Press Report

Press Report

The Cabinet of Ministers has postponed the adoption of the Memorandum for the European Commission and will launch a discussion on certain requirements to be fulfilled by Latvia to join the EU. According to

The Cabinet of Ministers has postponed the adoption of the Memorandum for the European Commission and will launch a discussion on certain requirements to be fulfilled by Latvia to join the EU. According to "BIZNES & BALTIYA", the requirements are mainly related to non-citizen and minority problems. Yesterday the Government started the examination of the draft Memorandum to be submitted to the European Commission and to all EU countries. The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expects the document to change the decision by the European Commission taken in July this year that did not include Latvia in the group of countries to participate in the talks on their admission to the EU. State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maris Riekstins told "BIZNES & BALTIYA" that the discussion will focus on naturalization and on the possibility of acceding to several European Conventions including the Convention on Regional and Minority Languages. "BIZNES & BALTIYA" suggests that the discussion mentioned by Mr. Riekstins will be an attempt to persuade "Tevzemei un Brivibai" to give up its standpoints on naturalization and minorities. The newly adopted agreement between the governing factions allows to amend the Citizenship Law and the Law on the Status of Former USSR Citizens solely on the basis of a consensus.

"DIENA"

in its report on the progress of naturalization processes in Rezekne highly praised the efforts of the head of the regional Naturalization Board office Mrs. Rita Zommere. Mrs. Zommere organized special consultations on naturalization issues for the staff of local companies. in its report on the progress of naturalization processes in Rezekne highly praised the efforts of the head of the regional Naturalization Board office Mrs. Rita Zommere. Mrs. Zommere organized special consultations on naturalization issues for the staff of local companies. "REBIR""REBIR", the largest factory in the area, even agreed to cover a half of the naturalization fee to be paid by its employees. The area covered by the Rezekne office includes the city of Rezekne and the Rezekne, Ludza and Preili Regions with total population of 179,039. The number of non-citizens in the area is 18,014. Rezekne Mayor Janis June supports the idea of granting Latvian citizenship to all children born in Latvia. He considers the opportunity of providing financial aid to school graduates willing to undergo naturalization but finding it hard to pay the fee. Currently, there are four Russian language and two Latvian language schools in Rezekne. , the largest factory in the area, even agreed to cover a half of the naturalization fee to be paid by its employees. The area covered by the Rezekne office includes the city of Rezekne and the Rezekne, Ludza and Preili Regions with total population of 179,039. The number of non-citizens in the area is 18,014. Rezekne Mayor Janis June supports the idea of granting Latvian citizenship to all children born in Latvia. He considers the opportunity of providing financial aid to school graduates willing to undergo naturalization but finding it hard to pay the fee. Currently, there are four Russian language and two Latvian language schools in Rezekne. DienaDiena The Senate of the Latvian Supreme Court supported the verdict by the Riga Regional Court on the expulsion of military pensioner Anatoly Tsimbalyuk. Mr. Tsimbalyuk was demobilized in 1983 and worked as a stoker in an army unit. Although he had the right to receive the status of a permanent inhabitant, he took a residence permit by mistake. After his wife died, he lived in Lutsk (Ukraine) for a short time, then canceled his

The Senate of the Latvian Supreme Court supported the verdict by the Riga Regional Court on the expulsion of military pensioner Anatoly Tsimbalyuk. Mr. Tsimbalyuk was demobilized in 1983 and worked as a stoker in an army unit. Although he had the right to receive the status of a permanent inhabitant, he took a residence permit by mistake. After his wife died, he lived in Lutsk (Ukraine) for a short time, then canceled his "propiska" there, returned to Latvia and married a permanent resident. Having lost his passport, Mr. Tsimbalyuk applied for a new one to his local CID office. Head of the office refused to issue the passport and advised Tsimbalyuk to take Russian citizenship. He did so, and the CID issued him with an expulsion order after his temporary residence permit expired. The final verdict is "expulsion to Ukraine" although Mr. Tsimbalyuk is a Russian citizen now. The Court has not recognized his marriage to a resident of Latvia, the marriage being concluded at the Russian Embassy. The author of the article (Natalya Lebedeva) criticizes OSCE Mission member Falk Lange for being indifferent toward the case that was submitted to the Mission by members of the Latvian Human Rights Committee.

Press Report

Press Report

The agenda of the extraordinary session of the

The agenda of the extraordinary session of the Saeima scheduled for 28 August will include the election of the President of the Bank of Latvia. Deputy-Head of the "Saimnieks" faction Ernests Jurkans said that "Saimnieks" was likely to support Mr. Repse's candidature. Previously, "Saimnieks" leaders suggested that other candidates could be nominated for the post. Major Saeima factions support Mr. Einars Repse, currently the President of the Bank of Latvia. Diena

"BIZNES & BALTIYA"

while analyzing the naturalization process points out that young non-citizens tend to be indifferent toward naturalization. Middle-aged and elderly people are more active. They either have the right for extraordinary naturalization, are former Lithuanian or Estonian citizens, or are spouses of Latvian citizens. Mandatory conscription accounts for the unwillingness to take citizenship common among the young. Other reasons include the possibility to travel easily to Russia and free university education in Russia for Russian citizens (a citizenship inset is issued by the Russian Embassy for a Ls 3 fee). Head of the Naturalization Board Mrs. Eizenija Aldermane does not believe naturalization tests to be too complicated. Still, she agrees that elderly applicants should be exempt from a written summary of a text. According to Mrs. Aldermane, the number of applicants has increased this summer. She expects a further increase this year and says that the major raise of the naturalization rate should be expected in one year when persons thirty to forty years of age will have the right to apply for citizenship. She stressed that underage children of naturalized non-citizens were granted citizenship automatically. while analyzing the naturalization process points out that young non-citizens tend to be indifferent toward naturalization. Middle-aged and elderly people are more active. They either have the right for extraordinary naturalization, are former Lithuanian or Estonian citizens, or are spouses of Latvian citizens. Mandatory conscription accounts for the unwillingness to take citizenship common among the young. Other reasons include the possibility to travel easily to Russia and free university education in Russia for Russian citizens (a citizenship inset is issued by the Russian Embassy for a Ls 3 fee). Head of the Naturalization Board Mrs. Eizenija Aldermane does not believe naturalization tests to be too complicated. Still, she agrees that elderly applicants should be exempt from a written summary of a text. According to Mrs. Aldermane, the number of applicants has increased this summer. She expects a further increase this year and says that the major raise of the naturalization rate should be expected in one year when persons thirty to forty years of age will have the right to apply for citizenship. She stressed that underage children of naturalized non-citizens were granted citizenship automatically.

Press Report

Press Report

Prime-Minister Krasts is forming his office. According to

Prime-Minister Krasts is forming his office. According to "DIENA", four advisors are already working for the office. Meanwhile, "Latvijas Cels", "Saimnieks" and "Tevzemei un Brivibai" suggest establishing a consultative council to assist the Prime-Minister in resolving economic issues. Smaller governing coalition parties were not informed about the decision by the "big three" while Prime-Minister Krasts did not welcome the idea. Mr. Krasts even said that he would resign in case a political party or a group of parties tried to press on him by imposing their policies. "DIENA" points at the contradictions between the Prime-Minister's plans of reforming the country's economics and his party's ("Tevzemei un Brivibai") populist policy. These contradictions may be aggravated by EU requirements to abolish employment restrictions for non-citizens and to liberalize the land market.Diena

Last week member of the European Parliament Jorn Donner (Finland) advised the Estonian Government to change its language policy by giving Russian the status of the second official state language. Mr. Donner is a member of a working group that prepares a report on the situation in the country for the European Commission. According to

Last week member of the European Parliament Jorn Donner (Finland) advised the Estonian Government to change its language policy by giving Russian the status of the second official state language. Mr. Donner is a member of a working group that prepares a report on the situation in the country for the European Commission. According to "SM", his opinion is shared by the OSCE High Commissioner's expert team and by several senior European Union and European Parliament officials. The Latvian Cabinet of Ministers drafted a declaration in support of bringing the country's legislation in compliance with European Union standards. The adoption of the document was delayed by the forming of the new Cabinet. Almost all of the Latvian citizenship-related legal acts contradict Latvia's obligations in the human rights domain. Director of the Latvian Center for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Nils Muiznieks doubts that the Prime-Minister and his party ("Tevzemei un Brivibai") "will make a step toward meeting EU requirements on citizenship and naturalization."

Press Report

Press Report

Yesterday Procurator Guntis Akmenkalns told journalists that it was planned to complete the examination of 46 cases of deputies who might have violated the Anti-Corruption Law, by 25 August. The Procurator General’s Office will constantly inform interested parties and the press about the findings. Until now the Procurator General’s office has examined seven cases, of which only one - the case of Indulis Berzins - contains facts about the violation of the Anti-Corruption Law. In his income declaration Indulis Berzins, Deputy of the

Yesterday Procurator Guntis Akmenkalns told journalists that it was planned to complete the examination of 46 cases of deputies who might have violated the Anti-Corruption Law, by 25 August. The Procurator Generals Office will constantly inform interested parties and the press about the findings. Until now the Procurator Generals office has examined seven cases, of which only one - the case of Indulis Berzins - contains facts about the violation of the Anti-Corruption Law. In his income declaration Indulis Berzins, Deputy of the Latvijas Cels, did not indicate two shares of a limited company Klubs. Mr. Berzins said that he was not aware of the existence of those shares. Diena

At a conference that will take place on 5 and 6 September in Vilnius, presidents of twelve countries will discuss issues related to the development of good neighbouring relations. Among participants will be the Presidents of Baltic countries, the Ukraine, Belorus, Hungary, Slovakia , Romania, Bulgaria, Poland and Finland, as well as the Prime-Minister of Russia.

At a conference that will take place on 5 and 6 September in Vilnius, presidents of twelve countries will discuss issues related to the development of good neighbouring relations. Among participants will be the Presidents of Baltic countries, the Ukraine, Belorus, Hungary, Slovakia , Romania, Bulgaria, Poland and Finland, as well as the Prime-Minister of Russia. Diena

At a press-conference Valerie Nesterushkin, Representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that any attempts by commercial organizations of other countries to disregard Russian laws would be strictly prosecuted. Mr. Nesterushkin expressed a hope that the Baltic governments would do everything to make sure that Baltic commercial institutions that have businesses in Russia, did not violate Russian legislation.

At a press-conference Valerie Nesterushkin, Representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that any attempts by commercial organizations of other countries to disregard Russian laws would be strictly prosecuted. Mr. Nesterushkin expressed a hope that the Baltic governments would do everything to make sure that Baltic commercial institutions that have businesses in Russia, did not violate Russian legislation. B&B

NEATKARIGA brieflyinforms that by 7 August twenty thousand eight hundred non-citizens have received non-citizen passports.

NEATKARIGA brieflyinforms that by 7 August twenty thousand eight hundred non-citizens have received non-citizen passports.

Press Report 

Press Report

Martins Kibilds, Advisor to the Prime-Minister, informed journalists that four ministers - Minister of Culture Ramona Umblija, Minister of Agriculture Andris Ravins, Minister of Foreign Affairs Valdis Birkavs and Minister of Finance Roberts Zile - have not signed a document that verifies their compliance with the Anti-Corruption Law. Mr. Kibilds said that the Minster of Culture and the Minister of Agriculture still hold other official posts which they promised to leave within a month. The Minister of Foreign Affairs is on vacation and will sign the document next week. Robert Zile, who besides the governmental office holds a post in a joint venture company

Martins Kibilds, Advisor to the Prime-Minister, informed journalists that four ministers - Minister of Culture Ramona Umblija, Minister of Agriculture Andris Ravins, Minister of Foreign Affairs Valdis Birkavs and Minister of Finance Roberts Zile - have not signed a document that verifies their compliance with the Anti-Corruption Law. Mr. Kibilds said that the Minster of Culture and the Minister of Agriculture still hold other official posts which they promised to leave within a month. The Minister of Foreign Affairs is on vacation and will sign the document next week. Robert Zile, who besides the governmental office holds a post in a joint venture company Rigas Tirdzniecibas Osta, has asked the Procurator General to give an opinion about this situation. Until then he will refrain from signing the document. B&B

A new Latvian Ambassador to Russia Imants Daudiss will receive his credentials at the beginning of September. He will replace the present Latvian Ambassador Janis Peters.

A new Latvian Ambassador to Russia Imants Daudiss will receive his credentials at the beginning of September. He will replace the present Latvian Ambassador Janis Peters. Diena

The government-forming parties will form a consultative council whose functions have not been decided yet. Ernests Jurkans, Deputy Chair of the “Saimnieks” fraction, said that the council would work out suggestions on how to speed up social and economic reforms, and it would facilitate the Prime-Minister’s work.

The government-forming parties will form a consultative council whose functions have not been decided yet. Ernests Jurkans, Deputy Chair of the Saimnieks fraction, said that the council would work out suggestions on how to speed up social and economic reforms, and it would facilitate the Prime-Ministers work. Diena

In an article for “DIENA” Aivars Ozolins comments on the writ of the Minister of Defense according to which persons serving in the Latvian Armed Forces will not be allowed to receive pensions from other countries. According to Ozolins, this decision has an important and symbolic meaning. It shows the willingness of the Minister to get rid of the “hopeless legacy of the Soviet military”, and it is just the beginning of reforms that the Minister plans to execute.

In an article for DIENA Aivars Ozolins comments on the writ of the Minister of Defense according to which persons serving in the Latvian Armed Forces will not be allowed to receive pensions from other countries. According to Ozolins, this decision has an important and symbolic meaning. It shows the willingness of the Minister to get rid of the hopeless legacy of the Soviet military, and it is just the beginning of reforms that the Minister plans to execute.