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

Russian President B.Yeltsin in his speech in the Federal Assembly of Russia announced yesterday that one of priorities of Russia’s foreign policy would be defence of Russian speakers living abroad. He said that the question of discrimination of Russian speaking population in Latvia and Estonia were still on the agenda and Russia would insist demanding these countries to change their approach towards human rights.

Russian President B.Yeltsin in his speech in the Federal Assembly of Russia announced yesterday that one of priorities of Russias foreign policy would be defence of Russian speakers living abroad. He said that the question of discrimination of Russian speaking population in Latvia and Estonia were still on the agenda and Russia would insist demanding these countries to change their approach towards human rights. Neatkariga, Diena

Russian TV days in Latvia started yesterday by a press conference with participation of the heads of major Russian TV channels. Russian journalists told the audience that they would make reports on social, cultural and political life in Latvia, but no warranties were given that this information would by unbiased.

Russian TV days in Latvia started yesterday by a press conference with participation of the heads of major Russian TV channels. Russian journalists told the audience that they would make reports on social, cultural and political life in Latvia, but no warranties were given that this information would by unbiased. Neatkariga, Diena, Jauna Avize, Chas , SM, Panorama Latvii, Bizness & Baltiya

E.Goncharov from the Russian Society in Latvia writes about the concept of national program for public integration. He does not claim to represent the opinion of al Russian speaking population but he knows the opinion of all major Russian speaking public organisations. Mr.Goncharov states that it is high time for people of all nationalities to learn to understand each other, otherwise it could lead to a situation as it was and is in Karabach, Abchasia and Kosovo. And such an integration program was needed already in 1991 - 1993.

Diena (Russian version)

Minister of Foreign Affairs V.Birkavs told a German newspaper that Latvia would like to improve the relations with Russia, and the grounds for it could be a common document on the period of Soviet occupation in Latvia. The Minister confirmed that joining NATO and EU would be the main priority of Latvia, but at the same time it would try to renew it political dialogue with Russia. Latvia is ready to discuss all Latvian - Russian problems. Diena (Russian version)

Panorama Latvii writes about the results of the telephone opinion poll, organised by this newspaper. People see the situation as follow: after hundreds of thousands of them have been deprived of their citizenship, now the authorities try to ban their language, and it could lead to escalation of tension. The current policy of the government is assimilation, not integration. Therefore the newspaper proposes to organise Days of our memory (commemoration).

Last year Russia annulled eased railroad cargo tariffs, and it made transporting of goods through Latvian ports unprofitable. One of the last Latvian attempts to solve the situation was during the visit of Russian Minister of Communications N.Akseyenko. After this visit the Latvian Minister of Communications A.Gorbunovs announced that the parties had come to an agreement on tariffs policy, and it a was planned that tariffs would be changed within several months. But no changes have been made yet, and Latvian authorities have received no information on any changes planned for April. It seems that the big brother will not change its policy, at least for the time until political problems, existing between these two countries, are not solved. Bizness & Baltiya