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

The government has approved a schedule for consideration of the budget for 1999. It is planned to submit the draft budget to the Saeima on 12 January, to have the first reading on 28 January and the second reading on 22 February.

The government has approved a schedule for consideration of the budget for 1999. It is planned to submit the draft budget to the Saeima on 12 January, to have the first reading on 28 January and the second reading on 22 February. Diena

It is possible than in 2001 residents of Latvia will be able to use personal identification cards instead of passports for dealings in Latvia. The passports will be needed only for a travel abroad, the head of the DCMA Andris Janis Lejins informed

It is possible than in 2001 residents of Latvia will be able to use personal identification cards instead of passports for dealings in Latvia. The passports will be needed only for a travel abroad, the head of the DCMA Andris Janis Lejins informed Diena in Russian.

Yesterday the Saeima Human Rights Commission denied majority of proposals to the draft Language law submitted by the fraction “

Yesterday the Saeima Human Rights Commission denied majority of proposals to the draft Language law submitted by the fraction For Human Rights in United Latvia. As the chair of the Commission Antons Seiksts told Jauna Avize these proposals called for complete non-interference of the state in private sphere, providing that other than the Latvian language might be used in communication and office work of private businesses. According to Mr. Seiksts, during the 6th Saeima an agreement was reached with the European experts concerning the necessity to provide a certain control in this sphere. The Commission supported a proposal of the fraction For Human Rights providing a definition of a status of national minority languages in Latvia. The present version of the Law provides only for two groups of languages- the state language and foreign languages.

SM,Chas and B&B publish the opinion of the member of the Saeima Commission on Human Rights Boris Tsilevich (For Human Rights in the United Latvia) who thinks that the Commission demonstrated a nihilistic attitude towards the international norms ratified by Latvia. By ignoring OSCE recommendations and international conventions, the deputies, in fact, create new obstacles on the road to Latvias integration into the EU, Mr. Tsilevich told SM. The Saeima Commission on Education, Science and Culture will prepare the draft Language law for the second reading which might take place no earlier than in a month. All newspapers remind that the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities arrive in Latvia on 10 January. Jauna Avize, B&B

The Ministry of Education and Science does not have information about the exact number of teachers who were dismissed at the beginning of this year due to insufficient command of the Latvian language, yet. Such information might be available after 7 January which is the deadline for regional municipalities to submit the data to the Ministry of Education.

The Ministry of Education and Science does not have information about the exact number of teachers who were dismissed at the beginning of this year due to insufficient command of the Latvian language, yet. Such information might be available after 7 January which is the deadline for regional municipalities to submit the data to the Ministry of Education. B&B

The military persons of the Skrunda Radar Station whose residence permits expired on 31 December of 1998, have left Latvia, the head of the DCMA Janis Lejins informed the press.

The military persons of the Skrunda Radar Station whose residence permits expired on 31 December of 1998, have left Latvia, the head of the DCMA Janis Lejins informed the press. B&B, Neatkariga

Answering to letters of readers,

Answering to letters of readers, Panorama Latvii denies rumours that the term for exchanging of old Soviet passports to the Latvian Aliens passports has been shortened till 30 November 1999. The validity term of the old passports remains the same - the year of 2000.