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 State President Guntis Ulmanis announced the suspension of the promulgation of the Citizenship Law amendments. At the same time, he said that the necessity to have referendum is not well substantiated. According to the State President, the Tevzemei un Brivibai/ LNNK exploits the pre-election situation by using the populism. The Prime Minister Guntars Krasts has a different opinion concerning the referendum. According to Mr. Krasts, the referendum is needed, since Latvia experiments on the European level, and it is necessary to know the popular opinion,” "We have to think how far we can go. The international institutions, first of all the OSCE, have not told that these amendments will be the last requirement," Mr. Krasts told the press.

Yesterday the State President Guntis Ulmanis announced the suspension of the promulgation of the Citizenship Law amendments. At the same time, he said that the necessity to have referendum is not well substantiated. According to the State President, the Tevzemei un Brivibai/ LNNK exploits the pre-election situation by using the populism. The Prime Minister Guntars Krasts has a different opinion concerning the referendum. According to Mr. Krasts, the referendum is needed, since Latvia experiments on the European level, and it is necessary to know the popular opinion, "We have to think how far we can go. The international institutions, first of all the OSCE, have not told that these amendments will be the last requirement," Mr. Krasts told the press. Diena, Neatkariga, Chas

Yesterday after considering the reports of the Director of the National Human Rights Office and the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to consider the performance of Mr. Olafs Bruvers, Director of the NHRO, as poor. By 7 July the State Chancellery should prepare the draft resolution concerning the Mr. Bruvers’ incompatibility with the post of the NHRO Director.

Yesterday after considering the reports of the Director of the National Human Rights Office and the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to consider the performance of Mr. Olafs Bruvers, Director of the NHRO, as poor. By 7 July the State Chancellery should prepare the draft resolution concerning the Mr. Bruvers incompatibility with the post of the NHRO Director. Diena, Neatkariga

The official representative of the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry Vladimir Rahmanin expressed the deep concern about the situation with the implementation of the recommendations in human rights sphere in Latvia. The Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry hopes that the wisdom of the Latvian nation will not let national populists to draw the country into a dangerous game.

The official representative of the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry Vladimir Rahmanin expressed the deep concern about the situation with the implementation of the recommendations in human rights sphere in Latvia. The Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry hopes that the wisdom of the Latvian nation will not let national populists to draw the country into a dangerous game. Diena, Jauna Avize

Starting July 1 non-citizens who have left Latvia for the CIS countries, will not be able to return to Latvia with the interior passports of the former USSR. They will need to receive either the non-citizen passports or the return certificates from the Latvian representations in abroad. The Consular Department of the Foreign Affairs Ministry does not have information that somebody has already applied for the non-citizen passport or the return certificate at any of the Latvian representations in abroad.

Starting July 1 non-citizens who have left Latvia for the CIS countries, will not be able to return to Latvia with the interior passports of the former USSR. They will need to receive either the non-citizen passports or the return certificates from the Latvian representations in abroad. The Consular Department of the Foreign Affairs Ministry does not have information that somebody has already applied for the non-citizen passport or the return certificate at any of the Latvian representations in abroad. Diena

Deputy Chair of the

Deputy Chair of the Tevzemei un Brivibai/ LNNK Janis Straume told DIENA that the TB/LNNK will submit its proposals for the amendments to the Satversme (Constitution) which would require the Latvian citizens know the Latvian language. The Legal Commission will start considering the proposals for the amendments to the Satversme in the second reading at the beginning of August. Diena

Starting 1 July the Russian Ministry of Transportation terminates the reduced tariffs for the freight transportation to and from Latvia. Andrejs Pildegovics, the Press Secretary of the Latvian Foreign Affairs Ministry, told the press that this decision of the Russian government can be considered as the continuation of the Russian economical pressure. According to Mr. Pildegovics, the Latvian MFA is ready to inform the World Trade Organization and the EU about these " unilateral discriminatory undertakings" by Russia.

Starting 1 July the Russian Ministry of Transportation terminates the reduced tariffs for the freight transportation to and from Latvia. Andrejs Pildegovics, the Press Secretary of the Latvian Foreign Affairs Ministry, told the press that this decision of the Russian government can be considered as the continuation of the Russian economical pressure. According to Mr. Pildegovics, the Latvian MFA is ready to inform the World Trade Organization and the EU about these " unilateral discriminatory undertakings" by Russia. Diena, Jauna Avize, B&B

Approaching the 31st of August when the term for the operation of the Skrunda Radar Station expires, Russian military representatives express more and more concerns that Russia might be left without a radar westwards. There have been some talks in the Russian Ministry of Defence that the aggravation of the Latvian-Russian relations negatively influence the situation. Otherwise,according to some of the military representatives, it would have been possible to extend the Skrunda agreement for at least four to five years. The Ministry has not officially addressed the government with proposals concerning Skrunda.

Approaching the 31st of August when the term for the operation of the Skrunda Radar Station expires, Russian military representatives express more and more concerns that Russia might be left without a radar westwards. There have been some talks in the Russian Ministry of Defence that the aggravation of the Latvian-Russian relations negatively influence the situation. Otherwise,according to some of the military representatives, it would have been possible to extend the Skrunda agreement for at least four to five years. The Ministry has not officially addressed the government with proposals concerning Skrunda. Diena

Yesterday the Riga District Court had to consider 13 cases concerning the deprivation of the Latvian citizenship. 

Yesterday the Riga District Court had to consider 13 cases concerning the deprivation of the Latvian citizenship.Neatkariga publishes background of several cases, some of which were postponed due to various reasons.

Today the expert group which was formed in April 1998 for the preparation of the draft social integration program, will submit its project to the Cabinet of Ministers. As the head of the expert group Olgerts Tipans told the press, this project is only beginning of the extensive integration program.

Today the expert group which was formed in April 1998 for the preparation of the draft social integration program, will submit its project to the Cabinet of Ministers. As the head of the expert group Olgerts Tipans told the press, this project is only beginning of the extensive integration program. Neatkariga

Yesterday the government formed a special work group which will deal with the organizational issues of the formation of the united Latvian -Estonian border check point in Valka. The Deputy Head of the State Border Guards is appointed to head the work group.

Yesterday the government formed a special work group which will deal with the organizational issues of the formation of the united Latvian -Estonian border check point in Valka. The Deputy Head of the State Border Guards is appointed to head the work group. Neatkariga

Neatkarigapublishes a letter of the Saeima deputies Mr. Janis Lagzdins and Mr. Dzintars Abikisin which they criticize the amendments to the Citizenship law for their lack of the requirement for the language knowledge when granting citizenship to children. They express the hope that "regardless of all advice from commissars, Latvia will adopt good language law.

By presenting facts and arguments concerning some of the widespread opinions used for the substantiation of the need for the referendum, the

By presenting facts and arguments concerning some of the widespread opinions used for the substantiation of the need for the referendum, the Diena in Russian invites the readers to the discussion on the citizenship issues.