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

Latvia in the EU accession negotiations yesterday provisionally finished five of the earlier opened negotiation topics: common foreign and security policy, statistics, education and training, science and research, small and medium-size businesses.

Latvia in the EU accession negotiations yesterday provisionally finished five of the earlier opened negotiation topics: common foreign and security policy, statistics, education and training, science and research, small and medium-size businesses. Diena

EU presiding country Portugal released a statement in the name of the EU saying that over the last months Russia has seriously condemned Latvia and Estonia by using a very strong language. The statement calls this policy unproductive and simply unacceptable for today’s Europe. The statement is an answer to the speech of the Russian representatives at the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna where Latvia was reproached of human rights violations and imprisonment of Mihail Farbtuh who was sentenced for genocide. EU statement refuses to comment on Farbtuh’s case and says that it proceeded in compliance with Latvia’s judicial system. EU has decided that Latvia has met the Copenhagen political criteria.

EU presiding country Portugal released a statement in the name of the EU saying that over the last months Russia has seriously condemned Latvia and Estonia by using a very strong language. The statement calls this policy unproductive and simply unacceptable for todays Europe. The statement is an answer to the speech of the Russian representatives at the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna where Latvia was reproached of human rights violations and imprisonment of Mihail Farbtuh who was sentenced for genocide. EU statement refuses to comment on Farbtuhs case and says that it proceeded in compliance with Latvias judicial system. EU has decided that Latvia has met the Copenhagen political criteria. Diena

Yesterday, Saeima’s presidium and the faction council decided that the Saeima would be in recess from June 22 to September 4. The last session will take place on June 20. The presidium will work all summer and, if necessary, will announce extraordinary sessions. Saeima, according to the schedule, has passed all laws necessary for the movement towards the EU. Saeima’s commissions resume their work in August.

Yesterday, Saeimas presidium and the faction council decided that the Saeima would be in recess from June 22 to September 4. The last session will take place on June 20. The presidium will work all summer and, if necessary, will announce extraordinary sessions. Saeima, according to the schedule, has passed all laws necessary for the movement towards the EU. Saeimas commissions resume their work in August. Diena

Latvia has set to bilateral negotiations with Russia about its accession to WTO. As the main principle for these negotiations Latvia has raised abolishing of the decisions discriminating Latvia.

Latvia has set to bilateral negotiations with Russia about its accession to WTO. As the main principle for these negotiations Latvia has raised abolishing of the decisions discriminating Latvia. Diena, Neatkariga, Chas

June 1 to 30, in 640 places in Latvia citizens may sign in support to the draft law initiated by trade unions prohibiting privatization and division of the national electricity utility Latvenergo.

June 1 to 30, in 640 places in Latvia citizens may sign in support to the draft law initiated by trade unions prohibiting privatization and division of the national electricity utility Latvenergo. Diena

Within the framework of the Year of Baltics announced by Sweden the least has informed about the support of 150,000 Swedish crones to the Saeima’s information center to be spent on EU information campaign in the local newspapers. 100,000 more was allotted to the translation of EU informative materials in Russian.

Within the framework of the Year of Baltics announced by Sweden the least has informed about the support of 150,000 Swedish crones to the Saeimas information center to be spent on EU information campaign in the local newspapers. 100,000 more was allotted to the translation of EU informative materials in Russian. Diena

In an article about the concepts on passports and ID cards recently passed by the government,

In an article about the concepts on passports and ID cards recently passed by the government, Neatkariga quotes opinions of experts who try to establish the possible technical, economic, social and political risks, comparing the approach of the concepts in Latvia and international requirements.

In an interview to

In an interview to Vesti the former USSR president Gorbachov suggests that instead on NATO expansion the European countries should turn the OSCE in a real force, reform it so that the organization could solve all problems connected with collective security in Europe.

In a meeting in Riga on multicultural society in Latvia, one of the speakers, Director of the Council of Europe Center of Information and Documentation Uldis Krastins said that Latvia is ready to ratify the Convention On Protection of Minority Rights, a procedure already completed by Lithuania and Estonia. Ratification is possible with commentaries referring to the specific situation in Latvia.

In a meeting in Riga on multicultural society in Latvia, one of the speakers, Director of the Council of Europe Center of Information and Documentation Uldis Krastins said that Latvia is ready to ratify the Convention On Protection of Minority Rights, a procedure already completed by Lithuania and Estonia. Ratification is possible with commentaries referring to the specific situation in Latvia. Vesti

An article in

An article in Chas tells about the initiative of volunteers from the NGO center to restore a possibility to choose alternative service instead of the mandatory military service. Young ethnic Russians often choose to delay undergoing naturalization and becoming Latvian citizens until they become older than the conscription age to avoid military service. Among the reasons are fear of harassment on ethnic grounds and unwillingness to consider the country of their ethnic origin as the potential enemy. These reasons along with religious motivation could also be as a legitimate motivation to choose the alternative service.

Further NATO expansion is possible only with approval from Russia to avoid unnecessary growth of tension. This statement was made by the major-general of the joint North-Eastern NATO headquarters Jung yesterday in Tallinn.

Further NATO expansion is possible only with approval from Russia to avoid unnecessary growth of tension. This statement was made by the major-general of the joint North-Eastern NATO headquarters Jung yesterday in Tallinn. Panorama Latvii

After ruling of the Latvian Prime Minister Andris Berzins, Latvian Society Integration Council shall have the following membership:

After ruling of the Latvian Prime Minister Andris Berzins, Latvian Society Integration Council shall have the following membership:
Justice Minister Ingrida Labucka, Education Minister Karlis Greiskalns, Culture Minister Karina Petersone, Welfare Minister Andrejs Pozarnovs. Latvijas Vestnesis