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

Minister of Economics Guntars Krasts and Director General of the Privatization Agency Janis Naglis agreed on the procedure of appointing Directors of the Agency. The Minister of Economics suggested replacing the four Directors to fill the vacancies through a contest while the Director General of the Agency insisted on all four Directors retaining their offices. Prime-Minister Skele also objected to replacing all the Directors seeing it as an attempt to bring the Agency under

Minister of Economics Guntars Krasts and Director General of the Privatization Agency Janis Naglis agreed on the procedure of appointing Directors of the Agency. The Minister of Economics suggested replacing the four Directors to fill the vacancies through a contest while the Director General of the Agency insisted on all four Directors retaining their offices. Prime-Minister Skele also objected to replacing all the Directors seeing it as an attempt to bring the Agency under "Tevzemei un Brivibai" control. The agreement between the Minister of Economics and the Director General of the Privatization Agency provides for replacing two Directors and holding a contest for the vacancies. The contest will be held by an independent auditing company. Diena

President Ulmanis in an interview for

President Ulmanis in an interview for "DIENA" said that EU Commissioner van den Broek and OSCE High Commissioner van der Stoel had not interpreted his suggestion to "open naturalization windows" to non-citizens as a call for amending the Citizenship Law. According to Mr. Ulmanis, both Mr. van den Broek and Mr. van der Stoel stressed that the Citizenship Law complied with European standards. The Commissioners did not criticize or press upon the President. President Ulmanis noted that Mr. van der Stoel, while speaking about complicated history tests, pointed at the question on the President's powers and duties. Mr. Ulmanis had to agree that he himself would have had problems while answering the question. President Ulmanis believes that naturalization of non-citizens could prevent the forming of two isolated communities in Latvia. He agreed that some of employment restrictions were pointless. Still, according to Mr. Ulmanis, time was needed to cancel some of them. Diena

Russian ambassador to Latvia Alexander Udaltsov. Mr. Udaltsov confirmed that Prime-Minister Skele's visit to Moscow was canceled after that Saeima adopted the Declaration on Occupation. He did not exclude the possibility of Mr. Skele's visit to Moscow during the meeting of the Joint Committee in May. The Russian Ambassador pointed at the difference in priorities pursued by the two countries. Latvia focuses on economic aspects while Russia sees the situation of Russian-speakers as a priority issue. Mr. Udaltsov stressed that Russia insisted on Latvia "implementing UN, Council of Europe, Baltic Council and OSCE recommendations to a full extent." He mentioned his meeting with OSCE High Commissioner van der Stoel who criticized naturalization history tests for being too complicated. Ambassador Udaltsov noted that test questions "were ideologically charged" and could be unacceptable to many ethnic Russians. When interviewed on security issues, Mr. Udaltsov explained that Russia saw no reason for NATO enlargement and would prefer the OSCE to become the basis for security in Europe.

Russian ambassador to Latvia Alexander Udaltsov. Mr. Udaltsov confirmed that Prime-Minister Skele's visit to Moscow was canceled after that Saeima adopted the Declaration on Occupation. He did not exclude the possibility of Mr. Skele's visit to Moscow during the meeting of the Joint Committee in May. The Russian Ambassador pointed at the difference in priorities pursued by the two countries. Latvia focuses on economic aspects while Russia sees the situation of Russian-speakers as a priority issue. Mr. Udaltsov stressed that Russia insisted on Latvia "implementing UN, Council of Europe, Baltic Council and OSCE recommendations to a full extent." He mentioned his meeting with OSCE High Commissioner van der Stoel who criticized naturalization history tests for being too complicated. Ambassador Udaltsov noted that test questions "were ideologically charged" and could be unacceptable to many ethnic Russians. When interviewed on security issues, Mr. Udaltsov explained that Russia saw no reason for NATO enlargement and would prefer the OSCE to become the basis for security in Europe. Diena

Writer Marina Kostenetskaya in an article for

Writer Marina Kostenetskaya in an article for "NEATKARIGA" analyzes the reasons for non-citizens' indifference toward naturalization. She believes that a large part of non-citizens is offended by politicians claiming all non-Latvians not to be loyal to independent Latvia. Mrs. Kostenetskaya reminds that Latvia would not have gained its independence through the 1990 referendum if not for Russian-speakers' votes. Middle-aged non-citizens often consider complicated history tests to be humiliating, writes Mrs. Kostenetskaya.