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

V.Kristopans announced the composition of the new government: Prime Minister - V.Kristopans, European Integration Affairs Minister - G.Krasts, Minister of Foreign Affairs - V.Birkavs, Minister of Finances - I.Godmanis, Minister of Economics - A.Slesers, Minister of Environment and Regional Development - V.Balodis, Minister of Well-being - V.Makarovs, Minister of Culture - K.Petersone, Minister of Education and Science - J.Gaigals, Minister of Communications - A.Gorbunovs, Minister of Agriculture - G.Freimanis, Minister of the Interior - a representative of

V.Kristopans announced the composition of the new government: Prime Minister - V.Kristopans, European Integration Affairs Minister - G.Krasts, Minister of Foreign Affairs - V.Birkavs, Minister of Finances - I.Godmanis, Minister of Economics - A.Slesers, Minister of Environment and Regional Development - V.Balodis, Minister of Well-being - V.Makarovs, Minister of Culture - K.Petersone, Minister of Education and Science - J.Gaigals, Minister of Communications - A.Gorbunovs, Minister of Agriculture - G.Freimanis, Minister of the Interior - a representative of TB/LNNK (will be named later), Minister of Defence - G.Kristovskis, Minister of Justice - I.Labucka, Special Affairs Portfolio - R.Zile and informed the Saeima Presidium on his intention to summon an extraordinary meeting of the Saeima on Thursday. Neatkariga, SM, Chas

State President G.Ulmanis recommended the Saeima to give the new government a vote of confidence on this Thursday. He considered that a minority government was “not the right model for Latvian government” and called

State President G.Ulmanis recommended the Saeima to give the new government a vote of confidence on this Thursday. He considered that a minority government was not the right model for Latvian government and called Latvijas Cels, TB/LNNK, Peoples Party and New Party to think about a majority government. Diena, Jauna Avize, Bizness & Baltiya

G.Ulmanis in his interview to Latvian Radio called the Director General of the Privatisation Agency and other persons having some information about the influence of entities financing parties on the process of forming the new government to speak out publicly. He was surprised by Naglis’ announcement made at the conference of

G.Ulmanis in his interview to Latvian Radio called the Director General of the Privatisation Agency and other persons having some information about the influence of entities financing parties on the process of forming the new government to speak out publicly. He was surprised by Naglis announcement made at the conference of Latvijas Cels of Saturday that nothing happened in Latvia without consultations with the Mayor of Venspils A.Lembergs and the President of Parex Bank V.Kargin. Answering to this, A.Lembergs said that it once more proved the fact that J.Naglis defended the interests of A.Skele. Diena, Neatkariga, Bizness & Baltiya,

V.Kargin denied any involvement of Parex Bank in politics.

V.Kargin denied any involvement of Parex Bank in politics. SM, Chas

D.Lemesonoks, commenting the process of government formation, states that the current result is not only due to the election results but also due to one psychological reason - both

D.Lemesonoks, commenting the process of government formation, states that the current result is not only due to the election results but also due to one psychological reason - both Latvijas Cels and TB/LNNK have been to the power for so long and they have developed so called older brother mood. These two parties, although opposing each other (sometimes quite severely) have got used to each other and have found compromises and common interests. So there are all reasons for old timers solidarity. Neatkariga

Last week Polish borderguards returned more than 113 illegal immigrants from Vietnam, Afghanistan, India and some other countries to Lithuania. This is the largest group ever detained on Lithuanian- Polish border. Lithuanian police thinks that this group was formed from smaller ones in Byelorussia.

Last week Polish borderguards returned more than 113 illegal immigrants from Vietnam, Afghanistan, India and some other countries to Lithuania. This is the largest group ever detained on Lithuanian- Polish border. Lithuanian police thinks that this group was formed from smaller ones in Byelorussia. Neatkariga

About 30 Russia military servicemen with their family members, who had to leave Latvia by October 31, could receive an extraordinary extension of their residence permits after a meeting of Latvian, Russian and OSCE representatives. It was said by the DCMA Deputy Director A.J.Lejins. But to do so, they need to know the exact date when these people will be granted apartments in Russia. In his turn, the Commander of Skrunda Radar Station A.Nikitin assured

Diena that these servicemen, waiting for better offers, had refused two offers of apartments in Orla and Kostroma regions. Diena

Rigas Balss

interviews the Head of Immigration Police A.Kurpnieks about the activities of this institution. He described the situation in the country, saying that during 9 months of this year 1119 people had been detained for violation of passport and visa regimes and illegal immigration. Mostly they are people from Russia, Ukraine, Byelorussia, Azerbaijan, etc. Also economic illegal immigrants that come to Latvia though Russia and Byelorussia - from Bangladesh, Nigeria, Iraq... In Olaine detention centre there are 35 immigrants and the same number in Riga isolator.

The Mayor of Moscow Yu.Luzhkov announced to the representative of Peoples Harmony Party at their meeting in Moscow that the administration of Moscow had no intention to change its position about ensuring equal rights for Russian speakers in Latvia. He assured that the administration of Moscow was a reliable ally of Peoples Harmony Party. He also said that one of articles in the program of the new political organisation Fatherland would be rendering help to Russian people living abroad. SM, Chas, Bizness & Baltiya

A.Guseyev in

A.Guseyev in Chas writes about the fate of Russian speaking schools in Latvia, stating that in many cases these schools are destroying themselves by to eager involvement in the process of implementation of the state language in minority schools. Also parents prefer to send their Russian speaking children to Latvian schools, and he thinks that these children are losing their national mentality.

Panorama Latvii

in its column SOS analyses the situation with violate non-citizen passports in Latvia. There have been less complains about such cases in general but the existing ones have become more complicated. Two such cases are described in this article. in its column “SOS” analyses the situation with violate non-citizen passports in Latvia. There have been less complains about such cases in general but the existing ones have become more complicated. Two such cases are described in this article.