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

Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh, whose country is holding the European Union's rotating presidency, said it is possible that the missions of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Estonia and Latvia will be closed already this year. In her remarks to the OSCE Permanent Council on Wednesday, Lindh called the work of the OSCE missions in Estonia and Latvia a success story.

Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh, whose country is holding the European Union's rotating presidency, said it is possible that the missions of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Estonia and Latvia will be closed already this year. In her remarks to the OSCE Permanent Council on Wednesday, Lindh called the work of the OSCE missions in Estonia and Latvia a success story.

She said that as a result of close and fruitful co-operation by the two countries' governments with the missions and the OSCE high commissioner on national minorities, a closure of the missions by the end of this year now seems feasible.

She said that as a result of close and fruitful co-operation by the two countries' governments with the missions and the OSCE high commissioner on national minorities, a closure of the missions by the end of this year now seems feasible.

The U.S. envoy to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has voiced recognition of the achievements of Estonia and Latvia in integrating their ethnic minorities while calling on the two countries to continue their efforts.

The U.S. envoy to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has voiced recognition of the achievements of Estonia and Latvia in integrating their ethnic minorities while calling on the two countries to continue their efforts.

"We congratulate Estonia and Latvia on recent progress and call for continued work on social integration, since there is still work to be done," U.S. Ambassador David T. Johnson said in a statement on minority rights delivered on June 22 in Vienna to the OSCE Permanent Council. "The letter and the spirit of language laws must be respected, and we encourage continued progress on the processes of naturalisation,"

"We congratulate Estonia and Latvia on recent progress and call for continued work on social integration, since there is still work to be done," U.S. Ambassador David T. Johnson said in a statement on minority rights delivered on June 22 in Vienna to the OSCE Permanent Council. "The letter and the spirit of language laws must be respected, and we encourage continued progress on the processes of naturalisation,"

Johnson said in his statement following a report by High Commissioner for National Minorities Max van der Stoel. He added that the progress to date in both countries on improved legal frameworks and in fostering greater social harmony was in no small part due to the tireless efforts by OSCE. The OSCE mission's mandate in Latvia has been extended by the end of the year because the mission believes it has not fulfilled its mandate completely yet. The OSCE is focusing on naturalisation and citizenship issues and currently it has taken involvement in ombudsman institution formation process and strengthening of other human rights institutions, mission head Peter Semneby told BNS previously. The mission head underscored the OSCE mission's goal currently also is monitoring implementation of the state language law in the country. According to a widespread opinion, OSCE missions are sent to countries of potential for a conflict. The Latvian government had been accepting the mission's presence since 1993. Its mandate envisages dealing with citizenship and related issues as well as providing advice to the government. Previously the mission took active involvement in the process of Russian army withdrawal and monitoring of implementation of Latvian-Russian agreement on the Skrunda radar which was located in western Latvia

Johnson said in his statement following a report by High Commissioner for National Minorities Max van der Stoel. He added that the progress to date in both countries on improved legal frameworks and in fostering greater social harmony was in no small part due to the tireless efforts by OSCE. The OSCE mission's mandate in Latvia has been extended by the end of the year because the mission believes it has not fulfilled its mandate completely yet. The OSCE is focusing on naturalisation and citizenship issues and currently it has taken involvement in ombudsman institution formation process and strengthening of other human rights institutions, mission head Peter Semneby told BNS previously. The mission head underscored the OSCE mission's goal currently also is monitoring implementation of the state language law in the country. According to a widespread opinion, OSCE missions are sent to countries of potential for a conflict. The Latvian government had been accepting the mission's presence since 1993. Its mandate envisages dealing with citizenship and related issues as well as providing advice to the government. Previously the mission took active involvement in the process of Russian army withdrawal and monitoring of implementation of Latvian-Russian agreement on the Skrunda radar which was located in western Latvia. BNS

Latvia this year has fallen to 59th place in Transparency International corruption perception index which is the worst result for Latvia during the last three years and also considerably worse than for other Baltic states. This year the index includes 91 country, from them Latvia this year ranks 59th against 57th place last year and 58th a year before. Estonia this year has slipped one place lower to 28th from 27th last year but is nevertheless still regarded as least corrupt state in Central and Eastern Europe. Lithuania meanwhile has made progress moving to 38th place this year from 43rd-47th in the previous years. Russia ranks (2,3 points out of 10) 75th and Ukraine - 77th (2,1 points).

Latvia this year has fallen to 59th place in Transparency International corruption perception index which is the worst result for Latvia during the last three years and also considerably worse than for other Baltic states. This year the index includes 91 country, from them Latvia this year ranks 59th against 57th place last year and 58th a year before. Estonia this year has slipped one place lower to 28th from 27th last year but is nevertheless still regarded as least corrupt state in Central and Eastern Europe. Lithuania meanwhile has made progress moving to 38th place this year from 43rd-47th in the previous years. Russia ranks (2,3 points out of 10) 75th and Ukraine - 77th (2,1 points). Diena, Jauna, Neatkariga, Respublika

United States President George W. Bush has decided to nominate career diplomat Brian Carlson as the U.S. ambassador to Latvia, the White House said in a statement Tuesday. Carlson's previous assignments include London, Madrid, Belgrade and Oslo, reported Reuters. His nomination as the US ambassador to Latvia is subject to the approval of the US Senate.

Diena, Chas The Constitutional Court ruled out that the provisions of the Law on State Pensions providing for that the years till 1991 which foreign citizens and stateless persons worked outside Latvia are not taken into account when pensions of the above mentioned persons are calculated are in accordance with the Constitution of Latvia and European Convention. The deputies of FHRUL and Social Democrats applied to the Constitutional Court with the claim to rule the provisions discriminating for non-citizens. FHRUL deputy M.Mitrafanovs says that “there are no real grounded legal basis for such ruling and it just proves that the differences for citizens and non-citizens exist not only in the field of political rights but also in social economical sphere”. There are three solutions – first, Russian- Latvian agreement on social issues is effective, but for many non-citizens working place till 1991 was not Russia but other former USSR republics; second – deputies have to try to enter the amendments to the Law itself; third – make the problem important on the European scale.

The Constitutional Court ruled out that the provisions of the Law on State Pensions providing for that the years till 1991 which foreign citizens and stateless persons worked outside Latvia are not taken into account when pensions of the above mentioned persons are calculated are in accordance with the Constitution of Latvia and European Convention. The deputies of FHRUL and Social Democrats applied to the Constitutional Court with the claim to rule the provisions discriminating for non-citizens. FHRUL deputy M.Mitrafanovs says that there are no real grounded legal basis for such ruling and it just proves that the differences for citizens and non-citizens exist not only in the field of political rights but also in social economical sphere. There are three solutions – first, Russian- Latvian agreement on social issues is effective, but for many non-citizens working place till 1991 was not Russia but other former USSR republics; second – deputies have to try to enter the amendments to the Law itself; third – make the problem important on the European scale. Chas, Neatkariga

Vesti Segodnja

gives an article where A.Rubiks, ex-leader of Communist Party, presents his book I Demand to Find Me Innocent. gives an article where A.Rubiks, ex-leader of Communist Party, presents his book “I Demand to Find Me Innocent”. After several scandals within Russian party its leader M.Gavrilovs provides his point of view on the situation. He says that the decision to join FHRUL coalition at Riga City Council was wrong as Russian Party supports centric ideas and is not left-wing party.

After several scandals within Russian party its leader M.Gavrilovs provides his point of view on the situation. He says that the decision to join FHRUL coalition at Riga City Council was wrong as Russian Party supports centric ideas and is not left-wing party. Vesti Segodnja reproaches M.Gavrilovs that in Partys pre-election campaign the main emphasis was put on the perseverance of Russian schools, however, now he is involved in the commissions dealing with privatisation and financial issues and not education. Vesti Segodnja