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

Prime Minister Vilis Kristopans asked the

Prime Minister Vilis Kristopans asked the Union of Social Democrats to nominate several candidates for the post of the Minister of Agriculture. Prime Minister thinks that the social democrats should nominate a stronger candidate than initial nominee Gunars Freibergs. Post of the Minister of Agriculture is the only one currently offered office to social democrats. Yesterday the Board of the Fatherland and Freedom passed a resolution to ask the Partys Council to finally decide on participation of social democrats in the government. Neatkariga

Yesterday the Board of the

Yesterday the Board of the Fatherland and Freedom began a discussion about a possible candidate for the post of the State President. Until now, the Latvian Way has nominated Anatolijs Gorbunovs, the Peoples Party - Vaira Paegle, and the New Party - Raimonds Pauls as possible candidates for the State Presidents office. The presidency of Guntis Ulmanis ends in summer 1999. Neatkariga

Neatkarigareviews articles about Latvia published in the newspapers Rosijskij Izrailtjanin and Die Presse. Rosijskij Izrailtjanin writes that currently existing situation in human rights sphere in Latvia can be described as a segregation on the basis of citizenship, and it would be improper, the least, for Latvia to apply for membership in the EU. Die Press, on the other hand, mentions that after adoption of the amendments to the Citizenship Law Latvia hopes that relations with Russia will improve.Neatkariga

Yesterday the European Parliament adopted a resolution which favours starting immediate EU accession talk with Latvia. After return from the meeting of the OSCE Foreign Affairs Ministers in Oslo, the Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Valdis Birkavs told journalists that participants of the Oslo meeting expressed an opinion that during the EU summit in Vienna should adopt an individual approach to each candidate to the EU, and should observe recommendations of the European Commission. Valdis Birkavs also briefed journalists about his meeting with the Russian Foreign Affairs Minister during which it was agreed to prepare grounds for resumption of Latvian-Russian intergovernmental commission. According to Mr. Birkavs, the Latvian delegation would be led by Anatolijs Gorbunovs. The Russian Foreign Affairs Minister acknowledged progress in the sphere of human rights in Latvia, meaning the outcome of the referendum, Mr. Birkavs told the press.

Yesterday the European Parliament adopted a resolution which favours starting immediate EU accession talk with Latvia. After return from the meeting of the OSCE Foreign Affairs Ministers in Oslo, the Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Valdis Birkavs told journalists that participants of the Oslo meeting expressed an opinion that during the EU summit in Vienna should adopt an individual approach to each candidate to the EU, and should observe recommendations of the European Commission. Valdis Birkavs also briefed journalists about his meeting with the Russian Foreign Affairs Minister during which it was agreed to prepare grounds for resumption of Latvian-Russian intergovernmental commission. According to Mr. Birkavs, the Latvian delegation would be led by Anatolijs Gorbunovs. The Russian Foreign Affairs Minister acknowledged progress in the sphere of human rights in Latvia, meaning the outcome of the referendum, Mr. Birkavs told the press. Neatkariga, Chas, Diena

Yesterday Janis Jurkans (People’s Harmony Party) was elected to the post of Chair of the inter-parliamentary commission on co-operation between Latvia and Russia.

Yesterday Janis Jurkans (Peoples Harmony Party) was elected to the post of Chair of the inter-parliamentary commission on co-operation between Latvia and Russia. Panorama Latvii

In an interview for the Russian newspaper “The Moscow Times” the Latvian State President Guntis Ulmanis said that in future Latvia will be multi-national state. 90% of non-citizens want to stay in Latvia and they should be provided with an opportunity to become Latvian citizens, Mr. Ulmanis said.

In an interview for the Russian newspaper The Moscow Times the Latvian State President Guntis Ulmanis said that in future Latvia will be multi-national state. 90% of non-citizens want to stay in Latvia and they should be provided with an opportunity to become Latvian citizens, Mr. Ulmanis said. Neatkariga

Dienain Russian in co-operation with journalists from Estonia and Lithuania introduces a new column We in the Baltics. In todays issue there are articles about Estonia: the Russian Cultural centre in Tallinn, and a law regulating procedure of deportation from Estonia which was recently adopted by the Estonian parliament, as well as statistics provided by the Estonian DCMA and Information Centre on Human Rights. Diena

Yesterday at a press conference the Latvian Minister of Education and Science Janis Gaigals proposed to change methods of work in order to increase the Ministry’s efficiency. Next year ministerial officials will participate in special seminars whose goal will be to prepare a 4 year plan. A primary task for the Ministry is to build a modern and comprehensively integrated education system, Mr. Gaigals said. Answering question on examination of teachers of Russian schools, Mr. Gaigals answered that, unfortunately, the number of teachers who did not pass the language exam on the highest level of the language command, is rather big. According to

Yesterday at a press conference the Latvian Minister of Education and Science Janis Gaigals proposed to change methods of work in order to increase the Ministrys efficiency. Next year ministerial officials will participate in special seminars whose goal will be to prepare a 4 year plan. A primary task for the Ministry is to build a modern and comprehensively integrated education system, Mr. Gaigals said. Answering question on examination of teachers of Russian schools, Mr. Gaigals answered that, unfortunately, the number of teachers who did not pass the language exam on the highest level of the language command, is rather big. According to B&B, the Minister immediately tried to comfort the audience by saying that those who are granted status of unemployed person have a possibility to take language courses free of charge, and then repeat the exam. B&B

A. Arkadyev in an article for the SM reminds that the Saeima resumes consideration of the draft Language Law. Two parliamentary fraction -

A. Arkadyev in an article for the SM reminds that the Saeima resumes consideration of the draft Language Law. Two parliamentary fraction - For Fatherland and Freedom and the Peoples Party - have submitted their versions of the law. According to the author, there are almost no differences between these two proposals. Regardless of recommendations of the European experts, the proposed draft laws regulate use of language in private business. SM

Co-chair of the Latvian Committee on Human Rights Vladimir Buzayev summarises complaints received by the committee, which are related with difficulties in obtaining alien’s passports. He divides all cases into several categories: 1) cases when an applicant or his/her family member has citizenship of a foreign country; 2) cases when an applicant is a family member of a military person; 3) cases when a person has been registered (propisan) outside Latvia; 4) cases when a person’s legal status in Latvia is not clear; 5) cases when the DCMA requires additional documents; 6) cases when documents are sent to unclear and unjustified examination; 7) cases when names and surnames are misspelled. 

Co-chair of the Latvian Committee on Human Rights Vladimir Buzayev summarises complaints received by the committee, which are related with difficulties in obtaining aliens passports. He divides all cases into several categories: 1) cases when an applicant or his/her family member has citizenship of a foreign country; 2) cases when an applicant is a family member of a military person; 3) cases when a person has been registered (propisan) outside Latvia; 4) cases when a persons legal status in Latvia is not clear; 5) cases when the DCMA requires additional documents; 6) cases when documents are sent to unclear and unjustified examination; 7) cases when names and surnames are misspelled.SM