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

Igor Studennikov, the new Russian Ambassador to Latvia, met the Latvian Foreign Minister Indulis Berzins at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday. Both officials discussed the work of the inter-governmental commission and the expected meeting of both commission heads in Moscow this week. Both minister and ambassador agreed that work on the expanding of agreement groundwork must continue with experts working legislative projects of economic, social and educational spheres etc. Consulting opportunities between the Russian and Latvian foreign ministry experts were also discussed.

Igor Studennikov, the new Russian Ambassador to Latvia, met the Latvian Foreign Minister Indulis Berzins at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday. Both officials discussed the work of the inter-governmental commission and the expected meeting of both commission heads in Moscow this week. Both minister and ambassador agreed that work on the expanding of agreement groundwork must continue with experts working legislative projects of economic, social and educational spheres etc. Consulting opportunities between the Russian and Latvian foreign ministry experts were also discussed. Lauku Avize

Both immigration and emigration rates fell in Latvia last year, according to the Latvian Central Statistics Office. In 2000 a total of 8,030 persons left Latvia for permanent residence abroad and 1,627 people moved to Latvia, a nearly 50 percent reduction from 3,123 immigrants two years ago. As a result of migration, the number of ethnic Latvians in the country fell by 480 persons last year. Most of those who left Latvia or 70 percent emigrated to the CIS states with remaining 30 percent moving to other countries, including 3.6 percent to Lithuania and 2.2 percent to Estonia. Most of immigrants to Latvia also came from the CIS states (61 percent) with remaining 39 percent coming from other countries, including 2 percent from Lithuania and 0.7 percent from Estonia. Russians were in the majority among both emigrants (more than 50%) and immigrants (more than 40%).

Both immigration and emigration rates fell in Latvia last year, according to the Latvian Central Statistics Office. In 2000 a total of 8,030 persons left Latvia for permanent residence abroad and 1,627 people moved to Latvia, a nearly 50 percent reduction from 3,123 immigrants two years ago. As a result of migration, the number of ethnic Latvians in the country fell by 480 persons last year. Most of those who left Latvia or 70 percent emigrated to the CIS states with remaining 30 percent moving to other countries, including 3.6 percent to Lithuania and 2.2 percent to Estonia. Most of immigrants to Latvia also came from the CIS states (61 percent) with remaining 39 percent coming from other countries, including 2 percent from Lithuania and 0.7 percent from Estonia. Russians were in the majority among both emigrants (more than 50%) and immigrants (more than 40%). Neatkariga

Today is the first sitting of the new Riga City Council and the main task for the deputies is to elect the Mayor. The leaders of ruling coalition partners -- the People's Party, Latvia's Way and Fatherland and Freedom (FF)/LNNK -- Monday signed an agreement about supporting FF/LNNK mayoral candidate Andris Argalis and also agreed about starting immediately talks with small parties about possible coalition on the Riga City Council. The Latvian Social Democratic Workers Party (LSDWP) has gathered enough votes for supporting their candidate Gundars Bojars as Riga Mayor at the Riga City Council vote on Tuesday.

Today is the first sitting of the new Riga City Council and the main task for the deputies is to elect the Mayor. The leaders of ruling coalition partners -- the People's Party, Latvia's Way and Fatherland and Freedom (FF)/LNNK -- Monday signed an agreement about supporting FF/LNNK mayoral candidate Andris Argalis and also agreed about starting immediately talks with small parties about possible coalition on the Riga City Council. The Latvian Social Democratic Workers Party (LSDWP) has gathered enough votes for supporting their candidate Gundars Bojars as Riga Mayor at the Riga City Council vote on Tuesday.

FHRUL chairman J.Jurkans confirmed that co-operation agreement with social democrats will turn into a coalition agreement in the very closest future. D.Ivans, social democrat deputy who received the most votes among social democrats and the leader of the Awakening, said that he would give up his mandate if social democrats make agreement with FHRUL.

FHRUL chairman J.Jurkans confirmed that co-operation agreement with social democrats will turn into a coalition agreement in the very closest future. D.Ivans, social democrat deputy who received the most votes among social democrats and the leader of the Awakening, said that he would give up his mandate if social democrats make agreement with FHRUL. Diena, Neatkariga, Jauna, Lauku Avize, Panorama Latvii, Respublika, Chas, Vesti Segodnja

Lauku Avize

re-publishes the parts of President's interview for Russia's newspaper Izvestija. The President says that in her opinion V.Putin understands the problems in Latvia, however, they could not reach one opinion on the status of Russians in Latvia. V.Vike-Freiberga does not think that Russia could use military power to prevent the joining of the Baltic States to NATO, however, some "diplomatic effort" will be made. re-publishes the parts of President's interview for Russia's newspaper Izvestija. The President says that in her opinion V.Putin understands the problems in Latvia, however, they could not reach one opinion on the status of Russians in Latvia. V.Vike-Freiberga does not think that Russia could use military power to prevent the joining of the Baltic States to NATO, however, some "diplomatic effort" will be made. Latvian President V.Vike-Freiberga will be on the official visit to Denmark 28-30 March. She has scheduled meetings with Danish Prime Minister and MP.

Latvian President V.Vike-Freiberga will be on the official visit to Denmark 28-30 March. She has scheduled meetings with Danish Prime Minister and MP. Lauku Avize

Yesterday was the first day of minister of transport, Latvian-Russian intergovernmental commission co-chairman A.Gorbunov's visit to Moscow. He provided his comments to Chas "I hope that as a result of the meeting our co-operation will become more active, however, I do not believe in that very much".

Yesterday was the first day of minister of transport, Latvian-Russian intergovernmental commission co-chairman A.Gorbunov's visit to Moscow. He provided his comments to Chas "I hope that as a result of the meeting our co-operation will become more active, however, I do not believe in that very much".

Saeima winter session will be closed on 9 April and spring session starts on 23 April.

Saeima winter session will be closed on 9 April and spring session starts on 23 April. Diena

Respublika

gives brief information about Latvias delegation visit to Estonia in order to learn Estonian integration programme. In this regard gives brief information about Latvia’s delegation visit to Estonia in order to learn Estonian integration programme. In this regard RespublikaRespublika provides some facts about Latvias Integration programme – OSCE Mission to Latvia, UN and Freedom House have invested huge amounts of funds in the programme, however, Latvian Government has done nothing to implement the programme, says N.Muiznieks, National Human Rights and Ethnic Research Centre director. provides some facts about Latvia’s Integration programme – “OSCE Mission to Latvia, UN and Freedom House have invested huge amounts of funds in the programme, however, Latvian Government has done nothing to implement the programme”, says N.Muiznieks, National Human Rights and Ethnic Research Centre director. According to Russia's newspaper

According to Russia's newspaper Vedomasti Latvia is the least popular tourism country among the Baltic States for Russia's tourists. The number of Russia's tourists visiting Latvia is 5.5 times less than people going to Estonia and 3,5 times less than tourists whose destination is Lithuania. Vesti Segodnja