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 Report

Referendum on Pension Law amendments will take place November 13. The decision was made by a majority vote of the Central Election Commission yesterday. 822,750 lats were allotted for financing of the referendum. Representatives of the ruling factions supported the above date as they want to have clarity in the issue as soon as possible before passing the next year’s budget. Diena, Neatkariga

Referendum on Pension Law amendments will take place November 13. The decision was made by a majority vote of the Central Election Commission yesterday. 822,750 lats were allotted for financing of the referendum. Representatives of the ruling factions supported the above date as they want to have clarity in the issue as soon as possible before passing the next years budget. Diena, Neatkariga

During the yesterday’s meeting People’s Party and Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK agreed on issues, like starting the work on draft law providing for making public the information on people who co-operated with KGB. Also, both parties have assigned their government ministers to deal with the draft concept of Society Integration in Latvia. Both parties agreed to cooperate in the issues related to the Language Law and naturalization exams. Neatkariga, Diena, Russian Diena

During the yesterdays meeting Peoples Party and Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK agreed on issues, like starting the work on draft law providing for making public the information on people who co-operated with KGB. Also, both parties have assigned their government ministers to deal with the draft concept of Society Integration in Latvia. Both parties agreed to cooperate in the issues related to the Language Law and naturalization exams. Neatkariga, Diena, Russian Diena

An official of the European Commission told the Diena reporter in Brussels that the report of European Commission on the progress of EU candidate countries to be released on Wednesday is most likely to directly advise the member countries to invite four countries - Latvia, Malta, Lithuania and Slovakia - to the accession negotiations. Latvian Foreign Minister Indulis Berzins after meeting the EU enlargement commissioner yesterday told Diena that his optimism about the possibility for Latvia to get invited to accession negotiations has grown.

An official of the European Commission told the Diena reporter in Brussels that the report of European Commission on the progress of EU candidate countries to be released on Wednesday is most likely to directly advise the member countries to invite four countries - Latvia, Malta, Lithuania and Slovakia - to the accession negotiations. Latvian Foreign Minister Indulis Berzins after meeting the EU enlargement commissioner yesterday told Diena that his optimism about the possibility for Latvia to get invited to accession negotiations has grown.