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

After the talks with the

After the talks with the Peoples Party and the Latvias Way on Monday the State President Guntis Ulmanis expressed a regret that a barrier of personalia has been lifted so high that it was impossible to see any further developments concerning formation of new government. According to Guntis Ulmanis, it is impossible to form politically clear-cut government meeting voters will without the Poeples Party and the Latvias Way. In an interview for the Latvian Radio on Monday Guntis Ulmanis said that he sees four or five possible candidates for the post of the Prime Minister representing the Peoples Party, the Latvias Way and For Fatherland and Freedom. State President thinks that the new government may not be formed by 18 November. Social Democratic Union did not agree to participate in a minority government which would fall during the debate over the state budget, leaders of the Party J. Bojars and J.Adamsons told journalists. The Social Democrats would support a government led by either Vilis Kristopans or Aivars Lembergs, and which would proportionally represent the Social Democratic Union, the Latvias Way, For Fatherland and Freedom, and the New Party. Diena

Diena summarizes articles about the Saeima elections and the referendum published by The Economist and The Washington Post. The Economist writes that the election results witness the Latvias striving westwards. The Washington Post calls the referendum a challenge for the Latvian people while the outcome of the referendum symbolyzes Latvias as a liberal democracys wish to join the West. Diena

125, 000 Lats from the next year’s budget are allotted to the further education of teachers of national minority schools and preparation of books. Still, as a director of Educational Strategy Department of the Ministry of Education and Science Baiba Petersone acknowledged, without financial support of the Latvian Language Development State Program it would be impossible to start implementation of educational programs for national minorities. According to draft Education Law which was approved in the second reading, already in the next school year schools of national minorities have to choose educational programs and start implementing them. Ina Druviete, head of Sociolinguistic department of the Latvian Language institute, believes that, first of all, money should be invested in training of teachers of the Latvian language and other subjects to be taught in Latvian at schools of national minorities, and secondly, it should go to preparation of teaching materials.

125, 000 Lats from the next years budget are allotted to the further education of teachers of national minority schools and preparation of books. Still, as a director of Educational Strategy Department of the Ministry of Education and Science Baiba Petersone acknowledged, without financial support of the Latvian Language Development State Program it would be impossible to start implementation of educational programs for national minorities. According to draft Education Law which was approved in the second reading, already in the next school year schools of national minorities have to choose educational programs and start implementing them. Ina Druviete, head of Sociolinguistic department of the Latvian Language institute, believes that, first of all, money should be invested in training of teachers of the Latvian language and other subjects to be taught in Latvian at schools of national minorities, and secondly, it should go to preparation of teaching materials. Diena

UN member countries have been acquainted with the Declaration on Latvia’s Occupation adopted by the Saeima, Latvian MFA Press Secretary Toms Baumanis told JAUNA AVIZE. Latvia’s position is that the UN should pass a corresponding document which would acknowledge the fact of occupation of Latvia. Mr. Baumanis also said that last week the US House of Representatives passed a resolution in which stressed that the US acknowledged the occupation fact and urged to recognize the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact as illegal.

UN member countries have been acquainted with the Declaration on Latvias Occupation adopted by the Saeima, Latvian MFA Press Secretary Toms Baumanis told JAUNA AVIZE. Latvias position is that the UN should pass a corresponding document which would acknowledge the fact of occupation of Latvia. Mr. Baumanis also said that last week the US House of Representatives passed a resolution in which stressed that the US acknowledged the occupation fact and urged to recognize the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact as illegal. Jauna Avize

Guntis Ulmanis praised the resolution of US House of Representatives that urges Russia to condemn the Molotov -Ribbentrop Pact. “This is a very correct and well reasoned step by the United States to assess history and give a relevant position to the Latvian- Russian relations, “ Guntis Ulmanis said.

Guntis Ulmanis praised the resolution of US House of Representatives that urges Russia to condemn the Molotov -Ribbentrop Pact. This is a very correct and well reasoned step by the United States to assess history and give a relevant position to the Latvian- Russian relations, Guntis Ulmanis said. Neatkariga, Chas

Leonid Fedoseyev, a

Leonid Fedoseyev, a Chas journalist, argues that the part of the Latvian intelligentsia which during the referendum campaign urged to protect dying Latvian language did so to raise their diminishing popularity.

Rigas Balssinterviews a director of the Center for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Nils Muiznieks about effects of the adopted Citizenship Law. Nils Muiznieks does not predict mass naturalization of non-citizens. According to him only socially and economically active non- Latvians for whom citizenship is a necessity, will take naturalization exams. Speaking of efficiency of the Language and Education Laws, Nils Muiznieks argue the command of the Latvian language partly depends on the educational system and partly on labor market. Big financial investment will be needed to ensure the Latvian language training. Rigas Balss

Last meeting of the present parliament is scheduled for 2 November.

Last meeting of the present parliament is scheduled for 2 November. Neatkariga