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

On Friday the State President Guntis Ulmanis met with the representatives of the intelligentsia - ministers Juris Rubenis and Janis Vanags, doctor Ilmars Lazovskis, LU professor Ojars Skudra, President of the National Bank Einars Repse to discuss the positive and negative aspects of the 3rd October referendum. After the meeting Guntis Ulmanis told press the public had not been sufficienty informed that the issue put on referendum, is not about the language or education, but about the particular amendments to the Citizenship Law. He personally will vote against the abolishing of the amendments, and a day before the elections and the referendum the State President will make an announcement on Radio and TV.

On Friday the State President Guntis Ulmanis met with the representatives of the intelligentsia - ministers Juris Rubenis and Janis Vanags, doctor Ilmars Lazovskis, LU professor Ojars Skudra, President of the National Bank Einars Repse to discuss the positive and negative aspects of the 3rd October referendum. After the meeting Guntis Ulmanis told press the public had not been sufficienty informed that the issue put on referendum, is not about the language or education, but about the particular amendments to the Citizenship Law. He personally will vote against the abolishing of the amendments, and a day before the elections and the referendum the State President will make an announcement on Radio and TV. Diena

Until the further notice, the Ministry of Education and Science advises schools not to use those 7,341 books which were given as the present by Russia in August this year, and distributed in schools by the Latvian Youth Support Fund. According to Minister of Education and Science Mr. Janis Gaigals, the books are not in conformity with the educational standards of Latvia. The State Education Inspectorate admitted that many schools in Latvia use the books which are published in Russia or have not been approved by the Ministry of Education, due to the lack of the particular teaching materials in Latvia. Diena

In response to the announcement of the Latvian Minister of Education, the Russian Ambassador in Latvia Alexander Udalcov told SM that books given to Latvia as the present do not contain any “ideological filling,” since the books are published in 1997 /98 and some of them have received the highest evaluation of the UNESCO experts. Mr. Udalcov called the information published by the SM that directors and teachers of those schools which accepted the gift, are being prosecuted, alarming. If this information are confirmed, Mr. Udalcov will inform international organisations - the OSCE, UNESCO, Council of Europe, about this unprecedented case in modern Europe - the ban on literature.

In response to the announcement of the Latvian Minister of Education, the Russian Ambassador in Latvia Alexander Udalcov told SM that books given to Latvia as the present do not contain any ideological filling, since the books are published in 1997 /98 and some of them have received the highest evaluation of the UNESCO experts. Mr. Udalcov called the information published by the SM that directors and teachers of those schools which accepted the gift, are being prosecuted, alarming. If this information are confirmed, Mr. Udalcov will inform international organisations - the OSCE, UNESCO, Council of Europe, about this unprecedented case in modern Europe - the ban on literature. SM

On 19 September the Latvian State President went to New York to participate in the 21st Plenary Session of the UN General Assembly. On 21 September he will give a speech concerning the human rights, UN reforms, and the co-operation between Latvia and the United Nations. During the visit Guntis Ulmanis has planned to meet with the US State Secretary Madelein Albright, and the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

On 19 September the Latvian State President went to New York to participate in the 21st Plenary Session of the UN General Assembly. On 21 September he will give a speech concerning the human rights, UN reforms, and the co-operation between Latvia and the United Nations. During the visit Guntis Ulmanis has planned to meet with the US State Secretary Madelein Albright, and the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Prime Minister Guntars Krasts “dismissed” the Co-ordination council of government forming fractions - no meetings will be summoned before the 7th Saeima elections. Prime Minister took this decision after the Saeima voting on the amendments to the Law on Pensions which were adopted regardless of the fact that the council agreed to deny them. According to Guntars Krasts, the parties are engaged in the pre-election race, and do not care about the agreements of the council.

Prime Minister Guntars Krasts dismissed the Co-ordination council of government forming fractions - no meetings will be summoned before the 7th Saeima elections. Prime Minister took this decision after the Saeima voting on the amendments to the Law on Pensions which were adopted regardless of the fact that the council agreed to deny them. According to Guntars Krasts, the parties are engaged in the pre-election race, and do not care about the agreements of the council. Diena, Neatkariga

Dienapublishes an article Once more about the citizenship, the Latvian language and Latvia by Ilmars Lazovskis in which he summarises the arguments why the requirement of the Latvian language knowledge should be included in the Citizenship Law. According to Mr. Lazovskis, the requirement of the Latvian language knowledge is one of the most important preconditions for the existence of the unified state and the survival of the nation in its homeland. Diena

Press Service of the State President informs that Guntis Ulmanis has received a letter from the leader of the Russian Communist Party Gennady Ziuganov in which he informs about the party’s perspective on the democratic developments in Russia. Mr. Ziuganov writes,

Press Service of the State President informs that Guntis Ulmanis has received a letter from the leader of the Russian Communist Party Gennady Ziuganov in which he informs about the partys perspective on the democratic developments in Russia. Mr. Ziuganov writes, inter alia, that Russia will not interfere with the internal affairs of other countries, it will actively participate in building of the European security system under the auspices of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly and the OSCE. Neatkariga, Chas

Leonard Tenis, a deputy of the

Leonard Tenis, a deputy of the Democratic Party Saimnieks, suggests the new government formed after the elections, to introduce a special program of the State language training in Latgale, and to set the transitional period for the time of the implementation of this program The transitional period would include the temporary moratorium for up to one and half years on the activities of the state language inspectors in enterprises, firms related with the service sphere and on requirements of the state language proficiency for persons employed in those organisations. Simultaneously, a special program for the state language training, financed from thr state budget, shall be prepared. SM

On Friday the Latvian Youth Support Fund in co-operation with the representatives of the Moscow City Council and the Russian Embassy in Latvia distributed various type of medicaments as humanitarian aid to the veterans of the World War II residing in Latvia. The organisers of this action expressed incomprehension about the negative reaction of the Latvian authorities towards this humanitarian action.

On Friday the Latvian Youth Support Fund in co-operation with the representatives of the Moscow City Council and the Russian Embassy in Latvia distributed various type of medicaments as humanitarian aid to the veterans of the World War II residing in Latvia. The organisers of this action expressed incomprehension about the negative reaction of the Latvian authorities towards this humanitarian action.

Rigas Balss interviewed several popular persons concerning their voting in the upcoming referendum Majority of them approved the amendments and would vote against the abolishing them.