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

Yesterday President Ulmanis had a meeting with representatives of

Yesterday President Ulmanis had a meeting with representatives of Saeima factions. The discussion focused mainly on the Citizenship Law. The President told the press that Latvia was not ready to amend the Citizenship Law. Faction members and the President had to admit that the Law could not be amended since the agreement between the governing factions and the Prime-Minister requires that any amendments to the Citizenship Law should be supported by all the factions. "Tevzemei un Brivibai" and the LNNK will not agree to any amendments. According to "TB" leader Maris Grinblats, participants of the meeting believe that amending the Law would not facilitate naturalization. "Latvijas Cels" and "Saimnieks" representatives suggested to change the naturalization procedure without amending the Citizenship Law. Such changes could include canceling the naturalization fee. Several participants of the meeting said that they were expecting definite suggestions from the President. Diena

Director of the Human Rights Institute of the Latvian University Ineta Ziemele in an article for

Director of the Human Rights Institute of the Latvian University Ineta Ziemele in an article for "DIENA" analyzed the compliance of the Latvian legislation with international human rights norms. She agrees that a sovereign state is free to establish its own naturalization procedures. Still, in certain cases these procedures are to comply with international norms. Such norms require that citizenship should be granted to all children born on the territory of a country irrespective of their parents' citizenship. Another discrepancy between the Latvian legislation and international norms, according to Mrs. Ziemele, are restrictions of non-citizens' political rights. Non-citizens in Latvia cannot be considered as foreigners in terms of the European Human Rights Convention that allows to restrict certain political rights of foreigners. Restrictions can be applied to individuals who entered the country after the adoption of corresponding laws. Mrs. Ziemele also criticized the Citizenship Law for ambiguity allowing an arbitrary treatment of its provisions. Diena

An article in

An article in "SM" suggests that "Commissioner Espersen and Commissioner van der Stoel would forget the existence of Riga" if not for a constant Russia's pressure on Latvia. The author of the article suggests that Latvian nationalists will oppose the country's integration into Europe that would lead to the inflow of foreign labor and press out the Latvian language.

Denmark introduced a non-visa entrance regime for holders of new Latvian alien passports. 

Denmark introduced a non-visa entrance regime for holders of new Latvian alien passports.B&B

The

The LNNK Council and Saeima faction nominated Cesvaine Mayor Valdis Kapralis for Minister of Defense. Today the candidature will be discussed by the Farmers' Union/the Union of Christian Democrats. Diena

The

The LNNK faction voted for expelling LNNK Chairman Juris Dobelis from the faction. Most of its members object to merging with "Tevzemei un Brivibai" while Dobelis was among the supporters of the idea. LNNK faction Chairman Aleksandrs Kirsteins recently was expelled from the LNNK. He said that the LNNK/the Green Party faction will not be influenced by the LNNK merging with "TB". Diena