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

Newly appointed Ambassador of Russia Alexander Udaltsov is expected to arrive in Riga in mid-December. Before his appointment as a Deputy-Director of the Second European Department, Mr. Udaltsov worked as a Ministry of Foreign Affairs expert on Czechoslovakia and Poland. He is known as a strict follower of official policy. Sources in the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs say that Udaltsov's appointment will not bring any serious changes into Russian policies in Latvia.

Newly appointed Ambassador of Russia Alexander Udaltsov is expected to arrive in Riga in mid-December. Before his appointment as a Deputy-Director of the Second European Department, Mr. Udaltsov worked as a Ministry of Foreign Affairs expert on Czechoslovakia and Poland. He is known as a strict follower of official policy. Sources in the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs say that Udaltsov's appointment will not bring any serious changes into Russian policies in Latvia. "DIENA" believes that Russia could find a pretext for not signing the border delimitation agreement with Latvia even if Latvia agrees not to refer to the 1920 Riga Peace Treaty in the document. Russia has already accused Estonia of deliberately delaying the forming of a joint committee on the Russian-speaking minority and can as well find a reason for refusing to sign the agreement with Latvia. Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs believes that establishing closer contacts between the two countries could be useful. According to the Ministry, a meeting of Latvian and Russian Prime-Ministers will be held within the next few months. Diena

The UN General Assembly will discuss the draft resolution on human rights in Latvia and Estonia, submitted on 22 November to the Assembly by Russia. Estonia and Latvia have also submitted their draft resolutions on the issue. Minister of Foreign Affairs Birkavs told the press that the US will not support the resolution drafted by Russia. The CIS countries, except Tajikistan, will not support the draft resolution as well. Birkavs has discussed the issue with ambassadors of NATO countries. He says that Latvia will look for a way to exclude the draft resolution from the agenda of the UN General Assembly. According to the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press-Service, Russian representative Lavrov in his report at the meeting of the UN Social and Human Rights Committee accused Latvia of refusing to cooperate with the OSCE and pointed at gross violations of human rights in the country. A spokesman for the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that only problem mentioned by the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights in his report to the Committee was the issuance of valid identification documents to non-citizens. Several UN members advised Estonia to cooperate with Russia in order to make the resolution "milder". The human rights situation in Latvia is also on the agenda of the OSCE Summit in Lisbon. A report on Latvia will be delivered by the Swiss Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The UN General Assembly will discuss the draft resolution on human rights in Latvia and Estonia, submitted on 22 November to the Assembly by Russia. Estonia and Latvia have also submitted their draft resolutions on the issue. Minister of Foreign Affairs Birkavs told the press that the US will not support the resolution drafted by Russia. The CIS countries, except Tajikistan, will not support the draft resolution as well. Birkavs has discussed the issue with ambassadors of NATO countries. He says that Latvia will look for a way to exclude the draft resolution from the agenda of the UN General Assembly. According to the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press-Service, Russian representative Lavrov in his report at the meeting of the UN Social and Human Rights Committee accused Latvia of refusing to cooperate with the OSCE and pointed at gross violations of human rights in the country. A spokesman for the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that only problem mentioned by the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights in his report to the Committee was the issuance of valid identification documents to non-citizens. Several UN members advised Estonia to cooperate with Russia in order to make the resolution "milder". The human rights situation in Latvia is also on the agenda of the OSCE Summit in Lisbon. A report on Latvia will be delivered by the Swiss Minister of Foreign Affairs. Diena, B&B, Neatkariga

US Ambassador to Sweden Tomas Siebert in a speech delivered a the Tumbro Institute said that the United States would support the admission of the Baltic states into NATO. The Ambassador stressed that the main question was not "whether" but "when". Mr. Siebert believes that developing democratic institutions will help the three Baltic countries in joining NATO. He also pointed at the importance of integrating Russian-speakers in Latvia and Estonia. The Ambassador mentioned "large Russian communities in Estonia and Latvia whose situation often causes concern."

US Ambassador to Sweden Tomas Siebert in a speech delivered a the Tumbro Institute said that the United States would support the admission of the Baltic states into NATO. The Ambassador stressed that the main question was not "whether" but "when". Mr. Siebert believes that developing democratic institutions will help the three Baltic countries in joining NATO. He also pointed at the importance of integrating Russian-speakers in Latvia and Estonia. The Ambassador mentioned "large Russian communities in Estonia and Latvia whose situation often causes concern." Neatkariga

Latvia will start issuing non-citizens with new passports in March 1997 but not in December this year. According to Head of the CID Passport Bureau Leins, Latvia is still waiting for recognition of the new passport by foreign experts. The Cabinet of Ministers vetoed the introduction of the new non-citizen passport to avoid the situation that occurred after Latvia had introduced the so-called "brown passports" for non-citizens. Several countries, including France, Austria and the USA, refused to recognize the document then. Mr. Leins also says the construction of a new Passport Center has not been accomplished yet. The Center is expected to be opened on 23 December. "Brown passports" will still be valid for two years from the date of their issuance, while former USSR internal passports will stay valid at least until 31 December 1999. New passports will be issued for five years and their validity term will be extended. Individuals over sixty years of age will receive passports with no validity term limitations.

Latvia will start issuing non-citizens with new passports in March 1997 but not in December this year. According to Head of the CID Passport Bureau Leins, Latvia is still waiting for recognition of the new passport by foreign experts. The Cabinet of Ministers vetoed the introduction of the new non-citizen passport to avoid the situation that occurred after Latvia had introduced the so-called "brown passports" for non-citizens. Several countries, including France, Austria and the USA, refused to recognize the document then. Mr. Leins also says the construction of a new Passport Center has not been accomplished yet. The Center is expected to be opened on 23 December. "Brown passports" will still be valid for two years from the date of their issuance, while former USSR internal passports will stay valid at least until 31 December 1999. New passports will be issued for five years and their validity term will be extended. Individuals over sixty years of age will receive passports with no validity term limitations. Diena

"We are here to assist the Government of Latvia in building an integrated society after fifty years of foreign rule," says Deputy-Head of the OSCE Mission to Latvia Pirkka Tapiola. He admits that the main problem is not the minority issue but the fact, that the population of the country is divided into citizens and non-citizens. Latvia is unique in this respect and can be compared only to Estonia. The OSCE Mission opened on the seventy-fifth Anniversary of Latvia's independence and has been working for three years with its staff changing constantly. Since 1994 the Mission is headed by Charles Magee, and Mr. Tapiola arrived to Riga approximately at the same time. Does the Mission still receive complaints? They are less numerous and the problems are less complicated. Mr. Tapiola believes that the Citizenship and Immigration Department has improved its work, and the Mission is closely collaborating with the Naturalization Board. Currently, the OSCE team (an American, a Finn, a Dane, a Slovak, a Pole, a German) see the upcoming issuance of non-citizens' passports as the most urgent issue. "I believe it to be a very important process, since new identification documents will be provided to 700,000 inhabitants of Latvia who currently are not its citizens," says the Deputy-Head of the Mission. Mr. Tapiola explains that OSCE Mission mandates differ to meet the specific needs of a host-country. OSCE Missions have been opened on the former USSR territory in the Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and Tajikistan.

"We are here to assist the Government of Latvia in building an integrated society after fifty years of foreign rule," says Deputy-Head of the OSCE Mission to Latvia Pirkka Tapiola. He admits that the main problem is not the minority issue but the fact, that the population of the country is divided into citizens and non-citizens. Latvia is unique in this respect and can be compared only to Estonia. The OSCE Mission opened on the seventy-fifth Anniversary of Latvia's independence and has been working for three years with its staff changing constantly. Since 1994 the Mission is headed by Charles Magee, and Mr. Tapiola arrived to Riga approximately at the same time. Does the Mission still receive complaints? They are less numerous and the problems are less complicated. Mr. Tapiola believes that the Citizenship and Immigration Department has improved its work, and the Mission is closely collaborating with the Naturalization Board. Currently, the OSCE team (an American, a Finn, a Dane, a Slovak, a Pole, a German) see the upcoming issuance of non-citizens' passports as the most urgent issue. "I believe it to be a very important process, since new identification documents will be provided to 700,000 inhabitants of Latvia who currently are not its citizens," says the Deputy-Head of the Mission. Mr. Tapiola explains that OSCE Mission mandates differ to meet the specific needs of a host-country. OSCE Missions have been opened on the former USSR territory in the Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and Tajikistan. Neatkariga