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

Press Report

On Monday the Saeima adopted the Citizenship Law amendments according to the OSCE recommendations. Forty-nine deputies from the

On Monday the Saeima adopted the Citizenship Law amendments according to the OSCE recommendations. Forty-nine deputies from the Latvijas Cels, Democratic Party Saimnieks, the Latvian Farmer Union/Christian Democratic Union, People's Harmony Party, National Reform Party/Green Party, and some independent deputies supported the amendments. The deputies of the Tevzemei un Brivibai/ LNNK voted against or abstained. After the session the Tevzemei un Brivibai/ LNNK decided to use the rights set by Article 72 of the Satversme (Constitution) and ask the State President suspend the promulgation of the law for a period of two months. According to the Constitution, the President shall suspend the promulgation of the law at the request of not less than one-third of the members of the Saeima. These rights shall be exercised within 7 days after the adoption of the law. The law thus suspended, shall be submitted to a referendum, if not less than one-tenth of the electors so request. The referendum shall not be taken, however, if the Saeima puts this law to a vote once more and if then not less than three-fourths of all the members are in favour of the adoption. According to the information at the disposal of Diena, the necessary signatures of one-third of the deputies have been canvassed and the request will be submitted to the State President within 7 days. Vladlen Dozorcev, Deputy of the People's Harmony Party, told Panorama Latvii that he does not believe in possibilities of the Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK to get signatures of the one-tenth of the electors. Still, the party will use it as a free-of -charge political campaign before the elections. Dienaasked the State President to evaluate the initiative to suspend the promulgation of the law. Mr. Ulmanis said that Latvia is the parliamentary state in which the laws are observed. At the moment he was pleased with the Saeima decision. At the session the major debate was about the command of the Latvian language. B&B, Neatkariga, Lauku Avize

The United States and the European Union welcomed the Citizenship Law amendments adopted by the Saeima on Monday. The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Max van der Stoel believes that the basic statements of his recommendations were taken into account when adopting the amendments. In his statement for the press, Max van der Stoel says that when this law comes into force, the main elements of his recommendations concerning the citizenship and naturalization will be fulfilled. At the same time, the Russian Ministry of the Foreign Affairs thinks that the adopted amendments to the Citizenship Law are only correction of undemocratic laws. Vitaliy Markov, an official representative of the Russian MFA, spoke positively about the elimination of the naturalization windows. Still, he said that the adopted amendments do not correspond fully with the OSCE High Commissioner's recommendations. "The granting of citizenship to children born after August 1991 is connected with many requirements. "

The United States and the European Union welcomed the Citizenship Law amendments adopted by the Saeima on Monday. The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Max van der Stoel believes that the basic statements of his recommendations were taken into account when adopting the amendments. In his statement for the press, Max van der Stoel says that when this law comes into force, the main elements of his recommendations concerning the citizenship and naturalization will be fulfilled. At the same time, the Russian Ministry of the Foreign Affairs thinks that the adopted amendments to the Citizenship Law are only correction of undemocratic laws. Vitaliy Markov, an official representative of the Russian MFA, spoke positively about the elimination of the naturalization windows. Still, he said that the adopted amendments do not correspond fully with the OSCE High Commissioner's recommendations. "The granting of citizenship to children born after August 1991 is connected with many requirements. " Diena

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the decision recently adopted by the Saeima to promulgate 16 March as the Commemoration Day of the Latvian soldiers.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the decision recently adopted by the Saeima to promulgate 16 March as the Commemoration Day of the Latvian soldiers. Diena, Panorama Latvii

Leader of the Latvijas Cels Andrejs Pantelejevs told press on Monday that the Krasts governments has lost the confidence, and exists not as a political unit but a technical cabinet. At the same time, Mr. Pantelejevs said that there is no point in calling for the vote of confidence a couple of months before the elections.

Leader of the Latvijas Cels Andrejs Pantelejevs told press on Monday that the Krasts governments has lost the confidence, and exists not as a political unit but a technical cabinet. At the same time, Mr. Pantelejevs said that there is no point in calling for the vote of confidence a couple of months before the elections. Diena

Sergey Zaletayev, a journalist of

Sergey Zaletayev, a journalist of Panorama Latvii, analyzes the Citizenship Law amendments adopted by the Saeima on Monday. According to Mr. Zaletayev. the provision of the Article 3.1. requiring the applicant for the citizenship to submit the document about the education in the Latvian school or to pass the exam of the Latvian language contradicts the recommendations of the OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel. Besides, the Article 3.1. has the provision which was not included in the draft submitted to the High Commissioner for the approval, namely the stipulation stating that the person can use the rights of this Article until the reaching of the age of 18 years. After that, he/she has to undergo the general procedure of the naturalization. According to Mr. Zaletayev, such "amateur performance" should provoke Mr. Stoel to protest, since the OSCE insists on the granting citizenship to the children born after 21 August 1991 without any requirements and examinations.