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 United States will grant 500 thousand US dollars for the implementation of the Citizenship Law amendments, Valdis Birkavs told after the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the CBSS in Denmark. The money will go mainly to the providing of the Latvian language teaching. Press Service of the State President informs that the State President has received a letter from the United States President Bill Clinton in which he expresses a hope that Latvians will unite in order to honour the decision of the parliament and support the complete and fast implementation of the amended Citizenship Law. The United States President called the amendments to the Citizenship Law important and far-seeing and in conformity with the OSCE recommendations. The Swedish Foreign Affairs Minister also welcomed the adoption of the Citizenship Law amendments, and said that they correspond with the OSCE recommendations.

The United States will grant 500 thousand US dollars for the implementation of the Citizenship Law amendments, Valdis Birkavs told after the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the CBSS in Denmark. The money will go mainly to the providing of the Latvian language teaching. Press Service of the State President informs that the State President has received a letter from the United States President Bill Clinton in which he expresses a hope that Latvians will unite in order to honour the decision of the parliament and support the complete and fast implementation of the amended Citizenship Law. The United States President called the amendments to the Citizenship Law important and far-seeing and in conformity with the OSCE recommendations. The Swedish Foreign Affairs Minister also welcomed the adoption of the Citizenship Law amendments, and said that they correspond with the OSCE recommendations. Diena, B&B

Yesterday the Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Valdis Birkavs told press that Russia considers a possibility to terminate the status of the favourable economic relations with Latvia. It was announced by the Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Yevgeny Primakov at the meeting of the CBSS Foreign Affairs Ministers in Denmark. Russia was the only country of the CBSS which did not welcome the Citizenship Law amendments. The Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister said that there have not been changes in Russia's position towards Latvia even though Latvia has taken considerable steps.

Yesterday the Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Valdis Birkavs told press that Russia considers a possibility to terminate the status of the favourable economic relations with Latvia. It was announced by the Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Yevgeny Primakov at the meeting of the CBSS Foreign Affairs Ministers in Denmark. Russia was the only country of the CBSS which did not welcome the Citizenship Law amendments. The Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister said that there have not been changes in Russia's position towards Latvia even though Latvia has taken considerable steps. Diena, B&B

The State President Guntis Ulmanis will promulgate the Criminal Law which keeps the death penalty. The Legal Advisor of the State President Vineta Uskane told 

The State President Guntis Ulmanis will promulgate the Criminal Law which keeps the death penalty. The Legal Advisor of the State President Vineta Uskane toldDiena that the Saeima will have to decide on the death penalty on two more occasions -first, when ratifying the 6 Supplementary Protocol of the European Convention on Human Rights, and secondly, when considering the second part of the Constitution which will include the provision on the rights to life.

Today the request to suspend the promulgation of the Citizenship Law amendments might be submitted to the State President. As the Head of the Saeima Legal Office Gunars Kusins told

Today the request to suspend the promulgation of the Citizenship Law amendments might be submitted to the State President. As the Head of the Saeima Legal Office Gunars Kusins told Diena, the State President will have to announce the suspension of the promulgation not later than the eight day after the adoption of the law. The Central Election Commission will announce to the local election commissions about the starting of the canvassing of the signatures which should be done within two months. If the necessary one-tenth of the electors signs the request the referendum, within three days the referendum has to be announced. The Head of the Central Election Commission Arnis Cimdars said that in case there will be a referendum, it might take place at the day of the 7th Saeima elections on 3 October. And it will cost approximately 1,047 million Lats.

Yesterday the State President had a round table discussion about the formation of the civic society in Latvia in which participated US Ambassador and the EU Ambassador to Latvia, Head of the Center for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Nils Muiznieks, Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane, and others. The main topic of the discussion was the integration program being prepared by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Yesterday the State President had a round table discussion about the formation of the civic society in Latvia in which participated US Ambassador and the EU Ambassador to Latvia, Head of the Center for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Nils Muiznieks, Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane, and others. The main topic of the discussion was the integration program being prepared by the Cabinet of Ministers. Neatkariga

Jauna Avize publishes the opinion of Janis Straume, Chair of Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK faction, about the Citizenship Law amendments. According to Mr. Straume, if there is no a common language uniting the citizens of the state, such terms as "civic society" and "state"in general will become absurd concepts in Latvia. Jauna Avize

Juriy Kuznecov, deputy of the Russian Duma (parliament) visits Latvia. Yesterday he met with the Chair of the Human Rights Commission Antons Seiksts, and the leader of the people's harmony Party Janis Jurkans. According to Mr. Kuznecov. the amendments essentially did not solve the problem of citizenship for those people who have lived in Latvia for many years and have to go through the "humiliating procedure of the naturalisation."

Juriy Kuznecov, deputy of the Russian Duma (parliament) visits Latvia. Yesterday he met with the Chair of the Human Rights Commission Antons Seiksts, and the leader of the people's harmony Party Janis Jurkans. According to Mr. Kuznecov. the amendments essentially did not solve the problem of citizenship for those people who have lived in Latvia for many years and have to go through the "humiliating procedure of the naturalisation." SM

According to the information at the disposal of the newspaper

According to the information at the disposal of the newspaper Chas, some 80 thousand of non-citizens will have to exchange their newly issued "Alien's passports" due to the technical defects of the documents - print of the entry "Distinctive Marks" easily comes off the page.

Panorama Latvii journalist Sergey Zaletayev criticises the some provisions of the Citizenship Law amendments which were not co-ordinated with the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Max van der Stoel. For example, the draft law which was approved by the High Commissioner did not include the requirement for the child - applicant for the citizenship - not be convicted.