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

Representatives of Latvia's southeastern city of Daugavpils and western Russian city of Pskov signed a protocol of intention for cooperation of the city municipal institutions and businesses on Thursday. The Daugavpils City Council executive director and Pskov deputy mayor signed the protocol with the aim of promoting the economic environment of both cities. The two cities agreed upon co-operation between municipal institutions and businesses, as well as the possibility of establishing a co-operative Support Fund.

Representatives of Latvia's southeastern city of Daugavpils and western Russian city of Pskov signed a protocol of intention for cooperation of the city municipal institutions and businesses on Thursday. The Daugavpils City Council executive director and Pskov deputy mayor signed the protocol with the aim of promoting the economic environment of both cities. The two cities agreed upon co-operation between municipal institutions and businesses, as well as the possibility of establishing a co-operative Support Fund. Vesti Segodnja

United States Air Force General Joseph Ralston said Thursday in Riga following a meeting with Latvia's President that "no one is concerned over the capability of [Latvia's] armed forces to co-operate on the same level as the alliance forces," mentioning as an example the participation of Latvian soldiers in peace-keeping operations in the Balkans. "Latvian military forces are already operating as part of NATO procedures and using NATO tactics," and Latvian soldiers will bring this experience home, he said. Ralston said he as a military cannot make specific promises concerning the admission of Latvia to NATO, saying that the decision will be made by politicians. But military and expert assessment on the readiness of countries for alliance membership will go side by side with political considerations. Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga also agreed that this "political issue" was a dialogue between political and military aspects. The Latvian president said Ralston had examined the situation in the Latvian armed forces and praised the progress achieved in raising the country's defence capacity, saying he would like to continue supporting Latvia on its way to NATO.

United States Air Force General Joseph Ralston said Thursday in Riga following a meeting with Latvia's President that "no one is concerned over the capability of [Latvia's] armed forces to co-operate on the same level as the alliance forces," mentioning as an example the participation of Latvian soldiers in peace-keeping operations in the Balkans. "Latvian military forces are already operating as part of NATO procedures and using NATO tactics," and Latvian soldiers will bring this experience home, he said. Ralston said he as a military cannot make specific promises concerning the admission of Latvia to NATO, saying that the decision will be made by politicians. But military and expert assessment on the readiness of countries for alliance membership will go side by side with political considerations. Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga also agreed that this "political issue" was a dialogue between political and military aspects. The Latvian president said Ralston had examined the situation in the Latvian armed forces and praised the progress achieved in raising the country's defence capacity, saying he would like to continue supporting Latvia on its way to NATO. Diena, Neatkariga, Rigas Balss, Chas

After the break of eight years, the first railway carriage to run on a direct route between Russian city Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea cost and the Latvian capital Riga departed from Kaliningrad Thursday. At the same time Russian Government approved draft amendments to the Federal Law on the Procedure of Entrance to Russia. Now Russian Government has a possibility to establish visa free entrance for those foreigners who reside in the countries, which have no visa requirements for Russians.

After the break of eight years, the first railway carriage to run on a direct route between Russian city Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea cost and the Latvian capital Riga departed from Kaliningrad Thursday. At the same time Russian Government approved draft amendments to the Federal Law on the Procedure of Entrance to Russia. Now Russian Government has a possibility to establish visa free entrance for those foreigners who reside in the countries, which have no visa requirements for Russians. Vesti Segodnja, Chas

Rigas Balss

interviews Daugavpils City Council mayor R.Eigims. He talks about his plans regarding development of the city. When asked about language situation in the city, the mayor informs that in Daugavpils people have a possibility to attend Latvian language courses free of charge and although the number of non-citizens in Daugavpils among other Latvian cities is the highest, he hopes that after some time there will not be such problems. R.Eigims and his party Latgales Gaisma are planning to run for Saeima elections. interviews Daugavpils City Council mayor R.Eigims. He talks about his plans regarding development of the city. When asked about language situation in the city, the mayor informs that in Daugavpils people have a possibility to attend Latvian language courses free of charge and although the number of non-citizens in Daugavpils among other Latvian cities is the highest, he hopes that after some time there will not be such problems. R.Eigims and his party “Latgales Gaisma” are planning to run for Saeima elections. Yesterday several national bolshevists were picketing at the City Council demanding to return to the streets of Riga the names of “noble Russians”, such as J.Gagarin, which they had during Soviet times.

Yesterday several national bolshevists were picketing at the City Council demanding to return to the streets of Riga the names of noble Russians, such as J.Gagarin, which they had during Soviet times. Vesti Segodnja, Chas, Panorama Latvii

In regard to the ruling of the Constitutional Court on 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, as a solution to the problem the Court suggested to sign international agreements with Russia and other countries. The newspaper

In regard to the ruling of the Constitutional Court on 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, as a solution to the problem the Court suggested to sign international agreements with Russia and other countries. The newspaper Vesti Segodnja suggests another solution – as of 1 July all individuals are eligible to apply to the Constitutional Court then if the number of claims is high the attention of Europe and the world would be attracted. Vesti Segodnja

Weekly newspaper

Weekly newspaper The Baltic Times of June 28 - July publishes an article about the possible closure of the OSCE Mission to Latvia.The Permanent Council of the OSCE has voted to extend the term of its missions to Latvia and Estonia for another 6 months. As Estonia and Latvia prepare for the accession to the EU, both governments are eager to see the removal of the missions – commonly associated with doubts about countrys ability to function as a democracy. But the Head of the Mission to Latvia P.Semneby said the OSCE would not compromise its standards. A.Pildegovich, foreign policy adviser to Latvian President, said that the decision to extend Missions mandate is the last of its kind as the Government has technically implemented all necessary steps for its closure. But, cautioned Semneby, closure of the Mission is not a foregone conclusion. The OSCE must see a commitment to a sustained effort to integrate Latvian society, he said. We are not striving for a static goal. This is a dynamic process, which will last forever. It is necessary to get the direction right.

In order to encourage further integration, the OSCE will undertake various projects with the Naturalisation Board and UNDP. These will include free language training and a campaign to encourage people to become citizens. The budget of the campaign amounts to USD 200,000. “It is necessary to give all 550,000 non-citizens all the information they need to make an informed choice on obtaining citizenship”, said Semneby. “There is currently a lot of uncertainty about what the choice means, due to lack of trust in state institutions – something which is seen both among citizens and non-citizens. According to the Naturalisation Board 20% of non-citizens have said they want to apply for citizenship and a further 20% would like to do so in the future. This represents 200,000 in total. The remaining 60% are probably beyond the reach of campaign like this, but maybe some will apply”. He added that Latvia’s language law – which regulates language use in various areas – fulfils “International minimal requirements”, but changes are still necessary to regulations stipulating the language skills required of election candidates. “Our position is that these requirements are not justified. It is a sovereign right of a voter to elect a representative, who-ever he wants, who may be handicapped in any way”. L.Raihman, chairman of Latvian Human Rights Committee, said the OSCE Mission to Latvia should remain in Latvia until 2004, when, under a new education law, Russian language schools will begin to be phased out.

In order to encourage further integration, the OSCE will undertake various projects with the Naturalisation Board and UNDP. These will include free language training and a campaign to encourage people to become citizens. The budget of the campaign amounts to USD 200,000. It is necessary to give all 550,000 non-citizens all the information they need to make an informed choice on obtaining citizenship, said Semneby. There is currently a lot of uncertainty about what the choice means, due to lack of trust in state institutions – something which is seen both among citizens and non-citizens. According to the Naturalisation Board 20% of non-citizens have said they want to apply for citizenship and a further 20% would like to do so in the future. This represents 200,000 in total. The remaining 60% are probably beyond the reach of campaign like this, but maybe some will apply. He added that Latvias language law – which regulates language use in various areas – fulfils International minimal requirements, but changes are still necessary to regulations stipulating the language skills required of election candidates. Our position is that these requirements are not justified. It is a sovereign right of a voter to elect a representative, who-ever he wants, who may be handicapped in any way. L.Raihman, chairman of Latvian Human Rights Committee, said the OSCE Mission to Latvia should remain in Latvia until 2004, when, under a new education law, Russian language schools will begin to be phased out.