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

OSCE High Commissioner van der Stoel during his yesterday's meetings with Latvian President Ulmanis and the

OSCE High Commissioner van der Stoel during his yesterday's meetings with Latvian President Ulmanis and the Saeima Committee on Education and Science said that he was dissatisfied with several provisions of the draft Language Law. "The leading role of the Latvian language should be reinforced. Still, this should be done in accordance with international conventions," said the High Commissioner. He objected to the articles of the draft Law demanding mandatory use of the state language in private companies, courts, private educational institutions. Mr. van der Stoel also criticized regulations for the Latvian spelling of proper names. Chairman of the Committee on Education and Science Dzintars Abikis agreed that a compromise could be a suitable solution while President Ulmanis firmly supported the right of the Latvian people to decide the Latvian language-related issues (see below). During the meetings with the President and members of the Saeima Committees on Foreign Affairs and on Human Rights the OSCE High Commissioner expressed his concern about the low naturalization rate and suggested granting citizenship to children born in Latvia after the country regained its independence. Saeima members noted that amending the Citizenship Law would jeopardize the stability of the Cabinet. Still, they supported abolishing some of the restrictions of non-citizens' non-political rights. Mr. van der Stoel also met Head of the Human Rights Office Mr. Olafs Bruvers who stressed that the Bureau supported granting of Latvian citizenship to all children born in independent Latvia. Mr. Bruvers also pointed at the increase in the number of complaints connected with violations of social rights. Diena, PL, SM, Chas

ULMANIS ALSO STARTED DISLIKING VAN DER STOEL

ULMANIS ALSO STARTED DISLIKING VAN DER STOEL

The Latvian President believes that a threat to the Latvian Language grows with the strengthening of Latvia's independence.

The Latvian President believes that a threat to the Latvian Language grows with the strengthening of Latvia's independence.

By G.Pommere,

By G.Pommere, SM

Yesterday Mr. Guntis Ulmanis met OSCE Commissioner Max van der Stoel. According to the President's Press-Service, the agenda of the meeting included the new draft Language Law, naturalization problems and the further role of the OSCE Mission. Mr. van der Stoel gave a critical assessment of the new draft Citizenship Law. He believes that some of its provisions do not comply with international conventions. The Commissioner suggested that the country could manage with the existing Language Law while focusing more effort on the teaching of the state language. The President firmly declined such an approach stressing unacceptable discrimination of the state language in some domains that has been observed recently. Mr. Ulmanis said: "We can even see that some of those who initially intended to study the state language now do not believe it to be necessary feeling of our liberal attitude. The pressure of the Russian language is quite high while the status of the Latvian language has become weaker. We need the new law to strengthen the status, since the law currently in force was adopted during the forming of Latvia's independence." The Latvian President also touched upon the psychological aspect of the problem: "The Latvian people is often reprimanded for failing to bring certain matters in compliance with European standards. Still, in the European countries the similar laws are known to be much stricter than ours. Such persistent criticism makes the Latvian people feel as if it cannot even determine the status of is native tongue." It looks as if the OSCE Commissioner did not agree to Mr. Ulmanis' arguments and promised to provide his comments on compliance of some of the provisions of the Law with internationally recognized norms for the second reading of the document. Neither did coincide the assessments of the naturalization process given by the President and by the Commissioner. Mr. van der Stole again came up with a suggestion to grant citizenship to all children born in Latvia after it regained independence and stressed that Estonia and Latvia were the only European countries that had not made any steps toward resolving the issue of stateless children. Mr. Ulmanis responded by saying that the Commissioner's statement was incorrect and noted that granted of citizenship to children depended on many factors in other countries as well. In the end the discussion Mr. Ulmanis advised the OSCE Mission to re-orientate its activities in Latvia. The Mission should be helping Latvia to integrate non-citizens instead of endlessly criticizing it for not complying with European standards, said the President. "The OSCE Mission, said Mr. Ulmanis, could be a powerful mouthpiece calling upon non-citizens to naturalize. The Mission could make a more profound contribution to the forming of an adequate psychological climate."

Yesterday Mr. Guntis Ulmanis met OSCE Commissioner Max van der Stoel. According to the President's Press-Service, the agenda of the meeting included the new draft Language Law, naturalization problems and the further role of the OSCE Mission. Mr. van der Stoel gave a critical assessment of the new draft Citizenship Law. He believes that some of its provisions do not comply with international conventions. The Commissioner suggested that the country could manage with the existing Language Law while focusing more effort on the teaching of the state language. The President firmly declined such an approach stressing unacceptable discrimination of the state language in some domains that has been observed recently. Mr. Ulmanis said: "We can even see that some of those who initially intended to study the state language now do not believe it to be necessary feeling of our liberal attitude. The pressure of the Russian language is quite high while the status of the Latvian language has become weaker. We need the new law to strengthen the status, since the law currently in force was adopted during the forming of Latvia's independence." The Latvian President also touched upon the psychological aspect of the problem: "The Latvian people is often reprimanded for failing to bring certain matters in compliance with European standards. Still, in the European countries the similar laws are known to be much stricter than ours. Such persistent criticism makes the Latvian people feel as if it cannot even determine the status of is native tongue." It looks as if the OSCE Commissioner did not agree to Mr. Ulmanis' arguments and promised to provide his comments on compliance of some of the provisions of the Law with internationally recognized norms for the second reading of the document. Neither did coincide the assessments of the naturalization process given by the President and by the Commissioner. Mr. van der Stole again came up with a suggestion to grant citizenship to all children born in Latvia after it regained independence and stressed that Estonia and Latvia were the only European countries that had not made any steps toward resolving the issue of stateless children. Mr. Ulmanis responded by saying that the Commissioner's statement was incorrect and noted that granted of citizenship to children depended on many factors in other countries as well. In the end the discussion Mr. Ulmanis advised the OSCE Mission to re-orientate its activities in Latvia. The Mission should be helping Latvia to integrate non-citizens instead of endlessly criticizing it for not complying with European standards, said the President. "The OSCE Mission, said Mr. Ulmanis, could be a powerful mouthpiece calling upon non-citizens to naturalize. The Mission could make a more profound contribution to the forming of an adequate psychological climate." SM