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 Report

This morning the State President G.Ulmanis is meeting with the representatives of

This morning the State President G.Ulmanis is meeting with the representatives of Peoples Party, in the evening with Latvijas Cels, tomorrow - with TB/LNNK. Highly probable is a possibility that the President would propose Peoples Party and Latvijas Cels to think of some alternatives of their proposed Prime Minister candidates. The Chairman of Latvijas Cels A.Pantelejevs told Neatkariga that he had heard about three possible alternatives - Riga Mayor A.Berzins, former Prime Minister I.Godmanis and former Minister of Economics O.Kehris, but considered them to be just rumours without any logic. He did not think that the State President could ignore their position, and he would need very strong arguments to name another candidate. O.Kehris has heard about such a possibility, but he is too much occupied in private business and does not want to leave it. Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK position was rather interesting - they had no objection to any other candidate if the current ones would prevented to reach an agreement, but they did not favour anybody. Neatkariga, Jauna Avize

Diena asked the State President to comment on the current situation, and the answer was that he found the situation, with discussions on forming a minority government, when there were only 6 parties in the Parliament, a ridiculous. G.Ulmanis finds it unacceptable that some candidates make statements as if they already in the post. He also did not agree to the statement of V.Kristopans that in any case the candidate to the post of Prime Minister should come form Latvijas Cels. Diena

According to the data of Russian Migration service from the beginning of this year to July 19 Russian citizens have left the country, naming the reason for leaving the country a job in Latvia. A foreigner, to be allowed to work in Latvia, needs to receive a work permit which Latvian authorities issue only when the employer proves that there is no such specialist in Latvia. As it is very difficult to receive such a permit, the actual number of foreigners coming to work in Latvia could be large.

According to the data of Russian Migration service from the beginning of this year to July 19 Russian citizens have left the country, naming the reason for leaving the country a job in Latvia. A foreigner, to be allowed to work in Latvia, needs to receive a work permit which Latvian authorities issue only when the employer proves that there is no such specialist in Latvia. As it is very difficult to receive such a permit, the actual number of foreigners coming to work in Latvia could be large. Neatkariga

Journalist V.Avotins in

Journalist V.Avotins in Jauna Avize is very pessimistic about the future of the new Saeima. He analyses the composition of it, seeing four richmens parties, one - do-not-know-what-yet and one successfully occupying the niche of so far neglected political interest, and ponders about the future of them. Jauna Avize

People’s Party leader A.Skele, announced at a TV show that he considered participation of TB/LNNK in the next government as mandatory. He thinks that there is a possibility to form a government based on an exact political platform, and it should be right-to-the-center government. The coalition should consist of

Peoples Party leader A.Skele, announced at a TV show that he considered participation of TB/LNNK in the next government as mandatory. He thinks that there is a possibility to form a government based on an exact political platform, and it should be right-to-the-center government. The coalition should consist of Latvijas Cels, Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK and Peoples Party with 62 votes. And maybe also New Party if Latvijas Cels wants so. The former Prime Minister told the journalists that he was against a hasty transfer to the Latvian language as the language of tuition in Russian speaking schools. SM

Panorama Latvii

published an interview with the President of Byelorussia A.Lukashenko. Answering to the question on Byelorussian- Latvian relations, he said that he discussed with Latvian President G.Ulmanis in Vilnius last year the problems bilateral agreement, including border demarcation and introduction of no visa regime between these countries. These issues were not documented, but experts were working on them. And if there would be a meeting with G.Ulmanis, these problems would be discussed for sure. published an interview with the President of Byelorussia A.Lukashenko. Answering to the question on Byelorussian- Latvian relations, he said that he discussed with Latvian President G.Ulmanis in Vilnius last year the problems bilateral agreement, including border demarcation and introduction of no visa regime between these countries. These issues were not documented, but experts were working on them. And if there would be a meeting with G.Ulmanis, these problems would be discussed for sure.