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 Review

Russian President Yeltsin decreed to start negotiations on the establishment of Russian military bases on the territory of the CIS countries and Latvia for the purpose of the strengthening of the security of Russia and the aforementioned states on April 5. The State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr.Maris Riekstins invited Russian Ambassador Mr.Aleksandr Rannikh to the Ministry to provide explanations on the statement by Mr.Yeltsin. The Parliament Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr.Martins Virsis stressed that the statement contradicts the initialled agreements on troop withdrawal. He also informed the press that he had contacted Mr.S.Zotov in Moscow who had failed to give any comments on the statement and "gave a nervous laughter". Later Mr.Virsis' assistants could not reach Mr.Zotov on the phone. The extraordinary meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers was held on April 6. The meeting evaluated Mr.Yeltsin's statement as a manifestation of unwillingness of the Russian Federation to sign the agreements. Latvian Government stated that Latvia will not agree under any conditions to the deployment of foreign military bases on the territory of Latvia. Prime-Minister Birkavs said that the Government expected certain actions on the part of Russia to be taken to provoke the cancellation of the agreement. Still, no-one expected such steps to be taken by President Yeltsin. Minister of Economics Mr.Ojars Kehirs pointed at the fact that economical sanctions against Latvia had been introduced by Russia immediately after March 15.

Russian President Yeltsin decreed to start negotiations on the establishment of Russian military bases on the territory of the CIS countries and Latvia for the purpose of the strengthening of the security of Russia and the aforementioned states on April 5. The State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr.Maris Riekstins invited Russian Ambassador Mr.Aleksandr Rannikh to the Ministry to provide explanations on the statement by Mr.Yeltsin. The Parliament Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr.Martins Virsis stressed that the statement contradicts the initialled agreements on troop withdrawal. He also informed the press that he had contacted Mr.S.Zotov in Moscow who had failed to give any comments on the statement and "gave a nervous laughter". Later Mr.Virsis' assistants could not reach Mr.Zotov on the phone. The extraordinary meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers was held on April 6. The meeting evaluated Mr.Yeltsin's statement as a manifestation of unwillingness of the Russian Federation to sign the agreements. Latvian Government stated that Latvia will not agree under any conditions to the deployment of foreign military bases on the territory of Latvia. Prime-Minister Birkavs said that the Government expected certain actions on the part of Russia to be taken to provoke the cancellation of the agreement. Still, no-one expected such steps to be taken by President Yeltsin. Minister of Economics Mr.Ojars Kehirs pointed at the fact that economical sanctions against Latvia had been introduced by Russia immediately after March 15. Diena, Labrit

According to "Panorama" TV Programme President Ulmanis tried to contact Commander of the Army Group Mayorov and the Russian President administration regarding the Statement by Mr.Yeltsin but failed.

According to "Panorama" TV Programme President Ulmanis tried to contact Commander of the Army Group Mayorov and the Russian President administration regarding the Statement by Mr.Yeltsin but failed. Labrit

The "LABRIT" newspaper Moscow office tried to clear up the situation concerning the statement by President Yeltsin. Russian President's Office, the Ministry of Defence, and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs failed to produce any clear explanations regarding the statement by President Yeltsin. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs recommended to wait for the official statement by the President's Press Secretary Mr.Vyacheslav Kostikov to be issued on April 7. According to the Chief of the Russian Armed Forces Staff Mikhail Kolyesnikov Russia needs 30 military bases to be deployed in the CIS countries and Latvia.

The "LABRIT" newspaper Moscow office tried to clear up the situation concerning the statement by President Yeltsin. Russian President's Office, the Ministry of Defence, and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs failed to produce any clear explanations regarding the statement by President Yeltsin. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs recommended to wait for the official statement by the President's Press Secretary Mr.Vyacheslav Kostikov to be issued on April 7. According to the Chief of the Russian Armed Forces Staff Mikhail Kolyesnikov Russia needs 30 military bases to be deployed in the CIS countries and Latvia. Labrit