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 majority did not agree to start criminal proceedings against the Social Democrat J.Adamsons. So he will be able to continue his work in the parliament.

The Saeima majority did not agree to start criminal proceedings against the Social Democrat J.Adamsons. So he will be able to continue his work in the parliament. Diena, Neatkariga, Vesti Segodnya, Respublika

In the Saeima vote, not allowing to start criminal proceedings against MP J.Adamsons, the leader of People’s Party A.Skele sees threat to the existence of the Government because the Saeima majority did not support the call of the Prime Minister A.Berzins to support the request of the Prosecutor’s General Office. The Prime Minister himself does not connect this vote to the stability of the Government.

In the Saeima vote, not allowing to start criminal proceedings against MP J.Adamsons, the leader of Peoples Party A.Skele sees threat to the existence of the Government because the Saeima majority did not support the call of the Prime Minister A.Berzins to support the request of the Prosecutors General Office. The Prime Minister himself does not connect this vote to the stability of the Government. Diena

In the annual research of the US State Department Democracy, Human Rights and Employment Office stated that there is a freedom of religion in Latvia, but the only problem in this respect are the bureaucratic restrictions that face religious minorities. It is pointed out in the research that Latvian Government makes difference between the “traditional” and “new” religions.

In the annual research of the US State Department Democracy, Human Rights and Employment Office stated that there is a freedom of religion in Latvia, but the only problem in this respect are the bureaucratic restrictions that face religious minorities. It is pointed out in the research that Latvian Government makes difference between the traditional and new religions. Diena

On Thursday the Saeima adopted the much discussed and criticised Civil Service Code that stipulated the procedure of appointing and dismissing civil servants, demands for them and their duties and rights.

On Thursday the Saeima adopted the much discussed and criticised Civil Service Code that stipulated the procedure of appointing and dismissing civil servants, demands for them and their duties and rights. Diena

One of the former leaders of the Democratic Party Saimnieks D.Turlais, who nine months ago joined Latvijas Cels, decided to leave this party. He did not explain his reasons but, according to an unofficial information, D.Turlais was dissatisfied with his present position in LC and had received a better proposal from some other party for the next municipal election.

One of the former leaders of the Democratic Party Saimnieks D.Turlais, who nine months ago joined Latvijas Cels, decided to leave this party. He did not explain his reasons but, according to an unofficial information, D.Turlais was dissatisfied with his present position in LC and had received a better proposal from some other party for the next municipal election. Neatkariga

Latvian President V.V.Freiberga in her address to the UN Millennium Summit said that this summit was a proper time to evaluate the effectiveness of UN and propose steps to improve the organisation. V.V.Freiberga mentioned that UN should strengthen it role in the field of co-ordination and improve co-operation among its institutions. And UN should reconsider allocation of resources that several times turned out to be lavish and ineffective.

Latvian President V.V.Freiberga in her address to the UN Millennium Summit said that this summit was a proper time to evaluate the effectiveness of UN and propose steps to improve the organisation. V.V.Freiberga mentioned that UN should strengthen it role in the field of co-ordination and improve co-operation among its institutions. And UN should reconsider allocation of resources that several times turned out to be lavish and ineffective. Neatkariga, Jauna Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Respublika, Chas

Rigas Balss

interviewed the Director of the National Human Rights Office O.Bruveris about the human rights situation in Latvia and the idea to establish an ombudsmen institution in Latvia. Mr. Bruveris told the journalist that the ombudsmen idea was not originated in the Office but came from a Latvian Canadian Professor J.Dreifelds and the President supported it. Answering to the question whether the demand use mostly the Latvian language in public communication could be regarded as a violation of the rights of national minorities, the Director said that it was not so and like anywhere in the world. The State Language Law implementation regulations, as the OSCE High Commissioner High Commissioner Max van der Stoel had stated, were elaborated neither to violate the rights of national minorities nor the right of Latvians to use their mother tongue. The Russian speaking press writes about the State Language Law regulations as a tragic event but during the whole history of the National Human Rights Office there had been only few complains about the language usage. interviewed the Director of the National Human Rights Office O.Bruveris about the human rights situation in Latvia and the idea to establish an ombudsmen institution in Latvia. Mr. Bruveris told the journalist that the ombudsmen idea was not originated in the Office but came from a Latvian Canadian Professor J.Dreifelds and the President supported it. Answering to the question whether the demand use mostly the Latvian language in public communication could be regarded as a violation of the rights of national minorities, the Director said that it was not so and like anywhere in the world. The State Language Law implementation regulations, as the OSCE High Commissioner High Commissioner Max van der Stoel had stated, were elaborated neither to violate the rights of national minorities nor the right of Latvians to use their mother tongue. The Russian speaking press writes about the State Language Law regulations as a tragic event but during the whole history of the National Human Rights Office there had been only few complains about the language usage. The Naturalisation Board is not ready to pass its decision of the request of the former red guerrilla man V.Kononov on giving up Latvian citizenship. The Naturalisation Board had received information from the Prosecutor’s Office but the officials were not sure whether V.Kononov would be deprived of Latvian citizenship.

The Naturalisation Board is not ready to pass its decision of the request of the former red guerrilla man V.Kononov on giving up Latvian citizenship. The Naturalisation Board had received information from the Prosecutors Office but the officials were not sure whether V.Kononov would be deprived of Latvian citizenship. Vesti Segodnya

The Head of the Naturalisation Board E.Aldermane told the newspaper

The Head of the Naturalisation Board E.Aldermane told the newspaper Respublika about her visit to Moscow and a press conference with Russian mass media representatives. About 30 journalists arrived to this conference, and Ms.Aldermane was impressed not about the questions asked but about their tonality –questions were correct and showed real interest in the processes in Latvia. After the press conference they spent two more hours in informal situation. The most discussed topics were integration and language. Respublika