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

Discussing the EU Nordic Dimension Project at the meeting in Helsinki yesterday, the parliamentary and governmental representatives of the Baltic and Scandinavian countries supported this regional initiative and emphasised that it would strengthen the regional co-operation and would actively involve Russia. Meeting with the Latvian Prime Minister Vilis Kristopans, the Norwegian Prime Minister K. M. Bondevik said that Latvia has fulfilled all the OSCE requirements and Russia should not present any claims with regard to that. The Norwegian Prime Minister also said that the Baltic State and the NATO should continue the co-operation programmes in the military sphere, so that Latvia would integrate into the NATO.

Discussing the EU Nordic Dimension Project at the meeting in Helsinki yesterday, the parliamentary and governmental representatives of the Baltic and Scandinavian countries supported this regional initiative and emphasised that it would strengthen the regional co-operation and would actively involve Russia. Meeting with the Latvian Prime Minister Vilis Kristopans, the Norwegian Prime Minister K. M. Bondevik said that Latvia has fulfilled all the OSCE requirements and Russia should not present any claims with regard to that. The Norwegian Prime Minister also said that the Baltic State and the NATO should continue the co-operation programmes in the military sphere, so that Latvia would integrate into the NATO. Diena, Jauna Avize

Commenting the meeting with the State Secretary of the Latvian Foreign Affairs Ministry Maris Riekstins during his visit to Moscow, the head of the International Relations Commission of the Russian Duma Vladimir Lukin said that Latvia does not fulfil the requirements of the international organisations on national minorities and ignores the opinion of Russia regarding this issue.

Commenting the meeting with the State Secretary of the Latvian Foreign Affairs Ministry Maris Riekstins during his visit to Moscow, the head of the International Relations Commission of the Russian Duma Vladimir Lukin said that Latvia does not fulfil the requirements of the international organisations on national minorities and ignores the opinion of Russia regarding this issue. Chas

Neatkariga's journalist Viktors Avotins comments the draft law providing the non-citizens with the right to participate in the municipal elections that was initiated by the Union for Human Rights in the United Latvia. Even though the draft law might be rejected by the majority of the MPs, it should be taken seriously be because this issue will be brought up again. V. Avotins suggests not to wait till other will start teaching us and to prepare a political, well-grounded opinion regarding this issue.

Neatkariga's journalist Voldemars Hermanis discusses the role of the OSCE in the conflict situations. The question is whether the OSCE is a noteworthy arbitrator in a case of a real conflict before the NATO arrives in the region. Mr. Hermanis quotes the magazine Transitions saying that the OSCE is a useful helper to the NATO for fulfilling extraordinary and thankless work.

The Centre of the Non-Governmental Organisations believes that many of the suggested amendments to the Law on the Public Organisations will not promote the development of the NGO’ s in Latvia, therefore the Centre prepares own version of the amendments that will be submitted to the Saeima State Administration and Municipal Committee.

The Centre of the Non-Governmental Organisations believes that many of the suggested amendments to the Law on the Public Organisations will not promote the development of the NGO s in Latvia, therefore the Centre prepares own version of the amendments that will be submitted to the Saeima State Administration and Municipal Committee. Diena