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

The Deputy-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Mr.Churkin has a press-conference after the meeting of the Social Committee (Obschestvennaya Palata). During the press-conference he stated that Russia had no obligations towards Latvia and Estonia on the accomplishment of troops' withdrawal before August 31. He stressed that the term had been suggested as a part of a set of agreements. He said that the two Baltic countries did not agree to adopt the complete set of agreements. The speakers at the meeting of the Social Committee emphasized the necessity of putting more pressure on Latvia and Estonia in order to protect the rights of Russian-speaking ethnic minority. The Major of St.Petersburg Mr.Sobchak mentioned territorial claims made by the Baltic states and stressed that the agreements concluded in 1920 lost their validity after 1940. He suggested that formally allows Russia to put forward its own claims to those countries referring to the state borders of the Russian Empire. In that connection he pointed out the necessity of coming to official agreement with the Baltic states on their borders with Russia. The Committee members were unanimous about the violations of rights of Russian-speaking minority in Latvia and Estonia. Among the violations mentioned were the non-availability of citizenship to a large number of Russian-speaking inhabitants, and the deprivation of such persons of the right to own land or real estate and even to exchange their apartments. The Committee adopted the statement addressed to Mr.Yeltsin requesting him to report on the state politics of Russia towards ethnic Russian and Russian-speaking population of Latvia and Estonia.

The Deputy-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Mr.Churkin has a press-conference after the meeting of the Social Committee (Obschestvennaya Palata). During the press-conference he stated that Russia had no obligations towards Latvia and Estonia on the accomplishment of troops' withdrawal before August 31. He stressed that the term had been suggested as a part of a set of agreements. He said that the two Baltic countries did not agree to adopt the complete set of agreements. The speakers at the meeting of the Social Committee emphasized the necessity of putting more pressure on Latvia and Estonia in order to protect the rights of Russian-speaking ethnic minority. The Major of St.Petersburg Mr.Sobchak mentioned territorial claims made by the Baltic states and stressed that the agreements concluded in 1920 lost their validity after 1940. He suggested that formally allows Russia to put forward its own claims to those countries referring to the state borders of the Russian Empire. In that connection he pointed out the necessity of coming to official agreement with the Baltic states on their borders with Russia. The Committee members were unanimous about the violations of rights of Russian-speaking minority in Latvia and Estonia. Among the violations mentioned were the non-availability of citizenship to a large number of Russian-speaking inhabitants, and the deprivation of such persons of the right to own land or real estate and even to exchange their apartments. The Committee adopted the statement addressed to Mr.Yeltsin requesting him to report on the state politics of Russia towards ethnic Russian and Russian-speaking population of Latvia and Estonia. Diena

The Prime-Ministers of Nordic States adopted a statement emphasizing the necessity of a prompt, well-organized, and complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Estonia and Latvia. The Prime-Ministers approved of the progress achieved during the negotiations on Skrunda radar. The Prime-Minister of Latvia Mr.Birkavs stressed that Latvia tried to be flexible during the talks. He also said that it would be easy to solve the citizenship problem after the issue of retired officers had been finally decided upon.

The Prime-Ministers of Nordic States adopted a statement emphasizing the necessity of a prompt, well-organized, and complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Estonia and Latvia. The Prime-Ministers approved of the progress achieved during the negotiations on Skrunda radar. The Prime-Minister of Latvia Mr.Birkavs stressed that Latvia tried to be flexible during the talks. He also said that it would be easy to solve the citizenship problem after the issue of retired officers had been finally decided upon. Diena

The deputies of the Saema will receive the draft agreements on troops' withdrawal on Tuesday after the closed meeting of the Commission on Foreign Affairs. The documents will not be available to the press. The discussion is scheduled for Wednesday plenary meeting of the Saema. This will be the beginning of the working out of the foreign policies by the Saema. The Tuesday meeting of the Commission of Foreign Affairs will be also dedicated to the concept for the foreign policies of Latvia which will be based upon the report by Mr.Birkavs at the conference on security issues. The report suggests that Latvia should be integrated into international security structures, namely European Union, NATO, and CSCE.

The deputies of the Saema will receive the draft agreements on troops' withdrawal on Tuesday after the closed meeting of the Commission on Foreign Affairs. The documents will not be available to the press. The discussion is scheduled for Wednesday plenary meeting of the Saema. This will be the beginning of the working out of the foreign policies by the Saema. The Tuesday meeting of the Commission of Foreign Affairs will be also dedicated to the concept for the foreign policies of Latvia which will be based upon the report by Mr.Birkavs at the conference on security issues. The report suggests that Latvia should be integrated into international security structures, namely European Union, NATO, and CSCE. Diena, Labrit

"LABRIT" journalists have contacted several Government officials to find out their reaction towards the statements by Vitaly Churkin. The head of the President's Press-Service Mr. Karlis Grinbergs stated that "there had been no official reaction yet". The Head of the President's Office said that the President had not made an official evaluation of the statement. The President's Advisor for Foreign Politics Mr.Baumanis said that a more specific information on the contents of Churkin's statement should be obtained. The State Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Riekstins gave a positive evaluation of the statement. Still, he characterized certain points of the statement on ethnic minorities and possible economic sanctions as "not satisfactory." The Vice-Chairman of the "Latvijas Cels" fraction Mr.Peteris Elferts gave his comments on possible reasons for Mr.Churkin saying that Russia was under no obligatioins to withdraw its troops before August 31. He suggested that an attempt to undermine the process of negotiations or just a case of mismanagement in Russian Foreign Office. He also added that it was clear that Russia is not willing to withdraw its troops completely from Latvia and Estonia. As for Lithuania a prompt withdrawal was possible only due to the proximity of Kaliningrad Region of Russia that still provided its military presence in the area.

"LABRIT" journalists have contacted several Government officials to find out their reaction towards the statements by Vitaly Churkin. The head of the President's Press-Service Mr. Karlis Grinbergs stated that "there had been no official reaction yet". The Head of the President's Office said that the President had not made an official evaluation of the statement. The President's Advisor for Foreign Politics Mr.Baumanis said that a more specific information on the contents of Churkin's statement should be obtained. The State Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Riekstins gave a positive evaluation of the statement. Still, he characterized certain points of the statement on ethnic minorities and possible economic sanctions as "not satisfactory." The Vice-Chairman of the "Latvijas Cels" fraction Mr.Peteris Elferts gave his comments on possible reasons for Mr.Churkin saying that Russia was under no obligatioins to withdraw its troops before August 31. He suggested that an attempt to undermine the process of negotiations or just a case of mismanagement in Russian Foreign Office. He also added that it was clear that Russia is not willing to withdraw its troops completely from Latvia and Estonia. As for Lithuania a prompt withdrawal was possible only due to the proximity of Kaliningrad Region of Russia that still provided its military presence in the area. Labrit