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

Yesterday the

Yesterday the Saeima voted for Vasily Melnik's candidature for the post of Minister of Finance. 44 deputies supported Melnik, 24 voted against the candidate, and 3 abstained. 15 coalition deputies voted against Melnik or abstained while another 15 did not take part in the voting. Ziedonis Cevers was disappointed by President Ulmanis saying that he would not vote for Melnik. During the debate Cevers, being a former Young Communist League, said that never being a League member was among Melnik's merits. Prime-Minister Skele that that he did not see anything extraordinary about the President's statement since the President has the right for an opinion of his own. The Saeima also voted for appointing Aija Poca State Minister of State Revenues. Diena

The National Security Council and the Government will consider draft regulations by the Cabinet of Ministers on the implementation of the Law on State Secrets. The regulations will define the procedure of access to state secrets. The adoption of the regulations was delayed by protests from the Ministry of the Interior against the provision of the Law banning no-citizens from access to secret information. Such a restriction, according to the Ministry, would seriously impede the work of the police. The Ministry of the Interior has distributed its assessment of the Law and expects suggestions from the Government bodies by the end of this month.

The National Security Council and the Government will consider draft regulations by the Cabinet of Ministers on the implementation of the Law on State Secrets. The regulations will define the procedure of access to state secrets. The adoption of the regulations was delayed by protests from the Ministry of the Interior against the provision of the Law banning no-citizens from access to secret information. Such a restriction, according to the Ministry, would seriously impede the work of the police. The Ministry of the Interior has distributed its assessment of the Law and expects suggestions from the Government bodies by the end of this month. Diena

Yesterday the

Yesterday the Saeima adopted amendments to the Law on Fire Security allowing the Fire and Rescue Department to employ non-citizens. Diena

President of the Russian Business Association Arkady Volsky told the press that he had not mentioned any negotiations between Russia and Latvia on a possible purchase of the Liepaja navy base. The base was only mentioned by Volsky in a historical context while addressing the issue of Russian investments into the port of Liepaja. Volsky suggested that he could be misquoted intentionally by "those, who would not like to see the rebirth of the Liepaja port."

President of the Russian Business Association Arkady Volsky told the press that he had not mentioned any negotiations between Russia and Latvia on a possible purchase of the Liepaja navy base. The base was only mentioned by Volsky in a historical context while addressing the issue of Russian investments into the port of Liepaja. Volsky suggested that he could be misquoted intentionally by "those, who would not like to see the rebirth of the Liepaja port." B&B