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

"Tevzemei un Brivibai", "Latvijas Cels"

, , "Tautai un Taisnibai""Tautai un Taisnibai" representatives told the press that the parties would support Vasily Melnik's candidature for Minister of Finance. The representatives told the press that the parties would support Vasily Melnik's candidature for Minister of Finance. The LNNKLNNK, the Farmers, the Farmers´´ Union, and the Unity Party will make their official opinion known to the press today. Union, and the Unity Party will make their official opinion known to the press today. "TB""TB" faction leader Straume said that his personal attitude to the candidate was negative. Still, he will vote in accordance with an agreement between the factions. Head of the faction leader Straume said that his personal attitude to the candidate was negative. Still, he will vote in accordance with an agreement between the factions. Head of the LNNKLNNK faction Lambergs also has certain doubts admitting that he has too little information on Mr. Melnik to make his final judgment. Melnik has violated an anti-corruption law by being a member of the Riga Port Board and the Riga Shipyard Board member simultaneously. Currently, the case is considered by the Procurator's Office. If appointed, Melnik will have to resign from the post of faction Lambergs also has certain doubts admitting that he has too little information on Mr. Melnik to make his final judgment. Melnik has violated an anti-corruption law by being a member of the Riga Port Board and the Riga Shipyard Board member simultaneously. Currently, the case is considered by the Procurator's Office. If appointed, Melnik will have to resign from the post of Lacon Ltd.Lacon Ltd. Vice-President. Vice-President. DienaDiena Owner of the Russian Ambassador's residence in Jurmala, Mr. Antons Benjamins, will not agree to accept two other houses offered to him by the Latvian Government as compensation for his property. Benjamins says that he has not been offered any adequate compensation or rent for the mansion. Being a US citizen, he addressed US Senators on the issue. One of them has already applied to the US Ambassador to Latvia with an inquiry on the issue. The Government can draft a law on nationalizing Benjamin's property in Jurmala to be adopted by the Saeima. If adopted, the law can be appealed in court. The Russian Embassy refused to comment on the issue.

Owner of the Russian Ambassador's residence in Jurmala, Mr. Antons Benjamins, will not agree to accept two other houses offered to him by the Latvian Government as compensation for his property. Benjamins says that he has not been offered any adequate compensation or rent for the mansion. Being a US citizen, he addressed US Senators on the issue. One of them has already applied to the US Ambassador to Latvia with an inquiry on the issue. The Government can draft a law on nationalizing Benjamin's property in Jurmala to be adopted by the Saeima. If adopted, the law can be appealed in court. The Russian Embassy refused to comment on the issue. Neatkariga

Boris Tsilevich in an article in

Boris Tsilevich in an article in "SM" analyzes the activities of the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs aimed at maintaining the country's attractive image in the UN. The Ministry prepared a report "On Issues of Human Rights Protection in the Republic of Latvia in 1994-1995". Tsilevich stresses that the report intentionally avoids mentioning several important points inLatvian legislation related to the rights of non-citizens. Its introductory part lays emphasis on the rights on an individual in a broad sense as opposed to a "narrow approach" to the issue focusing only on the rights of minorities. The report gives a detailed description of the Human Rights Office claiming it could be used as a model by other countries. Tsilevich believes an LNNK member has a strong chance of being appointed Director of the Office. The document praises the National Program for Human Rights Protection claiming it was drafted in close collaboration with Latvian NGO's. Tsilevich points at the fact that NGO representatives were invited to discuss the Program only after it had already been adopted. The Consultative Council on Minorities, its forming mentioned among Latvia's major achievements, has not reached any tangible results yet. The report claims that the state finances school education in Russian even when the number of students is low. According to the document, university education is available both in Latvian and Russian. The UNDP Program for the study of the Latvian language by non-Latvians is presented in its "UNDP version", i.e., as program for teaching Latvian as a second language. The Latvian side, according to Tsilevich, tries to use the program as a tool for introducing Latvian as the language of instruction in Russian schools. The report does not mention the fact that Latvia has not ratified the European Human Rights Convention. The part of the report on non-citizens does not refer to them as to the stateless. Using the term would mean that Latvia should base naturalization on the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.