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

August 31 is the last day of Skrunda Radar station operation and it will be closed down in the presence of Latvian authorised representative E.Skuja. It is planned that Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs V.Birkavs, the Ambassador of Russian Federation A.Udaltsov and representatives of Russian AF will be there. Experts, questioned by journalist, affirmed that Russia followed all its obligations. After the Radar is closed down, the fact will be checked by OSCE experts. The first Deputy of the Commander-in Chief of Russian Strategic Missile forces V.Muravyov had already announced that closing down of Skrunda Radar station would cause problems for Russia to defend its territory from possible missile attack from North-west direction.

August 31 is the last day of Skrunda Radar station operation and it will be closed down in the presence of Latvian authorised representative E.Skuja. It is planned that Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs V.Birkavs, the Ambassador of Russian Federation A.Udaltsov and representatives of Russian AF will be there. Experts, questioned by journalist, affirmed that Russia followed all its obligations. After the Radar is closed down, the fact will be checked by OSCE experts. The first Deputy of the Commander-in Chief of Russian Strategic Missile forces V.Muravyov had already announced that closing down of Skrunda Radar station would cause problems for Russia to defend its territory from possible missile attack from North-west direction. Neatkariga, Diena, Jauna Avize, Chas (28.08.98), Bizness & Baltiya

State President G.Ulmanis addressed the nation in connection with closing down Skrunda Radar station and called it a day when the last units of a alien army is leaving Latvia. He characterised Russia’s activities during closing down period as very correct and had a high opinion on them. He thanked all those Latvian officials, people and diplomats of the democratic world who favoured this event.

State President G.Ulmanis addressed the nation in connection with closing down Skrunda Radar station and called it a day when the last units of a alien army is leaving Latvia. He characterised Russias activities during closing down period as very correct and had a high opinion on them. He thanked all those Latvian officials, people and diplomats of the democratic world who favoured this event. Diena

Diena

publishes Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK representative M.Grinblats explanation of TB/LNNK policy concerning the amendments to the Law on Citizenship. The party considers that it is not possible to admit some group of non-citizens to the Latvian citizenship with no Latvian language test and at the same time stresses the necessity to make essential changes to the education and language law, maybe even amending the Law on Citizenship. What concerns the attitude of other states and international organisations, they should respect the decision of the nation. The party is ready to advertise its position during the pre-election period. The Committee of the Cabinet of Ministers has accepted several draft laws concerning the concept of development of DCMA. It anticipates handing over several functions of the Department to the Naturalisation Board that is under the Ministry of Justice from January 1, 1999. The draft law “Amendments to the law on changes in the name, family name and nationality record” anticipates to hand over the function of recording person’s nationality, so far carried out by DCMA to the Registry Office. The Ministry of Finance acknowledged in its report that for realising these new functions Naturalisation Board would need about 60 000 LVL.

The Committee of the Cabinet of Ministers has accepted several draft laws concerning the concept of development of DCMA. It anticipates handing over several functions of the Department to the Naturalisation Board that is under the Ministry of Justice from January 1, 1999. The draft law Amendments to the law on changes in the name, family name and nationality record anticipates to hand over the function of recording persons nationality, so far carried out by DCMA to the Registry Office. The Ministry of Finance acknowledged in its report that for realising these new functions Naturalisation Board would need about 60 000 LVL. Diena

Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK

has nominated its candidates to the Cabinet of Ministers and calls citizen of Latvia to vote against the amendments to the Law on Citizenship because they do not encourage the interest of non-citizens to master the Latvian language and wish to integrate into the society, and they threaten establishing of a national state. TB/LNNK representatives acknowledge that it is necessary to create such conditions that would make leaning of the Latvian language unavoidable for all people residing in Latvia, make Latvian foreign policy more active, ensuring observing the interests of the nation, with democratic means support emigration of those Latvian residents to their ethnic fatherland who can not or do not wish to integrate in the Latvian society. Neatkariga, Diena, Jauna Avize

To explain to non-Latvians residing in Latvia the development processes and tendencies of this country, the organisation

To explain to non-Latvians residing in Latvia the development processes and tendencies of this country, the organisation Union of Citizens and Non-citizens has published 5 booklets that, basing on official historic documents show different states of the development of Latvian society and state. Every booklet deals with different topic, e.g. one is dedicated to the system of education from 1919 up to the present times. The Head of this organisation V.Sokolov says that Union of Citizens and Non-citizens wants to further integration of Latvian society and prevent formation of a two community state. Diena

The editors office of

The editors office of Panorama Latvii has received a letter from the Centre of Illegal Immigrants with complains about inhuman living conditions, lack of medical care, impossibility to meet any responsible state officials. They demand for a meeting with the representatives of Latvian Human Rights Committee, OSCE Mission and journalists from Panorama Latvii .