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 governing factions are to select a candidate as Head of the Latvian-Russian Governmental Committee. The Head of the Committee is to hold also the position of Deputy Prime-Minister, since Mr. Cevers resigned last week also leaving his post in the Committee. Possible candidates as Head of the Committee are Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development Anatolijs Gorbunovs, Minister of Agriculture Roberts Dilba, Minister of Defense Andrejs Krastins, and Minister of Education and Science Maris Grinblats. Mr. Cevers, now Head of the "Saimnieks" Faction, told the press that he believed Mr. Gorbunovs to be the only suitable candidate. Prime-Minister Skele suggested

The governing factions are to select a candidate as Head of the Latvian-Russian Governmental Committee. The Head of the Committee is to hold also the position of Deputy Prime-Minister, since Mr. Cevers resigned last week also leaving his post in the Committee. Possible candidates as Head of the Committee are Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development Anatolijs Gorbunovs, Minister of Agriculture Roberts Dilba, Minister of Defense Andrejs Krastins, and Minister of Education and Science Maris Grinblats. Mr. Cevers, now Head of the "Saimnieks" Faction, told the press that he believed Mr. Gorbunovs to be the only suitable candidate. Prime-Minister Skele suggested "Saimnieks" to nominate its candidate for Deputy Prime-Minister. Still, Cevers says that the party suspects that the Prime-Minister could cancel the post after the budget is adopted. Mr. Cevers believes that Latvia's relations with Russia need to be considered by the Government at a closed meeting. Diena

The apartment, originally redesigned to be provided to President Ulmanis after the expiration of his term in office, will be rented to an embassy. The repair and redecoration of the apartment were interrupted after a state inspection had discovered that repair costs and compensation paid to former tenants were excessive.

The apartment, originally redesigned to be provided to President Ulmanis after the expiration of his term in office, will be rented to an embassy. The repair and redecoration of the apartment were interrupted after a state inspection had discovered that repair costs and compensation paid to former tenants were excessive. Diena

Swedish Prime-Minister Persson had telephone consultations with Latvian Premier Skele before leaving for Moscow. The Swedish Prime-Minister paid special interest to Mr. Skele's opinion on the political situation in Russia and the state of relations between Latvia and Russia. The agenda of the Swedish Prime-Minister's meetings with members of the Russian Government will include security issues, NATO enlargement, and cooperation in the Baltic region.

Swedish Prime-Minister Persson had telephone consultations with Latvian Premier Skele before leaving for Moscow. The Swedish Prime-Minister paid special interest to Mr. Skele's opinion on the political situation in Russia and the state of relations between Latvia and Russia. The agenda of the Swedish Prime-Minister's meetings with members of the Russian Government will include security issues, NATO enlargement, and cooperation in the Baltic region. Diena

Finnish Foreign Minister Tarja Halonen in an interview expressed concern about special status that could be possibly provided to the Baltic states by NATO. She explained that establishing closer cooperation with nations outside the block could impair the functioning of the

Finnish Foreign Minister Tarja Halonen in an interview expressed concern about special status that could be possibly provided to the Baltic states by NATO. She explained that establishing closer cooperation with nations outside the block could impair the functioning of the "Partnership for Peace" Program. The Baltic states, according to the Finnish Foreign Minister, will obtain a higher status than the Program participants. Mrs. Halonen suggests NATO should be open to cooperation with all countries including Russia and other former Warsaw Pact nations. Diena

Saeima deputy Indulis Berzins (

Saeima deputy Indulis Berzins ("Latvijas Cels") objects against replacing of the current proportional ballot system by a majoritary system. He agrees that the majoritary system allows voters to assess candidates in a much better way. Still, the system is not suitable for "young democracies" and can shatter the stability of the Saeima. Diena

Russian Duma Deputy-Speaker Sergey Baburin (

Russian Duma Deputy-Speaker Sergey Baburin ("The Russian People's Union") in an interview for "SM" says that the purpose of the Saeima's Declaration on Occupation is to lay a juridical basis for an apartheid regime and ethnic cleansing. Mr. Baburin is sure that the Russian Government will apply sanctions against Estonia and that similar measures will be taken against Latvia soon. He welcomes Latvia's territorial claims towards Russia explaining that Russia could claim back Daugavpils (former Dvinsk) that was a part of the Vitebsk province in 1919. Baburin calls upon the people of Latvia to "stop the nationalists" whose policy "is jeopardizing the interests of Latvia." SM

"NEATKARIGA"

interviewed Mr. Janis Jurkans on Latvian foreign policiy. Mr. Jurkans says that Latvian politicians are using outdated standards and "are still living in 1940" and not in the nineties. He admits that, although Russia is trying to form a democratic society, it is still potentially dangerous to Latvia. Still, NATO membership would not guarantee Latvias security, says Jurkans. Moreover, he does not believe that Latvia will be admitted to NATO. Mr. Jurkans criticizes the interviewed Mr. Janis Jurkans on Latvian foreign policiy. Mr. Jurkans says that Latvian politicians are using outdated standards and "are still living in 1940" and not in the nineties. He admits that, although Russia is trying to form a democratic society, it is still potentially dangerous to Latvia. Still, NATO membership would not guarantee Latvia’s security, says Jurkans. Moreover, he does not believe that Latvia will be admitted to NATO. Mr. Jurkans criticizes the SaeimaSaeima for ratifying the agreement with AMOCO/OPAB and suggests that Latvia should have negotiated with the oil companies explaining the complicity of the situation. Third parties (eg., Sweden) should be involved into resolving the border argument with Lithuania. Border delimitation being one of the basic NATO membership conditions, Russia is not likely to sign an agreement with Latvia on the state border and would chose to establish it unilaterally. Mr. Jurkans is afraid that Russia currently does not need the border agreement with Latvia. for ratifying the agreement with AMOCO/OPAB and suggests that Latvia should have negotiated with the oil companies explaining the complicity of the situation. Third parties (eg., Sweden) should be involved into resolving the border argument with Lithuania. Border delimitation being one of the basic NATO membership conditions, Russia is not likely to sign an agreement with Latvia on the state border and would chose to establish it unilaterally. Mr. Jurkans is afraid that Russia currently does not need the border agreement with Latvia. NeatkarigaNeatkariga