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

Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers that Latvian - Estonian agreement on eased border crossing for people living in regions next to the border should be concluded urgently. Estonian part also expressed its interest in concluding this agreement. The Valka - Valga problem was discussed by Latvian MFA State Secretary M.Riekstins and Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs T.H.Ilves in Luxembourg last Friday. The agreement has not been considered in details, but the MFA is working on it and follows the activities of experts.

Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers that Latvian - Estonian agreement on eased border crossing for people living in regions next to the border should be concluded urgently. Estonian part also expressed its interest in concluding this agreement. The Valka - Valga problem was discussed by Latvian MFA State Secretary M.Riekstins and Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs T.H.Ilves in Luxembourg last Friday. The agreement has not been considered in details, but the MFA is working on it and follows the activities of experts. Neatkariga

On the last day of his visit to Helsinki, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Y.Primakov urged Latvia to accept OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel’s recommendations on citizenship issues. Only after this Latvian step a new era could start in Latvian - Russian relationship. “Now the ball in on the side of Latvian government.”

On the last day of his visit to Helsinki, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Y.Primakov urged Latvia to accept OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoels recommendations on citizenship issues. Only after this Latvian step a new era could start in Latvian - Russian relationship. Now the ball in on the side of Latvian government.

Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs T.Halonen also announced that Finland supported the recommendations of OSCE High Commissioner. But she added that Finland understood the position of a small nation and appealed to Russia not to put any additional demands for Latvia that could turn out to be “the last straw to break the camel’s back”.

Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs T.Halonen also announced that Finland supported the recommendations of OSCE High Commissioner. But she added that Finland understood the position of a small nation and appealed to Russia not to put any additional demands for Latvia that could turn out to be the last straw to break the camels back. Diena, Rita Zinas, Jauna Avize, Bizness & Baltiya, Chas, Panorama Latvii

Ceg od n q publishes a large article of V.Altuxov on the Naturalisation process in Latvia and its financial part. The author states that Naturalisation fee of 30 lats is not the only expense, and the whole process would cost five times as much. When speaking about the process as such, he analyses the historical experience of Austro-Hungarian Empire, Czechoslovakia and re-union of Germany stating that all residents of those countries automatically received citizenship of the newly established state. Touching upon the problem of nationalities, Mr.Altuhov assures that there were no discrimination of the Latvian nation during Soviet times.

Ceg od n q publishes a large article of V.Altuxov on the Naturalisation process in Latvia and its financial part. The author states that Naturalisation fee of 30 lats is not the only expense, and the whole process would cost five times as much. When speaking about the process as such, he analyses the historical experience of Austro-Hungarian Empire, Czechoslovakia and re-union of Germany stating that all residents of those countries automatically received citizenship of the newly established state. Touching upon the problem of nationalities, Mr.Altuhov assures that there were no discrimination of the Latvian nation during Soviet times.

The same newspaper explains what Latvian passports are valid for going abroad and fot which countries.

The same newspaper explains what Latvian passports are valid for going abroad and fot which countries. Ceg od n q

UN Special Speaker on Human Rights A.Eide considers that non-citizens of Estonia and Latvia should receive citizenship as soon as possible. He voiced this opinion at a press briefing in Geneva. He stressed that if Latvian and Estonia authorities did not want to grant citizenship immediately then they should at least speed up the Naturalisation process and not create additional superfluous obstacles.

UN Special Speaker on Human Rights A.Eide considers that non-citizens of Estonia and Latvia should receive citizenship as soon as possible. He voiced this opinion at a press briefing in Geneva. He stressed that if Latvian and Estonia authorities did not want to grant citizenship immediately then they should at least speed up the Naturalisation process and not create additional superfluous obstacles. Bizness & Baltiya, Panorama Latvii

Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs V.Birkavs, addressing the Saeima, told the MPs that the fate of Latvia was in their hands Latvia should keep its face in front of the international community. He described the consequences that would face Latvia if they made the “wrong vote” - i.e. voted for their draft but not for the government’s one.

Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs V.Birkavs, addressing the Saeima, told the MPs that the fate of Latvia was in their hands Latvia should keep its face in front of the international community. He described the consequences that would face Latvia if they made the wrong vote - i.e. voted for their draft but not for the governments one. Bizness & Baltiya, Chas,

The same newspaper characterises the situation with Valka - Valga problem looking at it from the point of view of people living on Savienibas (Union) street connecting these two towns and now blocked by the border.

The same newspaper characterises the situation with Valka - Valga problem looking at it from the point of view of people living on Savienibas (Union) street connecting these two towns and now blocked by the border. Bizness & Baltiya

“It is possible that Latvia could find itself in an international isolation,” these are the words of the Head of Saeima Human Rights Commission A.Seiksts said about the vote of June 4 on the amendments to the Law on Citizenship according to the OSCE recommendations.

It is possible that Latvia could find itself in an international isolation, these are the words of the Head of Saeima Human Rights Commission A.Seiksts said about the vote of June 4 on the amendments to the Law on Citizenship according to the OSCE recommendations. SM has doubts about a positive vote and gives its reasons for it by describing the activities of the faction Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK and the Prime Minister G.Krasts. SM

There are some institutions along with DCMA that have more job to do due to the issuing of non-citizen passports. One of them is the Consultative Service at the Institute Latvian language at the Academy of Sciences. It is the last instance to solve disputes between DCMA and non-citizens concerning spelling of their names in the Latvian language in their passports. The head of this Consultative Service M.Stengrevica explained that there should not be many complains about it because no changes in the rules of spelling foreign names in the Latvian language had taken place. The problem was that DCMA officials dealing with this were not enough competent.

There are some institutions along with DCMA that have more job to do due to the issuing of non-citizen passports. One of them is the Consultative Service at the Institute Latvian language at the Academy of Sciences. It is the last instance to solve disputes between DCMA and non-citizens concerning spelling of their names in the Latvian language in their passports. The head of this Consultative Service M.Stengrevica explained that there should not be many complains about it because no changes in the rules of spelling foreign names in the Latvian language had taken place. The problem was that DCMA officials dealing with this were not enough competent. Panorama Latvii