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

On May 20 President Ulmanis attended the opening of the new office of the New-York Mission of the Latvian Representatives to the UN. During the ceremony Mr.Ulmanis underlined the role played by the UN in the process of negotiations between Latvia and Russia.

On May 20 President Ulmanis attended the opening of the new office of the New-York Mission of the Latvian Representatives to the UN. During the ceremony Mr.Ulmanis underlined the role played by the UN in the process of negotiations between Latvia and Russia. Neatkariga

Russia is planning to touch upon the issue of territorial claims during the meeting of the Council of Baltic Sea States on May 24-25. Minister for Foreign Affairs Koziryev has stressed that in accordance with the CSCE principles the Baltic states should not put forward any territorial claims towards Russia irrespective of any historical reasons for such claims.

Russia is planning to touch upon the issue of territorial claims during the meeting of the Council of Baltic Sea States on May 24-25. Minister for Foreign Affairs Koziryev has stressed that in accordance with the CSCE principles the Baltic states should not put forward any territorial claims towards Russia irrespective of any historical reasons for such claims. Panorama Latvii

One of the members of Lithuanian Parliament in his interview for DIENA referred to the way ethnic Lithuanians were terated in Latvia as "racism". Member of the Committee for Human Rights and Ethnic Issues Mr.Rimantas Markauskas stressed that ethnic Lithuanians did not have any chances of receiving Latvian citizenship. There are around 35,000 ethnic Lithuanians currently residing in Latvia most of whom arrived to the country after being deported from their native country since Soviet laws banned them from returning to Lithuania. Lithuanian Parliament received a letter from the Lithuanian Embassy to Latvia pointing at various bureaucratic difficulties faced by ethnic Lithuanians including the non-implementation of court decrees by the CID. As one of the possible solutions of the problem the embassy suggests that since there is no alien law in Latvia all foreigners should have rights equal with citizens except for political rights.

One of the members of Lithuanian Parliament in his interview for DIENA referred to the way ethnic Lithuanians were terated in Latvia as "racism". Member of the Committee for Human Rights and Ethnic Issues Mr.Rimantas Markauskas stressed that ethnic Lithuanians did not have any chances of receiving Latvian citizenship. There are around 35,000 ethnic Lithuanians currently residing in Latvia most of whom arrived to the country after being deported from their native country since Soviet laws banned them from returning to Lithuania. Lithuanian Parliament received a letter from the Lithuanian Embassy to Latvia pointing at various bureaucratic difficulties faced by ethnic Lithuanians including the non-implementation of court decrees by the CID. As one of the possible solutions of the problem the embassy suggests that since there is no alien law in Latvia all foreigners should have rights equal with citizens except for political rights. Diena

Indulis Berzins of "Latvijas Cels" analyzes the political situation before the local elections in his article for DIENA. He stresses that due to the splitting of several parties it will be difficult to name a party that actually wins the campaign. He points out that certain nationalistic organizations are trying to politicize the elections. Still, he believes that the main objective of the elections is to form self-government bodies that will be able to co-operate with the government.

Indulis Berzins of "Latvijas Cels" analyzes the political situation before the local elections in his article for DIENA. He stresses that due to the splitting of several parties it will be difficult to name a party that actually wins the campaign. He points out that certain nationalistic organizations are trying to politicize the elections. Still, he believes that the main objective of the elections is to form self-government bodies that will be able to co-operate with the government.