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

Dienapublishes unofficial translation of the memorandum of three EU countries -ex-presiding, currently presiding, and the next presiding state, which was submitted to Russia last month concerning the Russias negative attitude towards Latvia. Diena

Yesterday after the meeting with the Latvian Minister of Welfare Vladimir Makarov the Russian Ambassador in Latvia Alexander Udalcov said that Russia will not step back from its commitments and will continue paying retirement allowances to the military pensioners. Mr. Udalcov expressed hope that within a week this problem will be solved. 

Yesterday after the meeting with the Latvian Minister of Welfare Vladimir Makarov the Russian Ambassador in Latvia Alexander Udalcov said that Russia will not step back from its commitments and will continue paying retirement allowances to the military pensioners. Mr. Udalcov expressed hope that within a week this problem will be solved.Diena already wrote that due to the economic situation in Russia some 20, 000 military pensioners residing in Latvia have not been receiving pensions since August.

Nellija Locmele draws comparison between the debates in 1994 concerning the singing of the agreement between Latvia and Russia, and the present day discussions about the amendments to the Citizenship Law. According to Ms. Locmele, there are lot of similarities in a way the radical parties, mainly, the

Nellija Locmele draws comparison between the debates in 1994 concerning the singing of the agreement between Latvia and Russia, and the present day discussions about the amendments to the Citizenship Law. According to Ms. Locmele, there are lot of similarities in a way the radical parties, mainly, the Tevzemei un Brivibai/ LNNK objected to the signing of the Russian- Latvian agreement in 1994 and how it protests against the amendments of the Citizenship Law now. Diena

Yesterday the Saeima Commission of Education, Culture and Science discussed the Draft Education Law, and agreed that only in private schools and schools of the national minorities the language of the instruction might be other than the state language. Besides, the draft law provides that if the private schools as well as the national minority schools implement the method of the bilingual education, the state or municipality might participate in their financing. The Draft Education Law also provides that all examinations shall be carried out in the state language. According to Juris Celmins, a member of the aforementioned commission, if this provision is not amended, all schools of the national minorities in Latvia will have to introduce the method of bilingual education, but schools with Russian as the language of instruction will have to choose between the education in the Latvian language or the bilingual educational method. There is also a possibility to become a private school. The Commission believes that the Law on Education should be adopted during the mandate of this Saeima. Once the Saeima Commission of Education, Culture and Science completes the consideration of the draft law for the 2nd reading, there will be the collection of signatures to summon the extraordinary session of the parliament.

Yesterday the Saeima Commission of Education, Culture and Science discussed the Draft Education Law, and agreed that only in private schools and schools of the national minorities the language of the instruction might be other than the state language. Besides, the draft law provides that if the private schools as well as the national minority schools implement the method of the bilingual education, the state or municipality might participate in their financing. The Draft Education Law also provides that all examinations shall be carried out in the state language. According to Juris Celmins, a member of the aforementioned commission, if this provision is not amended, all schools of the national minorities in Latvia will have to introduce the method of bilingual education, but schools with Russian as the language of instruction will have to choose between the education in the Latvian language or the bilingual educational method. There is also a possibility to become a private school. The Commission believes that the Law on Education should be adopted during the mandate of this Saeima. Once the Saeima Commission of Education, Culture and Science completes the consideration of the draft law for the 2nd reading, there will be the collection of signatures to summon the extraordinary session of the parliament. Diena

Members of the Latvian delegation to the regional conference on Human Rights for the Nation Development organised by the UNDP and the Ukrainian government in Yalta told press that in the sphere of human rights Latvia is behind Estonia and Lithuania, although the situation in Latvia is better than in the countries of the Central Asia. According to Ms. Aldermane, the state should pay more attention to the teching of history, since it might promote the social integration. Mr. Antons Seiksts, Chair of the Human Rights Commission of the Saeima believes that Latvia will not be able to solve the problems of integration unless the human rights issues are solved. Ms. Anhelita Kamenska thinks that representatives of private businesses should be more involved into the solution of the human rights issues. Boris Tsilevich, the UN expert and political scientist, who presented his report about the national minorities in the Baltic state think that the very fact that such an issue was included into the agenda of the conference witnesses the concern of international society about these problems.

Members of the Latvian delegation to the regional conference on Human Rights for the Nation Development organised by the UNDP and the Ukrainian government in Yalta told press that in the sphere of human rights Latvia is behind Estonia and Lithuania, although the situation in Latvia is better than in the countries of the Central Asia. According to Ms. Aldermane, the state should pay more attention to the teching of history, since it might promote the social integration. Mr. Antons Seiksts, Chair of the Human Rights Commission of the Saeima believes that Latvia will not be able to solve the problems of integration unless the human rights issues are solved. Ms. Anhelita Kamenska thinks that representatives of private businesses should be more involved into the solution of the human rights issues. Boris Tsilevich, the UN expert and political scientist, who presented his report about the national minorities in the Baltic state think that the very fact that such an issue was included into the agenda of the conference witnesses the concern of international society about these problems. Diena

Panorama Latvii publishes the interview with Alfreds Rubiks, the initiator and co-ordinator of the Union of the leftist political forces, in which he advocates the support to the list of the People's Harmony Party and calls for the negative voting on the referendum question.

In response to the interview with the Deputy Director of the DCMA Andris Janis Lejins published on 1 September in which Mr. Lejins argued that DCMA does not receive mass complaints about the "violate” passports, the

In response to the interview with the Deputy Director of the DCMA Andris Janis Lejins published on 1 September in which Mr. Lejins argued that DCMA does not receive mass complaints about the "violate passports, the Panorama Latvii publishes the interview with the representative of the Latvian Human Rights Committee Jury Sokolovski. According to Mr. Sokolovski, the majority of 19, 482 complaints received by the Committee by 1 August are related with the Alien's passports. Panorama Latvii

Nikolay Buyvid, chairman of the trade union of the VEF, suggests voters who have lost any belief in parties or the electoral system, in general, instead of not particiapting into the elections at all, to put the empty envelop into the ballot box so that no party will receive their ballot.

Nikolay Buyvid, chairman of the trade union of the VEF, suggests voters who have lost any belief in parties or the electoral system, in general, instead of not particiapting into the elections at all, to put the empty envelop into the ballot box so that no party will receive their ballot.

SM publishes comments of several politicians concerning the interview with Guntars Krasts on the Latvian Radio last week when the Prime Minister accused European politicians and officials of the lack of professionalism. Antons Seiksts, chair of the Human Rights Commission, thinks that such arguments do not do him a credit. The similar opinion is expressed by the deputy head of the Peoples Harmony Party Sergey Dolgopolov who thinks that the Prime Minister acted like a "public politician, and not as the head of the government. The vice speaker of the Saeima Andris Ameriks thinks that by criticising the European experts Guntars Krasts prepares the world community that the upcoming referendum might abolish the amendments to the Citizenship Law. SM

Peteris Tabuns, member of the Saeima Commission on Education, Culture and Science, objects to the recent statements in the mass media that "Max van der Stoel has finally understood the situation of Latvians and the Latvian language, and has become more yielding." According to him, the Commissioner cares little about the popular opinions, and "interfered with the revision of the Citizenship Law, now - with the Latvian language law, and there are no doubts that he will do the same with the Education Law."

Peteris Tabuns, member of the Saeima Commission on Education, Culture and Science, objects to the recent statements in the mass media that "Max van der Stoel has finally understood the situation of Latvians and the Latvian language, and has become more yielding." According to him, the Commissioner cares little about the popular opinions, and "interfered with the revision of the Citizenship Law, now - with the Latvian language law, and there are no doubts that he will do the same with the Education Law." Jauna Avize