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

The Riga City Council on Thursday voted to remove from the office vice-mayor Inese Vaidere from Fatherland and Freedom (FF)/LNNK party which recently broke a coalition on the Latvian capital city's council, and appointed as the vice-mayor a representative from one of the small parties. The majority on the Riga City Council led by Social Democrats on Thursday removed Vaidere as the vice-mayor and voted to replace her with Aivars Kreituss, the leader of the Labor Party which has only one vote on the city council. The proposal to recall Vaidere from the office was made by 33 members of the 60-strong Riga City Council. The motion was supported by actual coalition consisting of Social Democrats, the left-wing alliance For Human Rights and the Center bloc of small parties that have no coalition agreement between them, however.

The Riga City Council on Thursday voted to remove from the office vice-mayor Inese Vaidere from Fatherland and Freedom (FF)/LNNK party which recently broke a coalition on the Latvian capital city's council, and appointed as the vice-mayor a representative from one of the small parties. The majority on the Riga City Council led by Social Democrats on Thursday removed Vaidere as the vice-mayor and voted to replace her with Aivars Kreituss, the leader of the Labor Party which has only one vote on the city council. The proposal to recall Vaidere from the office was made by 33 members of the 60-strong Riga City Council. The motion was supported by actual coalition consisting of Social Democrats, the left-wing alliance For Human Rights and the Center bloc of small parties that have no coalition agreement between them, however. BNS, Diena, Neatkariga, Jauna Avize, Respublika, Panorama Latvii Vesti Segodnya

The foundation congress of a new political party to be formed by Bank of Latvia president could take place in fall, said one of the party's supporters, Latvian Jewish community leader Grigory Krupnikov. Krupnikov said that the new party being formed by Latvian central bank president, Einars Repse, had "several dozen supporters" and not all of them represented business circles. The Latvian Jewish community leader was one of three people named by Repse as supporters of his would-be party and organizers of fund-raising campaign. The other two names made public were those of Andris Kreislers, the head of Velve construction company, and Valdis Lokenbahs, the president of Dati IT company.

The foundation congress of a new political party to be formed by Bank of Latvia president could take place in fall, said one of the party's supporters, Latvian Jewish community leader Grigory Krupnikov. Krupnikov said that the new party being formed by Latvian central bank president, Einars Repse, had "several dozen supporters" and not all of them represented business circles. The Latvian Jewish community leader was one of three people named by Repse as supporters of his would-be party and organizers of fund-raising campaign. The other two names made public were those of Andris Kreislers, the head of Velve construction company, and Valdis Lokenbahs, the president of Dati IT company. BNS

Latvia's Foreign Ministry handed a letter to the Russian Trade representative in Latvia on Thursday, drawing attention to the idle movement on Latvian-Russian border points, reported the Foreign Ministry. The Foreign ministry reported that the situation on the borders has again worsened and truckers from Latvia and other countries are forced to stand in long queues due to the slow border-checking procedure. Latvia has asked Russia to improve the situation on its borders and deter the problems arisen.

Latvia's Foreign Ministry handed a letter to the Russian Trade representative in Latvia on Thursday, drawing attention to the idle movement on Latvian-Russian border points, reported the Foreign Ministry. The Foreign ministry reported that the situation on the borders has again worsened and truckers from Latvia and other countries are forced to stand in long queues due to the slow border-checking procedure. Latvia has asked Russia to improve the situation on its borders and deter the problems arisen. BNS

On Wednesday, August 22 Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs I.Berzins expressed his opinion on Latvia’s foreign policy. Minister voiced a belief that there existed a real chance by 2002 to finish negotiation with EU and in 2004 participate in the election of Europarliament. I.Berzins was sure that all three Baltic States had a real chance to join NATO. Evaluation his two years in this post, he as essential points mentioned the successful presidency in CoE and Latvian - Russian relations. Minister said Latvia most likely would become a NATO borderstate with Russia.

On Wednesday, August 22 Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs I.Berzins expressed his opinion on Latvias foreign policy. Minister voiced a belief that there existed a real chance by 2002 to finish negotiation with EU and in 2004 participate in the election of Europarliament. I.Berzins was sure that all three Baltic States had a real chance to join NATO. Evaluation his two years in this post, he as essential points mentioned the successful presidency in CoE and Latvian - Russian relations. Minister said Latvia most likely would become a NATO borderstate with Russia. Latvijas Vestnesis

On August 23 Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs met with a group of to American congressmen’s councilors. During this meeting they discussed priorities of Latvian foreign policy and internal processes. When speaking about relations with Russia, I.Berzins pointed out Latvia’s readiness to develop cooperative and ascending relations with Russia taking into consideration the future of Latvia as an EU borderstate.

On August 23 Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs met with a group of to American congressmens councilors. During this meeting they discussed priorities of Latvian foreign policy and internal processes. When speaking about relations with Russia, I.Berzins pointed out Latvias readiness to develop cooperative and ascending relations with Russia taking into consideration the future of Latvia as an EU borderstate. Latvijas Vestnesis

Yesterday Russian Ambassador to Latvia I.Studennikov visited fish refinery plant “Kaija”. When talking to local workers of different nationalities and with resident status he said that he from time to time remembered the slogans calling 700 000 non-Latvians to go home and the Ambassador wondered, “Who would work here?” And of course, as a representative of Russia and concerned about the situation of non-citizens he would like non-citizens have equal rights and become citizens as soon as possible.

Yesterday Russian Ambassador to Latvia I.Studennikov visited fish refinery plant Kaija. When talking to local workers of different nationalities and with resident status he said that he from time to time remembered the slogans calling 700 000 non-Latvians to go home and the Ambassador wondered, Who would work here? And of course, as a representative of Russia and concerned about the situation of non-citizens he would like non-citizens have equal rights and become citizens as soon as possible. Panorama Latvii, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Newspaper

Vesti Segodnya interviewed the popular Latvian American journalist K.Streips after his public debate with publisher A.Garda. Speaking about nationalism K.Streips said that there were many scoundrels among Latvians and good people among Russians, but he could as well understand Latvian nationalists– after years there were still many people thinking that they did not need the Latvian language. K.Streips was against education in the Russian language. When the journalist pointed out to the situation in the USA where there were Spanish radio stations and Swedish was a state language in Finland, K.Streips answered that in US people, who did not know English, lived in ghettoes, and one should not compare Latvia with Finland because Latvia was under a military occupation for 50 years.