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

Yesterday the Minister of Foreign Affairs Valdis Birkavs publicly censured the repeated publishing of the book “The Year of Horror.” According to Mr. Birkavs, this book can harm the Latvian state.

Yesterday the Minister of Foreign Affairs Valdis Birkavs publicly censured the repeated publishing of the book The Year of Horror. According to Mr. Birkavs, this book can harm the Latvian state. B&B, Diena

The State Secretary of the Latvian Foreign Affairs Ministry Maris Riekstins plans to meet with the representative of the Russian MFA Alexander Avdeev on 5 February to discuss the resumption of the work of intergovernmental commission and the further development of the bilateral agreements. Yesterday in an interview for the Latvian radio the Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Valdis Birkavs said that Russia might present new objections to the Latvian legislation, therefore it is important that at the meeting on 5 February the diplomats of both countries assess the real relations between Latvia and Russia.

The State Secretary of the Latvian Foreign Affairs Ministry Maris Riekstins plans to meet with the representative of the Russian MFA Alexander Avdeev on 5 February to discuss the resumption of the work of intergovernmental commission and the further development of the bilateral agreements. Yesterday in an interview for the Latvian radio the Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Valdis Birkavs said that Russia might present new objections to the Latvian legislation, therefore it is important that at the meeting on 5 February the diplomats of both countries assess the real relations between Latvia and Russia. Diena, Neatkariga

Tatjana Zdanok, Harold Astachov and Alexander Rzhavin represented the Russians residing in Latvia at the forum The Europe of Culture in the Europe of Regions which took place in Brussels and was organised by the Assembly of Cultures in Europe. As Mr. Astachov told SM, Europe is informed about the problems of the Russians in Latvia, and it was suggested that Russian of Latvia should be directly represented in the European Parliament.

Tatjana Zdanok, Harold Astachov and Alexander Rzhavin represented the Russians residing in Latvia at the forum The Europe of Culture in the Europe of Regions which took place in Brussels and was organised by the Assembly of Cultures in Europe. As Mr. Astachov told SM, Europe is informed about the problems of the Russians in Latvia, and it was suggested that Russian of Latvia should be directly represented in the European Parliament. SM

If the provision to raise salaries for the teachers of the Latvian language in the Russian schools is implemented, the best teachers from the Latvian schools will transfer to work in the Russian schools. The Chair of the Saeima Commission on Education Dzintars Abikis believes that the proposal of the Ministry of Education shows the simplified approach to the problem. According to Dzintars Abikis, it is unconsidered policy, since there is already a tendency that Russian parents send their children to the Latvian schools.

If the provision to raise salaries for the teachers of the Latvian language in the Russian schools is implemented, the best teachers from the Latvian schools will transfer to work in the Russian schools. The Chair of the Saeima Commission on Education Dzintars Abikis believes that the proposal of the Ministry of Education shows the simplified approach to the problem. According to Dzintars Abikis, it is unconsidered policy, since there is already a tendency that Russian parents send their children to the Latvian schools. Jauna Avize

The Latvian Embassy in the United States has sent a letter to the Jamestown Foundation in which it has explained the official position of Latvia concerning the defence policy. Before the NATO summit in April in Washington DC the Latvian Embassy in the USA plans to actively the work in explaining the Latvia’s course to the NATO.

The Latvian Embassy in the United States has sent a letter to the Jamestown Foundation in which it has explained the official position of Latvia concerning the defence policy. Before the NATO summit in April in Washington DC the Latvian Embassy in the USA plans to actively the work in explaining the Latvias course to the NATO. Jauna Avize

The Saeima Commission of Defence and internal affairs rejected a proposal of the fraction

The Saeima Commission of Defence and internal affairs rejected a proposal of the fraction For Human Rights to the draft law on fire-arms and other special means for self defence providing non-citizens with the right to obtain, keep and carry arms. Neatkariga

It is planned to facilitate the visa requirements for persons whose one of the parents is the Latvian citizen residing in Russia, the Deputy Director of the DCMA A. Lejins informed DIENA. The new draft regulations provide which might be adopted in a month, provide that these persons will not be asked to present the invitation letter when applying for the Latvian visa.

It is planned to facilitate the visa requirements for persons whose one of the parents is the Latvian citizen residing in Russia, the Deputy Director of the DCMA A. Lejins informed DIENA. The new draft regulations provide which might be adopted in a month, provide that these persons will not be asked to present the invitation letter when applying for the Latvian visa. Diena

The Deputy Director of the DCMA A. Lejins informed about the examination of documents submitted to received the Alien’s passport. Since the Russian Embassy in Latvia is not co-operative in providing the information the status of the applicant in the Russian Federation, the examination of some applications take two to three months. A special attention is paid to the cases when the applicant has lost his/her USSR passport after 1992. According to Mr. Lejins, people lost their passports on purpose to receive double status - the citizenship of the Russian Federation and a status of non-citizens of Latvia. Mr. Lejins also said that the persons who will fail to receive the Alien’s passports by 31 December 1999, will become either foreign citizens or stateless persons.

The Deputy Director of the DCMA A. Lejins informed about the examination of documents submitted to received the Aliens passport. Since the Russian Embassy in Latvia is not co-operative in providing the information the status of the applicant in the Russian Federation, the examination of some applications take two to three months. A special attention is paid to the cases when the applicant has lost his/her USSR passport after 1992. According to Mr. Lejins, people lost their passports on purpose to receive double status - the citizenship of the Russian Federation and a status of non-citizens of Latvia. Mr. Lejins also said that the persons who will fail to receive the Aliens passports by 31 December 1999, will become either foreign citizens or stateless persons. Chas

Yesterday at the meeting with members of the Saeima Commission on Human Rights, the Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane said that in the near future Latvia might be accused of artificial impeding of the naturalisation process. Since the elimination of the naturalisation “windows”, the number of applications has increased. Besides the naturalisation Board is dealing with issues of granting citizenship through registration and depriving citizenship, as well as with integration problems. Therefore, Ms. Aldermane asked the deputies to support her request to allocate means for 15 more staff units. According to Ms. Aldermane, 200-300 thousand non-citizens will use the rights provided by the Amendments to the citizenship Law. Some 310 thousand non-citizens are elderly people who most likely will not learn the Latvian language and will not apply for the citizenship. Speaking about the young people, Ms. Aldermane said that the Cabinet of Ministers is working on amendments to regulations which would provide that the Latvian language examination when graduating the school, will simultaneously count as the naturalisation examination. The same will be with the examination of the Latvian history. Ms. Aldermane informed the deputies about new tests on the history and constitution, as well as oral examination of the Latvian language. Speaking about the delay with the adoption of the regulations on granting citizenship to children of non-citizens, Ms. Aldermane thinks that since the former USSR passports and certificates of non-citizens are considered valid in Latvia, there are no grounds not to use them as documents certifying the period of parent’s residence in Latvia.

Yesterday at the meeting with members of the Saeima Commission on Human Rights, the Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane said that in the near future Latvia might be accused of artificial impeding of the naturalisation process. Since the elimination of the naturalisation windows, the number of applications has increased. Besides the naturalisation Board is dealing with issues of granting citizenship through registration and depriving citizenship, as well as with integration problems. Therefore, Ms. Aldermane asked the deputies to support her request to allocate means for 15 more staff units. According to Ms. Aldermane, 200-300 thousand non-citizens will use the rights provided by the Amendments to the citizenship Law. Some 310 thousand non-citizens are elderly people who most likely will not learn the Latvian language and will not apply for the citizenship. Speaking about the young people, Ms. Aldermane said that the Cabinet of Ministers is working on amendments to regulations which would provide that the Latvian language examination when graduating the school, will simultaneously count as the naturalisation examination. The same will be with the examination of the Latvian history. Ms. Aldermane informed the deputies about new tests on the history and constitution, as well as oral examination of the Latvian language. Speaking about the delay with the adoption of the regulations on granting citizenship to children of non-citizens, Ms. Aldermane thinks that since the former USSR passports and certificates of non-citizens are considered valid in Latvia, there are no grounds not to use them as documents certifying the period of parents residence in Latvia. SM

At the end of the last year the Daugavpils State Language Inspector M. Akmenkalne questioned the validity of 40 language certificates issued to the Russian teachers. The investigation proved that majority of them are false.

At the end of the last year the Daugavpils State Language Inspector M. Akmenkalne questioned the validity of 40 language certificates issued to the Russian teachers. The investigation proved that majority of them are false. Diena interviews three teachers of Daugavpils whose language certificates turned out to be void. According to the Head of the School Board of Daugavpils J. Duksinskis, teachers were informed about the prolongation of deadline for the language examination till 1 June 1999, therefore there were no grounds for hysterics. No teacher has been dismissed. Persons holding void certificates will be warned after the directors of respective schools receive official statements that the documents are forged. Aija Priedite, director of the State Language Training Program, thinks that 42 750 000 Lats and 35, 000 teachers of the Latvian language would be enough. At the moment there are 1200 teachers and the last year the state allocated 125, 000 Lats for the teaching materials.