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

State Revenue Service informs that trade with Russia has improved slightly, and the situation may be characterised as stable.

State Revenue Service informs that trade with Russia has improved slightly, and the situation may be characterised as stable. Diena

Prime Minister V.Kristopans announced that he was going to stop acting as the Minister of Agriculture. He did not reveal yet to which TB/LNNK Minister he would entrust this post. He would decide it on Monday, announcing it on a press conference. The Board of TB/LNNK did not take any decision which Minister to suggest to this post because it was for the Prime Minister to choose, but it also did not change their decision to consider the question about inviting a

Prime Minister V.Kristopans announced that he was going to stop acting as the Minister of Agriculture. He did not reveal yet to which TB/LNNK Minister he would entrust this post. He would decide it on Monday, announcing it on a press conference. The Board of TB/LNNK did not take any decision which Minister to suggest to this post because it was for the Prime Minister to choose, but it also did not change their decision to consider the question about inviting a Social Democrats minister to the government on January 21. Diena

The Saeima deputy R.Razuks writes about a necessity of co-operation among the Baltic states to join EU.

The Saeima deputy R.Razuks writes about a necessity of co-operation among the Baltic states to join EU. Diena

N.Locmele writes about the 7th congress of Latvian leading party

N.Locmele writes about the 7th congress of Latvian leading party Latvijas Cels where they reelected A.Pantelejevs as their new chairman. Diena

Latvian Ambassador to Russia I.Daudiss in his letter to the Chairman of the Saeima called for legalisation of double citizenship for Latvians residing in Russia. The Ambassador writes about the situation of these people, contradictory to their compatriots in the West who may have a double citizenship. Since 1991 about 500 Latvians residing in Russia registered as Latvian citizens, but their situation deteriorated after adoption of the Law on Citizenship in 1994, because these people had to denounce their Russian citizenship by 1992, but there was no Latvian law prohibiting a double citizenship at that time.

Latvian Ambassador to Russia I.Daudiss in his letter to the Chairman of the Saeima called for legalisation of double citizenship for Latvians residing in Russia. The Ambassador writes about the situation of these people, contradictory to their compatriots in the West who may have a double citizenship. Since 1991 about 500 Latvians residing in Russia registered as Latvian citizens, but their situation deteriorated after adoption of the Law on Citizenship in 1994, because these people had to denounce their Russian citizenship by 1992, but there was no Latvian law prohibiting a double citizenship at that time. Diena

Only the faction of left wing parties was positive about the proposal on

Only the faction of left wing parties was positive about the proposal on Peoples Party to start a discussion on exchanging the Minister of Foreign Affairs V.Birkavs. Diena

The Russian State Council deputies who visited Estonia last week, consider that Estonia has not fulfilled all recommendations of European institutions on citizenship. The deputies stressed that ratification of bilateral agreements, including border agreement between these two countries, depended only on the development of the relations between Estonia and Russia. Estonian MFA representatives consider that Estonia has fulfilled all recommendations by adopting the amendments to the Law on Citizenship providing an eased procedure of naturalisation for the children of non-citizens.

Diena

NHRO Director O.Bruveris has written an article about the situation with human rights in the world, the role of state to ensure these rights and the activities of the NHRO. Diena

Jauna Avize

interviews former head of DCMA Visa Department A.Kalnins about this institution. Describing the style of work of the DCMA A.Kalnins says that it is not able to cope with its tasks, the staff is too large, many of officials are relatives or friends of the top administration. A.Kalnins has ideas how to reorganise this institution, but nobody wants to listen to him. Jauna Avize Prime Minister V.Kristopans plans to prepare a “black list” of those government coalition ministers and deputies who do not observe the coalition discipline during the Saeima voting. If these ministers are not able to cope with their tasks, V.Kristopans will demand their resignation.

Prime Minister V.Kristopans plans to prepare a black list of those government coalition ministers and deputies who do not observe the coalition discipline during the Saeima voting. If these ministers are not able to cope with their tasks, V.Kristopans will demand their resignation. Rigas Balss

A new standard of national education was adopted, and the consequences of this document are that students of classes 1 - 9 will have a unique program but national minority students - more exams to pass.

A new standard of national education was adopted, and the consequences of this document are that students of classes 1 - 9 will have a unique program but national minority students - more exams to pass. SM