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 Minister of Foreign Affairs V.Birkavs had a meeting with his Russian counterpart I.Ivanov The Ministers agreed that the experts of the intergovernmental commission should continue their work so that a meeting of state officials could take place in autumn during which the prepared agreements could be signed, including the border agreement. After the half an hour long meeting V.Birkavs invited I.Ivanov to visit Riga. The visit could take place after the meeting of the CBSS ministers in Vilnius on 14. and 15 of May.

Yesterday Minister of Foreign Affairs V.Birkavs had a meeting with his Russian counterpart I.Ivanov The Ministers agreed that the experts of the intergovernmental commission should continue their work so that a meeting of state officials could take place in autumn during which the prepared agreements could be signed, including the border agreement. After the half an hour long meeting V.Birkavs invited I.Ivanov to visit Riga. The visit could take place after the meeting of the CBSS ministers in Vilnius on 14. and 15 of May. Neatkariga, Diena, SM

The Chairman of

The Chairman of Latvijas Cels A.Pantelejevs stated that the government would not be able to exist if the Prime Minister V.Kristopans and the Director General of the Privatisation Agency J.Naglis did not harmonise their opinions on the last stage of privatisation. A.Pantelejevs stressed that he would try to do the best to harmonise those two different opinions. Neatkariga, SM

The Chairman of the TB/LNNK Saeima faction M.Grinblats thinks that an attempt to dismiss the Director General of the Privatisation Agency J.Naglis might shorten the life span of V.Kristopans’s government.

The Chairman of the TB/LNNK Saeima faction M.Grinblats thinks that an attempt to dismiss the Director General of the Privatisation Agency J.Naglis might shorten the life span of V.Kristopanss government. Diena, SM (17.05.99)

Dr. paed. J.Birzkops from Liepaja Pedagogical Academy considers that the most important thing for the integration of Latvians and non-Latvians is not to rush the events. People are infuriated already by talks, not speaking about actions. And nobody neither in Latvia nor in the whole world knows what could be the outcome of such a risky experiment.

Dr. paed. J.Birzkops from Liepaja Pedagogical Academy considers that the most important thing for the integration of Latvians and non-Latvians is not to rush the events. People are infuriated already by talks, not speaking about actions. And nobody neither in Latvia nor in the whole world knows what could be the outcome of such a risky experiment. Neatkariga

Next week German President R.Herzog is coming to Latvia. This will be the second visit of a German President to Latvia. The timing was chosen deliberately - this will be the last foreign visit of R.Herzog in this post and the last time for receiving so important guests for G.Ulmanis.

Next week German President R.Herzog is coming to Latvia. This will be the second visit of a German President to Latvia. The timing was chosen deliberately - this will be the last foreign visit of R.Herzog in this post and the last time for receiving so important guests for G.Ulmanis. Neatkariga

Last week Estonian mass media started a mass social advertisement campaign “Many nice people” with an aim to encourage discussion on integration of non-Estonians into Estonian society. The campaign will last for three weeks.

Last week Estonian mass media started a mass social advertisement campaign Many nice people with an aim to encourage discussion on integration of non-Estonians into Estonian society. The campaign will last for three weeks. Diena

Prime Minister V.Kristopans announced to the Latvian Radio on Friday that he had come to a opinion that the Free Trade Agreement of the Baltic states, signed in 1996, had been concluded in a rush without much thinking about the protection of the domestic market. The reason for such a conclusion was the analysis of the government’s activities during the last half the year to improve the situation in agriculture. He put the blame for this on the former Prime Minister A.Skele.

Prime Minister V.Kristopans announced to the Latvian Radio on Friday that he had come to a opinion that the Free Trade Agreement of the Baltic states, signed in 1996, had been concluded in a rush without much thinking about the protection of the domestic market. The reason for such a conclusion was the analysis of the governments activities during the last half the year to improve the situation in agriculture. He put the blame for this on the former Prime Minister A.Skele. Diena