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

Press Review

Yesterday the Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Valdis Birkavs met with the Vice Governor of St. Petersburg Vladimir Jakovlev. The meeting was efficient and conducted in a friendly atmosphere, Mr. Birkavs told

Yesterday the Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Valdis Birkavs met with the Vice Governor of St. Petersburg Vladimir Jakovlev. The meeting was efficient and conducted in a friendly atmosphere, Mr. Birkavs told Diena.

The Financial Times published a survey on Latvia. For this purpose the Latvian government had allotted 39,000 Lats from the State Property Privatization Fund.

The Financial Times published a survey on Latvia. For this purpose the Latvian government had allotted 39,000 Lats from the State Property Privatization Fund. Diena

The collection of signatures to hold the referendum on the Citizenship law amendments will be carried out also in the Latvian representations in abroad, the Central Electoral Commission informed the press.

The collection of signatures to hold the referendum on the Citizenship law amendments will be carried out also in the Latvian representations in abroad, the Central Electoral Commission informed the press. Diena

Yesterday at the press conference the Acting Head of the DCMA Andris Janis Lejins said that some 180,000 non-citizen passports which have been printed by the Canadian Bank Note Company until 24 April of this year, might have defects. The mass media already informed about the passports in which the print of a page containing information about the person's distinctive marks, could be easily erased. At the moment the DCMA has detected 140 passports with defects, and they are being exchanged free of charge. In August the passports which pages are not covered with the special film, will be laminated.

Yesterday at the press conference the Acting Head of the DCMA Andris Janis Lejins said that some 180,000 non-citizen passports which have been printed by the Canadian Bank Note Company until 24 April of this year, might have defects. The mass media already informed about the passports in which the print of a page containing information about the person's distinctive marks, could be easily erased. At the moment the DCMA has detected 140 passports with defects, and they are being exchanged free of charge. In August the passports which pages are not covered with the special film, will be laminated. Diena, Neatkariga, B&B

Janis Birzkops, Ph.D. in Pedagogy, in his article for the

Janis Birzkops, Ph.D. in Pedagogy, in his article for the Neatkariga, argues that before speaking about the integration, one should have knowledge in history, ethno-psychology, psycholinguistics, social sciences and pedagogy. New terms such as integrative environment, integration rate and quantity of ones to be integrated shall be introduced. According to Mr. Birzkops, if there is an integrative environment (many Latvians, strong local traditions and cultural life), the integration occurs easy and naturally. But if the quantity of persons to be integrated is overwhelming, the normal and natural integration process cannot happen. Therefore, "if we want the integration to begin, we have to think how to reduce the number of persons of other nationalities by stimulating and materially supporting their emigration to West or repatriation to the East. And here the Western commissioners and Russia could help, since it is to their advantage - to create a favourable environment for the integration of people who will stay here. Neatkariga

Yesterday the Press Secretary of the Governor of Pskov region Sergey Begovchiy told journalists that the Pskov administration supports the statement of the Yelcin administration concerning the relations with Latvia, and has not planned official meeting with the Latvian authorities. The Governor of the Pskov Region Evgeny Mihailov blames the nationalistic ambitions of the Latvian politicians driving the relations between two countries into a deadlock. According to the Governor of Pskov region Evgeny Mihailov, the conflict between Latvia and Russia puts off the signing of the border agreement indefinitely.

Yesterday the Press Secretary of the Governor of Pskov region Sergey Begovchiy told journalists that the Pskov administration supports the statement of the Yelcin administration concerning the relations with Latvia, and has not planned official meeting with the Latvian authorities. The Governor of the Pskov Region Evgeny Mihailov blames the nationalistic ambitions of the Latvian politicians driving the relations between two countries into a deadlock. According to the Governor of Pskov region Evgeny Mihailov, the conflict between Latvia and Russia puts off the signing of the border agreement indefinitely. SM

Arkady Elkin, a journalist of

Arkady Elkin, a journalist of SM, argues that the Latvian mass media talks only about the rights of persons who want to sign the petition for the referendum (referring to the issue of putting stamp in passports upon the signing the petition), and keeps shut about the people whose rights will be violated by those "signatories." SM

Yesterday at the interview on the radio the State President called for the discussion on advantages and disadvantages of the referendum. Mr. Guntis Ulmanis would like to hear the clear opinion of politicians about the referendum, possibilities to acquire the Latvian language and the value of citizenship, in general.

Yesterday at the interview on the radio the State President called for the discussion on advantages and disadvantages of the referendum. Mr. Guntis Ulmanis would like to hear the clear opinion of politicians about the referendum, possibilities to acquire the Latvian language and the value of citizenship, in general. B&B

Today there is a conference on observance of human rights in various divisions of the Ministry of the Interior, organized by the Soros Fund in Latvia and the Ministry of the Interior. 

Today there is a conference on observance of human rights in various divisions of the Ministry of the Interior, organized by the Soros Fund in Latvia and the Ministry of the Interior.Jauna Avize

In response to the 

In response to theDiena publication on 1 July calling for the discussion on naturalization issues, the Acting Director of the Ukrainian Union in Latvia Anatoly Skalsky argues that already in April of 1997 the Ukrainian Union submitted its analysis about the reasons of slow naturalization process to the State President, the Saeima, and the DCMA. Unfortunately, no response had been receive yet. Statistics show that only 5% of Ukrainians living in Latvia are the Latvian citizens. Mr. Skalsky addresses the Ukrainians who are Latvian citizens and citizens of other nationalities not to participate in the referendum. Diena