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

Yesterday, when considering the draft language law, the deputies managed to discuss only 1/5 part of all the proposals. The Saeima Commission on Education, Culture and Science had prepared, in accordance with the demands of OSCE experts, a chapter regulating language use in private businesses. According to this principle the Commission wanted to take out from the second reading all references on the use of the language in the private sphere that have been included in other articles of the law. It was the source of all problems because part of the deputies wanted to preserve it and keep the wording of the second draft the text regulating the use of the language in private businesses in every article.

Yesterday, when considering the draft language law, the deputies managed to discuss only 1/5 part of all the proposals. The Saeima Commission on Education, Culture and Science had prepared, in accordance with the demands of OSCE experts, a chapter regulating language use in private businesses. According to this principle the Commission wanted to take out from the second reading all references on the use of the language in the private sphere that have been included in other articles of the law. It was the source of all problems because part of the deputies wanted to preserve it and keep the wording of the second draft the text regulating the use of the language in private businesses in every article. Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK representatives considered it as inexcusable yielding to OSCE demands. When a voting was necessary for one of the proposals, part of the deputies present refused to vote. The Speaker Cepanis used his legal right and announced this meeting to be interrupted till October 8. Neatkariga, Diena, Jauna Avize, Lauku Avize, Chas, SM, Panorama Latvii, Bizness & Baltiya

State President G.Ulmanis and Prime Minister G.Krasts plan to address the nation on the eve before the referendum on local TV. The first to speak will be the State President who is in favour of amending the language law. The Prime Minister will speak after him supporting just the oposit opinion.

State President G.Ulmanis and Prime Minister G.Krasts plan to address the nation on the eve before the referendum on local TV. The first to speak will be the State President who is in favour of amending the language law. The Prime Minister will speak after him supporting just the oposit opinion. Neatkariga

The victory of Social Democrats in Germany will not effect its relations with the Baltic states, as well as their integration process in EU. State President G.Ulmanis in his radio speech yesterday said that the new leader of Germany Schreder had promised him during their meeting a year ago not to forget the Baltic states, and G.Ulmanis hoped that he had not forgotten his promise.

The victory of Social Democrats in Germany will not effect its relations with the Baltic states, as well as their integration process in EU. State President G.Ulmanis in his radio speech yesterday said that the new leader of Germany Schreder had promised him during their meeting a year ago not to forget the Baltic states, and G.Ulmanis hoped that he had not forgotten his promise. Neatkariga, Diena

The Presidium of the Saeima rejected a suggestion to summon an extraordinary Saeima sitting on October 1 and decided to dedicate the next extraordinary Saeima sitting on October 8 to consideration of the draft education law and the Saeima Roll of Procedures.

The Presidium of the Saeima rejected a suggestion to summon an extraordinary Saeima sitting on October 1 and decided to dedicate the next extraordinary Saeima sitting on October 8 to consideration of the draft education law and the Saeima Roll of Procedures. Neatkariga, Diena

Latvian MFA feels surprised about the Russian reaction to the speech of the State President at the UN General Assembly session. MFA points out that G.Ulmanis stressed in his speech those principles that Latvia was standing for from the restoration of its independence, directed to strengthening of democratic values and promotion of mutual understanding and co-operation in the whole world. Latvian MFA may conclude that the authors of this announcement have not studied the speech carefully enough or they try to deceive the Russian nation.

Latvian MFA feels surprised about the Russian reaction to the speech of the State President at the UN General Assembly session. MFA points out that G.Ulmanis stressed in his speech those principles that Latvia was standing for from the restoration of its independence, directed to strengthening of democratic values and promotion of mutual understanding and co-operation in the whole world. Latvian MFA may conclude that the authors of this announcement have not studied the speech carefully enough or they try to deceive the Russian nation. Neatkariga, Diena, Jauna Avize

Party consultations, announced more than a week ago, have started at last. The leaders of

Party consultations, announced more than a week ago, have started at last. The leaders of New Party met yesterday with the representatives of Democratic Party Saimnieks and the Association of UKD and the Green party and came to a conclusion that peoples well-being should become the main objective of the new government. Today New Party plans to meet with Latvijas Cels and the Union of Social Democrats. In their turn, TB/LNNK announced that they would not discuss anything with New Party till October 3. Neatkariga

Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and Estonia met yesterday to discuss several issues; the future referendum and the problems of Valka - Valga also were on the agenda.

Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and Estonia met yesterday to discuss several issues; the future referendum and the problems of Valka - Valga also were on the agenda. Neatkariga

During his radio interview State President G.Ulmanis suggested those people who were going to vote for abolishing of the amendments to the Law on Citizenship to think twice about this decision, their decision could isolate Latvia from other countries. He pointed out that citizenship was not the laws on education and language. G.Ulmanis considers that these laws should be strict but civilised and democratic.

During his radio interview State President G.Ulmanis suggested those people who were going to vote for abolishing of the amendments to the Law on Citizenship to think twice about this decision, their decision could isolate Latvia from other countries. He pointed out that citizenship was not the laws on education and language. G.Ulmanis considers that these laws should be strict but civilised and democratic. Neatkariga

A group of people held a picket at the Saeima building on Monday, where it was planned to consider the 3 rd reading of the draft language law, demanding the status of the state language to the Russian language.

A group of people held a picket at the Saeima building on Monday, where it was planned to consider the 3 rd reading of the draft language law, demanding the status of the state language to the Russian language. Diena

Panorama Latvii and Bizness & Baltiya write about this picket in more details.

A.Pabriks in

A.Pabriks in Diena writes the possible outcome of the referendum. He states that it is up to the Latvian nation to decide whether it wants to live a full-fledged live or just to go on complaining about hardships of being a small nation. Diena

The Cabinet of Ministers adopted amendments to the draft law “On the change of the record of person’s name and nationality”. It establishes that, starting with January 1, 1999, the Registry office takes over from the DCMA the function of changing these records.

The Cabinet of Ministers adopted amendments to the draft law On the change of the record of persons name and nationality. It establishes that, starting with January 1, 1999, the Registry office takes over from the DCMA the function of changing these records. Jauna Avize

The historian M.Vulfsons is for amending the law on citizenship because Latvians should more think about their security and not to create obstacles on their way to EU.

Jauna Avize Russian TV station RTR showed a half an hour long documentary about Latvia. The authors of this film show Latvians as full of hatred towards aliens, accuse them of shooting in the backs of Soviet solders, executing Jews and waiting for Germans to come. They forget about Latvian Red Riflemen and many others who fought on the side of the Soviet Union.

Russian TV station RTR showed a half an hour long documentary about Latvia. The authors of this film show Latvians as full of hatred towards aliens, accuse them of shooting in the backs of Soviet solders, executing Jews and waiting for Germans to come. They forget about Latvian Red Riflemen and many others who fought on the side of the Soviet Union. SM

Panorama Latvii writes about continuing problems of T.Pancenko who wanted to receive a non-citizen passport and submitted all the necessary documents but, instead of it, she got accused of being a Russian citizen and having a domicile registration in Russia. After examining this case, it turned out that when T.Pancenko was registered in the Resident Register, the officials recorded a wrong father’s name in her registration card. After a very long fight with officials, she received a letter from the central office of the DCMA that she had to be issued a non-citizen passport within two weeks. But when T.Pancenko arrived to the local office to receive it, she was refused once again.

Panorama Latvii writes about continuing problems of T.Pancenko who wanted to receive a non-citizen passport and submitted all the necessary documents but, instead of it, she got accused of being a Russian citizen and having a domicile registration in Russia. After examining this case, it turned out that when T.Pancenko was registered in the Resident Register, the officials recorded a wrong fathers name in her registration card. After a very long fight with officials, she received a letter from the central office of the DCMA that she had to be issued a non-citizen passport within two weeks. But when T.Pancenko arrived to the local office to receive it, she was refused once again.

R.Gulayeva writes about the problems she had to experience at DCMA Kurzeme office when she needed to draw up non-citizen passports for all her family of 5 people to visit her old father in Byelorussia. After many visits to the office and long waiting in the lines, they finally receives these passports but with different terms of validity. So when they plan to visit Byelorussia next year, some family members will need to draw up a new passport.

R.Gulayeva writes about the problems she had to experience at DCMA Kurzeme office when she needed to draw up non-citizen passports for all her family of 5 people to visit her old father in Byelorussia. After many visits to the office and long waiting in the lines, they finally receives these passports but with different terms of validity. So when they plan to visit Byelorussia next year, some family members will need to draw up a new passport. Panorama Latvii