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

Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, currently on visit to Austria, met with Simon

Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, currently on visit to Austria, met with Simon

Wiesenthal, the man after whom a Nazi-hunting centre has been named. At the talks with the 92-year-old man Monday the Latvian president told Wiesenthal that a Latvian-language edition of his book, The Sunflower, has been published in Latvia recently. The Sunflower is the first book by Wiesenthal translated into the Latvian.

Wiesenthal, the man after whom a Nazi-hunting centre has been named. At the talks with the 92-year-old man Monday the Latvian president told Wiesenthal that a Latvian-language edition of his book, The Sunflower, has been published in Latvia recently. The Sunflower is the first book by Wiesenthal translated into the Latvian. BNS, Jauna Avize, Neatkariga

Europarliament foreign, human rights, common security and defence committee will soon visit Latvia for the first time. The Europarliament committee will make a get-acquainted visit to Latvia from June 20 to 22, said a spokeswoman for the Latvian parliament's EU Information Center. During this visit Europarliament delegates will examine Latvia's integration in the European Union (EU) and NATO.

Europarliament foreign, human rights, common security and defence committee will soon visit Latvia for the first time. The Europarliament committee will make a get-acquainted visit to Latvia from June 20 to 22, said a spokeswoman for the Latvian parliament's EU Information Center. During this visit Europarliament delegates will examine Latvia's integration in the European Union (EU) and NATO. BNS

The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed surprise over the claims made by Russian President Putin on violations of human rights in Latvia during his meeting with US President Bush. The Latvian Foreign Ministry believes that Putin may not have been informed well enough of the situation in Latvia. Russian President Vladimir Putin met US President George W Bush in Slovenia on Saturday and while discussing the situation in the Balkans, Putin criticised the non-citizen situation in the Baltics, mentioning Latvia as an example. "In Latvia, for example, 40 percent Russian speaking population, an enormous number of non-citizens have not managed to get citizenship until this day,' said Putin. "But we do not send weapons there, we do not support or expand on terrorism there, we do not encourage people to solve issues of national identity and religious identity with the help of weapons."

The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed surprise over the claims made by Russian President Putin on violations of human rights in Latvia during his meeting with US President Bush. The Latvian Foreign Ministry believes that Putin may not have been informed well enough of the situation in Latvia. Russian President Vladimir Putin met US President George W Bush in Slovenia on Saturday and while discussing the situation in the Balkans, Putin criticised the non-citizen situation in the Baltics, mentioning Latvia as an example. "In Latvia, for example, 40 percent Russian speaking population, an enormous number of non-citizens have not managed to get citizenship until this day,' said Putin. "But we do not send weapons there, we do not support or expand on terrorism there, we do not encourage people to solve issues of national identity and religious identity with the help of weapons." BNS, Neatkariga

Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga upon meeting the Austrian National Council president Heinz Fischer spoke of mutual co-operation, as well as of a united Europe and the current discussions on the theme. The President's office reported that during their meeting Fischer has said that the referendum in Ireland on EU expansion is a signal showing the need for tighter negotiations with member state societies on what EU expansion expects, and also points to the need for more information on candidate countries.

Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga upon meeting the Austrian National Council president Heinz Fischer spoke of mutual co-operation, as well as of a united Europe and the current discussions on the theme. The President's office reported that during their meeting Fischer has said that the referendum in Ireland on EU expansion is a signal showing the need for tighter negotiations with member state societies on what EU expansion expects, and also points to the need for more information on candidate countries. BNS, Latvijas Vestnesis

Newspaper

Newspaper Latvijas Vestnesis published Expert Review Mission on Latvian Human Rights Office and Ombudsman Functions in Latvia.

A.Krieva, student of Riga Graduate School of Law continues the discussion on national minorities in Latvia. She analyses the definition of a national minority given by the Framework Convention on National Minorities, compares it with other definitions, also the one given by the OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel “I recognise a national minority when I see one.

A.Krieva, student of Riga Graduate School of Law continues the discussion on national minorities in Latvia. She analyses the definition of a national minority given by the Framework Convention on National Minorities, compares it with other definitions, also the one given by the OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel I recognise a national minority when I see one. Latvijas Vestnesis

Lauku Avize

interviewed some MPs about the spread rumours on a possibility to establish a new political party under leadership of such prominent persons as former Latvian president G.Ulmanis, former Riga mayor A.Argalis and Z.Cevers. M.Grinblats (FF/LNNK) thinks that no real action is taking place, A.Skele (Peoples Party) said that he had not heard Mr.Ulmanis promising to organise a new party, and he did not see any serious politicians ready to join this party. K.Leiskals (Latvian Way) would not wonder if a new party was established. interviewed some MPs about the spread rumours on a possibility to establish a new political party under leadership of such prominent persons as former Latvian president G.Ulmanis, former Riga mayor A.Argalis and Z.Cevers. M.Grinblats (FF/LNNK) thinks that no real action is taking place, A.Skele (People’s Party) said that he had not heard Mr.Ulmanis promising to organise a new party, and he did not see any serious politicians ready to join this party. K.Leiskals (Latvian Way) would not wonder if a new party was established. Latvian Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Center Director N.Muiznieks visited the newspaper

Latvian Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Center Director N.Muiznieks visited the newspaper Lauku Avize and explained his statements about national minority discrimination in Latvia published by the Russian speaking newspaper Vesti Segodnya. He said that Vesti Segodnya had misinterpreted his words about the situation in Latvia. N.Muiznieks based his statements on the sociological research where 24% of population said that they were discriminated, both Latvians and Russians. And among Russians in Latvia is very explicit stratification – they are the poorest and richest. And Muizniekss task was not to accuse anybody neither the government nor Latvians, but to pay attention to this fact.

So far being busy with arranging political affairs at the Riga City Council, leaders of FF/LNNK remembered that they had a special mission and ideology that distinguished them among other parties. M.Grinblats asked party members not to forget it and not to move to the sector belonging to other parties. He acknowledged that manoeuvring after the local government election of March 11 had taken too long thus indirectly pointing to the fact that party members should not get involved in close co-operation with Social Democrats in Riga City Council.

So far being busy with arranging political affairs at the Riga City Council, leaders of FF/LNNK remembered that they had a special mission and ideology that distinguished them among other parties. M.Grinblats asked party members not to forget it and not to move to the sector belonging to other parties. He acknowledged that manoeuvring after the local government election of March 11 had taken too long thus indirectly pointing to the fact that party members should not get involved in close co-operation with Social Democrats in Riga City Council. Lauku Avize

MP I.Udre from New Party in her interview to the newspaper Vesti Segodnya stated that deputies had turned into marionettes, nobody paid attention to the opposition’s opinions and all most important decisions were taken by a small group of persons naming themselves “coalition council”. In reality the parliament has lost any meaning.

MP I.Udre from New Party in her interview to the newspaper Vesti Segodnya stated that deputies had turned into marionettes, nobody paid attention to the oppositions opinions and all most important decisions were taken by a small group of persons naming themselves coalition council. In reality the parliament has lost any meaning. Vesti Segodnya

A few days ago Latvian President V.Vike-Freiberga read the compositions of Russian speaking students sent to the newspaper Chas for the competition “Why I love Latvia and consider it to be my Fatherland”. The President was of a high opinion about this initiative of

A few days ago Latvian President V.Vike-Freiberga read the compositions of Russian speaking students sent to the newspaper Chas for the competition Why I love Latvia and consider it to be my Fatherland. The President was of a high opinion about this initiative of Chas and pointed out that it was not in interests of Latvia to have two separated communities, two information areas. Chas