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

On Wednesday the Estonian Parliament finished to consider in the second reading the amendments to the Law on Citizenship on granting citizenship to children born after restoration of Estonian independence. The law was sent for the third reading, and the deputies might submit their proposals till November 26. It is anticipated that the third reading could take place in December because Estonian government has expressed its wish for the amendments to the Law on Citizenship to be adopted in the first part of December .

On Wednesday the Estonian Parliament finished to consider in the second reading the amendments to the Law on Citizenship on granting citizenship to children born after restoration of Estonian independence. The law was sent for the third reading, and the deputies might submit their proposals till November 26. It is anticipated that the third reading could take place in December because Estonian government has expressed its wish for the amendments to the Law on Citizenship to be adopted in the first part of December . Diena

Peoples Party

considers that a majority government should be formed in the nearest future, and they plan to persuade the candidate to the post of Prime Minister V.Kristopans on Thursday. PP faction Deputy Chairman J.Lagzdins expressed an opinion that V.Kristopans might have taken an opinion to form a minority government, but it was not too late to look for a possibility to form a majority government. On Thursday upon an initiative of PP, its faction is meeting with V.Kristopans, and PP would like to find a compromise. Diena

V.Kristopans plants to name the composition and the model of the new government after his today’s meeting with the faction of

V.Kristopans plants to name the composition and the model of the new government after his todays meeting with the faction of Peoples Party. Jauna Avize

Russian President B.Yeltsin sent a congratulation letter to Latvian President G.Ulmanis. In this letter he expressed a hope that Russian - Latvian relations would be develop on principles of good neighbour relations.

Russian President B.Yeltsin sent a congratulation letter to Latvian President G.Ulmanis. In this letter he expressed a hope that Russian - Latvian relations would be develop on principles of good neighbour relations. Diena

O.Kehris analyses the effect Russian economic crisis on Latvia and suggests possible solution to overcome it.

O.Kehris analyses the effect Russian economic crisis on Latvia and suggests possible solution to overcome it. Diena

The Speaker of the 7th Saeima

The Speaker of the 7th Saeima TB/LNNK representative J.Straume announced at the Saeima solemn plenary session dedicated to the 80th anniversary on the Republic of Latvia that Latvian citizens had rights to expect that non-citizens would not continue with putting forward any new demands and did all the necessary, starting with using the state language, to integrate in the life of Latvia and ease the development of the country. He said that Latvian citizens had been tremendously obliging at the referendum to those people who had arrived to Latvia due to the result of the policy of genocide, colonisation and Russification. J.Straume considers the current Law on Citizenship to be one of the most liberal in whole Europe. Jauna Avize, Chas, SM

Lithuanian President V.Adamkus visited Riga upon an invitation of Latvian President G.Ulmanis. In his interview Lithuanian President said that Lithuanian - Latvian relations were good and if there were some miner problems between those two countries it was just a normal state of affairs. Speaking about Lithuanians in Latvia with no citizenship, he said that he knew about this problem and considered that the process of naturalisation should be accelerated. When asked why Lithuania did not demand the Latvian authorities to grant Lithuanians, living in Latvia, citizenship without any examinations as it had been done in Lithuania, V.Adamkus answered that he could not answer this question, but he thought that these people, willing to become Latvian citizens, had to fulfil all demands stipulated by Latvian law.

SM

Russian government has allocated the necessary resources for paying pensions to Russian military pensioners in Latvia. Payments for November will be started on November 23. Panorama Latvii

Latvian government decided to send to Kosovo 5 Latvian representatives within the framework of OSCE.

Latvian government decided to send to Kosovo 5 Latvian representatives within the framework of OSCE.