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

According to preliminary results of self-government elections held last weekend, the largest number of votes was won by "Tevzemei un Brivibai", the Social Democrats (a joint list of candidates representing the Latvian Social-Democratic Party and the Latvian Social-Democratic Workers="" Party),

According to preliminary results of self-government elections held last weekend, the largest number of votes was won by "Tevzemei un Brivibai", the Social Democrats (a joint list of candidates representing the Latvian Social-Democratic Party and the Latvian Social-Democratic Workers="" Party), ALatvijas Cels" and "Saimnieks". The Social Democrats were more successful in the local elections this year. The official results of the elections are expected in seven days. Diena, B&B

The Social Democratic Party and the Social Democratic Workers' Party will sue Prime-Minister Skele for offensive statements made while addressing the people of Latvia on the national TV last Thursday. The Prime-Minister said that the Social-Democrats were headed by former KGB officers and Communist leaders while members of the two parties would have welcomed Soviet tanks. Skele in his speech called upon voters not to support left-wing parties in local elections.

The Social Democratic Party and the Social Democratic Workers' Party will sue Prime-Minister Skele for offensive statements made while addressing the people of Latvia on the national TV last Thursday. The Prime-Minister said that the Social-Democrats were headed by former KGB officers and Communist leaders while members of the two parties would have welcomed Soviet tanks. Skele in his speech called upon voters not to support left-wing parties in local elections. Diena

According to

According to "The Washington Post", Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Primakov during his meeting with NATO representatives demanded guarantees of not admitting former USSR republics to NATO. Russia's demands also include a ten-year moratorium on NATO enlargement after its first stage is accomplished in 1999. SM

Boris Tsilevich believes that building an "ethnic state" instead of a political nation impedes Latvia's development as a European country. Tsilevich points at the low percentage of non-Latvians in the Saeima (10%) and among government officials and civil servants. Tsilevich notes that citizenship is viewed as a mechanism for safeguarding the rule of ethnic Latvians. He points at the fact that the Human Rights Bureau "gave ambiguous assessment" of the Cabinet of Ministers regulations requiring that all applicants for unemployment benefits should have passed a test in the state language.

Boris Tsilevich believes that building an "ethnic state" instead of a political nation impedes Latvia's development as a European country. Tsilevich points at the low percentage of non-Latvians in the Saeima (10%) and among government officials and civil servants. Tsilevich notes that citizenship is viewed as a mechanism for safeguarding the rule of ethnic Latvians. He points at the fact that the Human Rights Bureau "gave ambiguous assessment" of the Cabinet of Ministers regulations requiring that all applicants for unemployment benefits should have passed a test in the state language. SM