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

Press Report

The Press Center of the Ministry of the Interior informs that Ziedonis Cevers, Minister of the Interior, personally will supervise the solution of “three problems”, namely, the recruitment of the Mobile police staff, and the solution to continuing disagreements between the Ministry of the Interior and the Lattelekom. The third problem is the “unresolved status of 6,000 persons in whose destiny the OSCE has particularly become interested.”

The Press Center of the Ministry of the Interior informs that Ziedonis Cevers, Minister of the Interior, personally will supervise the solution of three problems, namely, the recruitment of the Mobile police staff, and the solution to continuing disagreements between the Ministry of the Interior and the Lattelekom. The third problem is the unresolved status of 6,000 persons in whose destiny the OSCE has particularly become interested. Diena

Roberts Zile, Minister of Finance, is convinced that the 1998 budget draft will be submitted to the Saeima on time, that is on September 16.

Roberts Zile, Minister of Finance, is convinced that the 1998 budget draft will be submitted to the Saeima on time, that is on September 16. Diena

A new corruption scandal might break out after revealing the list of the Saeima deputies who had violated the Anti-Corruption Law. Ilmars Bisers, Head of the Mandate Commission in the Saeima, indicated that cases of 46 deputies were submitted to the Prosecutor General. Andrejs Pantelejevs thinks that the authors of the Law and the members of the Prosecutor General’s office should agree on the interpretation of the Anti-Corruption Law. Otherwise, this scandal might spread to the municipal level and could “paralyze” the work of the prosecutor’s office for a long time. Ernests Jurkans, Deputy Head of the Democratic Party Saimnieks fraction, said that there would be no scandal if the politization of this issue was avoided.

A new corruption scandal might break out after revealing the list of the Saeima deputies who had violated the Anti-Corruption Law. Ilmars Bisers, Head of the Mandate Commission in the Saeima, indicated that cases of 46 deputies were submitted to the Prosecutor General. Andrejs Pantelejevs thinks that the authors of the Law and the members of the Prosecutor Generals office should agree on the interpretation of the Anti-Corruption Law. Otherwise, this scandal might spread to the municipal level and could paralyze the work of the prosecutors office for a long time. Ernests Jurkans, Deputy Head of the Democratic Party Saimnieks fraction, said that there would be no scandal if the politization of this issue was avoided. Diena

Forty-three officers of the Latvian National Armed Forces receive the pension from other countries, mainly from Russia. As was mentioned earlier, the Minister of Defense signed the writ according to which persons serving in the Latvian National Armed Forces and persons working in the Ministry of Defense will not be allowed to receive pensions from other countries. Talavs Jundzis, Minister of Defense, said that there was no reason to worry that the loss of former USSR military persons would be a disadvantage for the Latvian National Armed Forces, since at the moment there are approximately one thousand professional officers serving in the NAF. An officer who currently serves in the NAF and receives a pension from Russia told NEATKARIGA that a choice between the service and the pension was humiliating to those who were the first ones to transfer from the Russian to the Latvian Army.

Forty-three officers of the Latvian National Armed Forces receive the pension from other countries, mainly from Russia. As was mentioned earlier, the Minister of Defense signed the writ according to which persons serving in the Latvian National Armed Forces and persons working in the Ministry of Defense will not be allowed to receive pensions from other countries. Talavs Jundzis, Minister of Defense, said that there was no reason to worry that the loss of former USSR military persons would be a disadvantage for the Latvian National Armed Forces, since at the moment there are approximately one thousand professional officers serving in the NAF. An officer who currently serves in the NAF and receives a pension from Russia told NEATKARIGA that a choice between the service and the pension was humiliating to those who were the first ones to transfer from the Russian to the Latvian Army. Diena, Neatkariga

PANORAMA LATVII opened its own donation fund for the reconstruction of the Victory monument. During the campaign last Sunday, nine hundred fifty-six Lats were donated.

PANORAMA LATVII opened its own donation fund for the reconstruction of the Victory monument. During the campaign last Sunday, nine hundred fifty-six Lats were donated.

LAUKU AVIZE publishes an interview with Alexander Udaltsov, Russian Ambassador to Latvia, in which he notes that the political instability in Latvia does not assist to the creation of a stable and long-term basis for co-operation between Russia and Latvia. If the new government as pragmatic as the previous Cabinet was, then a normal relationship would be possible. Mr. Udaltsov also commented on security guarantees for Latvia. According to him, it is time to sign a comprehensive agreement between Russia and Latvia that would include security guarantees. Referring to the situation with non-citizens he stressed that Russia supports the OSCE and the EU recommendations, such as granting citizenship to children who were born in Latvia, lowering the cost for the naturalization process, and liquidation of the “naturalization windows.”

LAUKU AVIZE publishes an interview with Alexander Udaltsov, Russian Ambassador to Latvia, in which he notes that the political instability in Latvia does not assist to the creation of a stable and long-term basis for co-operation between Russia and Latvia. If the new government as pragmatic as the previous Cabinet was, then a normal relationship would be possible. Mr. Udaltsov also commented on security guarantees for Latvia. According to him, it is time to sign a comprehensive agreement between Russia and Latvia that would include security guarantees. Referring to the situation with non-citizens he stressed that Russia supports the OSCE and the EU recommendations, such as granting citizenship to children who were born in Latvia, lowering the cost for the naturalization process, and liquidation of the naturalization windows. Lauku Avize