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

Estonian Prime Minister M.Laar, finishing his visit to Latvia, stated that there were no problems in Latvian - Estonian relations and promised that Estonia would do the utmost to help Latvia and Lithuania in their attempts to be invited for negotiations to join EU by the end of this year.

Estonian Prime Minister M.Laar, finishing his visit to Latvia, stated that there were no problems in Latvian - Estonian relations and promised that Estonia would do the utmost to help Latvia and Lithuania in their attempts to be invited for negotiations to join EU by the end of this year. Neatkariga, Diena, Chas

Latvian and Lithuanian experts worked for two days to establish precise co-ordinates of sea border between those two countries. Unfortunately, journalists did not manage to get any more information on the results due to the confidentiality of it.

Latvian and Lithuanian experts worked for two days to establish precise co-ordinates of sea border between those two countries. Unfortunately, journalists did not manage to get any more information on the results due to the confidentiality of it. Neatkariga

The government forming factions do not intend to propose a vote of non-confidence to the Minister of Economics A.Slesers. The expressions of TB/LNNK about the uncompleted tasks of the Ministry of Economics were not intended to dismiss A.Slesers from his post. The Prime Minister did not give any concrete evaluation of this minister although he had requested information about the things completed by A.Slesers.

The government forming factions do not intend to propose a vote of non-confidence to the Minister of Economics A.Slesers. The expressions of TB/LNNK about the uncompleted tasks of the Ministry of Economics were not intended to dismiss A.Slesers from his post. The Prime Minister did not give any concrete evaluation of this minister although he had requested information about the things completed by A.Slesers. Neatkariga, Diena

Minister of Foreign Affairs V.Birkavs officially submitted to the EC Secretary General D.Tarschys the protocol on Latvia’s joining the Sixth Protocol of the European Human Rights Convention on abolishing the capital penalty. The ratification protocol will take effect on June 1.

Minister of Foreign Affairs V.Birkavs officially submitted to the EC Secretary General D.Tarschys the protocol on Latvias joining the Sixth Protocol of the European Human Rights Convention on abolishing the capital penalty. The ratification protocol will take effect on June 1. Neatkariga

MFA Press Secretary T.Baumanis informed that soon Latvian residents, while being abroad, would be able to receive consular assistance in a case of need at 34 Estonian an Lithuanian foreign representatives because a mutual agreement on rendering mutual consular assistance would take effect.

MFA Press Secretary T.Baumanis informed that soon Latvian residents, while being abroad, would be able to receive consular assistance in a case of need at 34 Estonian an Lithuanian foreign representatives because a mutual agreement on rendering mutual consular assistance would take effect. Neatkariga, Jauna Avize (10.05.99)

Faction TB/LNNK has sent a letter to the Prime Minister V.Kristopans with a proposal not to amend the coalition agreement. The faction chairman A.Pozarnovs said that government forming factions could work basing on the current agreement, just the execution of individual articles of the agreement should be controlled more strictly.

Faction TB/LNNK has sent a letter to the Prime Minister V.Kristopans with a proposal not to amend the coalition agreement. The faction chairman A.Pozarnovs said that government forming factions could work basing on the current agreement, just the execution of individual articles of the agreement should be controlled more strictly. Neatkariga

Germany Minister of Foreign Affairs J.Fischer expressed a full support to Latvia on its road to EU during the talks with his Latvian counterpart in Bonn this Friday and pointed out a necessity to harmonise the state language law with the demands of the Union.

Germany Minister of Foreign Affairs J.Fischer expressed a full support to Latvia on its road to EU during the talks with his Latvian counterpart in Bonn this Friday and pointed out a necessity to harmonise the state language law with the demands of the Union. Diena

The Institute of European Integration Studies in Bonn will assist Latvian to elaborate a strategy to speed up Latvia’s joining EU.

The Institute of European Integration Studies in Bonn will assist Latvian to elaborate a strategy to speed up Latvias joining EU. Neatkariga, Diena, Jauna Avize (10.05.99)

Diena

published a large interview with the Head of the OSCE Mission to Latvia D.Johnson where he told the journalist about the current tasks of the Mission and its peception of the national public integration program. published a large interview with the Head of the OSCE Mission to Latvia D.Johnson where he told the journalist about the current tasks of the Mission and its peception of the national public integration program. Representatives of the Russian political organisation “Yabloko” have arrived to Latvia upon an invitation made by the

Representatives of the Russian political organisation Yabloko have arrived to Latvia upon an invitation made by the Peoples Harmony Party. They informed Latvian deputies that Russia did not demand anything more in the field of human rights in Latvia as it was stated in the demands of the EU. Russian National Council deputy V.Averchev said that Russia wished Russian speakers, residing in Latvia, to have a possibility to acquire citizenship while preserving their national identity. But it seemed that Latvian party wanted to get a reciprocation with the current draft language law for those concessions Latvia made by abolishing window mechanism. Rigas Balss (07.05.99)

In his interview to

In his interview to Lauku Avize the Head of the Saeima the Saeima Commission on Education, Culture and Science Dz.Abikis, speaks about the discussion results with the OSCE experts. The position of the experts was the same as the one expressed in High Commissioner Max van der Stoels letter, to regulate use of the state language as little as possible. And Mr. Abikis complained about unwillingness of the experts to understand Latvian attempts to establish an integrated society. Lauku Avize