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

Today Prime-Minister Skele will hand in the resignation of the government. On Friday leaders of the government-forming parties declared that they did not see any possibility to continue working in a government headed by Mr. Skele, and they would quit it. According to Valdis Birkavs, it was a mistake to have a person without party affiliation in the Prime-Minister’s office. Ziedonis Cevers, leader of

Today Prime-Minister Skele will hand in the resignation of the government. On Friday leaders of the government-forming parties declared that they did not see any possibility to continue working in a government headed by Mr. Skele, and they would quit it. According to Valdis Birkavs, it was a mistake to have a person without party affiliation in the Prime-Ministers office. Ziedonis Cevers, leader of Democratic Party Saimnieks, assured journalists that a new government would be headed by a Prime-Minister having a party affiliation. Valdis Birkavs, Anatolijs Gorbunovs, Andrejs Pantelejevs (all Latvijas Cels), Ziedonis Cevers (Saimnieks), Guntars Krasts (Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK) were named as possible candidates for the Prime-Ministers office. Juris Dobelis, Deputy Chair of Tevzemei un Briviba/LNNK, informed DIENA that a new government might look similar to the present government, since parties tended to keep the present ministers. It is also possible that the resigned ministers return to the office. Diena, B&B

Vladymir Shustov, Russian Special Affairs Envoy, who took part in an international conference on Democracy and Security in the Baltics organized by NGO “Peace Quest“, told journalists that Russia did not support the Baltic willingness to join the NATO. He also noted that Russia would not like Latvia pay its membership in the NATO with Russia’s transit money. With referring to the Russian-speaking population, Mr. Shustov admitted that they should learn Latvian as quickly as possible. Still, he stressed that Latvian authorities should help people with that.

Vladymir Shustov, Russian Special Affairs Envoy, who took part in an international conference on Democracy and Security in the Baltics organized by NGO Peace Quest, told journalists that Russia did not support the Baltic willingness to join the NATO. He also noted that Russia would not like Latvia pay its membership in the NATO with Russias transit money. With referring to the Russian-speaking population, Mr. Shustov admitted that they should learn Latvian as quickly as possible. Still, he stressed that Latvian authorities should help people with that. Panorama Latvii

The Citizenship and Immigration Department informs that 13% of citizens still have not exchanged the USSR passports for Latvian passports. As was informed earlier, the former USSR internal passports carried by Latvian citizens would not be recognized as valid by Latvian authorities starting November 1. The CID also informed that by 24 July a little more than 17,000 non-citizens had received non-citizen passports. Most of them live in Riga and Daugavpils.

The Citizenship and Immigration Department informs that 13% of citizens still have not exchanged the USSR passports for Latvian passports. As was informed earlier, the former USSR internal passports carried by Latvian citizens would not be recognized as valid by Latvian authorities starting November 1. The CID also informed that by 24 July a little more than 17,000 non-citizens had received non-citizen passports. Most of them live in Riga and Daugavpils. Neatkariga