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

EU Commissioner on Foreign Affairs Hans van der Broek told

EU Commissioner on Foreign Affairs Hans van der Broek told DIENA that the EU Council shared the opinion of the European Commission on future talks with candidates for EU membership. He is certain that the talks will not be started simultaneously with all candidates. Mr. van der Broek said that although citizenship issues and other political aspects played certain role in assessing Latvias potential for joining the EU, the main emphasis was laid on the economic situation. Diena

Yesterday Mr. George Soros visited the Central Prison that runs a Latvian language training program financed by the Soros foundation. At his yesterday’s press-conference Mr. Soros noted that he “could hardly imagine Latvia integrating in the European Union with existing penitentiary system”. He was also shocked by the situation when suspects were kept in custody for up to three years waiting for final court verdicts on their cases. Mr. Soros said that he could see two separate communities (i.e., Latvians and non-Latvians) in Latvia that had very few links with each other. He believes that democratic processes in the country and naturalization of non-citizens to be too slow. Yesterday Mr. Soros had a meeting with Prime-Minister Guntars Krasts and Director of the Soros Foundation-Latvia Ms. Vita Terauda. The agenda of the meetings included economic issues, privatization and naturalization-related issues.

Yesterday Mr. George Soros visited the Central Prison that runs a Latvian language training program financed by the Soros foundation. At his yesterdays press-conference Mr. Soros noted that he could hardly imagine Latvia integrating in the European Union with existing penitentiary system. He was also shocked by the situation when suspects were kept in custody for up to three years waiting for final court verdicts on their cases. Mr. Soros said that he could see two separate communities (i.e., Latvians and non-Latvians) in Latvia that had very few links with each other. He believes that democratic processes in the country and naturalization of non-citizens to be too slow. Yesterday Mr. Soros had a meeting with Prime-Minister Guntars Krasts and Director of the Soros Foundation-Latvia Ms. Vita Terauda. The agenda of the meetings included economic issues, privatization and naturalization-related issues. Diena, SM, B&B

Mr. Gennady Kotov of the Latvian Human Rights Committee in his report on the human rights situation in Latvia points to an increase of the number of complaints related to court decrees that contradicted the Law and Latvia’s international obligations. He connects the tendency to the Mr. Rasnacs of

Mr. Gennady Kotov of the Latvian Human Rights Committee in his report on the human rights situation in Latvia points to an increase of the number of complaints related to court decrees that contradicted the Law and Latvias international obligations. He connects the tendency to the Mr. Rasnacs of Tevzemei un Brivibai taking the office of Minister of Justice. SM