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

German newspaper Zurcher Zeitung, commenting future reforms and referendum in Latvia, stated that the position of Latvian Prime Minister G.Krasts’s position was disgraceful. The authors of the article stressed that the government managed to amend the Law on Citizenship, but it was achieved fighting the fierce opposition of G.Krasts party

German newspaper Zurcher Zeitung, commenting future reforms and referendum in Latvia, stated that the position of Latvian Prime Minister G.Krastss position was disgraceful. The authors of the article stressed that the government managed to amend the Law on Citizenship, but it was achieved fighting the fierce opposition of G.Krasts party Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK. Neatkariga

A UNDP and Ukranian government organised conference for European and CIS countries

A UNDP and Ukranian government organised conference for European and CIS countries Human Rights for the development of a Nation will take place in Yalta on September 2 - 4. Latvia will be represented by the Chairman of the Saeima Human Rights and Social Affairs Commission A.Seiksts, Naturalisation Board Head E.Aldermane and the Deputy Director of Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Centre A.Kamenska who will represent the national report Human Rights and Social Integration in the Republic of Latvia. Neatkariga

By September 1, a DCMA working group has to prepare regulations for an international tender on printing new, safe passport blanks for citizen passports of the Republic of Latvia and to announce this tender. It most probably will be done, but the government has forgotten to allocate financing fort this purpose.

By September 1, a DCMA working group has to prepare regulations for an international tender on printing new, safe passport blanks for citizen passports of the Republic of Latvia and to announce this tender. It most probably will be done, but the government has forgotten to allocate financing fort this purpose. Neatkariga

At a press conference, hold on Thursday,

At a press conference, hold on Thursday, Democratic Party Saimnieks expressed their support to the amendments to the Law on Citizenship and called their supporters to vote for them at the referendum. The party reminded that they were the initiators to elaborate such amendments and thanked Latvijas Cels, Peoples Party and other political forces for their support to this DPS initiative. DPS Deputy Chairman D.Turlais said that, according to his information, several Russian diplomats had voiced their belief that abolishing of the amendments to the Law on Citizenship would be in favour of Russia because Latvia would loose its western supporters. Neatkariga, Panorama Latvii (31.08.98)

Central Board of the

Central Board of the Union of Christian Democrats adopted an announcement calling the citizens of Latvia to participate in the referendum and vote for the amendments. Neatkariga

Diena

publishes an interview with the Chairman of publishes an interview with the Chairman of Latvijas CelsLatvijas Cels A.Pantelejevs where Mr.Pantelejevs voices the position of A.Pantelejevs where Mr.Pantelejevs voices the position of LC LC on the amendments to the Law on Citizenship. He says that the adoption of amendments means that the state assumes a political responsibility for these 18 000 children and describes the present situation as absurd when, Latvia, being an independent state, has an increasing number of non-citizens. on the amendments to the Law on Citizenship. He says that the adoption of amendments means that the state assumes a political responsibility for these 18 000 children and describes the present situation as absurd when, Latvia, being an independent state, has an increasing number of non-citizens. The leader of the faction of Labour Party, unions of Christians and Greens I.Kreituse proposed the Saeima to take another vote on abolishing the “window” mechanism while the amendments had been stopped and no national voting had not taken place yet. She considers that the main issue of the referendum is granting citizenship to children of non-citizens but not abolishing of the “window” mechanism, and the Saeima could agree on this issue. The Head of the Saeima Juridical Office G.Kusins considers that it would not be correct for the Saeima to adopt new amendments to the Law on Citizenship, abolishing the “window” mechanism before the national voting on them.

The leader of the faction of Labour Party, unions of Christians and Greens I.Kreituse proposed the Saeima to take another vote on abolishing the window mechanism while the amendments had been stopped and no national voting had not taken place yet. She considers that the main issue of the referendum is granting citizenship to children of non-citizens but not abolishing of the window mechanism, and the Saeima could agree on this issue. The Head of the Saeima Juridical Office G.Kusins considers that it would not be correct for the Saeima to adopt new amendments to the Law on Citizenship, abolishing the window mechanism before the national voting on them. Diena, Bizness & Baltiya

Lauku Avize

interview the Chairman of Peoples Party A.Skele on PPs position concerning citizenship and state language law issues. A.Skele explains why PP decided to support the amendments to the Law on Citizenship. He also tells the correspondents about partys ideas to realise an active national policy that contains 6 paragraphs on education because in 13 parishes of Latvia Latvian children have to go to a Russian speaking school because there is no Latvian school. Skeles position of the state language is very strict - nobody will be granted Latvian citizenship without knowing the Latvian language. The only exception will be these 18 000 children He tries to make Russian speakers to realise that they willnot be able to get a well paid job in Latvia not knowing the state language. OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel, during his meeting with the Minister of Education and Science J.Gaigals, had threatened that OSCE would refuse to allocate 20 million LVL that OSCE offered to invest in the Latvian system of education within 10 years if the amendments to the Law on Citizenship would be abolished during the referendum. Latvian Minister is ready to fight

OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel, during his meeting with the Minister of Education and Science J.Gaigals, had threatened that OSCE would refuse to allocate 20 million LVL that OSCE offered to invest in the Latvian system of education within 10 years if the amendments to the Law on Citizenship would be abolished during the referendum. Latvian Minister is ready to fight Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK . He refused the rumour spread by TB/LNNK that schools directors could only be citizens of Latvia and prolonged the term for Russian speaking teachers to pass the state language knowledge test on the highest level till January 1, 1999. SM

Panorama Latvii announces a telephone action on the topic “What I think about the coming referendum.” They will receive calls from people on Saturday, August 30 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Panorama Latvii announces a telephone action on the topic What I think about the coming referendum. They will receive calls from people on Saturday, August 30 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.