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

On April 7 the Ambassador of Russia to Latvia stated that the decree by the President Yeltsin was a "technical" but not a political error and apologized for it. State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia Maris Riekstins pointed out that the Ambassador's explanation did not cancel the decree. He also said he was puzzled by the fact that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had refused to admit its participation in the preparation of the Presidents statement. Mr.Rannih suggested that the reason for the fax copy to reach the Latvian Government so quickly could be the participation of certain subversive forces intending to hamper the agreement between the two countries. Same thought was expressed by Mr.Maris Riekstins. Latvian Ambassador to Sweden Mr.Gross said that he had received the information about Mr.Koziryev referring to the document as "a strange copy but not an original." The Deputy-Head of the "Latvijas Cels" fraction Mr.Indulis Berzins said that the situation created by the decree on military bases did not allow the signing of the agreements without additional negotiations held by the representatives of the two parties. He also noted that the information on the "technical" error would not provide any additional confidence unless confirmed by President Yeltsin. The Chairman of the Saema Commission for International Affairs Mr.Aleksandrs Kirsteins told the journalists that it was typical of the Russian Government to distribute inadequate statements for the purpose of observing the international response and later to claim such statements to be invalid. He also objected against the signing of the agreement on pensioned officers and stressed that USA, Great Britain, and Russia should be responsible for the solution of this problem as well as the problem of immigrants from the USSR since it were the three countries that had determined the post-war destiny of Latvia.

On April 7 the Ambassador of Russia to Latvia stated that the decree by the President Yeltsin was a "technical" but not a political error and apologized for it. State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia Maris Riekstins pointed out that the Ambassador's explanation did not cancel the decree. He also said he was puzzled by the fact that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had refused to admit its participation in the preparation of the Presidents statement. Mr.Rannih suggested that the reason for the fax copy to reach the Latvian Government so quickly could be the participation of certain subversive forces intending to hamper the agreement between the two countries. Same thought was expressed by Mr.Maris Riekstins. Latvian Ambassador to Sweden Mr.Gross said that he had received the information about Mr.Koziryev referring to the document as "a strange copy but not an original." The Deputy-Head of the "Latvijas Cels" fraction Mr.Indulis Berzins said that the situation created by the decree on military bases did not allow the signing of the agreements without additional negotiations held by the representatives of the two parties. He also noted that the information on the "technical" error would not provide any additional confidence unless confirmed by President Yeltsin. The Chairman of the Saema Commission for International Affairs Mr.Aleksandrs Kirsteins told the journalists that it was typical of the Russian Government to distribute inadequate statements for the purpose of observing the international response and later to claim such statements to be invalid. He also objected against the signing of the agreement on pensioned officers and stressed that USA, Great Britain, and Russia should be responsible for the solution of this problem as well as the problem of immigrants from the USSR since it were the three countries that had determined the post-war destiny of Latvia. Diena, Labrit

The "Latvijas Cels" fraction has issued a statement on the decree by President Yeltsin. The statement says that it is evident that certain forces in the governing bodies of Russia are interested in preserving the Russian military presence in Latvia.

The "Latvijas Cels" fraction has issued a statement on the decree by President Yeltsin. The statement says that it is evident that certain forces in the governing bodies of Russia are interested in preserving the Russian military presence in Latvia. Labrit

"Tevzemei un Brivibai" fraction adopted a statement on the decree by the Russian President containg strong objections against the agreements. Its leader Maris Grinbalts called the initialled agreement on retired servicemen "a political suicide."

"Tevzemei un Brivibai" fraction adopted a statement on the decree by the Russian President containg strong objections against the agreements. Its leader Maris Grinbalts called the initialled agreement on retired servicemen "a political suicide." Labrit

According to the former "BALTIYSKAYA GAZETA" corespondent in Moscow who is currently working for the "Al Khayat" newspaper he was told in the Ministry of Defence that the error in Yeltsin's decree appeared due to the differences in terminology used by the Ministry of Defence and the one used by diplomats regarding the Skrunda radar station. The Ministry documents use the term "miliary base" while other document refer to the radar as a "military facility."

According to the former "BALTIYSKAYA GAZETA" corespondent in Moscow who is currently working for the "Al Khayat" newspaper he was told in the Ministry of Defence that the error in Yeltsin's decree appeared due to the differences in terminology used by the Ministry of Defence and the one used by diplomats regarding the Skrunda radar station. The Ministry documents use the term "miliary base" while other document refer to the radar as a "military facility." Baltiskaya Gazeta

On April 6 the Latvian Socialist Party and the "Equal Rights" movement officially protested against the Law on "On Election Campaigns on the Radio and Television" adopted by the Saema. The Law requires that election campaigns in electronic media and election campagn materials should use only the Latvian language. Both parties consider the Law to be a violation of the UN Declaration on Human Rights and the Article of the Latvian Constitution on the Rights and the Duties of an Individual and a Citizen. They requested President Ulmanis to ask the Saema to reconsider the Law in accordance with Article 71 of "Satversme."

On April 6 the Latvian Socialist Party and the "Equal Rights" movement officially protested against the Law on "On Election Campaigns on the Radio and Television" adopted by the Saema. The Law requires that election campaigns in electronic media and election campagn materials should use only the Latvian language. Both parties consider the Law to be a violation of the UN Declaration on Human Rights and the Article of the Latvian Constitution on the Rights and the Duties of an Individual and a Citizen. They requested President Ulmanis to ask the Saema to reconsider the Law in accordance with Article 71 of "Satversme." Vakara Zinas