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

The Deputy Chairman of

The Deputy Chairman of Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK J.Dobelis announced yesterday that not less that 170 000 people have signed the proposal for a referendum instead of the 135 000 necessary. He called these last days of the campaign mental barricades. According to TB/LNNK data within 30 days 70 000 signatures have been collected in Riga, 5230 in Tukums, 8722 in Jelgava and 7000 in Madona. Mr.Dobelis also said that the activity of people since the last signature collecting campaign in 1996 had doubled in Riga, Kurzeme, Zemgale and Vidzeme but in Latgale was still decreasing. The Chairman of TB/LNNK M.Grinblats said that the proposal would make Latvian people to view this citizenship issue in point of fact - could it be acquired with or without knowing the language. He also acknowledged that, if the referendum took place after the Saeima election, activity of people would be less. Practice shows that there is a political slackening after elections.

Minister of Foreign Affair s V.Birkavs announced yesterday that foreign countries might express their opinion on the referendum but might not doubt it because such a democratic procedure - national voting - was anticipated in the Latvian constitution.

Minister of Foreign Affair s V.Birkavs announced yesterday that foreign countries might express their opinion on the referendum but might not doubt it because such a democratic procedure - national voting - was anticipated in the Latvian constitution.

Socially Correlative Data System publishes public poll data where people have been asked about their intention to participate in the referendum. 52.6% of all citizen plan to participate, 31.3% would refrain, 16.3% have not decided yet. Answering the question what their vote would be, 38,9% would be for annulling the amendments, 32,7% - for keeping the amendments and 23.4% have not made up their mind.

Socially Correlative Data System publishes public poll data where people have been asked about their intention to participate in the referendum. 52.6% of all citizen plan to participate, 31.3% would refrain, 16.3% have not decided yet. Answering the question what their vote would be, 38,9% would be for annulling the amendments, 32,7% - for keeping the amendments and 23.4% have not made up their mind. Neatkariga, Lauku Avize, Chas, Panorama Latvii, SM, Bizness & Baltiya

Newspaper

Newspaper Diena found out that none of the most well known political parties but TB/LNNK will ask their supporters to vote at the referendum for annulling the amendments adopted by the Saeima.

Although the majority of the most popular parties consider that the referendum should be organised simultaneously with the Saeima election, it may be impossible due to uncertainties in the law. A national voting should take place no sooner that one month and no later than two months after it has been announced, but it is in the competency of the Central Election Commission to fix the date. In this case the date could be in October. As the law on national voting permits to organise it simultaneously with the Saeima election, several political parties consider it to be right to organise it on October 3 - simultaneously with the election. But there is one juridical contradiction, allowing to question the decision of the Central Election Commission to organise it simultaneously with the election or even question the result of the very referendum if it takes place simultaneously with a referendum. According to the law on national voting, a referendum shall be organised on Sunday, but if it takes place simultaneously with an election on Sunday and the Saturday before it. The Saeima recently amended the Satversme and limits the Saeima election for one day - on Saturday but not on two as it was before. There were no corresponding amendments made to the law on national voting and it caused a situation with two possible interpretations of the law.

Although the majority of the most popular parties consider that the referendum should be organised simultaneously with the Saeima election, it may be impossible due to uncertainties in the law. A national voting should take place no sooner that one month and no later than two months after it has been announced, but it is in the competency of the Central Election Commission to fix the date. In this case the date could be in October. As the law on national voting permits to organise it simultaneously with the Saeima election, several political parties consider it to be right to organise it on October 3 - simultaneously with the election. But there is one juridical contradiction, allowing to question the decision of the Central Election Commission to organise it simultaneously with the election or even question the result of the very referendum if it takes place simultaneously with a referendum. According to the law on national voting, a referendum shall be organised on Sunday, but if it takes place simultaneously with an election on Sunday and the Saturday before it. The Saeima recently amended the Satversme and limits the Saeima election for one day - on Saturday but not on two as it was before. There were no corresponding amendments made to the law on national voting and it caused a situation with two possible interpretations of the law. Diena

Tomas Alatalu, a deputy of Estonian Parliament and a member of Baltic Assembly writes about achievements of Latvian diplomacy, comparing them with Estonian ones. When speaking about establishing of an OSCE Mission in Latvia, he says that Latvian government was wise and agreed to it on two additional conditions - European part received a task to follow the withdrawal of Russian troops and the Head of the Mission had to be an American. Therefore it was not an accident that OSCE Mission repeatedly and openly sided the Latvian government against Russia’s ungrounded demands for the Baltic states.

Tomas Alatalu, a deputy of Estonian Parliament and a member of Baltic Assembly writes about achievements of Latvian diplomacy, comparing them with Estonian ones. When speaking about establishing of an OSCE Mission in Latvia, he says that Latvian government was wise and agreed to it on two additional conditions - European part received a task to follow the withdrawal of Russian troops and the Head of the Mission had to be an American. Therefore it was not an accident that OSCE Mission repeatedly and openly sided the Latvian government against Russias ungrounded demands for the Baltic states. Diena

Minister of Foreign Affairs V.Birkavs informed that a meeting of Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Nordic and Baltic countries and Russia (5+3+1) would take place in Sweden next week. This will be the first meting with a representative of Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs after a longer period of time. V.Birkavs acknowledged that no bilateral talks with Russian representative were planned, adding, “We work on that.”

Minister of Foreign Affairs V.Birkavs informed that a meeting of Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Nordic and Baltic countries and Russia (5+3+1) would take place in Sweden next week. This will be the first meting with a representative of Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs after a longer period of time. V.Birkavs acknowledged that no bilateral talks with Russian representative were planned, adding, We work on that. Jauna Avize, SM

Bizness & Baltiya

informs about the visit of OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel to Latvia that will take place from August 24 to 26. He and a team of experts will examine the laws on education and language. informs about the visit of OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel to Latvia that will take place from August 24 to 26. He and a team of experts will examine the laws on education and language.