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

Romania's President Ion Iliescu voiced that Romania is ready to support the closing of the OSCE mission in Latvia by the end of this year and harmonise its stance on the issue with Latvia by the OSCE council meeting in Vienna. Iliescu voiced the stance while meeting Latvia's President Vaira Vike-Freiberga on Tuesday at the Riga Castle, saying that the issue has been discussed by both country delegations and an agreement was reached on continuing consultations. Iliescu said that the opinion of the rest of the OSCE countries may differ, however, Romania is ready to support Latvia. Romania holds the OSCE presidency in the second half of this year, while the organisationТs council meeting in Vienna on December 20 is set to decide on extending the mission's mandate in Latvia and Estonia, both of which hope to close the missions with the turn of the year, believing this would be proof that there does not exist any serious human rights problems in these countries.

Romania's President Ion Iliescu voiced that Romania is ready to support the closing of the OSCE mission in Latvia by the end of this year and harmonise its stance on the issue with Latvia by the OSCE council meeting in Vienna. Iliescu voiced the stance while meeting Latvia's President Vaira Vike-Freiberga on Tuesday at the Riga Castle, saying that the issue has been discussed by both country delegations and an agreement was reached on continuing consultations. Iliescu said that the opinion of the rest of the OSCE countries may differ, however, Romania is ready to support Latvia. Romania holds the OSCE presidency in the second half of this year, while the organisationТs council meeting in Vienna on December 20 is set to decide on extending the mission's mandate in Latvia and Estonia, both of which hope to close the missions with the turn of the year, believing this would be proof that there does not exist any serious human rights problems in these countries. Diena, Vesti Segodnja, Chas

Diena, Neatkariga, Panorama Latvii

publish the news provided by news agency publish the news provided by news agency LetaLeta (see yesterdayТs press report)(see yesterdayТs press report) concerning Saeima Legal CommitteeТs support to the closure of the OSCE Mission by the end of the year. concerning Saeima Legal CommitteeТs support to the closure of the OSCE Mission by the end of the year. TelegrafTelegraf provides also a brief comment by FHRUL deputy B.Cilзviиs: Уthe closure of the Mission will ease the work of our politicians. Further decisions will be taken without witnessesФ. He also states that the Mission in Riga played the role of the mediator between the opposition parties and the government. provides also a brief comment by FHRUL deputy B.Cilзviиs: Уthe closure of the Mission will ease the work of our politicians. Further decisions will be taken without witnessesФ. He also states that the Mission in Riga played the role of the mediator between the opposition parties and the government. The most popular politician in Latvia for November remains the President Vaira Vонe-Freiberga, while the stable second place held by the central banker Einars Repрe has fallen to fourth with his would-be party not even founded yet, according to polls carried out in November by SKDS. Second place is held by Parliament Speaker Janis Straume on 23.9%, followed by New faction parliament member Ingrida Udre on 20 %. Riga Mayor G.Bojars saw a significant fall from fourth to eighth in November, with his father J.Bojars, head of the Social Democratic Workers Party down 9.1%. The least most popular politicians in November were again the head of the left-wing Equality party Tatjana Zdanoka, head of the Socialist Party Alfreds Rubiks, and former prime minister and head of the People's Party Andris Skele.

The most popular politician in Latvia for November remains the President Vaira Vонe-Freiberga, while the stable second place held by the central banker Einars Repрe has fallen to fourth with his would-be party not even founded yet, according to polls carried out in November by SKDS. Second place is held by Parliament Speaker Janis Straume on 23.9%, followed by New faction parliament member Ingrida Udre on 20 %. Riga Mayor G.Bojars saw a significant fall from fourth to eighth in November, with his father J.Bojars, head of the Social Democratic Workers Party down 9.1%. The least most popular politicians in November were again the head of the left-wing Equality party Tatjana Zdanoka, head of the Socialist Party Alfreds Rubiks, and former prime minister and head of the People's Party Andris Skele.

The Latvian Social Democratic Workers Party has regained the lead as the most popular party in Latvia with 13.4 % support. The previous number one party of E.Repse fell second on 13.1 %, leaving the People's Party third on 10.7 %. Latvian Way fell fourth to 9.4 %, followed by the left-wing For Human Rights in a United Latvia alliance, receiving 8.4 %, and the right-from-center for FF/LNNK still in sixth place on 7.1 %.

The Latvian Social Democratic Workers Party has regained the lead as the most popular party in Latvia with 13.4 % support. The previous number one party of E.Repse fell second on 13.1 %, leaving the People's Party third on 10.7 %. Latvian Way fell fourth to 9.4 %, followed by the left-wing For Human Rights in a United Latvia alliance, receiving 8.4 %, and the right-from-center for FF/LNNK still in sixth place on 7.1 %. Diena, Neatkariga

Diena

writes that the Constitution Protection Office had filed to the National Security Council intelligence on the possible "information war" launched by Russia against Latvia to blackmail Latvia in the eyes of NATO. Existence of such intelligence was affirmed to the newspaper by Defense Minister Girts Valdis Kristovskis while other officials were evasive saying the information was secret. Latvia's top national security agency or Constitution Protection Office (CPO) avoids to comment on its actions after reports about possible information campaign of Russia against Latvia were made public saying it has not affirmed these reports are true. CPO chief Lainis Kamaldins on the phone declined to comment to BNS the information published by Diena. BNSwrites that the Constitution Protection Office had filed to the National Security Council intelligence on the possible "information war" launched by Russia against Latvia to blackmail Latvia in the eyes of NATO. Existence of such intelligence was affirmed to the newspaper by Defense Minister Girts Valdis Kristovskis while other officials were evasive saying the information was secret. Latvia's top national security agency or Constitution Protection Office (CPO) avoids to comment on its actions after reports about possible information campaign of Russia against Latvia were made public saying it has not affirmed these reports are true. CPO chief Lainis Kamaldins on the phone declined to comment to BNS the information published by Diena. BNS

Vesti Segodnja

asks opinions of Latvian and Russian politicians about the matter. Latvian MPs, members of FF/LNNK and Social Democrats, think that it is possible, but RussiaТs politician and Russian State Duma Governmental Commission advisor deny possibility of such УwarФ and say that Уprobably the Baltic Countries have learned that they are not going to be admitted to NATO and therefore are preparing ground to blame Moscow for this failureФ. asks opinions of Latvian and Russian politicians about the matter. Latvian MPs, members of FF/LNNK and Social Democrats, think that it is possible, but RussiaТs politician and Russian State Duma Governmental Commission advisor deny possibility of such УwarФ and say that Уprobably the Baltic Countries have learned that they are not going to be admitted to NATO and therefore are preparing ground to blame Moscow for this failureФ.

Telegraf

deputy editor-in-chief comments on possible effectiveness of Public Awareness and Citizenship Promotion Campaign. He thinks that it would be better to distribute the amount invested in the Campaign directly to non-citizens. deputy editor-in-chief comments on possible effectiveness of Public Awareness and Citizenship Promotion Campaign. He thinks that it would be better to distribute the amount invested in the Campaign directly to non-citizens. State President V.Vike-Freiberga shares her experience of learning the Russian language with

State President V.Vike-Freiberga shares her experience of learning the Russian language with Vesti Segodnja.

Chas

informs about one of the activities in the framework of the Public Awareness Campaign - the information booth in one of the suburbs of Riga where interested people can acquire information about the possibilities to acquire Latvian citizenship. informs about one of the activities in the framework of the Public Awareness Campaign - the information booth in one of the suburbs of Riga where interested people can acquire information about the possibilities to acquire Latvian citizenship. Chas provides some responses of yesterdayТs on-line discussion УWhy I (do not) take naturalisation examination to receive Latvian citizenshipФ. There were different opinions, however, the majority of participants felt offended that Уthey were promised citizenship, but it stayed only the promiseФ.

Chas provides some responses of yesterdayТs on-line discussion УWhy I (do not) take naturalisation examination to receive Latvian citizenshipФ. There were different opinions, however, the majority of participants felt offended that Уthey were promised citizenship, but it stayed only the promiseФ.

Panorama Latvii

gives editorial regarding the closure of the Missions to Latvia and Estonia. The author refers to the changes in the Election Laws adopted by the Estonian Parliament and LatviaТs stance regarding its Election Law. gives editorial regarding the closure of the Missions to Latvia and Estonia. The author refers to the changes in the Election Laws adopted by the Estonian Parliament and LatviaТs stance regarding its Election Law. Latvian foreign minister I.Berzins met with his Austrian counterpart Benita Ferrero-Waldner. Among other discussion subjects the foreign ministers discussed the feasible closure of the OSCE Mission to Latvia by the end of the year. The Austrian foreign affairs minister noted LatviaТs progress in the field of national minorities and human rights protection, as well as expressed understanding about LatviaТs wish to close the OSCE Mission.

Latvian foreign minister I.Berzins met with his Austrian counterpart Benita Ferrero-Waldner. Among other discussion subjects the foreign ministers discussed the feasible closure of the OSCE Mission to Latvia by the end of the year. The Austrian foreign affairs minister noted LatviaТs progress in the field of national minorities and human rights protection, as well as expressed understanding about LatviaТs wish to close the OSCE Mission. Latvijas Vestnesis