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

Several

Several Saeima members believe the Prime-Minister (and not the Council of the Governing Factions) is to deciside on Kreituss dismissal. Saimnieks Chairman Cevers says his faction would not raise the issue of Kreituss dismissal in the absence of the Prime Minister. Mr Skele is expected back from his visits abroad on September 26. Skele is said to be satisfied with Kreituss work . The only objection to Kreituss retaining the post might be caused by the fact that he is not a party member any more. It will be up to the governing factions to decide whether they would agree to have a minister not belonging to any of the governing parties. Neatkariga, Diena

The 1950 European Human Rights Convention still has not been ratified by the

The 1950 European Human Rights Convention still has not been ratified by the Saeima. Ratifying the Convention and supplementary protocols was among the CE Parliamentary Assembly recommendations of January 31, 1996. The Saeima Human Rights Committee started analysing the compliance of Latvias legislation with the first twelve articles of the Convention. Materials studied by the Committee have been prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, the State Human rights Bureau, and the Council of Sworn Attorneys. A meeting of the Latvian side with the Council of Europe experts was held in Riga last May. The meeting pointed out particular aspects of Latvias legislation contradicting the European norms. Among those were death penalty, canceling residence permits whose holders had been registered as drug addicts or alcoholics, and a ban on issuing residence permits to individuals suffering from diseases dangerous to the society. The CE experts agreed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Report that suggested amending the Constitutional Law on the Rights and Obligations of an individual and a Citizen. The amendments would set restrictions required for guaranteeing the security of the state. The meeting named the end of October 1996 as a deadline for submitting a report on the remaining points of the Convention to the CE. Mrs Malinovska of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says she does not see any reasons why the Saeima could not ratify the Convention by the end of this year. Mr Dozortsev of Peoples Harmony says the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should have been more active to allow ratifying the Convention within one year after it was signed by Latvia. Dozortsev believes there are serious discrepancies between Latvias legislation and the Convention. Among most important points he named the fact that human rights do not have a constitutional status in the countrys legislation. Dozortsev is not enthusiastic about the Saeimas ability to adopt all necessary amendments before the end of the year, since all the amendments are to pass three readings. Diena

The CID has fired Ugis Sulcs who was working for the Department as a contracted expert. Earlier Mr Sulcs had been dismissed along with several other CID officers by the Minister of the Interior from a post of the Director’s advisor. CID Director Mr Zitars told “DIENA” he would have allowed Sulcs “to contribute to the work of the Department”. Minister of the Interior Turlais refused to comment on the firing of Sulcs.

The CID has fired Ugis Sulcs who was working for the Department as a contracted expert. Earlier Mr Sulcs had been dismissed along with several other CID officers by the Minister of the Interior from a post of the Directors advisor. CID Director Mr Zitars told DIENA he would have allowed Sulcs to contribute to the work of the Department. Minister of the Interior Turlais refused to comment on the firing of Sulcs. Diena

Last week Minister of Welfare Vladimirs Makarovs

Last week Minister of Welfare Vladimirs Makarovs (Tevzemei un Brivibai) told the press the Latvian authorities were considering the possibility of taxing retire Russian servicemens pensions. The step, if taken, would dramatically aggravate Latvias relations with Russia and would be a violation of the agreement between the two countries. The Government press-service says the idea is not backed up by a draft law and is just a proposal made by Mr Makarovs. SM