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 Naturalisation Board has received 36 preliminary applications from parents who are non-citizens and who would like their children to become the Latvian citizens in accordance with the Amendments to the Citizenship Law. Thirty one application were registered in Riga.

The Naturalisation Board has received 36 preliminary applications from parents who are non-citizens and who would like their children to become the Latvian citizens in accordance with the Amendments to the Citizenship Law. Thirty one application were registered in Riga. Diena, B&B

During a visit to Lithuania the Latvian Prime Minister Vilis Kristopans and the Lithuanian State President Valdas Adamkus agreed to speed up the process of the solving the border problems between Latvia and Lithuania.

During a visit to Lithuania the Latvian Prime Minister Vilis Kristopans and the Lithuanian State President Valdas Adamkus agreed to speed up the process of the solving the border problems between Latvia and Lithuania. Diena

The State President Guntis Ulmanis does not want the Commemoration Day of the Latvian Soldiers - 16 March - to become ideologized. He will meet with soldiers of former Soviet Army as well as with the legionnaires to find out how they want to commemorate this day. “Nobody can be above the law and prohibit anybody to commemorate the 16th of March according to his/her beliefs [...]” the State President told journalists.

The State President Guntis Ulmanis does not want the Commemoration Day of the Latvian Soldiers - 16 March - to become ideologized. He will meet with soldiers of former Soviet Army as well as with the legionnaires to find out how they want to commemorate this day. Nobody can be above the law and prohibit anybody to commemorate the 16th of March according to his/her beliefs [...] the State President told journalists. Neatkariga

The State President has planned to organise several conferences on the issues which are important for the state and public. The first conference will take place on 17 January and its topic will be Latvia as a state of the Rule of Law.

The State President has planned to organise several conferences on the issues which are important for the state and public. The first conference will take place on 17 January and its topic will be Latvia as a state of the Rule of Law. Neatkariga

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will ask the Office of the Procurator General to assess the ideas of anti-Semitism and nazism declared in the book “The Year of Horror” which was published in 1942 and re-published in 1997. The State President told journalists that he consolidates with the MFA position to assess the content of the book.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will ask the Office of the Procurator General to assess the ideas of anti-Semitism and nazism declared in the book The Year of Horror which was published in 1942 and re-published in 1997. The State President told journalists that he consolidates with the MFA position to assess the content of the book. Diena, SM

The reviews by the mass media about the OSCE High Commissioner’s visit to Latvia last week were of a different character than those about the previous visits of Mr. Max van der Stoel. It was noted that this time the High Commissioner did not present any recommendations and had “favourable tone” . Still, the right wing politicians as well as the left wing politicians argue that the fact that there are no new recommendations now does not mean that such recommendations will not come later. Secretary General of

The reviews by the mass media about the OSCE High Commissioners visit to Latvia last week were of a different character than those about the previous visits of Mr. Max van der Stoel. It was noted that this time the High Commissioner did not present any recommendations and had favourable tone . Still, the right wing politicians as well as the left wing politicians argue that the fact that there are no new recommendations now does not mean that such recommendations will not come later. Secretary General of the Fatherland and Freedom Aigars Kimelis believes that new recommendations are possible. He is concerned about the High Commissioners statements with regard to the language requirement in the Estonian legislation providing that all deputies should know the state language. In Latvia such a provision exists for a couple of years. Mr. Kimelis thinks that the High Commissioner might want to have similar liberalisation of legislation also in Latvia. Mr. Tsilevich thinks that the High Commissioners position has not changed. The fact that he has not presented new recommendations does not mean that everything is all right. According to Mr. Tsilevich, the High Commissioner has decided to observe the situation with the Education Law and draft Language Law which is unclear at the moment. Commenting the reaction of both radical forces - For Fatherland and Freedom and For Human Rights, the chair of the Saeima Human Rights Commission Antons Seiksts toldDiena that for both political forces any peaceable solution is not optimum. The Chair of the Saeima Commission on Education and Science Dzintars Abikis toldDiena that the statements by the High Commissioner concerning the compliance of the Education Law with the international standards are serious. He believes that in talks with the OSCE experts Latvia managed to achieve much, and for example, with regard to the draft Language Law, they [OSCE experts] have, in fact, yielded. Diena