Diena reports that the party Latvias Way (ruling party of former parliaments) and the Latvian First Party may run for the next Saeima elections together. The leader of Latvias Way Andris Berzins, former prime minister, states that the final decision has not been taken either by Latvias Way or the Latvian First Party, however, according to Andris Berzins, both parties have similar views on economic, national and ethnic integration issues. Stances of the parties differ on the issues concerning conservative Christian values, however, as admits one of the leaders of the Latvian First Party Juris Lujans ‘parties have more in common that dividing. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

The President of Israel Moshe Katsav is on the official visit to Latvia. During the meeting with the Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga the importance of learning about the Holocaust was discussed, while during meetings with representatives of the Jewish community in Latvia issues, such as heritage of the Jewish culture and history, were discussed.

The President of Israel Moshe Katsav is on the official visit to Latvia. During the meeting with the Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga the importance of learning about the Holocaust was discussed, while during meetings with representatives of the Jewish community in Latvia issues, such as heritage of the Jewish culture and history, were discussed. Telegraf reports that one of the main points on the Israeli Presidents agenda is the fight against anti-Semitism. Chas, Telegraf

The Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga accepted the invitation of the International Forum on the Holocaust to become its patroness. The Latvian President believes that the invitation is acknowledgment of Latvia’s contribution in dealing with the Holocaust.

The Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga accepted the invitation of the International Forum on the Holocaust to become its patroness. The Latvian President believes that the invitation is acknowledgment of Latvias contribution in dealing with the Holocaust. Diena