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

The new Saeima held its first meeting yesterday with all 100 deputies present. According to the Roll of Procedures, they approved mandates of the new deputies and elected the Presidium of the Saeima.

The new Saeima held its first meeting yesterday with all 100 deputies present. According to the Roll of Procedures, they approved mandates of the new deputies and elected the Presidium of the Saeima. TB/LNNK representative J.Straume was elected to the post of the Speaker, I.Berzins from Latvijas Cels and G.Bojars from Union of Social Democrats became his deputies. S.Dreimane from New Party was elected to the post the Saeima Secretary and her deputy was A.Bartashevich from Peoples Harmony Party. The State President G.Ulmanis, addressing the deputies, foresaw that there would be stronger opposition in this Saeima. Neatkariga, Diena, Jauna Avize, SM, Chas, Bizness & Baltiya, Panorama Latvii

Yesterday the State President G.Ulmanis nominated

Yesterday the State President G.Ulmanis nominated Latvijas Cels representative V.Kristopans to the post of the Prime Minister. V.Kristopans said that the next step to form the government would be consultations with New Party and Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK . They would listen to the opinion of the rest of the deputies only after these consultations but not to the yes-man of Rubiks. V.Kristopans acknowledged that the draft composition of the new government would be ready in a fortnight and did not want to make any comments. The leader of Peoples Party A.Skele was rather sceptical about their possible co-operation. The fact that their party representative V.Muizniece was not elected to the post of the Deputy of the Saeima Speaker showed that there had been a secret agreement among other parties, thus ignoring the wish of Peoples Party. V.Kristopans and K.Libane pointed out that this fact could not be an obstacle to the formation of successful coalition. Neatkariga, Diena, SM

Jauna Avize cites the words of R.Piks from

Jauna Avize cites the words of R.Piks from PP that participation of this party in the government would depend on if they could agree on several basic conditions: also the question of the language and education laws. PP consider that it was not permissible to liberalise the Law on Citizenship any more during the 7th Saeima.

The new Head of the OSCE Mission to Latvia David Johnson is coming to Latvia this week. He will exchange the present Head Richard Samuel. MFA Press Secretary T.Baumanis informed that official introduction would be on November 6. D.Johnson would be the third head of the Mission. According to the Mission mandate it was involved in solving problems with citizenship, Russian military pensioners and human rights issues. Although the Mission mandate is practically fulfilled, it is regularly prolonged. The current mandate expires at the end of this year.

The new Head of the OSCE Mission to Latvia David Johnson is coming to Latvia this week. He will exchange the present Head Richard Samuel. MFA Press Secretary T.Baumanis informed that official introduction would be on November 6. D.Johnson would be the third head of the Mission. According to the Mission mandate it was involved in solving problems with citizenship, Russian military pensioners and human rights issues. Although the Mission mandate is practically fulfilled, it is regularly prolonged. The current mandate expires at the end of this year. Neatkariga

A recent opinion poll organises by Baltic Data House shows that the outcome of the Saeima election would be different if it were organised now. More citizens would vote for

A recent opinion poll organises by Baltic Data House shows that the outcome of the Saeima election would be different if it were organised now. More citizens would vote for Peoples Party - 27.4%, Latvijas Cels - 21.2%, TB/LNNK - 18.1%. Rating has fallen for New Party - 4.7% and Peoples Harmony Party - down to 10.1%. Diena

The Head of Naturalisation Board E.Aldermane acknowledged that after the referendum on amendments to the Law on Citizenship the interest of non-citizens about the possibility to receive citizenship through naturalization has increased. She anticipated that about a half of 646 thousand Latvian non-citizens would try to naturalise. During the last month the number of NB consultations has increased; people ask about the procedure of naturalization and necessary documents. Most interest was observed in Riga, Daugavpils, Liepaja, Jurmala, Jelgava and Venspils. E.Aldermane thinks that the most influx could be within two years after the amendments to the Law on Citizenship take effect.

The Head of Naturalisation Board E.Aldermane acknowledged that after the referendum on amendments to the Law on Citizenship the interest of non-citizens about the possibility to receive citizenship through naturalization has increased. She anticipated that about a half of 646 thousand Latvian non-citizens would try to naturalise. During the last month the number of NB consultations has increased; people ask about the procedure of naturalization and necessary documents. Most interest was observed in Riga, Daugavpils, Liepaja, Jurmala, Jelgava and Venspils. E.Aldermane thinks that the most influx could be within two years after the amendments to the Law on Citizenship take effect. Diena

By supporting the referendum on amendments to the Law on Citizenship Latvian nation has given a possibility to non-citizens, living here, to acquire Latvian citizenship upon a condition that they prove their knowledge of the Latvian language, Latvian history and the Satversme. The newspaper

By supporting the referendum on amendments to the Law on Citizenship Latvian nation has given a possibility to non-citizens, living here, to acquire Latvian citizenship upon a condition that they prove their knowledge of the Latvian language, Latvian history and the Satversme. The newspaper Diena interviewed several well known people in Latvia who, due professional interest, follow Latvian - Russian relations on different levels, and they expressed an opinion that the outcome of the referendum would not influence naturalization process essentially. Reasons for this are different - many of non-citizen have not been persuaded by the small majority for adoption of these amendments, part of them does not believe that receiving citizenship would change anything in their lives, and another still have problems with mastering the state language. The Head of the Union of Latvian Citizens and Non-citizens V.Sokolov considers that the positive outcome of the referendum evidences also about the raise of self-confidence of Latvians themselves. The Chairman of the Association for Supporting Russian Schools I.Pimenov acknowledged that the referendum had caused changes in the opinions of Latvians - they started to realised that Latvia was a country where also non-Latvians had to live. HRESC Director N.Muiznieks told Diena that more involvement of Russian speakers in public and political life should be considered as a positive feature, but the referendum was just the first step in the process of bringing these two parties together. Diena

Russian MFA has condemned the laws on education, on radio and TV as well as the declaration on Latvian legionnaires during WW II adopted by the Saeima. The official representative of Russian MFA V.Rahmanin announced on Tuesday that Latvian law on education had banished completely the Russian language from the system of education and it was contradictory to international norms.

Russian MFA has condemned the laws on education, on radio and TV as well as the declaration on Latvian legionnaires during WW II adopted by the Saeima. The official representative of Russian MFA V.Rahmanin announced on Tuesday that Latvian law on education had banished completely the Russian language from the system of education and it was contradictory to international norms. Diena, SM

Panorama Latvii interviewed V.Kristopans shortly before he was nominated to the post of the Prime Minister. Answering to the questions of the journalist V.Kristopans explained why

Panorama Latvii interviewed V.Kristopans shortly before he was nominated to the post of the Prime Minister. Answering to the questions of the journalist V.Kristopans explained why Latvijas Cels did not form a coalition with Peoples Party, spoke about their attitude towards Peoples Harmony Party, possible overcoming of economic crisis, etc.