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

At the press-conference on Friday Andris Skele told journalists that all talks about the potential budget deficit were political speculation. According to Skele, parties only try to increase their prestige through the creation of the budget deficit and salary rise. Skele expressed regret that the existing stability could be destroyed in the name of political aims. Mr. Skele referred to the liquidation of the post of Special Minister for European Affairs as a wrong decision in times when Latvia should actively work with the European Union. Mr. Skele does not believe that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has people who would be able to work on introducing European Union instructions into the social, economic and agricultural spheres.

At the press-conference on Friday Andris Skele told journalists that all talks about the potential budget deficit were political speculation. According to Skele, parties only try to increase their prestige through the creation of the budget deficit and salary rise. Skele expressed regret that the existing stability could be destroyed in the name of political aims. Mr. Skele referred to the liquidation of the post of Special Minister for European Affairs as a wrong decision in times when Latvia should actively work with the European Union. Mr. Skele does not believe that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has people who would be able to work on introducing European Union instructions into the social, economic and agricultural spheres. Neatkariga, Rita Avize

There is still no agreement on a candidate for the post of Minister of Culture. Ramona Umblija from

There is still no agreement on a candidate for the post of Minister of Culture. Ramona Umblija from the Latvian Farmers Union and Aleksandrs Kirsteins from the National Reform Party have been named as potential candidates, and neither of parties wants to withdraw its claim for the office. Today the candidates start discussing a declaration. As Juris Dobelis, Deputy Chair of Tevzemei un Brivibai/ LNNK, told NEATKARIGA, Tevzemei un Brivibai would try to incorporate issues on citizenship and state language into the declaration. Kristiana Libane, Deputy Chair of the Latvijas Cels fraction, said that a new declaration in principle should not differ from the previous declaration. Diena, Neatkariga

At the press conference on reconstruction of the Victory monument Jazeps Barbejs, Specialist of the Joint-Stock Company

At the press conference on reconstruction of the Victory monument Jazeps Barbejs, Specialist of the Joint-Stock Company Komunalprojekts, told that on August 15 it would be clear how much money it would be needed to restore the monument. Tatjana Zdanoka, deputy of the Lidztiesiba noted that people did not have clear information about how they could donate money for the restoration of the monument. Twenty persons have already donated money in total of 221 Lats. Diena

SM comments on a readers question about the unsatisfactory work of the Liepajas CID. People who submitted their old passports for the exchange to non-citizen passports months ago, still have not received any document.

Ms. Sprence, Acting Head of the Passport Department of the CID, assured “SM” that “people will receive their documents”. Ms. Sprence, however, did not present any explanation on reasons why such a situation emerged in Liepaja.

Ms. Sprence, Acting Head of the Passport Department of the CID, assured SM that people will receive their documents. Ms. Sprence, however, did not present any explanation on reasons why such a situation emerged in Liepaja. SM

As was told earlier, the Representation of the Migration Department of the Russian Federation was opened in Riga. Vadim Yentyakov, Head of the Representation, told that the Representation would professionally help people applying for repatriation to move to Russia. He noted that any Russian-speaking person in Latvia could become a potential repatriate. A person might turn to the Representation and get the certificate of migration that would provide the repatriate with certain rights and benefits. Still, Mr Yentyakov stressed that repatriates from Latvia could not receive the status of “forced repatriate” that would provide them with the rights to some financial benefits in Russia.

As was told earlier, the Representation of the Migration Department of the Russian Federation was opened in Riga. Vadim Yentyakov, Head of the Representation, told that the Representation would professionally help people applying for repatriation to move to Russia. He noted that any Russian-speaking person in Latvia could become a potential repatriate. A person might turn to the Representation and get the certificate of migration that would provide the repatriate with certain rights and benefits. Still, Mr Yentyakov stressed that repatriates from Latvia could not receive the status of forced repatriate that would provide them with the rights to some financial benefits in Russia.

Boris Tsilevich in his article to “SM” claims that “moderate” parties (

Boris Tsilevich in his article to SM claims that moderate parties (Latvijas Cels and Saimnieks) were afraid to leave national radicals (Tevzemei un Brivibai) in opposition on the eve of the new Saeima elections, although without TB the government would have been able to solve some important questions related with the integration into the EU (for example, changes in the Citizenship Law, speeding up the process of naturalization). According to Tsilevich, Latvijas Cels and Saimnieks see a representative of TB in the post of the Prime-Minister as a compromise that would keep both parties in balance of power. Besides, Guntars Krasts is a weak, and obedient political figure. Referring to the European Commission report, Mr. Tsilevich describes it as a failure of foreign affairs by Mr. Birkavs and Latvijas Cels.Mr. Tsilevich predicts that former Prime-Minister Andris Skele will support the formation of a new Farmers Party. This party might be founded by Mr. Krustins, Editor of Lauku Avize, in the nearest future. SM

Director of the National Human Rights Office Mr. Olafs Bruvers in an interview to

Director of the National Human Rights Office Mr. Olafs Bruvers in an interview to SM said that any issue on citizenship and human rights of non-citizen gets tied up in the Coalition Council in which the representatives of the radical parties declared that they would leave the government if those questions were touched. He expressed hope that the government would find courage to let those opponents go. Olafs Bruvers also noted that the Human Rights Office was closely co-operating with the CID in order to eliminate any arbitrariness in its work. Mr. Bruvers told that at present analysts were preparing a report on the compliance of the situation in the socio-economic rights sphere in Latvia with the international conventions. He agreed with a journalist that the situation with non-Latvian schools also needed more detailed examination.