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 Review

Press Review

Yesterday the

Yesterday the Saeima adopted the third final reading of the amendments to the law on self-government elections. The amendments give the right to run for posts in a self-government to individuals who have had a "propiska" for at least twelve months or own property on its territory. The previous version of the law gave the right only citizens permanently residing on a territory under a self-government administration. The Saeima voted against granting the right to vote and run for office in local elections to non-citizens. The suggestion on non-citizens was submitted by the Socialists and supported by Andris Ameriks ("Saimnieks"), Viktors Kalnberzs ("Unity"), Anta Rugate (the "Christian Democrats"), by the "People's Harmony", and by several independent deputies. Diena, Neatkariga

Last Tuesday Prime-Minister Skele accepted the resignation of State Minister of Industry, Privatization, and Property J.Dzenis and State Minister of Investments and Credit Policy S.Jegere (both are the

Last Tuesday Prime-Minister Skele accepted the resignation of State Minister of Industry, Privatization, and Property J.Dzenis and State Minister of Investments and Credit Policy S.Jegere (both are the "Saimnieks" party members). The post of State Minister of Self-Government is to be abolished after April 1, 1997, to allow Mr. Ernest Jurkans (ASaimnieks@) to accomplish all his assignments. Diena

Last Tuesday, several political organizations (the Socialist Party, the Political Organization of the Impoverished, and several others) told the press they had formed a group that would use the right for legislative initiative and launch a poll on the dissolution of the

Last Tuesday, several political organizations (the Socialist Party, the Political Organization of the Impoverished, and several others) told the press they had formed a group that would use the right for legislative initiative and launch a poll on the dissolution of the Saeima, the Cabinet, and the Electoral Committee. Chairman of the Social-Democratic Party Bojars expects the first stage of the poll could be accomplished before March 1997. The Social-Democratic Workers' Party does not support the initiative. Diena

Prime-Minister Skele in an interview for the BNS news agency spoke in favor of a "purely technical" approach to Latvia's border agreement with Russia. He believes that a separate declaration could be signed stating both parties' viewpoint of the 1920 Peace Treaty and other historical documents and events. Mr. Skele believes that Latvia will have to resolve the problem of compensating losses incurred by the incorporation of Abrene into the Russian Federation to former inhabitants of the region. He is planning to change the mandate of the Latvian delegation to exclude references to the 1920 Riga Peace Treaty from the border agreement. The Prime-Minister will discuss the issue with political parties and expects the President to make a statement on the issue. A step, similar to the one suggested by Skele, has already been taken by Estonia. Its delegation withdrew the demand to refer to the 1920 Tartu Peace Treaty in the border agreement with Russia. Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press-Secretary Pildegovics said that the Ministry would not comment on the development of the talks between Estonia and Russia since the text of the agreement between the two countries had not been agreed on yet.

Prime-Minister Skele in an interview for the BNS news agency spoke in favor of a "purely technical" approach to Latvia's border agreement with Russia. He believes that a separate declaration could be signed stating both parties' viewpoint of the 1920 Peace Treaty and other historical documents and events. Mr. Skele believes that Latvia will have to resolve the problem of compensating losses incurred by the incorporation of Abrene into the Russian Federation to former inhabitants of the region. He is planning to change the mandate of the Latvian delegation to exclude references to the 1920 Riga Peace Treaty from the border agreement. The Prime-Minister will discuss the issue with political parties and expects the President to make a statement on the issue. A step, similar to the one suggested by Skele, has already been taken by Estonia. Its delegation withdrew the demand to refer to the 1920 Tartu Peace Treaty in the border agreement with Russia. Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press-Secretary Pildegovics said that the Ministry would not comment on the development of the talks between Estonia and Russia since the text of the agreement between the two countries had not been agreed on yet. Diena, SM

Russian Foreign Minister Primakov at the meeting of the Barents Sea Council in Petrozavodsk last Tuesday said that Latvia and Estonia violated the rights of the Russian-speaking minorities. The problem was slowing further development of Russia's relations with the two countries, said Primakov. The issue of the Russian-speaking minority was also on the agenda of Primakov's meeting with Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Kallas. Primakov and Kallas agreed on forming a joint expert group that would work on finding ways of improving the situation.

Russian Foreign Minister Primakov at the meeting of the Barents Sea Council in Petrozavodsk last Tuesday said that Latvia and Estonia violated the rights of the Russian-speaking minorities. The problem was slowing further development of Russia's relations with the two countries, said Primakov. The issue of the Russian-speaking minority was also on the agenda of Primakov's meeting with Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Kallas. Primakov and Kallas agreed on forming a joint expert group that would work on finding ways of improving the situation. Neatkariga