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 voted to review the Conscription Law. The review was suggested by the President who believes that the law does not to meet the needs of Latvia's defense. According to the Satversme, the President can address the Speaker of the Saeima within seven days of the date of the adoption of a law with a letter demanding the reconsideration of the law. Should the Saeima leave the law not amended, the President cannot put any further objections to the law. Diena, Neatkariga

The Saeima declined a draft law on the vote of no-confidence for Minister of Education Grinblats and Minister of Welfare Makarovs submitted to the

The Saeima declined a draft law on the vote of no-confidence for Minister of Education Grinblats and Minister of Welfare Makarovs submitted to the Saeima by the opposition factions. Diena

President Ulmanis said that Latvia would resolve the issue of its border with Russia on the basis of mutual respect and "the main principles adhered to by Latvia". When asked at the British Royal Institute of International Relations about Latvia coordinating its border policy with Estonia, Mr. Ulmanis said that a meeting of the Presidents of the three Baltic states had been scheduled for November 26. The President's Advisor Armands Gutmanis told

President Ulmanis said that Latvia would resolve the issue of its border with Russia on the basis of mutual respect and "the main principles adhered to by Latvia". When asked at the British Royal Institute of International Relations about Latvia coordinating its border policy with Estonia, Mr. Ulmanis said that a meeting of the Presidents of the three Baltic states had been scheduled for November 26. The President's Advisor Armands Gutmanis told "DIENA" that the President had his personal view on the border talks with Russia. Still, the Advisor refused to give any details on Mr. Ulmanis' stand on the issue. Mr. Ulmanis criticized suggestions of the Baltic states resolving the problem of Russia's reaction to NATO enlargement on their own without any involvement from outside. Diena

Prime-Minister Skele has returned from a meeting of Baltic and Nordic Prime-Ministers held on November 12 in Copenhagen. Heads of the Nordic governments confirm that they would support Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania in maintaining their security and entering the European Union. According to

Prime-Minister Skele has returned from a meeting of Baltic and Nordic Prime-Ministers held on November 12 in Copenhagen. Heads of the Nordic governments confirm that they would support Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania in maintaining their security and entering the European Union. According to "DIENA", Prime-Minister Skele was the only Baltic Premier to name joining NATO among the priorities of his country's foreign policy. Diena

A high-ranking official of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told

A high-ranking official of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told "SM" that Russia would not change its policy at the border talks with Latvia. He stressed that Latvia should drop all its territorial claims. The existing situation might lead to the severing economic and business contacts between the two countries, said the official. SM

Saeima Speaker Alfreds Cepanis said in an interview that settling border issues with Russia, Lithuania, and Byelorussia was the main condition for entering the European Union. He said that President Ulmanis, "being a realistically thinking politician", was aware of the importance of this issue. Although Mr. Cepanis voted for the Declaration on Occupation, he believes the point on Abrene should not have been included in the document. He stressed that it was Mr. Kirsteins who, being a Minister for the EU Affairs, still insisted on including the issue in the Declaration. When asked about several legal acts discriminating Russian-speakers, Cepanis explained that national protectionism in the situation when non-Latvians constituted an enormously large part of the population was the only way of "protecting national identity of Latvians". He added that there was no noticeable ethnic confrontation in the countrys society, Latvians and Russians getting on quite well in their everyday life. SM