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

The State Language Centre will not be able to check state language proficiency of six Riga city council deputies from the leftist union within the stated deadline because they refuse from meeting language inspectors. Centre deputy director Agris Timuska told BNS the centre has been attempting to meet the deputies and had been calling them on the phone and inviting to hold the language test. Moreover, the deputies have told the media they will not join the tests held by the centre because they already have language certification. Timuska told BNS the centre had sent a letter to Riga Mayor Gundars Bojars requesting his assistance in arranging the language tests. Timuska voiced a hope the centre would be able to hold in May the tests deadline of which was set for May 10.

The State Language Centre will not be able to check state language proficiency of six Riga city council deputies from the leftist union within the stated deadline because they refuse from meeting language inspectors. Centre deputy director Agris Timuska told BNS the centre has been attempting to meet the deputies and had been calling them on the phone and inviting to hold the language test. Moreover, the deputies have told the media they will not join the tests held by the centre because they already have language certification. Timuska told BNS the centre had sent a letter to Riga Mayor Gundars Bojars requesting his assistance in arranging the language tests. Timuska voiced a hope the centre would be able to hold in May the tests deadline of which was set for May 10. BNS

Hungary backs admission of the Baltic states to NATO in the nearest round of enlargement, Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi said on Wednesday. Martonyi, who arrived to Riga on a two day official visit expressed the remark following a meeting with Latvian Foreign Minister Indulis Berzins, Foreign Ministry press office reported to

Hungary backs admission of the Baltic states to NATO in the nearest round of enlargement, Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi said on Wednesday. Martonyi, who arrived to Riga on a two day official visit expressed the remark following a meeting with Latvian Foreign Minister Indulis Berzins, Foreign Ministry press office reported to BNS. Latvijas Vestnesis

The Latvian Foreign Ministry believes there are no grounds to relate simplified visa requirements with tourism development in sea resort town Jurmala, as Jurmala mayor wants, and the visa policy should not be altered. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Liga Bergmane told reporters Wednesday Latvia should pursue it effective visa policy while the tourism development needs good infrastructure, low prices of services and others. Jurmala town council has set up a working group that will develop the municipality's proposals for simplifying visa regime with the CIS countries. The changes in the visa regime are aimed at simplifying the procedure of acquiring Latvia's visas for tourists from Russia, Ukraine and other CIS countries. BNS

The Latvian Foreign Ministry believes there are no grounds to relate simplified visa requirements with tourism development in sea resort town Jurmala, as Jurmala mayor wants, and the visa policy should not be altered. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Liga Bergmane told reporters Wednesday Latvia should pursue it effective visa policy while the tourism development needs good infrastructure, low prices of services and others. Jurmala town council has set up a working group that will develop the municipality's proposals for simplifying visa regime with the CIS countries. The changes in the visa regime are aimed at simplifying the procedure of acquiring Latvia's visas for tourists from Russia, Ukraine and other CIS countries. BNS

The Latvian embassy in Russia Thursday will hand a note to the Russian Foreign Ministry to voice indignation over incident outside the Latvian embassy in Moscow where one vandal had thrown bottles with black paint at the embassy building. Latvian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Liga Bergmane told reporters Wednesday the note also will request to investigate the case and punish the guilty person as well as refund the damage caused to facade of the embassy building.

The Latvian embassy in Russia Thursday will hand a note to the Russian Foreign Ministry to voice indignation over incident outside the Latvian embassy in Moscow where one vandal had thrown bottles with black paint at the embassy building. Latvian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Liga Bergmane told reporters Wednesday the note also will request to investigate the case and punish the guilty person as well as refund the damage caused to facade of the embassy building. BNS, Neatkariga, Chas, Panorama Latvii

Professor A.Zunda writes about the priorities of Latvian foreign policy. And one should not be a big specialist in foreign affairs to understand how big role in modern Europe is played by Germany. That’s why Latvia tries to maintain good relations with this country.

Professor A.Zunda writes about the priorities of Latvian foreign policy. And one should not be a big specialist in foreign affairs to understand how big role in modern Europe is played by Germany. Thats why Latvia tries to maintain good relations with this country. Neatkariga

Upon the initiative of the Baltic States in PACE has been prepared a draft resolution where Russia will be reminded of her duty to return the buildings of former embassy buildings of the Baltic States that Russia had misappropriated after WW II.

Upon the initiative of the Baltic States in PACE has been prepared a draft resolution where Russia will be reminded of her duty to return the buildings of former embassy buildings of the Baltic States that Russia had misappropriated after WW II. Lauku Avize

On May 2 Secretary General of CoE W.Scwimmer arrived on a working visit to Riga. Today he will open the conference “Local democracy at the beginning of 21st century”, then meet with Latvian Prime Minister A.Berzins, Saeima Speaker J.Straume and members of Latvian parliamentary Assembly members.

On May 2 Secretary General of CoE W.Scwimmer arrived on a working visit to Riga. Today he will open the conference Local democracy at the beginning of 21st century, then meet with Latvian Prime Minister A.Berzins, Saeima Speaker J.Straume and members of Latvian parliamentary Assembly members. Latvijas Vestnesis

Tonight Russian Minister of Culture M.Shvidkoy is coming to Riga to initial a bilateral agreement between Culture Ministries of both countries for 2001 – 2003.

Tonight Russian Minister of Culture M.Shvidkoy is coming to Riga to initial a bilateral agreement between Culture Ministries of both countries for 2001 – 2003. Chas

Yesterday the co-chairman of Latvian – Russian intergovernmental commission informed about two news concerning this commission. The first is a good one – the commission resumed its activities, the second is a bad one – both parties declared different priorities. Latvia considers as a priority to conclude an agreement on co-operation in taxation maters and other economic issues. Russia sees social issues as a priority, especially concerning pensions.

Yesterday the co-chairman of Latvian – Russian intergovernmental commission informed about two news concerning this commission. The first is a good one – the commission resumed its activities, the second is a bad one – both parties declared different priorities. Latvia considers as a priority to conclude an agreement on co-operation in taxation maters and other economic issues. Russia sees social issues as a priority, especially concerning pensions. Chas

Yesterday Latvian Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Centre Director N.Muiznieks presented the Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Commission the research on human rights situation in Latvia in 2000. But very soon the deputies instead of discussing the report turned to a discussion on de-colonisation and the negative role of Russian speaking media on integration process in Latvia.

Yesterday Latvian Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Centre Director N.Muiznieks presented the Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Commission the research on human rights situation in Latvia in 2000. But very soon the deputies instead of discussing the report turned to a discussion on de-colonisation and the negative role of Russian speaking media on integration process in Latvia. Vesti Segodnya

A journalist from

A journalist from Vesti Segodnya interviewed the Chairman of the Association of Russian Language Teachers T.Liguta about the situation with the Russian language in Latvia. The Associated Professor Liguta thinks that this language needs as much protection as possible although in general there is no total danger for it. What happens in Latvia is a strong canning of the language. People when coming to a strange country keep speaking the language of the time they left Russia and do not know about the new developments there. Vesti Segodnya

Russian National Council member V.Alksnis was surprised when learned about the court decision concerning 3 Russian National Bolsheviks. He sees the long sentence terms for these people as an attempt to intimidate other National Bolsheviks acting in Latvia. Alksnis told the journalist about his recent meeting with the First Deputy of Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs A.Avdeyev, during which he was promised that Russia would demand extradition of those people.

Russian National Council member V.Alksnis was surprised when learned about the court decision concerning 3 Russian National Bolsheviks. He sees the long sentence terms for these people as an attempt to intimidate other National Bolsheviks acting in Latvia. Alksnis told the journalist about his recent meeting with the First Deputy of Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs A.Avdeyev, during which he was promised that Russia would demand extradition of those people. Vesti Segodnya

When members of the Saeima faction For Human Rights in United Latvia learned that in the new ID cards developed for use internally and also in Estonia and Lithuania there was still preserved the record about person’s nationality. They rent a letter to DCMA with a request to explain this. An answer was received immediately and it was explained that there was a mistake when translating from English the term “nationality”. This term should be understood as “citizenship”. But this term is used in many countries in European and the world. And for recording one’s ethnic belonging is used the term “ethnic nationality”. Even more, DCMA Deputy Director Mr.Lejins, who signed this letter, explained that according to the existing concept this record would be voluntarily. It means that most likely this record would be like this “citizen of Latvia” or “non-citizen of Latvia”.

When members of the Saeima faction For Human Rights in United Latvia learned that in the new ID cards developed for use internally and also in Estonia and Lithuania there was still preserved the record about persons nationality. They rent a letter to DCMA with a request to explain this. An answer was received immediately and it was explained that there was a mistake when translating from English the term nationality. This term should be understood as citizenship. But this term is used in many countries in European and the world. And for recording ones ethnic belonging is used the term ethnic nationality. Even more, DCMA Deputy Director Mr.Lejins, who signed this letter, explained that according to the existing concept this record would be voluntarily. It means that most likely this record would be like this citizen of Latvia or non-citizen of Latvia. Panorama Latvii