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

Press Report

Latvian scholar Artis Pabriks in an article for

Latvian scholar Artis Pabriks in an article for "DIENA" analyzes the social and political situation in Latvia. He criticizes Latvian politicians for being near-sighted and not able to make serious decisions. The long delay in adopting the Citizenship Law is an example of these traits. The author of the article sees the agreement between the governing factions on not amending the Citizenship Law as an attempt to escape from resolving a problem vital for Latvia. Mr. Pabriks criticizes "the window mechanism" for being absurd allowing a sixteen year-old school-boy with no political convictions to obtain citizenship instead of "a thirty-five year old Ukrainian who speaks Latvian" and defended independence in 1991. Mr. Pabriks believes that the Citizenship Law and naturalization procedures do not serve the interests of Latvia. He points at a decreasing emigration rate leaving no hopes for those who expect non-Latvians to leave the country. One of the solutions to the problem could be opening naturalization windows. The Latvian society should be more attractive to stimulate naturalization of non-citizens. Diena

President Yeltsin addressed Mr. Ulmanis with a letter marking a general improvement in relation between the two countries. The letter expresses hope for further development of co-operation between Latvia and Russia. The letter was handed over to Minister of Foreign Affairs Birkavs by Russian Ambassador Udaltsov who noted that "accomplishing the naturalization process" would be an essential contribution to further improvement of relations between the two countries.

President Yeltsin addressed Mr. Ulmanis with a letter marking a general improvement in relation between the two countries. The letter expresses hope for further development of co-operation between Latvia and Russia. The letter was handed over to Minister of Foreign Affairs Birkavs by Russian Ambassador Udaltsov who noted that "accomplishing the naturalization process" would be an essential contribution to further improvement of relations between the two countries. Diena, B&B