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

Latvian foreign minister Monday in Bucharest in address to Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) member countries foreign ministers meeting reported about society integration in Latvia and the OSCE's activities in the future, Foreign Ministry press office reported. Indulis Berzins said Latvia has actively worked towards strengthening of democratic society, it has simplified the naturalization procedure and devoted increased attention at explanation of citizenship acquiring aspects. He noted the permanent contribution of Latvia to securing education of minorities and pointed at formation of a special minorities education advisory council for successful implementation of bilingual and minorities education. Berzins said the work of Latvia's National Human Rights Office has significantly improved especially co-ordination with other human rights protection bodies. He said the European Commission in its progress report pointed at progress achieved by Latvia in observance of human rights and granting democracy.

Latvian foreign minister Monday in Bucharest in address to Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) member countries foreign ministers meeting reported about society integration in Latvia and the OSCE's activities in the future, Foreign Ministry press office reported. Indulis Berzins said Latvia has actively worked towards strengthening of democratic society, it has simplified the naturalization procedure and devoted increased attention at explanation of citizenship acquiring aspects. He noted the permanent contribution of Latvia to securing education of minorities and pointed at formation of a special minorities education advisory council for successful implementation of bilingual and minorities education. Berzins said the work of Latvia's National Human Rights Office has significantly improved especially co-ordination with other human rights protection bodies. He said the European Commission in its progress report pointed at progress achieved by Latvia in observance of human rights and granting democracy. BNS, Latvijas Vestnesis, Telegraf

The decision on closing the OSCE mission in Latvia will probably be made at the end of December, LETA was told by Minister of Foreign Affairs Indulis Berzins. Berzins informed that he has met with foreign ministers of numerous countries and representatives of the government during the OSCE meeting in Bucharest, and all of them have expressed understanding of Latvia's desire to close the mission. Latvia has fulfilled tasks set by the OSCE and therefore the OSCE mission is to be closed, the minister stressed. Berzins pointed out that Latvia did not choose occupation and the processes that followed, Latvia chose social integration. The state has proved that the social integration process has not been carried out forcibly but because it is necessary for the state, the official pointed out.

The decision on closing the OSCE mission in Latvia will probably be made at the end of December, LETA was told by Minister of Foreign Affairs Indulis Berzins. Berzins informed that he has met with foreign ministers of numerous countries and representatives of the government during the OSCE meeting in Bucharest, and all of them have expressed understanding of Latvia's desire to close the mission. Latvia has fulfilled tasks set by the OSCE and therefore the OSCE mission is to be closed, the minister stressed. Berzins pointed out that Latvia did not choose occupation and the processes that followed, Latvia chose social integration. The state has proved that the social integration process has not been carried out forcibly but because it is necessary for the state, the official pointed out. LETA, Diena

Answering to the statement of Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs I.Ivanov on the presence of the OSCE missions to Latvia and Estonia, Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs I.Berzins said that unfortunately Estonian Prime Minister M.Laar was right when saying that Russia used these missions to achieve its goals.

Answering to the statement of Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs I.Ivanov on the presence of the OSCE missions to Latvia and Estonia, Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs I.Berzins said that unfortunately Estonian Prime Minister M.Laar was right when saying that Russia used these missions to achieve its goals. Panorama Latvii

MP H.Demakova, leader of Latvian delegation to OSCE Parliamentary Assembly last week went to Austria to the conference “Baltic States, Austria and EU expansion”. Ms. Demakova told the journalist that Austria supported Latvia’s position on closing the OSCE Mission at end of this year.

MP H.Demakova, leader of Latvian delegation to OSCE Parliamentary Assembly last week went to Austria to the conference Baltic States, Austria and EU expansion. Ms. Demakova told the journalist that Austria supported Latvias position on closing the OSCE Mission at end of this year. Lauku Avize

N.Lebedeva in

N.Lebedeva in Chas comments the statement made by Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs I.Berzins that the OSCE Mission most likely would be closed and it meant that Latvia had passed its maturity examination. Already in 1996 Latvian officials expressed their wish to close the Mission or change its status; similar statements were made just a month ago. President of Rumania during his visit to Latvia last week said that he understood arguments of Latvia but there was no common opinion at the Ministerial Council. Ms.Lebedeva reminded the statement made by Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs I.Ivanov that the OSCE Missions in Latvia and Estonia had not fulfilled their guidelines. Also Minister of Foreign Affairs of Rumania M.Joane, Acting Chairman of OSCE had the same opinion when stating that simultaneous closure of missions in Latvia and Estonia could have a negative impact on all operational activities of the organisation.

Quite often some politician or journalist speaks about serious problems concerning national minority rights in Latvia and refers to the annual EC progress report. In general EC acknowledged that Latvia had fulfilled the “political criteria” on its way to EU, and basic human rights and freedoms were observed here. Newspaper

Quite often some politician or journalist speaks about serious problems concerning national minority rights in Latvia and refers to the annual EC progress report. In general EC acknowledged that Latvia had fulfilled the political criteria on its way to EU, and basic human rights and freedoms were observed here. Newspaper Lauku Avize asks two human rights experts – MFA Humanitarian Issues Department Head J.Mazeiks and the Saeima European Affairs Commission Head E.Inkens why such different interpretation of this document is possible and about the real situation with human rights in Latvia.

In order to harmonise international commitments with national interests concerning the state language issue, President Vaira Vike-Freiberga has called on her advisors to hold a meeting with experts, LETA was informed at the president's press centre. Experts from the justice and foreign affairs ministries, Saeima Legal Commission will be invited to the meeting, as well as specialists from the faculty of law at the University of Latvia (LU), LU Human Rights Institute, Human Rights and Ethnical Studies Centre, State Language Centre. The meeting is scheduled at the Riga Palace at 11.30 a.m. December 6.

In order to harmonise international commitments with national interests concerning the state language issue, President Vaira Vike-Freiberga has called on her advisors to hold a meeting with experts, LETA was informed at the president's press centre. Experts from the justice and foreign affairs ministries, Saeima Legal Commission will be invited to the meeting, as well as specialists from the faculty of law at the University of Latvia (LU), LU Human Rights Institute, Human Rights and Ethnical Studies Centre, State Language Centre. The meeting is scheduled at the Riga Palace at 11.30 a.m. December 6. LETA

Newspaper

Newspaper Chas writes that according their information the main topic on the agenda will be the case of A.Ignatene about violation her human rights. Likely that experts will also speak about the Estonian amendments to their election laws. When asked about the possible outcome of this meeting, officials were quite reserved. A.Pildegovics, Adviser to President on Political Issues said that they intended to discuss a set of questions concerning protection of national interests concerning national minorities, and as the result could be summing up of the different opinions on this issue. M.Mits from the Human Rights Institute had the same opinion.

Latvia's Social Democratic Welfare Party (SDWP) members last weekend took part in the congress of Russia's Unity and Fatherland party congress in Moscow and discussed with the Russian party's leaders the possible cooperation both at the level of parties and states. SDWP representatives met Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov, Russia's Emergency Situations Minister Sergey Shoiga and the party's third co-chairman Mintimer Shaimiyev, SDWP leader Jurij Zuravlov told reporters.

Latvia's Social Democratic Welfare Party (SDWP) members last weekend took part in the congress of Russia's Unity and Fatherland party congress in Moscow and discussed with the Russian party's leaders the possible cooperation both at the level of parties and states. SDWP representatives met Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov, Russia's Emergency Situations Minister Sergey Shoiga and the party's third co-chairman Mintimer Shaimiyev, SDWP leader Jurij Zuravlov told reporters. BNS

Some time ago Latvian mass media published information that Russia has allotted certain sum of money to start information war against Latvia. Now Russian-speaking newspaper

Some time ago Latvian mass media published information that Russia has allotted certain sum of money to start information war against Latvia. Now Russian-speaking newspaper Vesti Segodnya tries to prove the opposite – it was Latvia that started it. As examples are named the broadcasting on Russian TV channel RTR the documentary The Union of Former that described the heavenly life of Russian speakers in Latvia; Swiss newspaper Neue Zurcher Zeitung published an article Difficult heritage of the Soviet Russification policy. The Swiss journalist used as experts a Latvian political scientist and editor of the newspaper Diena. After describing the Russification of Latvia during the Soviet period the journalist comes to a conclusion that due to the consequences of this polity Latvian authorities could not implement 0 version for citizenship and grant the Russian language the status of the second official language. Vesti Segodnya

National Development Plan submitted to the government. After the plan is passed it should become a foundation for distribution of state investment program and receiving financing from the European Union pre-accession programs. The plan’s major goals are business-friendly economy, development of human resources, promoting employment and growth of all regions, the plan also includes an action plan with estimated EU financing and state money required for administering the EU financing. Ieva Jaunzeme, director general at the Latvian Employees Confederation and a member of the National Development Plan’s expert group, tells Diena that the plan was not developed for the European Commission but the state itself, so that the nation’s competitiveness is promoted.

National Development Plan submitted to the government. After the plan is passed it should become a foundation for distribution of state investment program and receiving financing from the European Union pre-accession programs. The plans major goals are business-friendly economy, development of human resources, promoting employment and growth of all regions, the plan also includes an action plan with estimated EU financing and state money required for administering the EU financing. Ieva Jaunzeme, director general at the Latvian Employees Confederation and a member of the National Development Plans expert group, tells Diena that the plan was not developed for the European Commission but the state itself, so that the nations competitiveness is promoted. Diena, Neatkariga