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 Saeima adopted the amendments to the Law on Entry and Residence of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons in the Republic of Latvia according to which foreign citizens may stay in the Republic of Latvia for more than 90 days during the calendar half a year without a residence permit only upon receiving the required visa according to the procedure set by the Cabinet of Ministers, and when their stay is connected with the research work, commercial activities, assistance to the state and municipal institutions, and the implementation of the international agreements. The Saeima did not support the proposal by the Chair of the Saeima Human Rights Committee A. Seiksts to provide that single and dependent parents of the Latvian citizens or permanent residents would receive the permanent residence permits, if the relatives take the full responsibility for them.

Yesterday the Saeima adopted the amendments to the Law on Entry and Residence of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons in the Republic of Latvia according to which foreign citizens may stay in the Republic of Latvia for more than 90 days during the calendar half a year without a residence permit only upon receiving the required visa according to the procedure set by the Cabinet of Ministers, and when their stay is connected with the research work, commercial activities, assistance to the state and municipal institutions, and the implementation of the international agreements. The Saeima did not support the proposal by the Chair of the Saeima Human Rights Committee A. Seiksts to provide that single and dependent parents of the Latvian citizens or permanent residents would receive the permanent residence permits, if the relatives take the full responsibility for them. Neatkariga, B&B

Yesterday the Saeima repeatedly elected Arnis Cimdars to the post of the Chair of the Central Electoral Commission.

Yesterday the Saeima repeatedly elected Arnis Cimdars to the post of the Chair of the Central Electoral Commission. Jauna Avize

The Latvian politicians hope that during the NATO summit in Washington, Latvia along with other Eastern European countries will be named as the candidate to the NATO. Still, they acknowledge that no exact dates of the enlargement will be set.

The Latvian politicians hope that during the NATO summit in Washington, Latvia along with other Eastern European countries will be named as the candidate to the NATO. Still, they acknowledge that no exact dates of the enlargement will be set. Diena

Yesterday at the meeting with the Latvian Prime Minister the EU Commissioner of Foreign Affairs H.van den Broek said that the Latvian state language law should correspond with the international norms and it should not restrict the free movement of the services between Latvia and the EU as set by the European associative agreement.

Yesterday at the meeting with the Latvian Prime Minister the EU Commissioner of Foreign Affairs H.van den Broek said that the Latvian state language law should correspond with the international norms and it should not restrict the free movement of the services between Latvia and the EU as set by the European associative agreement. Diena

The Russian newspaper Obshchaja Gazeta published the information about the pace of the naturalisation in Latvia. After the elimination of the naturalisation windows some 16000 persons have applied for the naturalisation. The Naturalisation Board, however, is not able to review all applications quickly, therefore the applicants should wait a half of a year to take the naturalisation exams. The newspaper writes that 98% of applicants pass the exams with the first attempt.

The Russian newspaper Obshchaja Gazeta published the information about the pace of the naturalisation in Latvia. After the elimination of the naturalisation windows some 16000 persons have applied for the naturalisation. The Naturalisation Board, however, is not able to review all applications quickly, therefore the applicants should wait a half of a year to take the naturalisation exams. The newspaper writes that 98% of applicants pass the exams with the first attempt. Neatkariga

At the discussion about the social integration in the language sphere which was organised by the National Program of Latvian Language Training, the head of the department of the Slavic Languages of the Latvian University Tatjana Liguta said that the social integration process in Latvia might be implemented only after the Latvians and representatives of the national minorities create system of common values. The participants of the discussion also noted that it is necessary to ensure that the integration process does not reach the boundaries of assimilation, after crossing of which the representatives of the national minority lose the belonging to his/her native language. Such a process is partly being observed in the Kurzeme region where in many cities the people of other nationalities have been using the Latvian language as the only language of communication.

At the discussion about the social integration in the language sphere which was organised by the National Program of Latvian Language Training, the head of the department of the Slavic Languages of the Latvian University Tatjana Liguta said that the social integration process in Latvia might be implemented only after the Latvians and representatives of the national minorities create system of common values. The participants of the discussion also noted that it is necessary to ensure that the integration process does not reach the boundaries of assimilation, after crossing of which the representatives of the national minority lose the belonging to his/her native language. Such a process is partly being observed in the Kurzeme region where in many cities the people of other nationalities have been using the Latvian language as the only language of communication. Jauna Avize

Since Monday seventeen detainees at the Riga Centre for Illegal Immigrants have been on hunger strike to protest against the living conditions there. All attempts of the Ilga Ozisha and Tatjana Zdanok (

Since Monday seventeen detainees at the Riga Centre for Illegal Immigrants have been on hunger strike to protest against the living conditions there. All attempts of the Ilga Ozisha and Tatjana Zdanok (For Human Rights) to discuss the situation with the Head of the Police Department A. Grigulis were in vain.

(CHAS, 23 April)

(CHAS, 23 April)

MP Jakov Pliner reminds the readers of

MP Jakov Pliner reminds the readers of Panorama Latvii about all attempts of the fraction For Human Rights to liberalise the draft language law. He emphasises that 7 proposals of OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel and 6 proposals of the Prime Minister V. Kristopans for the third reading of the draft language law completely correspond with the proposals earlier suggested by the fraction For Human Rights. For the third reading of the draft law the fraction has submitted 25 amendments.