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

Russian Prime-Minister Victor Chernomirdin said that Russia was not planning to use any economical sanctions against Latvia or leave its troops there. He also stressed that Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania should adhere to their obligations regarding human rights. "We shall not allow it that the Russians that have been born and raised in the Baltic states are treated the way they are treated now", said the Prime-Minister. The statements were made during his press-conference in Finland.

Russian Prime-Minister Victor Chernomirdin said that Russia was not planning to use any economical sanctions against Latvia or leave its troops there. He also stressed that Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania should adhere to their obligations regarding human rights. "We shall not allow it that the Russians that have been born and raised in the Baltic states are treated the way they are treated now", said the Prime-Minister. The statements were made during his press-conference in Finland. Diena

The Saema adopted the Law on the Bureau for Protection of Satversme and the Law on the National Security Departments on March 10. Ainars Dimanis, the "DIENA" columnist gives a critical analysis of the Laws. He points out that the Laws do not provide sufficient guarantees of the control of the security departments by all fractions at the parliament. According to the Law the Head of the Bureau will be a member of the National Security Council. Since the absolute majority of the Council is composed by the governing coalition members it will exclude the possibility of a broader control of the Bureau's activities.

The Saema adopted the Law on the Bureau for Protection of Satversme and the Law on the National Security Departments on March 10. Ainars Dimanis, the "DIENA" columnist gives a critical analysis of the Laws. He points out that the Laws do not provide sufficient guarantees of the control of the security departments by all fractions at the parliament. According to the Law the Head of the Bureau will be a member of the National Security Council. Since the absolute majority of the Council is composed by the governing coalition members it will exclude the possibility of a broader control of the Bureau's activities. Diena

The expert groups continued their work on the draft agreement on social guarantees for retired Russian servicemen in Moscow. Certain technical issues have not been agreed upon yet. The next round of talks is scheduled for March 14 and will involve the attempt to achieve the agreement on all remaining issues including troops withdrawal, Skrunda radar station, social guarantees for retired officers and for the servicemen at active service for the period of the withdrawal.

The expert groups continued their work on the draft agreement on social guarantees for retired Russian servicemen in Moscow. Certain technical issues have not been agreed upon yet. The next round of talks is scheduled for March 14 and will involve the attempt to achieve the agreement on all remaining issues including troops withdrawal, Skrunda radar station, social guarantees for retired officers and for the servicemen at active service for the period of the withdrawal. Labrit

"VAKARA ZINAS" published a discussion on citizenship-related issue between Olafs Bruveris, a Christian Democrat and the Minister for Human Rights, and Sergey Dimanis, the leader of "The Equal Rights" fraction. Mr.Dimanis expressed his special concern about the "round stamp" problem. He also mentioned the statements made by nationalist leaders who stressed that non-citizens should not expect that they would be allowed to stay in Latvia forever. He said that "bombs" that were exploding occasionally had been built into the legislation. Mr.Bruvers agreed that there were certain violations of the law made by the Department of Citizenship and Immigration, still he stressed that the violation of human rights is not the policy of the Government. Mr.Dimanis pointed out that there was a lack of interest on the part of the Government towards the human rights-associated issues. He also warned about the possibility of right-wing nationalists first taking power in local self-governing bodies and then also taking the majority in the Saema backed up by Latvian voters in rural areas. Mr.Bruveris also stressed that it was important to explain the non-citizens the rights they will have and see to it that statelessness does not mean the deprivation of one's human rights.

"VAKARA ZINAS" published a discussion on citizenship-related issue between Olafs Bruveris, a Christian Democrat and the Minister for Human Rights, and Sergey Dimanis, the leader of "The Equal Rights" fraction. Mr.Dimanis expressed his special concern about the "round stamp" problem. He also mentioned the statements made by nationalist leaders who stressed that non-citizens should not expect that they would be allowed to stay in Latvia forever. He said that "bombs" that were exploding occasionally had been built into the legislation. Mr.Bruvers agreed that there were certain violations of the law made by the Department of Citizenship and Immigration, still he stressed that the violation of human rights is not the policy of the Government. Mr.Dimanis pointed out that there was a lack of interest on the part of the Government towards the human rights-associated issues. He also warned about the possibility of right-wing nationalists first taking power in local self-governing bodies and then also taking the majority in the Saema backed up by Latvian voters in rural areas. Mr.Bruveris also stressed that it was important to explain the non-citizens the rights they will have and see to it that statelessness does not mean the deprivation of one's human rights. Labrit

"VAKARA ZINAS" and "SM SEVODNYA" give comments on the recent appeal by the LNNK fraction to ban the broadcasting of programs by Russian TV that contain criticism towards the policies of the Latvian Government. Both newspapers evaluated the appeal as a relapse of Bolshevist thinking.

"VAKARA ZINAS" and "SM SEVODNYA" give comments on the recent appeal by the LNNK fraction to ban the broadcasting of programs by Russian TV that contain criticism towards the policies of the Latvian Government. Both newspapers evaluated the appeal as a relapse of Bolshevist thinking.