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 Saeima with no discussion affirmed

The Saeima with no discussion affirmed Social Democrat P.Salkazanovs in the post of the Minister of Agriculture. Neatkariga, Diena, Jauna Avize

The Saeima conceptually supported abandoning of the capital punishment as it was provided in the 6 th Protocol of European Convention on Protecting Human Rights and Freedoms. There were 76 votes for, 16 - against and 1 deputy refrained.

The Saeima conceptually supported abandoning of the capital punishment as it was provided in the 6 th Protocol of European Convention on Protecting Human Rights and Freedoms. There were 76 votes for, 16 - against and 1 deputy refrained. Neatkariga, Diena, Jauna Avize, Chas, SM, Bizness & Baltiya

Russia is still showing interest in human issues in Latvia, but Latvian and Russian positions in this question are different. This conclusion was made during the meeting of Latvian MFA State Secretary M.Riekstins and Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs A.Avdeyev. And Russian position differs not only from Latvian position but also from the position of international organisations, e.g. OSCE. M.Riekstins also discussed a possibility to organise a meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of both countries. This meeting could take place in May during the meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Nordic countries and Russia.

Russia is still showing interest in human issues in Latvia, but Latvian and Russian positions in this question are different. This conclusion was made during the meeting of Latvian MFA State Secretary M.Riekstins and Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs A.Avdeyev. And Russian position differs not only from Latvian position but also from the position of international organisations, e.g. OSCE. M.Riekstins also discussed a possibility to organise a meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of both countries. This meeting could take place in May during the meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Nordic countries and Russia. Neatkariga, Bizness & Baltiya

The

Union of Latvian Social Democrats is increasing its influence in the Saeima. A few hours after their representative P.Salkazanovs was affirmed in the post of the Minister of Agriculture, the ULSD faction called to replace the leader of Saeima Commission on Social and labour Affairs TB/LNNK representative A.Pozarnovs, and the Commission members did so. TB/LNNK and LC representatives were surprised by such an activity of Social Democrats.

The number of children, to be naturalised together with their parents, has rapidly increased in January. From 1288 applicants, about 50 have asked to naturalise also their children. The Deputy Head of the Naturalisation Board told the journalist that the situation in future could be the same as in January when the most increase of non-citizen activity was observed in Riga, Daugavpils region, Valmiera and Jelgava. Many people come together with their children because it is more convenient both for drawing up documents and saving time. Rigas Balss (04.02.99)

Belgium MFA Press Secretary informed that no visa regime between Latvia and Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg could come into force starting with April 1. He anticipated that by this time Belgium would complete the formal procedure provided by the state constitution on introducing no visa regime. Diena (Russian version)

Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK

has decided to start finding out those teachers who, in order to keep their job, have acquired fake certificates of the knowledge of the state language. This decision was made after they met with the Director of the National Language Centre Dz.Hirsa who told them that buying of fake certificates was a very common case. The Chairman of TB/LNNK Saeima faction A.Pozarnovs described it as a violation of the law, but the police, being busy with other cases did not pay much attention to this problem. Therefore TB/LNNK want to make the police to increase their activity in this direction. The faction will address the Minister of Interior R.Judzs who is also a TB/LNNK member. SM

SM

correspondent T.Marthuk describes her experiences during the process of naturalisation and sounds very positive about the tests and the whole procedure. SM

Yesterday the Russian Ambassador to Latvia A.Udaltsov visited the Saeima upon an invitation of the group of deputies standing for co-operation with Russian National Council. During this visit the parties discussed many issues important for both countries. Panorama Latvii