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 New Party, which is opposition now, will start consultations with the Government forming factions to establish closer co-operation. The leaders of People’s Party and Latvijas Cels are sure that a successful co-operation with New Party is possible, but TB/LNNK in its turn considers that they are looking for a possibility of a new coalition in the case TB/LNNK would not participate in the Government.

The New Party, which is opposition now, will start consultations with the Government forming factions to establish closer co-operation. The leaders of Peoples Party and Latvijas Cels are sure that a successful co-operation with New Party is possible, but TB/LNNK in its turn considers that they are looking for a possibility of a new coalition in the case TB/LNNK would not participate in the Government. Neatkariga, Jauna Avize, Chas

Diena adds that expansion of the coalition is not planned for the nearest future, Peoples Party and Latvijas Cels just ask the New Party to be loyal partners. Latvijas Cels Chairman A.Pantelejevs said that expansion of the coalition would not be a bad thing, they were ready to give away some minister post, hold by Latvijas Cels, and excluded a possibility to oust TB/LNNK from the coalition.

Diena adds that expansion of the coalition is not planned for the nearest future, Peoples Party and Latvijas Cels just ask the New Party to be loyal partners. Latvijas Cels Chairman A.Pantelejevs said that expansion of the coalition would not be a bad thing, they were ready to give away some minister post, hold by Latvijas Cels, and excluded a possibility to oust TB/LNNK from the coalition.

The sewage treatment plant of former Skrunda Radar Station town has been plundered: electric motors and coloured metals stolen, power transformers demolished, 300 meters of power cable dug out. A former plant worker told a journalist that almost everything had been stolen. According to the information available, until handling over the plant to the National Real Estate agency, the plant was fully operational and its capacity was big enough to purify also Skrunda town waters. The Commandant of the plant told that the two policemen, guarding the plant were not capable to ensure security of it.

The sewage treatment plant of former Skrunda Radar Station town has been plundered: electric motors and coloured metals stolen, power transformers demolished, 300 meters of power cable dug out. A former plant worker told a journalist that almost everything had been stolen. According to the information available, until handling over the plant to the National Real Estate agency, the plant was fully operational and its capacity was big enough to purify also Skrunda town waters. The Commandant of the plant told that the two policemen, guarding the plant were not capable to ensure security of it. Neatkariga

On Thursday Russian Government adopted the basic directions for international humanitarian co-operation with CIS and the Baltic States. Russian Minister of CIS Affairs announced that this co-operation program would be elaborated within three - four months. According to him the problem is of “deliberate seclusion” and mutual distrust, national egoism, ousting of the Russian language from state institutions, as well as decreasing the number of Russian speaking education institutions.

On Thursday Russian Government adopted the basic directions for international humanitarian co-operation with CIS and the Baltic States. Russian Minister of CIS Affairs announced that this co-operation program would be elaborated within three - four months. According to him the problem is of deliberate seclusion and mutual distrust, national egoism, ousting of the Russian language from state institutions, as well as decreasing the number of Russian speaking education institutions. Neatkariga

On Thursday the society of Venspils was presented the new public integration program, elaborated by the City Council. This is the first document of such kind in Latvia. The main goal of the program is to decrease the social and ethnic division, establish a constant dialogue between residents and municipal institutions, further mastering of the Latvian language and culture, as well as ensure preservation of cultural heritage of national minorities.

On Thursday the society of Venspils was presented the new public integration program, elaborated by the City Council. This is the first document of such kind in Latvia. The main goal of the program is to decrease the social and ethnic division, establish a constant dialogue between residents and municipal institutions, further mastering of the Latvian language and culture, as well as ensure preservation of cultural heritage of national minorities. Diena

A.Arkadyev in

A.Arkadyev in Vesti Segodnya writes that Latvijas Cels has always defended their ministers in the Government, but now the situation has changed. The first time they did not stick to this principle was V.Kristopans. Latvijas Cels not only did not defend their Prime Minister but also criticised him. Now it is the Minister of Foreign Affairs I.Berzinss turn. He had always stood for good neighbourly relations with Russia. He has always been very careful in his statements about Czechnya. And contradictory to this, his faction colleagues supported the Saeima announcement of human rights violations in Czechnya. The second time was when K.Libane at the meeting of the PACE in Strasbourg voted for depriving Russia of the right of vote.