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

Yesterday, the Saeima supported the amendments to the Law on Citizenship in the second reading but postponed the adoption for the third reading. These amendments, fully corresponding to the OSCE recommendations, were not adopted because

Yesterday, the Saeima supported the amendments to the Law on Citizenship in the second reading but postponed the adoption for the third reading. These amendments, fully corresponding to the OSCE recommendations, were not adopted because Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK and a part of two more factions were against the status of urgency. The final adoption is still possible till June 24. The deputies of Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK tried to prevent the consideration of the amendments speaking about them during debates as forced and endangering the Latvian nation. The Chairman of this faction M.Grinblats told Diena that Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK planned to propose for the third reading a proposal that would not allow to grant citizenship to the children of non-citizens without the Latvian language knowledge test. Diena, Neatkariga, Jauna Avize, Rita Zinas, Rigas Balss, Bizness & Baltiya, SM, Panorama Latvii

The State President expressed his doubt about capability of the government to co-operate during the remaining months till the next elections because

The State President expressed his doubt about capability of the government to co-operate during the remaining months till the next elections because Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK was opposing the government concerning the citizenship issue. The Chairman of this faction M.Grinblats acknowledged that it would be difficult for the coalition to co-operate, but it had no sense to form a new government . Diena, Neatkariga, Rita Zinas, Chas, SM, Panorama Latvii

International society will have a negative opinion of the decision of Latvian Saeima to postpone the final adoption of the Law on Citizenship, Minister of Foreign Affairs V.Birkavs informed

Diena. He pointed out that both EU, USA and EC had clearly voiced their support to a quick solution of the problem with children of non-citizens. The Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed its disappointment for this postponement. Diena has information that there will be no meeting of the Latvian Prime Minister G.Krasts with the US State Secretary M.Albright. Although some sources connect this fact with unwillingness to adopt the amendments, the Latvian Ambassador to the USA O.Kalnins assured Diena that this meeting had just been postponed for Monday. US Ambassador to Latvia L.Napper and the Acting Head of the EC Delegation to Latvia G.Barrett have refused the expression of the Prime Minister G.Krasts that US and EC representatives agreed to the fact that consideration of the problem of children with no citizenship would be postponed till autumn. Both the USA and EC call for doing it in the nearest future. Diena, Bizness & Baltiya, Chas

During a direct line organised by Russian newspaper

Chas on the problem of teaching some subject in the Latvian language at Russian schools. None of the respondents rejected the idea that they should know this language but all of them wanted Math, Chemistry, Geography and Physics be taught in their mother tongue.