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 Review

The Prime Minister G.Krasts will ask for a vote of confidence next Thursday. It was agreed upon at the meeting of the government forming factions. Now the fate of the government depends on the decision of the Council of

The Prime Minister G.Krasts will ask for a vote of confidence next Thursday. It was agreed upon at the meeting of the government forming factions. Now the fate of the government depends on the decision of the Council of Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK whether to support the party faction opinion on citizenship issues. The Chairman of LSZ/KDS faction R.Dilba told Diena that crisis could arise if this Council objected to the amendments accepted by the Co-operation Board.

The Prime Minister informed that the government forming factions had agreed to elaborate additional proposals to the government declaration, agreement, as well as to nominate candidates to the vacant positions of ministers till their Friday meeting.

The Prime Minister informed that the government forming factions had agreed to elaborate additional proposals to the government declaration, agreement, as well as to nominate candidates to the vacant positions of ministers till their Friday meeting. Diena, Neatkariga, Jauna Avize, Chas

On Wednesday, the government forming factions submitted to the Saeima the amendments to the Law on Citizenship annulling the “window” mechanism, easing the process of granting citizenship to children born in families of non-citizens in Latvia and granting extraordinary rights to get naturalized to Polish people. They requested to consider those proposals at Thursday meeting. TB/LNNK, LC and LSZ/KDS agreed last week that Naturalization windows would be annulled only for non-citizen born in Latvia, and it was not anticipated to repeal the norm stating that amendments became valid only after a year after they had been adopted. Nevertheless, the factions gave up their previous decision and supported complete annulment of the “window” mechanism as well as repealing of this norm. The decision was also unanimously supported by TB/LNNK faction.

On Wednesday, the government forming factions submitted to the Saeima the amendments to the Law on Citizenship annulling the window mechanism, easing the process of granting citizenship to children born in families of non-citizens in Latvia and granting extraordinary rights to get naturalized to Polish people. They requested to consider those proposals at Thursday meeting. TB/LNNK, LC and LSZ/KDS agreed last week that Naturalization windows would be annulled only for non-citizen born in Latvia, and it was not anticipated to repeal the norm stating that amendments became valid only after a year after they had been adopted. Nevertheless, the factions gave up their previous decision and supported complete annulment of the window mechanism as well as repealing of this norm. The decision was also unanimously supported by TB/LNNK faction. Diena, Neatkariga, Rigas Balss

It was announced that Latvian MFA State Secretary M.Riekstins will meet Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs A.Avdeyev in Brussels on Thursday. It will be the first meeting of MFA representatives of such level since tension between these two countries began. It is anticipated that both officials will discuss the current relations between those two countries and exchange opinions on perspective of co-operation. The meeting will take place after repeated Latvian appeals to renew the dialogue between Russia and Latvia.

It was announced that Latvian MFA State Secretary M.Riekstins will meet Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs A.Avdeyev in Brussels on Thursday. It will be the first meeting of MFA representatives of such level since tension between these two countries began. It is anticipated that both officials will discuss the current relations between those two countries and exchange opinions on perspective of co-operation. The meeting will take place after repeated Latvian appeals to renew the dialogue between Russia and Latvia. Diena, Neatkariga, Jauna Avize, SM

There was unofficial information that the Saeima deputies from

There was unofficial information that the Saeima deputies from Latvijas Cels - Dz.Abikis and J.Lagzdins plan to leave this party and join the newly established Popular Party led by A.Skele. When being asked about his, both deputies neither affirmed nor refused it. Vakara Zinas

Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a positive opinion on the planned PACE observers visit to Latvian that will start on April 28. The observers will meet with representatives of the Saeima , government and NGOs.

Diena, Jauna Avize

The Prime Minister G.Krasts reported on the governmental plan to stabilise the economic situation in Latvia. He started with statements that national GDP had raised for 6.5%, export - for 20%. After having listened to this report, deputies started a long and garrulous discussion. As it seemed yesterday, the government had a minor but a majority.

Jauna Avize, Bizness & Baltiya, Chas

The newspaper Lauku Avize published an article on OSCE High Commissioner on Minorities Max van der Stoel describing his career and present duties.

The director of the firm Merks contacted with the representatives of Russian Community in Latvia (RCL), who blocked the entrance to the building of Peter the Great yesterday, and learned that there was planned a meeting of the community member meeting with representatives of the government. It was difficult to predict the results of this meeting, but the President of the Community promised that the blockade would be stopped and constructors could start working. Rigas Balss

Russian speaking newspapers have more updated information on this, and they affirm that RCL plan to stay in the building.

Russian speaking newspapers have more updated information on this, and they affirm that RCL plan to stay in the building. SM, Chas, Panorama Latvii

At the meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Nordic countries, the ministers proposed the Baltic states to ensure their security through a joint effort. In order to increase mutual openness, Sweden and Finland proposed their neighbouring countries in the region to inspect those military objects, located on their territories, that had not been named in international agreements. Along with this, the ministers suggested to make a list of activities (also military) within the framework of OSCE that would favour co-operation and trust on the regional level.

Bizness & Baltiya, Panorama Latvii Russian Duma at its yesterday’s meeting charged two committees to elaborate proposals to the government for taking additional steps to prevent discrimination of Russian speakers in Latvia. The initiator of this idea was the leader of one of the deputy groups - N.Rizhkov.

Russian Duma at its yesterdays meeting charged two committees to elaborate proposals to the government for taking additional steps to prevent discrimination of Russian speakers in Latvia. The initiator of this idea was the leader of one of the deputy groups - N.Rizhkov. Bizness & Baltiya, Chas