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

Press Report

The Saeima State Administration and Local Governments Commission, preparing for repeated consideration at the Saeima the law on public organisations, rejected all proposals to establish the minimal number of party members. It supported the proposal of Latvijas Cels to keep the valid legal norm.

The Saeima State Administration and Local Governments Commission, preparing for repeated consideration at the Saeima the law on public organisations, rejected all proposals to establish the minimal number of party members. It supported the proposal of Latvijas Cels to keep the valid legal norm. Neatkariga, Diena

The Mayor of Venspils City Council A.Lembergs when meeting with the representatives of the OSCE Mission to Latvia, called them to change their activities concerning the public integration processes in Latvia and be more involved with additional financing in the construction of Latvian schools not just giving recommendations and instructions. Latvia would need about 10 new Latvian schools, and each would cost 80 000 LVL, and the corner stone of integration – mastering of the language – would be completed.

The Mayor of Venspils City Council A.Lembergs when meeting with the representatives of the OSCE Mission to Latvia, called them to change their activities concerning the public integration processes in Latvia and be more involved with additional financing in the construction of Latvian schools not just giving recommendations and instructions. Latvia would need about 10 new Latvian schools, and each would cost 80 000 LVL, and the corner stone of integration – mastering of the language – would be completed. Neatkariga

The council of the Teachers’ Trade Union took a unanimous decision yesterday to announce a warning strike on November 16.

The council of the Teachers Trade Union took a unanimous decision yesterday to announce a warning strike on November 16. Neatkariga, Rigas Balss

The Saeima adopted the softened version of the amendments to the pension law, but the coalition’s vote was not unanimous, and the objections of TB/LNNK before the vote made to harmonise their opinions. The coalition thinks that the referendum has lost its meaning now and calls citizens not to take part in it. The opposition has voiced an opinion that the new amendments are anti-constitutional and the referendum is the only chance to abolish the previous “anti-national” amendments.

The Saeima adopted the softened version of the amendments to the pension law, but the coalitions vote was not unanimous, and the objections of TB/LNNK before the vote made to harmonise their opinions. The coalition thinks that the referendum has lost its meaning now and calls citizens not to take part in it. The opposition has voiced an opinion that the new amendments are anti-constitutional and the referendum is the only chance to abolish the previous anti-national amendments. Diena, Jauna Avize, Chas, Bizness & Baltiya, Panorama Latvii

About 4000 residents of Jurmala still have to exchange their former USSR passports, the validity term of which expires in December 30, 1999, for non-citizen passports. According to the DCMA data there are registered 18 700 non-citizens in Jurmala. 14088 of them had exchanged their old passports by September 1. Although only two months have left, there are not many people in the Jurmala DCMA office. Weekly newspaper

Jurmala P.Jakovlev is the first person born in Latvia to receive the status of a stateless person. To obtain this status he simultaneously gave up two citizenships – Russian and Kazakhstan. He is a former military serviceman. So far none of people residing in Latvia had obtained this status, because the DCMA should verify that a claimant of this status was not a citizen of some state, had not received the status of a refugee or committed a serious crime.

P.Jakovlev is the first person born in Latvia to receive the status of a stateless person. To obtain this status he simultaneously gave up two citizenships – Russian and Kazakhstan. He is a former military serviceman. So far none of people residing in Latvia had obtained this status, because the DCMA should verify that a claimant of this status was not a citizen of some state, had not received the status of a refugee or committed a serious crime. Chas