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

CID Deputy-Director Janis Leins told the BNS news agency that samples of the non-citizen's passport would be sent to the governments of almost 200 countries for legalization. Latvia expects to receive confirmations of recognition of the document within forty-five days. The issuing of new passports will be started on April 10, 1997.

CID Deputy-Director Janis Leins told the BNS news agency that samples of the non-citizen's passport would be sent to the governments of almost 200 countries for legalization. Latvia expects to receive confirmations of recognition of the document within forty-five days. The issuing of new passports will be started on April 10, 1997. SM, Diena

Russia's policy toward the Russian-speaking population of CIS and Baltic countries was on the agenda of yesterday's meeting of the Government Committee for the Affairs of Compatriots Abroad. Minister for the Affairs of Nationalities and Federal Relations Vyacheslav Mihailov in his report stressed that protection of the rights of compatriots abroad should be among the priorities of Russia's foreign policies. Mr. Mihailov said that compatriots should enjoy the rights equal to those of the native population of former USSR republics. He believes that Russia should inhibit repatriation of Russian-speakers. Decrease of the number of Russian-speakers in CIS and Baltic countries will broaden a gap between these countries and Russia, believes Mihailov. He also suggested to "encourage the forming of autonomies" in the areas where Russian-speakers constitute a large portion of the population. Russia should insist on introducing Russian as a second state language in the countries with high percentages of the Russian-speaking population.

Russia's policy toward the Russian-speaking population of CIS and Baltic countries was on the agenda of yesterday's meeting of the Government Committee for the Affairs of Compatriots Abroad. Minister for the Affairs of Nationalities and Federal Relations Vyacheslav Mihailov in his report stressed that protection of the rights of compatriots abroad should be among the priorities of Russia's foreign policies. Mr. Mihailov said that compatriots should enjoy the rights equal to those of the native population of former USSR republics. He believes that Russia should inhibit repatriation of Russian-speakers. Decrease of the number of Russian-speakers in CIS and Baltic countries will broaden a gap between these countries and Russia, believes Mihailov. He also suggested to "encourage the forming of autonomies" in the areas where Russian-speakers constitute a large portion of the population. Russia should insist on introducing Russian as a second state language in the countries with high percentages of the Russian-speaking population. SM

Deputy-Speaker of the Russian

Deputy-Speaker of the Russian Duma Aleksandr Shohin in an interview for "SM" confirmed that the main topic of talks with the Latvian parliamentary delegation was the rights of Russian-speakers in Latvia. The Russian side stressed that no improvement of economic relations between the two countries could be possible without resolving the problem of Russian-speakers and the border issue. Russia would not agree to any references to the 1920 Riga Peace Treaty. The Russian side also strongly objects to Latvia becoming a NATO member and suggests concluding a trilateral agreement between NATO, Russia and Latvia. SM Gennady Kotov, Vladimir Buzayev and Aleksandr Raihman (the Latvian Human Rights Committee) in their report on the human rights situation in Latvia name complicated naturalization tests as a main reason for a slow pace of naturalization. Although, during registration, 90% of non-citizens expressed their wish to obtain citizenship, only around three thousand have received citizenship through naturalization. Only few restrictions of non-citizens' rights have been canceled. Non-citizens are still paid lower pensions, since only years of work on the territory of Latvia are taken as a basis for calculating their pensions. The rule is not applied to citizens. Unemployed Russian-speakers cannot apply for social benefits without producing a certificate proving that they have passed a language test irrespective of the work they are looking for. Among other problems, the authors mention amendments to the Law "On Foreigners' and Stateless Persons' Entrance to and stay in the Republic of Latvia". The new version of the Law provides for a more complicated procedure of the issuance of residence permits. According to the Law, residence permits should be applied for at Latvian embassies abroad. SM