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

Vilis Kristopans decided to invite the

Vilis Kristopans decided to invite the Latvian Way, the New Party and For Fatherland and Freedom to form a stable, centrist government consisting of experienced politicians. Such a government would be supported by 46 deputies. Still, Mr. Kristopans will ask the aforementioned parties to delegate him rights to invite candidates of ministers from other parties outside the coalition for a work in his government. Yesterday the talks between the Peoples Party and Mr. Vilis Kristopans ended without results. The Peoples Party rejected an offer by Mr. Kristopans to nominate a candidate for the post of the Minister of Agriculture without signing a coalition agreement. Diena

Yesterday the Latvian State President Guntis Ulmanis received congratulation letters on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Latvia’s independence from the Presidents of France, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, as well as the King of Sweden and the King of Spain, and the OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel.

Yesterday the Latvian State President Guntis Ulmanis received congratulation letters on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Latvias independence from the Presidents of France, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, as well as the King of Sweden and the King of Spain, and the OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel. Diena, Neatkariga

Results of a survey done by the Baltic Data House at a request of the State Language Training Program, show that the number of persons of other nationalities who think that the Latvian language command is necessary in their everyday life, has increased. Still, one third of the respondents answered that they do not want to improve their language knowledge since they are sure of their sufficient command of the language, or they consider themselves too old to learn it.

Results of a survey done by the Baltic Data House at a request of the State Language Training Program, show that the number of persons of other nationalities who think that the Latvian language command is necessary in their everyday life, has increased. Still, one third of the respondents answered that they do not want to improve their language knowledge since they are sure of their sufficient command of the language, or they consider themselves too old to learn it. Diena

Visas for 205 Russian military persons currently working in dismantling of the Skrunda Radar Station are prolonged until 30 September 1999. In total, there are 426 military persons and their family members - subjects of the Agreement between the Republic of Latvia and the Russian Federation on the Legal Status of the Skrunda Radar Station during its temporary operation and dismantling, who will stay in Latvia for one more year.

Visas for 205 Russian military persons currently working in dismantling of the Skrunda Radar Station are prolonged until 30 September 1999. In total, there are 426 military persons and their family members - subjects of the Agreement between the Republic of Latvia and the Russian Federation on the Legal Status of the Skrunda Radar Station during its temporary operation and dismantling, who will stay in Latvia for one more year. Neatkariga

SM asked the State President Guntis Ulmanis to comment the formation of a commission of historians who will do a comprehensive research of two totalitarian regimes in Latvia. Guntis Ulmanis said that creation of such a commission was triggered after his visits to Israel, the USA, and European countries during which an issue of Holocaust was discussed. This theme as well as issues related with the Latvian Legion have not been studied in depth. That will, therefore, be a task for the commission consisting of well known historians, to provide an evaluation based on facts.

SM asked the State President Guntis Ulmanis to comment the formation of a commission of historians who will do a comprehensive research of two totalitarian regimes in Latvia. Guntis Ulmanis said that creation of such a commission was triggered after his visits to Israel, the USA, and European countries during which an issue of Holocaust was discussed. This theme as well as issues related with the Latvian Legion have not been studied in depth. That will, therefore, be a task for the commission consisting of well known historians, to provide an evaluation based on facts. SM

Yesterday an international conference On Security and Co-operation on the Baltic Sea took place in Stockholm. Among presenters there was a former advisor on national security issues of the United States Zbignev Bzhezinsky who stated that neither Latvia nor Estonia but Lithuania should be the first one to join the NATO since in Lithuania there is no ethnic conflict.

Yesterday an international conference On Security and Co-operation on the Baltic Sea took place in Stockholm. Among presenters there was a former advisor on national security issues of the United States Zbignev Bzhezinsky who stated that neither Latvia nor Estonia but Lithuania should be the first one to join the NATO since in Lithuania there is no ethnic conflict. B&B, Chas

Vilis Kristopans, a candidate for the post of the Prime Minister, wants faster improvement of relations with Russia. One of his first tasks would be to organize a meeting with the Russian Prime Minister Mr. Primakov in 1999.

Vilis Kristopans, a candidate for the post of the Prime Minister, wants faster improvement of relations with Russia. One of his first tasks would be to organize a meeting with the Russian Prime Minister Mr. Primakov in 1999. Chas