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

Head of

Head of Latvijas Cels faction Kristiana Libane informed press yesterday that the council and the faction of Latvijas Cels will ask the coalition partners to agree on uniting of three Citizenship Law amendments and simultaneously reviewing them in the Saeima. Diena

On Monday the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers a draft resolution concerning the adherence to the Protocol 6 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms about the abolishment of the death penalty. It is possible that the Cabinet of Ministers considers this draft resolution at the meeting on Tuesday.

On Monday the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers a draft resolution concerning the adherence to the Protocol 6 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms about the abolishment of the death penalty. It is possible that the Cabinet of Ministers considers this draft resolution at the meeting on Tuesday. Diena

At the interview for the Latvian Radio State President Guntis Ulmanis said that there are no grounds for not taking seriously the statements of Russian President Boris Yeltsin about the possible meeting of two presidents.

At the interview for the Latvian Radio State President Guntis Ulmanis said that there are no grounds for not taking seriously the statements of Russian President Boris Yeltsin about the possible meeting of two presidents. Diena

SM andSegodnya continues publishing opinions of readers and journalists about the Appeal of Russian intelligentsia to non-citizens to become naturalized which was published in Russian newspapers a couple of weeks ago. Abram Kleckin, professor of the Latvian University and one of the signatories of the aforementioned Appeal, tells SM about his motives behind the signing that document. According to Mr. Kleckin, the main task of the Appeal was to inform the society and to initiate the discussion about these issues, and not to make people immediately apply for the naturalization. Mr. Kleckin believes that faster non-citizens become the citizens, more quickly Latvia will become a democratic society, since more people will participate in decision-making processes. A different point of view is expressed by Oleg Goculak. He argues that the capacity of the Naturalization Board is 10,000 applications reviewed per year, subsequently, it will take 14 years for non-citizens to be able to influence the politics. Mr. Goculak sees other more effective ways of protecting the rights of non-citizens, for example, establishing a representative institution of non-citizens. Segodnyapublishes an opinion of Nikolay Kabanov who thinks that total ignorance of the social-psychology of Russians living in Latvia led the signatories of the aforementioned appeal to assume that people will apply for the naturalization. According to Mr. Kabanov, people simply do not want to bend. SM

Panorama Latvii informs its readers about the upcoming "hot line" in the editorial office on Wednesday when people will be able to call and express their opinion about the naturalization and citizenship issues.

Consul of Belorus Vladimir Gromiko informs readers of the

Consul of Belorus Vladimir Gromiko informs readers of the Panorama Latvii about the necessary documents for applying for the Belorussian citizenship.

Panorama Latviipublishes a story of Mrs. Taisija Gedz who has received an expulsion order from the Cesis DCMA due to the fact that her temporary residence permit expired a half of a year ago.

Estonian mass media has started a campaign for the protection of the rights of Estonians in the Latvian border town Valka,

Estonian mass media has started a campaign for the protection of the rights of Estonians in the Latvian border town Valka, B&B informs. The front page story of an Estonian newspaper Sonumileth says that Latvian authorities do not allow Estonian citizens residing in Latvia to cross the border as freely as before. Yesterday B&B asked the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to give some explanations concerning this issue.. Press Secretary of the Estonian MFA said that they have contacted Latvian colleagues, unfortunately it was impossible to solve the problems related with the border crossing, since the favourable regime for the border crossing existed only on the basis of oral agreements. No solutions to this issue was mentioned by the Estonian MFA. B&B

Igor Pimenov, Head of the Association Supporting Schools with Russian as the Language of Instruction, thinks that people living in Latvia should honour and know the language of the native population. Still, the education project presented by the Ministry of Education providing by the year of 2007 in national minority schools only 25% of subjects to be taught in the minority language (other subjects are to be taught in the Latvian language), promotes the assimilation of the national minorities. As one of major obstacles to implementation of such an educational program for the national minority schools is the insufficient command of the Latvian language of teachers. The proposal of the Association is to introduce into the educational programs a new subject of systematic knowledge about Latvia - geography, culture, ethnography which could be taught every day and in the Latvian language. Besides, new methods of teaching Latvian should be used in these classes.

Igor Pimenov, Head of the Association Supporting Schools with Russian as the Language of Instruction, thinks that people living in Latvia should honour and know the language of the native population. Still, the education project presented by the Ministry of Education providing by the year of 2007 in national minority schools only 25% of subjects to be taught in the minority language (other subjects are to be taught in the Latvian language), promotes the assimilation of the national minorities. As one of major obstacles to implementation of such an educational program for the national minority schools is the insufficient command of the Latvian language of teachers. The proposal of the Association is to introduce into the educational programs a new subject of systematic knowledge about Latvia - geography, culture, ethnography which could be taught every day and in the Latvian language. Besides, new methods of teaching Latvian should be used in these classes. B&B

Rita Zinas publishes an interview with Ilga Kreituse, head of the Saeima Commission on the Implementation of the Citizenship Law in which she supports the amendments concerning the granting of citizenship on the basis of outstanding service for the benefit of Latvia. According to Kreituse the quota of 50 persons per year who would receive citizenship on the aforementioned grounds, would be a normal situation. Mrs. Kreituse is against the delegating power to grant citizenship on the grounds of outstanding service to the Cabinet of Ministers, since "this should be an open process" and the candidates should be discussed in the Saeima. Rita Zinas

Jauna Avize publsihes an article about the recent conflict between head of the National Human Rights Office Mr. Olafs Bruvers and his ex-deputy Ms. Kaija Gertnere. After presenting the arguments of both sides involved into the conflict and noting how eager both sides were in presenting the discrediting documents, the newspaper concludes that the positions which will be held by persons involved into the conflict in the future, will reveal real instigators of this discord.