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

Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK party Wednesday violated the government coalition agreement by supporting a proposal of Social Democrats, its partner on the Riga city council but parliamentary opposition, concerning amendments to the pension law. The premier has denied this could be a prelude to government ousting. FF/LNNK voted in support of Social Democrat proposal after the parliament in a secret ballot turned down its candidate for a post on the National Radio and Television Council. After that vote FF/LNNK leader Maris Grinblats voiced indignation saying their candidate was turned down by coalition partners Latvia's Way and People's Party who denied the accusations though. Their votes can not be checked out because the vote was secret.

Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK party Wednesday violated the government coalition agreement by supporting a proposal of Social Democrats, its partner on the Riga city council but parliamentary opposition, concerning amendments to the pension law. The premier has denied this could be a prelude to government ousting. FF/LNNK voted in support of Social Democrat proposal after the parliament in a secret ballot turned down its candidate for a post on the National Radio and Television Council. After that vote FF/LNNK leader Maris Grinblats voiced indignation saying their candidate was turned down by coalition partners Latvia's Way and People's Party who denied the accusations though. Their votes can not be checked out because the vote was secret. BNS, Diena, Respublika, Panorama Latvii, Chas

Latvian Foreign Ministry state secretary Maris Riekstins on Tuesday met with United States NATO committee president Bruce Jackson, currently on visit to Latvia, and presented to him Latvia's progress on its way to NATO, the ministry's press service reported. Riekstins and Jackson discussed steps to be taken to strengthen support by the US and other NATO members to enlargement of the alliance. The US NATO committee president arrived in Latvia to examine the Baltic State’s progress on its way to NATO and to meet with top Latvian officials. On Wednesday the US official is expected to meet with Latvian defence minister Girts Valdis Kristovskis and speak at the conference organised by the Latvian Trans-Atlantic Organisation. BNS

Latvian Foreign Ministry state secretary Maris Riekstins on Tuesday met with United States NATO committee president Bruce Jackson, currently on visit to Latvia, and presented to him Latvia's progress on its way to NATO, the ministry's press service reported. Riekstins and Jackson discussed steps to be taken to strengthen support by the US and other NATO members to enlargement of the alliance. The US NATO committee president arrived in Latvia to examine the Baltic States progress on its way to NATO and to meet with top Latvian officials. On Wednesday the US official is expected to meet with Latvian defence minister Girts Valdis Kristovskis and speak at the conference organised by the Latvian Trans-Atlantic Organisation. BNS

United States NATO committee president Bruce Jackson, currently on visit to Latvia, called on the Baltic country to pay more attention to compliance with political criteria set forth for NATO candidates. At the talks with Latvian lawmakers Tuesday the US representative said that after excellent military success demonstrated by the Baltic in the process of integrating into NATO more attention will be paid to treatment of Russian and Jewish minorities, efforts to combat corruption and crime as well as presence of foreign secret services. Now, when military progress has been achieved, values and political criteria will become increasingly important, said Jackson. He believes that admission of the Baltic States to NATO in 2002 could be prevented only by some flop on part of the candidates or change of position among supporters. Jackson also met with a Latvian lawmaker representing the opposition left-wing bloc For Human Rights, Martijans Bekasovs, who suggested that Latvia should at first solve its social problems and only then tackle external security. The US official pointed out that it was dangerous position. One cannot hope that after the Prague summit the situation will be as favourable for Latvia as it is now, therefore the opportunity should be taken today, he added. NATO is not an end; it is a means, said Jackson. It will be cheaper to acquire partners and integrate into Trans-Atlantic structures as in that case it will become easier to solve social problems as well. The talks with the opposition lawmaker focused mostly on social problems and anti-corruption efforts. Jackson met also with Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, and they discussed mainly the US leadership in Trans-Atlantic security, noting US-Latvian co-operation within joint defence projects. Both officials agreed that Baltic membership in NATO would contribute to peace, stability and development in the region, the presidential press service reported.

United States NATO committee president Bruce Jackson, currently on visit to Latvia, called on the Baltic country to pay more attention to compliance with political criteria set forth for NATO candidates. At the talks with Latvian lawmakers Tuesday the US representative said that after excellent military success demonstrated by the Baltic in the process of integrating into NATO more attention will be paid to treatment of Russian and Jewish minorities, efforts to combat corruption and crime as well as presence of foreign secret services. Now, when military progress has been achieved, values and political criteria will become increasingly important, said Jackson. He believes that admission of the Baltic States to NATO in 2002 could be prevented only by some flop on part of the candidates or change of position among supporters. Jackson also met with a Latvian lawmaker representing the opposition left-wing bloc For Human Rights, Martijans Bekasovs, who suggested that Latvia should at first solve its social problems and only then tackle external security. The US official pointed out that it was dangerous position. One cannot hope that after the Prague summit the situation will be as favourable for Latvia as it is now, therefore the opportunity should be taken today, he added. NATO is not an end; it is a means, said Jackson. It will be cheaper to acquire partners and integrate into Trans-Atlantic structures as in that case it will become easier to solve social problems as well. The talks with the opposition lawmaker focused mostly on social problems and anti-corruption efforts. Jackson met also with Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, and they discussed mainly the US leadership in Trans-Atlantic security, noting US-Latvian co-operation within joint defence projects. Both officials agreed that Baltic membership in NATO would contribute to peace, stability and development in the region, the presidential press service reported. BNS, Chas

Yesterday in a open discussion with Mr. Jackson opposition representatives from For Human Rights in United Latvia the faction leader J.Jurkans formulated their position concerning Latvia’s joining NATO – two community society in Latvia was not stable and could not solve the questions of its defence; there was no external danger for Latvia and not from Russia; 2% of GDP for defence was too much when for health care the state spent only 3%; J.Jurkans was not against Latvia’s joining NATO but it should not be a priority. First comes EU only then NATO.

Yesterday in a open discussion with Mr. Jackson opposition representatives from For Human Rights in United Latvia the faction leader J.Jurkans formulated their position concerning Latvias joining NATO – two community society in Latvia was not stable and could not solve the questions of its defence; there was no external danger for Latvia and not from Russia; 2% of GDP for defence was too much when for health care the state spent only 3%; J.Jurkans was not against Latvias joining NATO but it should not be a priority. First comes EU only then NATO. Chas

Baltic Assembly Presidium Chairman Romualds Razuks in the joint meeting of the Baltic Assembly and Nordic Council Thursday in Riga will urge to proclaim nearing to the Nordic countries as a priority for the Baltic states. Razuks expressed the remark Thursday in an interview with Latvian State radio. He said that after the integration into the European Union and NATO the Baltic states will have to answer to a question "who and where will we be, what interests will we voice, how will we be able to use advantages provided by Northern dimension".

Baltic Assembly Presidium Chairman Romualds Razuks in the joint meeting of the Baltic Assembly and Nordic Council Thursday in Riga will urge to proclaim nearing to the Nordic countries as a priority for the Baltic states. Razuks expressed the remark Thursday in an interview with Latvian State radio. He said that after the integration into the European Union and NATO the Baltic states will have to answer to a question "who and where will we be, what interests will we voice, how will we be able to use advantages provided by Northern dimension". BNS, Neatkariga

Russian Ambassador to Latvia I.Studennikov while visiting Venspils met with the Mayor A.Lembergs and City Council members. When discussing economical relations A.Lembergs stressed that quite often administrative methods dictate the model and possibilities of co-operation between entrepreneurs of both countries thus disturbing economical development of both countries. Answering to this the Ambassador assured that Mayor’s point of view was a little bit aggravated, but it was not bad. Russia’s export through Venspils would increase but at the same time Russia was interested to construct and develop its own ports.

Russian Ambassador to Latvia I.Studennikov while visiting Venspils met with the Mayor A.Lembergs and City Council members. When discussing economical relations A.Lembergs stressed that quite often administrative methods dictate the model and possibilities of co-operation between entrepreneurs of both countries thus disturbing economical development of both countries. Answering to this the Ambassador assured that Mayors point of view was a little bit aggravated, but it was not bad. Russias export through Venspils would increase but at the same time Russia was interested to construct and develop its own ports. Neatkariga, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

According to unofficial information the recently established ruling coalition in Riga City Council would like to deprive the representatives of For Human Rights in United Latvia of authority in the Council. On Monday the Riga City Property and Privatisation Affairs Commission adopted a draft decision where it was envisaged to stipulate that the manager of local government privatisation fund would be the deputy chairman of the Council. For this post was named the representative of For Human Rights in United Latvia S.Dolgopolov but the position members did not like this idea because this naming would increase influence of left wingers and could result in control over privatisation fund.

According to unofficial information the recently established ruling coalition in Riga City Council would like to deprive the representatives of For Human Rights in United Latvia of authority in the Council. On Monday the Riga City Property and Privatisation Affairs Commission adopted a draft decision where it was envisaged to stipulate that the manager of local government privatisation fund would be the deputy chairman of the Council. For this post was named the representative of For Human Rights in United Latvia S.Dolgopolov but the position members did not like this idea because this naming would increase influence of left wingers and could result in control over privatisation fund. Neatkariga

An obscure organisation, calling itself the Latvian National Liberation Movement (LNLM), Wednesday sent to several media a statement, claiming responsibility for explosions in a shopping mall in Riga centre last summer. Interior Ministry spokesman Normunds Belskis told BNS that the Security Police had started investigation to find out whether this statement was substantiated and who were the authors of the document. "We assume responsibility for the explosion in the Centrs shopping mall. We fight for free Latvia," the organisation said in its statement. According to the LNLM home page at http://www.emucities.com. au/member/lnak2000/Index.htm, the organisation is fighting for free Latvia as, having got rid from the Soviet occupation, the state allowed "others to exploit us."

An obscure organisation, calling itself the Latvian National Liberation Movement (LNLM), Wednesday sent to several media a statement, claiming responsibility for explosions in a shopping mall in Riga centre last summer. Interior Ministry spokesman Normunds Belskis told BNS that the Security Police had started investigation to find out whether this statement was substantiated and who were the authors of the document. "We assume responsibility for the explosion in the Centrs shopping mall. We fight for free Latvia," the organisation said in its statement. According to the LNLM home page at http://www.emucities.com. au/member/lnak2000/Index.htm, the organisation is fighting for free Latvia as, having got rid from the Soviet occupation, the state allowed "others to exploit us." BNS, Vesti Segodnya, Panorama Latvii