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

Contrary to the opinion of many voters that one voice cannot change much in this election, experience of the previous local government election of 1997 proves just the opposite – to receive a seat in Riga City Council one of the election lists needed only 2911 voices, in Jelgava 562. It has made the representatives of several small parties start hoping that including popular physicians and actors in their candidates lists will collect them several hundred voices thus ensuring their getting into the Council. And this hope rises with decreasing of electorate’s activity.

Contrary to the opinion of many voters that one voice cannot change much in this election, experience of the previous local government election of 1997 proves just the opposite – to receive a seat in Riga City Council one of the election lists needed only 2911 voices, in Jelgava 562. It has made the representatives of several small parties start hoping that including popular physicians and actors in their candidates lists will collect them several hundred voices thus ensuring their getting into the Council. And this hope rises with decreasing of electorates activity. Diena

Central Election Commission together with DCMA took care let also those citizens, who did not have a domicile registration stamp in their passports but were registered at their place of residence, would be able to vote. In such cases commissions would allow also those people who may prove their registration with a certificate issued by the local government residents registration department or DCMA Residents Register.

Central Election Commission together with DCMA took care let also those citizens, who did not have a domicile registration stamp in their passports but were registered at their place of residence, would be able to vote. In such cases commissions would allow also those people who may prove their registration with a certificate issued by the local government residents registration department or DCMA Residents Register. Diena

Let as many voters as possible could use their election right at this local government election, people may start voting today, even those who do not have a domicile registration stamp in their passport. From March 8-10 to election polls may come people, who will not be able to arrive there on March 11.

Let as many voters as possible could use their election right at this local government election, people may start voting today, even those who do not have a domicile registration stamp in their passport. From March 8-10 to election polls may come people, who will not be able to arrive there on March 11. Neatkariga, Respublika, Panorama Latvii

The government coalition parties agreed to call the Saeima not to discuss the proposal of Social Democrats for expressing vote of non-confidence to the Minister of Interior M.Seglins and to postpone it for the next Saeima sitting. This next sitting will take place after the local government election.

The government coalition parties agreed to call the Saeima not to discuss the proposal of Social Democrats for expressing vote of non-confidence to the Minister of Interior M.Seglins and to postpone it for the next Saeima sitting. This next sitting will take place after the local government election. Diena

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Berzins and his Belarus counterpart Vladimir Yermoshin met Wednesday in Riga and discussed economic issues as well as the position by international organizations (OSCE, CoE, EU) concerning coming presidential elections in Belarus. Both premiers praised bilateral economic co-operation, including cross-border co-operation and Belarus co-operation with Latvian ports.

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Berzins and his Belarus counterpart Vladimir Yermoshin met Wednesday in Riga and discussed economic issues as well as the position by international organizations (OSCE, CoE, EU) concerning coming presidential elections in Belarus. Both premiers praised bilateral economic co-operation, including cross-border co-operation and Belarus co-operation with Latvian ports. BNS, Neatkariga, Lauku Avize, Latvijas Vestnesis, Respublika

Deputies of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Commission voiced their perplexity for the fact that the records of the meeting of presidents V.Vike-Freiberga and V.Putin were announced to be secret. Although the majority of deputies have access to the state secrets, still they doubt that both presidents discussed topics that could correspond to this status.

Neatkariga

The Latvian parliament on Thursday decided not to send to the standing committees the draft law on ratification of convention on the protection of national minorities, signed by Latvia in 1995. BNS

Yesterday the Minister of Welfare A.Pozharnovs made excuses for the social welfare agreement with Russia. Minister stated that there was no reason for worry that Latvian pensioners would receive less pensions if the agreement were signed. If any political decisions were taken, implementation of those would be financed from the state budget. The Minister also added that there existed another part of the coin – the present amount of pensions in Russia was 16 USD, so those Russian people, who had thought about moving to Russia but had not done it, would be interested to move there as soon as the question of exporting pensions was settled.

Yesterday the Minister of Welfare A.Pozharnovs made excuses for the social welfare agreement with Russia. Minister stated that there was no reason for worry that Latvian pensioners would receive less pensions if the agreement were signed. If any political decisions were taken, implementation of those would be financed from the state budget. The Minister also added that there existed another part of the coin – the present amount of pensions in Russia was 16 USD, so those Russian people, who had thought about moving to Russia but had not done it, would be interested to move there as soon as the question of exporting pensions was settled. Lauku Avize, Panorama Latvii

Russian Ministry of Fuel and Energy announced that on January 1, 2001 Latvia owned Russia for oil, fuel and gas 8.5 million Ls.

Russian Ministry of Fuel and Energy announced that on January 1, 2001 Latvia owned Russia for oil, fuel and gas 8.5 million Ls. Vesti Segodnya