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

Press Review

Yesterday at the press conference the Swedish Foreign Affairs Minister Lena Hjelm-Vallen said that the decision of the Saeima to observe the OSCE recommendations for amendments in the Citizenship Law would considerably help Latvia in its way to the European Union. The Minister emphasized that the observance of the EU norms are in Latvia's interests. She believes that the Saeima sooner or later will decide on supporting of the governmental recommendations.

Yesterday at the press conference the Swedish Foreign Affairs Minister Lena Hjelm-Vallen said that the decision of the Saeima to observe the OSCE recommendations for amendments in the Citizenship Law would considerably help Latvia in its way to the European Union. The Minister emphasized that the observance of the EU norms are in Latvia's interests. She believes that the Saeima sooner or later will decide on supporting of the governmental recommendations. Diena, Rita Zinas, B&B

Dienajournalists in Moscow Anna Stroja and Pavel Shirov analyze a book Basics of the Geopolitics. Future of the Russian Geopolitics by Alexander Dugin, a founder of the national Bolshevik party. According to the foreword, the book is the first text book on geopolitics published in Russian, and serves as a good information source for those who make decisions in important spheres of the Russian politics - lawyers, economists, diplomats, analysts, politicians. According to the author, objectives of the Russia's geopolitics are standing up against the Atlantic superpower and creation of a new Eurasian empire. Baltic states, Poland, Moldova and the Ukraine are called "sanitary corridor", and the Russian politicians are advised to act, so that the temporary illusions of these countries about the potential independence from the geopolitically influential neighbours, would be dispersed. Director of the Estonian Institute of the Social Economics Juhan Sillaste thinks that this kind of ideas hinder the integration processes in the Baltic. Diena

Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has submitted the Latvian MFA a diplomatic note with a request to activate the talks of both countries about the finalizing the sea border.

Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has submitted the Latvian MFA a diplomatic note with a request to activate the talks of both countries about the finalizing the sea border. Diena

Council of the State Auditor's Office will carry out a final decision on the results of the audit in the National Human Rights Office on June 3.

Council of the State Auditor's Office will carry out a final decision on the results of the audit in the National Human Rights Office on June 3. Diena

Rita Zinas asked several popular persons to answer the question whether Russia cares about the Russian in Latvia. Vice President of the Russian Community in Latvia Boris Borisov positively evaluated Russia's decision to protect the interests of the Russian speaking people in Latvia. At the same time, he said that there has not been any real assistance from the Russian side. Head of the Russian Cultural Center of Latvia Jury Abizov thinks that rights of the Russian speaking population in Latvia are poorly observed in Latvia, and Russia cannot help solve these problems. Mr. Abizov attributes the Russia's sudden reaction to human rights violations in Latvia as incompetence of the Russian officials. Rita Zinas

Regular meeting of the Saeima Commission on Implementation of the Citizenship Law is scheduled for 4 June. Yesterday the Commission sent a letter to the Prime Minister with a request to ensure the presence of the Minister of the Interior at the meeting. The Minister of the Interior did not show up at two previous meetings of the Commission.

Regular meeting of the Saeima Commission on Implementation of the Citizenship Law is scheduled for 4 June. Yesterday the Commission sent a letter to the Prime Minister with a request to ensure the presence of the Minister of the Interior at the meeting. The Minister of the Interior did not show up at two previous meetings of the Commission. Chas

SM interviews the leader of the Latvijas Cels Party Andrejs Pantelejevs. On the question about the government forming faction agreement on the Citizenship Law amendments, Andrejs Pantelejevs said that the Tevzemei un Brivibai formally follows the agreement, but essentially some departure from the undertaken obligations is being observed, and the Latvijas Cels is carefully following the development of the situation. At the same time Andrejs Pantelejevs assured that the adoption of the Citizenship Law amendments is the priority of the Latvijas Cels.

SM publishes an article about a text book of the Latvian language for the schools with other language of instruction, which was prepared by the National Program for Latvian Language Training. Aija Priedite, Head of the Program, believes that the main idea of text books is to form a positive view on life and one's own surroundings.