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

Yesterday the upper chamber of the Russian Parliament ratified the agreements with Latvia on complete troop withdrawal and on social guarantees for military pensioners and the agreement on assistance for repatriates. President Yeltsin's representative Sergey Zotov criticized the resolution by the Baltic Parliamentary Assembly on the demilitarization of Kaliningrad region. He characterized the declaration as an interference into internal affairs of Russia. Russian Ambassador to Russia Mr.Rannih handed a letter by the Chairman of the State

Yesterday the upper chamber of the Russian Parliament ratified the agreements with Latvia on complete troop withdrawal and on social guarantees for military pensioners and the agreement on assistance for repatriates. President Yeltsin's representative Sergey Zotov criticized the resolution by the Baltic Parliamentary Assembly on the demilitarization of Kaliningrad region. He characterized the declaration as an interference into internal affairs of Russia. Russian Ambassador to Russia Mr.Rannih handed a letter by the Chairman of the State Duma Mr.Ribkin to the Chairman of the Saeima Mr.Gorbunovs. Mr.Ribkin accepted the invitation to visit Latvia. During his press-conference Ambassador Rannih refused to comment onthe statement by Mr.Zotov regarding the resolution by the Baltic Parliamentary Assembly. Still, he noted that a better understanding of the resolution could be shown by Moscow politicians. Diena, Labrit

During a meeting with Deputy Secretary General of the UN Mr.Mark Golding President Ulmanis spoke about problems still faced by Latvia after the withdrawal of Russian troops mentioning retired officers, the Skrunda radar, and ecological damage. The President also expressed hope that Russia would not raise the issue of violation of human rights in the Baltic states in the UN. He also said that there were new perspectives for improvement of relations between the three Baltic states and Russia and suggested that the fact of their occupation by the USSR should be recognized.

During a meeting with Deputy Secretary General of the UN Mr.Mark Golding President Ulmanis spoke about problems still faced by Latvia after the withdrawal of Russian troops mentioning retired officers, the Skrunda radar, and ecological damage. The President also expressed hope that Russia would not raise the issue of violation of human rights in the Baltic states in the UN. He also said that there were new perspectives for improvement of relations between the three Baltic states and Russia and suggested that the fact of their occupation by the USSR should be recognized. Diena

In her interview for "Panorama Latvii" Head of the Naturalization Agency Mrs.Eizenija Aldermane stressed that the law on state service demanded that civil servants should not represent the interest of any political organization. She also noted that the regulations for applying for naturalization recently adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers exclude the possibility of arbitrary decisions. She refused to comment on the CID activities saying that Latvia needed the naturalization Agency because of peculiarities of the situation in the country.

In her interview for "Panorama Latvii" Head of the Naturalization Agency Mrs.Eizenija Aldermane stressed that the law on state service demanded that civil servants should not represent the interest of any political organization. She also noted that the regulations for applying for naturalization recently adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers exclude the possibility of arbitrary decisions. She refused to comment on the CID activities saying that Latvia needed the naturalization Agency because of peculiarities of the situation in the country.

In his interview for

In his interview for "SM SEVODNYA" State minister for Human Rights Mr.Janis Tupesis said that the non-implementation of court decrees by the CID was not a general practice but just separate cases of incompetence. He insisted on a well-balanced approach to the problem of registration and naturalization. Mr.Tupesis stressed the uniqueness of the situation in Latvia which makes certain recommendations by international experts not applicable in this country. SM Segodnya