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

In the annual report on the people’s development carried out by the UNDP Latvia takes 63rd place among 174 countries. Latvia is behind not only Estonia and Lithuania, but also Russia, Byelorussia, Croatia. The research was based on such data as income per an inhabitant; the years of life, educational level, availability of health protection.

In the annual report on the peoples development carried out by the UNDP Latvia takes 63rd place among 174 countries. Latvia is behind not only Estonia and Lithuania, but also Russia, Byelorussia, Croatia. The research was based on such data as income per an inhabitant; the years of life, educational level, availability of health protection. Neatkariga, Diena, Vesti Segodnja, Respublika

The victory of the left wing in the Seima elections in Lithuania makes Latvia’s politicians reconsider their chances for the 8th Saeima elections. According to the pools carried out in Latvia, Latvia’s Social Democrat Workers’ Party has been the most popular party for the last months. The members of Latvia’s Way and People’s Party say that social democrats are not ready to become a ruling party and the country itself is not ready for that.

The victory of the left wing in the Seima elections in Lithuania makes Latvias politicians reconsider their chances for the 8th Saeima elections. According to the pools carried out in Latvia, Latvias Social Democrat Workers Party has been the most popular party for the last months. The members of Latvias Way and Peoples Party say that social democrats are not ready to become a ruling party and the country itself is not ready for that. Neatkariga.

Yesterday the President Vaira Vike-Freiberga opened the biggest international military training Baltic Eagle – 2000.

Yesterday the President Vaira Vike-Freiberga opened the biggest international military training Baltic Eagle – 2000. Neatkariga, Jauna, Vesti Segodnja

Saeima Committee on Defence and Interior Affairs and the National Security Commission ask the Ministry of Justice to examine the compliance of the support organisations of Russia’s National Bolshevistic organisation

Saeima Committee on Defence and Interior Affairs and the National Security Commission ask the Ministry of Justice to examine the compliance of the support organisations of Russias National Bolshevistic organisation Limonovci with the Law on Non-governmental institutions. Their proposal is to prohibit these organisations in the territory of Latvia. Neatkariga

Latvia has to establish diplomatic relations with Yugoslavia after the regime of the President of Yugoslavia has fallen.

Latvia has to establish diplomatic relations with Yugoslavia after the regime of the President of Yugoslavia has fallen. Neatkariga, Respublika.

Riga Council deputy ex-mayor M.Purgailis has left the People’s Party, thus in the Council of Riga City is no representative of the People’s Party. M.Purgailis does not keep in secret that he would join another political party, however, the secret is – which one.

Riga Council deputy ex-mayor M.Purgailis has left the Peoples Party, thus in the Council of Riga City is no representative of the Peoples Party. M.Purgailis does not keep in secret that he would join another political party, however, the secret is – which one. Neatkariga, Diena, Jauna

The Ministers of Co-operation of the Baltic States and Nordic countries met in Riga yesterday to discuss co-operation programme. The priorities are placed on the following fields – education, culture, fostering society integration and IT.

The Ministers of Co-operation of the Baltic States and Nordic countries met in Riga yesterday to discuss co-operation programme. The priorities are placed on the following fields – education, culture, fostering society integration and IT. Neatkariga

The recent pool on popularity of the parties shows that Latvia’s Social Democrat Party is the most popular party (14%), then follows Latvia’s Way (13,95),the Union For Human Rights in the United Latvia (8,9%), FF/LNNK (7,5%) and People’s Party. The number of the inquired people who do not know which party they would vote for – 25,3% and people who will not go to vote – 15,6%.

The recent pool on popularity of the parties shows that Latvias Social Democrat Party is the most popular party (14%), then follows Latvias Way (13,95),the Union For Human Rights in the United Latvia (8,9%), FF/LNNK (7,5%) and Peoples Party. The number of the inquired people who do not know which party they would vote for – 25,3% and people who will not go to vote – 15,6%. Diena, Jauna, Respublika, Panorama Latvii.

“The unwillingness of the Government to ratify the Framework Convention on the Protection of Minorities shows state’s attitude towards the national minorities”, writes the chairman deputy of the faction FHRUL O.Shipcov in the newspaper

The unwillingness of the Government to ratify the Framework Convention on the Protection of Minorities shows states attitude towards the national minorities, writes the chairman deputy of the faction FHRUL O.Shipcov in the newspaper Vesti Segodnja. He says: The separation of people in minorities has been started already in the years of the Awakening, when the nationalities were made to establish their own separate national cultural communities. Today could be the time to start to improve the situation. O.Shipcov invites people to organise the congress of the National Minorities in Latvia.

The Director of the Department for Citizenship and Migration Affairs M.Bichevskis informed the Saeima Committee on the Implementation of the Law on Citizenship, that in the territory of Latvia on the legal basis reside 315 citizens of the USSR. Although, Latvia does not recognise the passport of the USSR, as there is no such country any more, there are people who are the citizens of the USSR. The Committee asked to M.Bichevski to clarify such “nonsense”.

The Director of the Department for Citizenship and Migration Affairs M.Bichevskis informed the Saeima Committee on the Implementation of the Law on Citizenship, that in the territory of Latvia on the legal basis reside 315 citizens of the USSR. Although, Latvia does not recognise the passport of the USSR, as there is no such country any more, there are people who are the citizens of the USSR. The Committee asked to M.Bichevski to clarify such nonsense. Vesti Segodnja.

“Tuesday night the members of the OSCE Mission to Latvia came to Daugavpils. Today they are planning to see the Naturalisation Board, the General Consulate of Russia and DCMA (Department for Citizenship and Migration Affairs). By the way, the civil servants made the execution of their activities a little bit harder.

Tuesday night the members of the OSCE Mission to Latvia came to Daugavpils. Today they are planning to see the Naturalisation Board, the General Consulate of Russia and DCMA (Department for Citizenship and Migration Affairs). By the way, the civil servants made the execution of their activities a little bit harder.

The Head of DCMA I.Valpetere mentioned that ““missioners” did not even care to make an accurate meeting time, although their main aim was to find out more about the issuance of non-citizen passports. We do not have any particular problems in Daugavpils. Only 5,6% permanent residents did not exchange the passports. The announcement about the possibility to meet with the representatives of the OSCE Mission to Latvia was published only in one city’s newspaper out of five, that was why there were not so many visitors. However, some years ago inhabitants of Daugavpils tried very hard to get to this meeting, making the queue hours before the meeting. Either the problems are gone or the OSCE are not trying very hard to find out about them”.

The Head of DCMA I.Valpetere mentioned that missioners did not even care to make an accurate meeting time, although their main aim was to find out more about the issuance of non-citizen passports. We do not have any particular problems in Daugavpils. Only 5,6% permanent residents did not exchange the passports. The announcement about the possibility to meet with the representatives of the OSCE Mission to Latvia was published only in one citys newspaper out of five, that was why there were not so many visitors. However, some years ago inhabitants of Daugavpils tried very hard to get to this meeting, making the queue hours before the meeting. Either the problems are gone or the OSCE are not trying very hard to find out about them. Chas.

Vesti Segodnja

gives an article about the problems caused by the abolishment of easier conditions to pass the border for people who live in the border zone. gives an article about the problems caused by the abolishment of easier conditions to pass the border for people who live in the border zone. On Thursday the President V.Vike-Freiberga will meet with the President of ATA (Atlantic Treaties Association) – the organisation which promotes the idea of NATO.

On Thursday the President V.Vike-Freiberga will meet with the President of ATA (Atlantic Treaties Association) – the organisation which promotes the idea of NATO. Respublika.

Already for a month the regulations on the State Language Law are effective, however, the Government is not able to finish the work at the amendments in the Code of Administrative Violations in regard to violations of the Language Law norms. The newspaper

Already for a month the regulations on the State Language Law are effective, however, the Government is not able to finish the work at the amendments in the Code of Administrative Violations in regard to violations of the Language Law norms. The newspaper Panorama Latvii gives its explanation why the penalties for violation of the Language Law were not adopted at the same time when the regulations were adopted – most likely it happened because ministers tried to fool the old OSCE Commissioner – they did not provide him any information regarding the changes in the Administrative Code. They try to postpone the adoption of the draft as the High Commissioner Max van der Stoel retires in December. Panorama Latvii