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 Reports

Press Reports

134 non-citizens' passports were issued between April 10 and 18. CID officials explain the low demand for the new passports by Russia's refusal to recognize the documents. President Ulmanis believes that Russia would "recognize non-citizens' passports in the course of time."

134 non-citizens' passports were issued between April 10 and 18. CID officials explain the low demand for the new passports by Russia's refusal to recognize the documents. President Ulmanis believes that Russia would "recognize non-citizens' passports in the course of time." PL

An article in

An article in "SM" points at tangible changes in the Government's attitude to the issues of naturalization and non-citizens. The main reason for the tendency is the attention paid to the problem by the West. High-ranking Western officials made it clear that Latvia's integration into Western Europe would not be possible without resolving the non-citizens' issue. The author of the article forecasts the growth of interest toward receiving Russian citizenship among non-citizens. The new non-citizens' passports are still not valid for travel to Russia while many non-citizens have vital interests there. The article claims that 60 thousand Russian citizens are permanently residing in Latvia and forecasts a possible five-fold increase in their number. The Government is aware of this threat to Latvia's plans for joining NATO. Among the problems faced by a more liberal part of the Latvian state officials and politicians are a negative attitude of ethnic Latvians to the very idea of a large number of non-Latvians receiving citizenship. A very large portion of Latvians believes them to be disloyal to the country and its independence. Such an attitude is a result of several years of "brainwashing" in the media. Non-citizens, on the other hand, have accumulated negative experience form their contacts with authorities and feel suspicious toward Government institutions. The author of the article does not believe there would be a rush for Latvian citizenship even if it was granted merely through registration.

A poll by the Naturalization Board showed that the majority of applicants for naturalization did not have any difficulties in passing language tests. 32% of applicants admitted that they had certain problems in passing history tests. Most of the applicants are individuals having the right for extraordinary naturalization. Head of the Naturalization Board Eizenija Aldermane told the

A poll by the Naturalization Board showed that the majority of applicants for naturalization did not have any difficulties in passing language tests. 32% of applicants admitted that they had certain problems in passing history tests. Most of the applicants are individuals having the right for extraordinary naturalization. Head of the Naturalization Board Eizenija Aldermane told the Saeima Committee for the Implementation of the Citizenship Law about her recent meeting with young non-citizens. It showed that many potential young applicants were not willing to undergo naturalization due to the fact that their parents could not obtain citizenship although many of them stood for Latvia's independence in 1991. Mrs. Aldermane believes that a written rendering of a Latvian text during the language exam should be replaced with an essay written in Latvian. Diena