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

Both For Human Rights in United Latvia and FF/LNNK consider that Social Democrats may not conclude several coalition agreements in Riga City Council because booth of them are sure that Social Democrats will sign such an agreement with them. From the expressions of Social Democrats one may conclude that they intend to fulfil all obligations concerning distribution of posts with FHRUL but plan to sign the agreement with FF/LNNK.

Both For Human Rights in United Latvia and FF/LNNK consider that Social Democrats may not conclude several coalition agreements in Riga City Council because booth of them are sure that Social Democrats will sign such an agreement with them. From the expressions of Social Democrats one may conclude that they intend to fulfil all obligations concerning distribution of posts with FHRUL but plan to sign the agreement with FF/LNNK. Diena

Contrary to the present practice when data in citizen passports are entered in passport offices according to person’s place of residence, the data in the new citizen passports will be entered at the DCMA Passport Centre where non-citizen passports are prepared now. According to the agreement with the German company Giesecke & Devrient the passport forms will be produced outside Latvia but data entered in Latvia at the Passport Centre.

Contrary to the present practice when data in citizen passports are entered in passport offices according to persons place of residence, the data in the new citizen passports will be entered at the DCMA Passport Centre where non-citizen passports are prepared now. According to the agreement with the German company Giesecke & Devrient the passport forms will be produced outside Latvia but data entered in Latvia at the Passport Centre. Diena

Four years ago DCMA Passport Centre started printing of non-citizen passports personalising more than 20 000 passport per months. Now it operates not on full capacity, but is ready with July 1 start working on personalising Latvian citizen, diplomatic and service passports, and later also on IDs.

Four years ago DCMA Passport Centre started printing of non-citizen passports personalising more than 20 000 passport per months. Now it operates not on full capacity, but is ready with July 1 start working on personalising Latvian citizen, diplomatic and service passports, and later also on IDs. Neatkariga, Panorama Latvii

Contrary to the forecasts that the victory of left-wing parties could increase the wish of non-citizens to become naturalised, the number of applicants has not increased, even slightly reduced. Totally during t first three months of this year there were 2298 applicants and 2743 people became Latvian citizens. Head of Naturalisation Board E.Aldermane thinks that the present tempo of naturalisation will remain with a possible slight increase at the end of year when part of naturalisation applicants would complete Naturalisation Board organised preparation courses for naturalisation exams. Most probably the activity of non-citizens will not be so high as after opening so-called “naturalisation windows”.

Contrary to the forecasts that the victory of left-wing parties could increase the wish of non-citizens to become naturalised, the number of applicants has not increased, even slightly reduced. Totally during t first three months of this year there were 2298 applicants and 2743 people became Latvian citizens. Head of Naturalisation Board E.Aldermane thinks that the present tempo of naturalisation will remain with a possible slight increase at the end of year when part of naturalisation applicants would complete Naturalisation Board organised preparation courses for naturalisation exams. Most probably the activity of non-citizens will not be so high as after opening so-called naturalisation windows. Diena

The Central Election Commission (CEC) on Wednesday announced repeated local elections in eastern town Ilukste, CEC Chairman Arnis Cimdars told

The Central Election Commission (CEC) on Wednesday announced repeated local elections in eastern town Ilukste, CEC Chairman Arnis Cimdars told BNS. The elections in Ilukste will be held July 22. Result of the March 11 poll in Ilukste was cancelled by a Daugavpils court ruling because Social Democrat candidate Andris Ancans did not qualify for requirements of the election candidate outlined under the law. Shortly before elections he did not have a job in Ilukste and there were no other grounds for him to run in the local elections there.

To further Latvian integration into NATO and discuss urgent security policy issues with the new US President administration Latvian President V.Vike-Freiberga will go an a week long visit to The USA.

To further Latvian integration into NATO and discuss urgent security policy issues with the new US President administration Latvian President V.Vike-Freiberga will go an a week long visit to The USA. Neatkariga, Respublika

Vesti Segodnya titled this information Latvia is ready to accept nuclear weapons.

Russian National Council ratified the protocol once more prolonging Latvian – Russian intergovernmental agreement of June 2, 1993 on regulation of migration process and ensuring the rights of migrants.

Russian National Council ratified the protocol once more prolonging Latvian – Russian intergovernmental agreement of June 2, 1993 on regulation of migration process and ensuring the rights of migrants.

Yesterday Latvian Minister of Justice I.Labucka met Russian Ambassador I.Studennikov to discuss Latvian – Russian co-operation in legal matters. I.Labucka suggested to reconsider and actualise the current co-operation agreement. Both officials also analyse the integration process in Latvia. Minister of Justice informed Russian Ambassador about the established consultative council on public integration affairs. In his turn the Ambassador confirmed that his compatriots if they had chosen to live in Latvia, should master the Latvian language. He also spoke about criminal proceedings against WW II veterans that caused negative emotions in Russia. I.Labucka answered to this saying that Latvian jurisdiction was independent and persons tried were wartime criminals but not veterans. Both officials expressed hope that relations between those two countries would improve in future.

Yesterday Latvian Minister of Justice I.Labucka met Russian Ambassador I.Studennikov to discuss Latvian – Russian co-operation in legal matters. I.Labucka suggested to reconsider and actualise the current co-operation agreement. Both officials also analyse the integration process in Latvia. Minister of Justice informed Russian Ambassador about the established consultative council on public integration affairs. In his turn the Ambassador confirmed that his compatriots if they had chosen to live in Latvia, should master the Latvian language. He also spoke about criminal proceedings against WW II veterans that caused negative emotions in Russia. I.Labucka answered to this saying that Latvian jurisdiction was independent and persons tried were wartime criminals but not veterans. Both officials expressed hope that relations between those two countries would improve in future. Latvijas Vestnesis, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Spain supports Latvia's aim at joining the European Union, and completing accession negotiations by 2002, as well as NATO membership, said The Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique i Camps at a press conference in Riga on Wednesday. He also said that the Spanish public opinion is for EU expansion and that dialogue with the public on EU expansion exists on both the political and business levels.

Spain supports Latvia's aim at joining the European Union, and completing accession negotiations by 2002, as well as NATO membership, said The Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique i Camps at a press conference in Riga on Wednesday. He also said that the Spanish public opinion is for EU expansion and that dialogue with the public on EU expansion exists on both the political and business levels. BNS, Latvijas Vestnesis, Vesti Segodnya

Lithuanian Parliamentary Chairman Arturas Paulauskas is Thursday leaving for Latvia for a working visit and a series of meetings with top officials of the neighbouring Baltic state. Paulauskas is to see Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, his Latvian counterpart, Janis Straume, Prime Minister Andris Berzins and Foreign Minister Indulis Berzins on Friday.

Lithuanian Parliamentary Chairman Arturas Paulauskas is Thursday leaving for Latvia for a working visit and a series of meetings with top officials of the neighbouring Baltic state. Paulauskas is to see Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, his Latvian counterpart, Janis Straume, Prime Minister Andris Berzins and Foreign Minister Indulis Berzins on Friday. BNS

Latvian national debt continues to increase rapidly. During the last month it increased for 87 million Ls. Now it reached 616 million Ls.

Latvian national debt continues to increase rapidly. During the last month it increased for 87 million Ls. Now it reached 616 million Ls. Respublika, Vesti Segodnya, Neatkariga

If the Latvian project to introduce ID cards is not cheaper than Estonian one, it will cost Latvian taxpayers not less than 12 million Ls. Even if every Latvian resident (2.3 million) would buy such a card for 3 Ls, it would cover only a half of all expenses. The newspaper

Respublika interviewed the Head of DCMA about these new ID cards.

E.Chuyanova in the newspaper Chas writes about the composition contest organised by the publishing house Vieda for Latvian school students Road to the New World – or Real Nationalism and real culture – the only guarantee for survival of the Latvian nation. One of the proposed themes was Realisation of divine justice – or Liberation of Latvia from 700 000 settlers. The editors of the newspaper sent the Prosecutor Generals office an official letter with a request to find out whether such an contest was not kindling of national hatred.

A few days ago the government at the sitting of State Secretaries discussed amendments to the regulations of the procedure of naturalisation exams. D.Zhdanova from Chas found out that there was nothing to be afraid of, the procedure would not become more complicated. The amendments under discussion consisted of 8 points – mostly editorial. The Cabinet of Ministers could consider the amendments after two months. Chas

After finding out the fact that some of the new Riga City Council deputies did not have the adequate state language proficiency level, State Language Centre intends to check the language knowledge of deputies, representing For Human Rights in United Latvia once more. Disregarding the fact that in the nearest future Strasbourg Human Rights Court will consider the case of the member of Movement Equality from Daugavpils I.Podkolzina for taking her of the list of candidates for the previous Saeima election for not adequate state language proficiency level. At the Riga City Council faction For Human Rights in United Latvia meeting, deputies decided not go to the State Language Centre and take any repeated test.

Panorama Latvii