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

Yesterday the Cabinet of Ministers rejected the draft decision of the Minister of Economics on proposing E.Jansons for the post of the Director General of the Privatisation Agency. Before the ministers started to discuss other candidates, the Minister of Justice V.Birkavs announced that from the legal point of view the term of J.Naglis had not expired, therefore the Government could not adopt a new decree on appointing a new Director General.

Yesterday the Cabinet of Ministers rejected the draft decision of the Minister of Economics on proposing E.Jansons for the post of the Director General of the Privatisation Agency. Before the ministers started to discuss other candidates, the Minister of Justice V.Birkavs announced that from the legal point of view the term of J.Naglis had not expired, therefore the Government could not adopt a new decree on appointing a new Director General. Neatkariga, Diena, Respublika

The representatives of the Riga City Council ruling coalition Union Centrs named yesterday the possible candidates for the Council government should the political balance in the Council change. According to their opinion the main troublemakers were the Union TB/LNNK who were preparing to get into the council.

The representatives of the Riga City Council ruling coalition Union Centrs named yesterday the possible candidates for the Council government should the political balance in the Council change. According to their opinion the main troublemakers were the Union TB/LNNK who were preparing to get into the council. Neatkariga, Respublika, Vesti Segodnya

Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs I.Berzins met the US Acting State Secretary S.Talbout and discussed the NATO expansion issues. Special attention was paid to the questions of social and political issues – attitude towards historical events, investigation of war crimes and crimes against mankind.

Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs I.Berzins met the US Acting State Secretary S.Talbout and discussed the NATO expansion issues. Special attention was paid to the questions of social and political issues – attitude towards historical events, investigation of war crimes and crimes against mankind. Neatkariga

Yesterday the Prime Minister A.Skele changed his Press Secretary U.Salna for J.Liepnieks, who already held this post some time ago.

Yesterday the Prime Minister A.Skele changed his Press Secretary U.Salna for J.Liepnieks, who already held this post some time ago. Neatkariga, Diena

Diena published a material where it is stated that residents often address courts complaining about illegal activities of the DCMA officials. In 1999 there were 240 such court hearings. In 89 cases the actions of the officials were found illegal but in 151 – the officials were right. In January and February 2000 there were 28 cases in the court and in 6 of them DCMA officials turned out to be guilty. The Acting Head of the DCMA M.Bicevskis told Diena that this number of complains indicated that the work of officials were not of the highest standards.

Diena published a material where it is stated that residents often address courts complaining about illegal activities of the DCMA officials. In 1999 there were 240 such court hearings. In 89 cases the actions of the officials were found illegal but in 151 – the officials were right. In January and February 2000 there were 28 cases in the court and in 6 of them DCMA officials turned out to be guilty. The Acting Head of the DCMA M.Bicevskis told Diena that this number of complains indicated that the work of officials were not of the highest standards. Diena

The representatives of TB/LNNK and People’s Party do not consider that the criticism expressed at the conference of Latvijas Cels could effect the stability of the Government. The Chairman of TB/LNNK M.Grinblats told the press that TB/LNNK and LC still had many things in common and there was no reason to doubt the stability of the Government. The Chairman of People’s Party G.Berzins found the LC expressions as “very sharp, but having some grounds”.

The representatives of TB/LNNK and Peoples Party do not consider that the criticism expressed at the conference of Latvijas Cels could effect the stability of the Government. The Chairman of TB/LNNK M.Grinblats told the press that TB/LNNK and LC still had many things in common and there was no reason to doubt the stability of the Government. The Chairman of Peoples Party G.Berzins found the LC expressions as very sharp, but having some grounds. Rigas Balss

Vesti Segodnya analyses the announcement made the Acting President of Russia V.Putin about a possibility that Russia could join NATO. Does it mean that Russia would not oppose the Baltic States to join this organisation? It is not so. The announcement was just a hypothetical assumption, because before to raise the issue of Russia joining NATO, this organisation should fulfil a set of conditions stated by Russia.

N.Sevidova did a research how is the language situation among middle age businessman in Latvia, how well they know the state and foreign languages. These people feel the necessity to know languages and paid a lot of efforts to master them.

N.Sevidova did a research how is the language situation among middle age businessman in Latvia, how well they know the state and foreign languages. These people feel the necessity to know languages and paid a lot of efforts to master them. Vesti Segodnya