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

According to Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular Department Mrs. Solvita Mellupe, the recognition of aliens' passports by Russia will be on the agenda of the consular talks between Latvia and Russia. The date of the talks has not been appointed yet. Currently, holders of new aliens' passport cannot enter Russia. The new passport was officially recognized by China last week. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received confirmations of recognition from twenty countries.

According to Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular Department Mrs. Solvita Mellupe, the recognition of aliens' passports by Russia will be on the agenda of the consular talks between Latvia and Russia. The date of the talks has not been appointed yet. Currently, holders of new aliens' passport cannot enter Russia. The new passport was officially recognized by China last week. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received confirmations of recognition from twenty countries. Diena

Yesterday the

Yesterday the Satversme Court reviewed its first case. The Court considered Amendments by the Cabinet of Ministers to the Law on Regulating Enterprise in Energy Resources. The Amendments were submitted to the Satversme Court by thirty-five Saeima members. A verdict on the case is expected May 7. Diena

Saeima member Peteris Tabuns (

Saeima member Peteris Tabuns (LNNK) in an article for "DIENA" points at the peculiarities of the demographic situation in Latvia. He stresses that most of non-Latvians have arrived to Latvia during its "colonization". Tabuns argues with the main points of an article by Nils Muiznieks who criticized the nationalists for not understanding the European human rights standards. He claims that European norms cannot be applied to Latvia and that Latvia cannot follow all Western recommendations. Tabuns believes that the West is aware of the real situation in Latvia but is eager to find a solution that would satisfy Russia. The West would not accept Russian-speakers from Latvia and refuses to support repatriation programs. Tabuns warns against giving a large number of non-citizens an opportunity to obtain Latvian citizenship through naturalization. This, according to Tabuns, would lead to Socialists, former Interfront members and "Peoples' Harmony" taking the control of the country. He believes "internationalism, cosmopolitanism, to leave alone communism" to be the ideologies that are most dangerous to Latvia's independence and identity. Diena

"SM"

made a brief survey of the work of the Russian and Latvian Government Committees on Co-operation. The author focuses on the issue of non-citizens and their status in Latvia. The 1991 Declaration of the State Sovereignty of the Russian Federation granted Russian citizenship to all former USSR and Russian Federation citizens who found themselves outside Russia's borders after the USSR disintegrated. Still, the Russian executive power acted as if those persons were not Russian citizens choosing to use the terms "compatriots abroad" or "Russian-speakers". In 1996 the Russian Constitutional Court recognized such a practice to be in a contradiction with the Constitution. Still, the Russian Government Committee uses the term "compatriots" during its talks with the Latvian side. The author of the article singles out the following basic arguments in favor of the current policy toward non-citizens often used by "certain Latvian politicians":made a brief survey of the work of the Russian and Latvian Government Committees on Co-operation. The author focuses on the issue of non-citizens and their status in Latvia. The 1991 Declaration of the State Sovereignty of the Russian Federation granted Russian citizenship to all former USSR and Russian Federation citizens who found themselves outside Russia's borders after the USSR disintegrated. Still, the Russian executive power acted as if those persons were not Russian citizens choosing to use the terms "compatriots abroad" or "Russian-speakers". In 1996 the Russian Constitutional Court recognized such a practice to be in a contradiction with the Constitution. Still, the Russian Government Committee uses the term "compatriots" during its talks with the Latvian side. The author of the article singles out the following basic arguments in favor of the current policy toward non-citizens often used by "certain Latvian politicians":
- a peculiar demographic situation that has formed in Latvia after its occupation allows it to ignore certain international human rights acts;- a peculiar demographic situation that has formed in Latvia after its occupation allows it to ignore certain international human rights acts;
- several democracies restrict political, social and economic rights of non-citizens;- several democracies restrict political, social and economic rights of non-citizens;
- Latvia, being an independent state, is free to decide on its own legislation;- Latvia, being an independent state, is free to decide on its own legislation;
- international organizations have not discovered any human rights violations in Latvia. - international organizations have not discovered any human rights violations in Latvia. Currently, no-one can forecast whether a large number of non-citizens will choose to take Russian citizenship. The author cites Head of the OSCE Mission Charles Magee who agreed that a hope for obtaining Russian citizenship could be among the reasons for young people being indifferent toward naturalization.

Currently, no-one can forecast whether a large number of non-citizens will choose to take Russian citizenship. The author cites Head of the OSCE Mission Charles Magee who agreed that a hope for obtaining Russian citizenship could be among the reasons for young people being indifferent toward naturalization. SM