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

A meeting of Latvian and Lithuanian Ministers of Foreign Affairs took place in Lithuanian town Palanga. Both Ministers came to a conclusion that there were no problems in relations between those two countries - talks on see border would start already in April, and the problem of import taxes for agricultural goods had been solved. Nevertheless, the Latvian MFA is still waiting for an official document to be able to clarify whether Lithuania annuls the taxes or just reduces them.

A meeting of Latvian and Lithuanian Ministers of Foreign Affairs took place in Lithuanian town Palanga. Both Ministers came to a conclusion that there were no problems in relations between those two countries - talks on see border would start already in April, and the problem of import taxes for agricultural goods had been solved. Nevertheless, the Latvian MFA is still waiting for an official document to be able to clarify whether Lithuania annuls the taxes or just reduces them. Neatkariga

Diena adds that V.Birkavs after this meeting expressed a hope that the border dispute would be solved, but it was not guaranteed that the agreement could be signed already in this century.

Diena adds that V.Birkavs after this meeting expressed a hope that the border dispute would be solved, but it was not guaranteed that the agreement could be signed already in this century.

Russian newspaper Vremya MN considers that due to cold Russian - NATO relations Latvia could close access for Russian oil to Venspils oil terminals, and therefore it is vitally important for Russia to construct the Baltic pipeline system, bypassing the three Baltic states.

Russian newspaper Vremya MN considers that due to cold Russian - NATO relations Latvia could close access for Russian oil to Venspils oil terminals, and therefore it is vitally important for Russia to construct the Baltic pipeline system, bypassing the three Baltic states. Neatkariga

In the Russian version of

In the Russian version of Diena Ms. Baiba Rulle writes about the plan of this Baltic pipeline system in more details.

The draft law, included in the agenda of the Russian National Council, prohibits any kind of economic contacts with Latvia, and it may be adopted in the first reading in the nearest future. The title of this draft law is “On activities of the Russian Federation to prevent violations of basic rights and freedoms of Russian citizens and Russian compatriots in the Republic of Latvia”.

The draft law, included in the agenda of the Russian National Council, prohibits any kind of economic contacts with Latvia, and it may be adopted in the first reading in the nearest future. The title of this draft law is On activities of the Russian Federation to prevent violations of basic rights and freedoms of Russian citizens and Russian compatriots in the Republic of Latvia. Diena

The Deputy Chairman of the Saeima faction

The Deputy Chairman of the Saeima faction For Human Rights in United Latvia J.Urbanovics told about his meeting with the representatives of the Commission of CIS Affairs and Contacts with Russian Compatriots of the Russian National Council and their promise to inform the FHRIUL faction about all draft laws the Russian Parliament was preparing against Latvia. The reason for this urgent meeting was the draft law on economic sanctions against Latvia. The Russian officials had explained that their goal was not to harm Latvia but to make it to stop discrimination of Russian speaking population. SM (12.04.99)

Newspaper

Newspaper Chas writes about the findings of the Latvian MFA in the draft language law. The MFA has found eight contradictions to European standards - the draft law stipulates too much interference of the Latvian language in private businesses, contradictory to European recommendations to limit this interference only to the cases, concerning protection of legal interests of the society.

Bizness & Baltiya

writes about the planned meeting of Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs V.Birkavs and the Minister on European Affairs D.Benshop in the Hague and asked K.Eihenbaums, Latvian representative to the Netherlands, about a possibility for V.Birkavs to meet the OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel and this official did not exclude such a possibility. This meeting would attract a lot of interest, especially taking into consideration that OSCE experts are coming soon to Latvia to evaluate the draft language law. writes about the planned meeting of Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs V.Birkavs and the Minister on European Affairs D.Benshop in the Hague and asked K.Eihenbaums, Latvian representative to the Netherlands, about a possibility for V.Birkavs to meet the OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel and this official did not exclude such a possibility. This meeting would attract a lot of interest, especially taking into consideration that OSCE experts are coming soon to Latvia to evaluate the draft language law. Bizness & BaltiyaBizness & Baltiya (12.04.99) (12.04.99)