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

Yesterday LNNK faction adopted the list of the candidates for the posts in the Cabinet of Ministers. Today the list of the candidates is expected to be submitted to the President and the Chairman of the Saeima. The faction also adopted a government declaration. The press will not be officially informed about the list of the candidates and the declaration until they are submitted, still, the names of the candidates are known from unofficial sources. It is also expected that the Presidium of the Saeima will adopt a decision regarding the date of the extraordinary session on Friday. The most possible date is August 18. The meeting of the LNNK faction also adopted the statement rejecting the possibility of an agreement on collaboration with "Latvijas Cels". LNNK does not agree to most of the political conditions put forward by "LC". The LNNK declaration does not include clauses on Citizenship Law and agreements with Russia. Mr.Krastins explained that it was sufficient that the declaration stated that the government would implement the Saeima decisions and international agreements. He informed the press that LNNK will take a full political responsibility for the new government. According to unofficial information the Cabinet will be constituted by the following members: Andrejs Krastins, Prime-Minister (LNNK member, a lawyer); Minister of Defence - Anita Stankevica (former "LC" faction member, former leader of the "Women's League"), Minister for Foreign Affairs - Aleksandrs Kirsteins (LNNK member, Head of the Saeima Commission for Foreign Affairs), State Minister of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs - Juris Sinka ("Tevzemei un Brivibai" member, former BBC journalist and Latvian emigrant newspaper editor); Minister of Economics - Dzintars Kalnins (an American businessman); State Minister of Privatization - Roberts Zile ("Tevzemei un Brivibai" member, an economist); Minister of Finance - Edmunds Krastins ("Farmers' Union" member, former State Minister for State Property in Birkavs' Cabinet); Minister of Transport - Aristids Lambergs (Head of the LNNK party, an American businessman); Minister of Interior - Imants Bekess (former police inspector); Minister for State Reforms - Viesturs Pauls Karnups (LNNK member, former chief of immigration bureau in Australian Papua-New Guinea, former Acting-Head of the CID, a sociologist); Minister of Welfare - Maris Budovskis (Deputy-Chairman of the LNNK faction, one of the "hard-liners", a physician); Minister of Justice - Aiva Zarina (Judge of the Central District of Riga, lawyer); Minister of Education and Science - Elmars Grens ( a scientist, academician); Minister for Environment and Regional Development - Inese Vaidere (LNNK member, an economist), Minister of Culture - Ramona Umblija (works at the Cultural foundation); State Minister of Health Care - Viktors Jansons (physician); State Minister for Human Rights - Modris Vitols (Secretary General of the Christian Democrats, a student of politology).

Yesterday LNNK faction adopted the list of the candidates for the posts in the Cabinet of Ministers. Today the list of the candidates is expected to be submitted to the President and the Chairman of the Saeima. The faction also adopted a government declaration. The press will not be officially informed about the list of the candidates and the declaration until they are submitted, still, the names of the candidates are known from unofficial sources. It is also expected that the Presidium of the Saeima will adopt a decision regarding the date of the extraordinary session on Friday. The most possible date is August 18. The meeting of the LNNK faction also adopted the statement rejecting the possibility of an agreement on collaboration with "Latvijas Cels". LNNK does not agree to most of the political conditions put forward by "LC". The LNNK declaration does not include clauses on Citizenship Law and agreements with Russia. Mr.Krastins explained that it was sufficient that the declaration stated that the government would implement the Saeima decisions and international agreements. He informed the press that LNNK will take a full political responsibility for the new government. According to unofficial information the Cabinet will be constituted by the following members: Andrejs Krastins, Prime-Minister (LNNK member, a lawyer); Minister of Defence - Anita Stankevica (former "LC" faction member, former leader of the "Women's League"), Minister for Foreign Affairs - Aleksandrs Kirsteins (LNNK member, Head of the Saeima Commission for Foreign Affairs), State Minister of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs - Juris Sinka ("Tevzemei un Brivibai" member, former BBC journalist and Latvian emigrant newspaper editor); Minister of Economics - Dzintars Kalnins (an American businessman); State Minister of Privatization - Roberts Zile ("Tevzemei un Brivibai" member, an economist); Minister of Finance - Edmunds Krastins ("Farmers' Union" member, former State Minister for State Property in Birkavs' Cabinet); Minister of Transport - Aristids Lambergs (Head of the LNNK party, an American businessman); Minister of Interior - Imants Bekess (former police inspector); Minister for State Reforms - Viesturs Pauls Karnups (LNNK member, former chief of immigration bureau in Australian Papua-New Guinea, former Acting-Head of the CID, a sociologist); Minister of Welfare - Maris Budovskis (Deputy-Chairman of the LNNK faction, one of the "hard-liners", a physician); Minister of Justice - Aiva Zarina (Judge of the Central District of Riga, lawyer); Minister of Education and Science - Elmars Grens ( a scientist, academician); Minister for Environment and Regional Development - Inese Vaidere (LNNK member, an economist), Minister of Culture - Ramona Umblija (works at the Cultural foundation); State Minister of Health Care - Viktors Jansons (physician); State Minister for Human Rights - Modris Vitols (Secretary General of the Christian Democrats, a student of politology). Diena, Labrit, Neatkariga, SM Segodnya

Deputy-Director of the CID Mr.Ugis Sulcs explained that residents of Latvia traveling with Soviet internal passports with "square stamps" to the countries that recognized such passports would not have to apply for return visas. He also said that the issuance of travel passports was suspended due to technical reasons, i.e. the shortage of blank passports. As for provisional travel document their issuance is not possible until the adoption of the alien law. Mr.Sulcs also noted that several countries have not recognized provisional travel documents issued by Estonia which caused problems for holders of such documents.

Deputy-Director of the CID Mr.Ugis Sulcs explained that residents of Latvia traveling with Soviet internal passports with "square stamps" to the countries that recognized such passports would not have to apply for return visas. He also said that the issuance of travel passports was suspended due to technical reasons, i.e. the shortage of blank passports. As for provisional travel document their issuance is not possible until the adoption of the alien law. Mr.Sulcs also noted that several countries have not recognized provisional travel documents issued by Estonia which caused problems for holders of such documents. Panorama Latvii

Last night there was an explosion of a bomb planted next to the building of the Zemgale District School Council. There were no casualties and no serious damages. In the morning the police pressed picketers to leave the yard of School 26 which is a dozen meters away from the building of the School Council.

Last night there was an explosion of a bomb planted next to the building of the Zemgale District School Council. There were no casualties and no serious damages. In the morning the police pressed picketers to leave the yard of School 26 which is a dozen meters away from the building of the School Council. SM Segodnya

On Friday Prime-Minister Birkavs and the US Ambassador Silins will sign an agreement on technical co-operation for dismantling of the Skrunda radar. The project will be implemented by an American and a Latvian company. Today Amercican experts are expected to assess projects by Latvian companies.

On Friday Prime-Minister Birkavs and the US Ambassador Silins will sign an agreement on technical co-operation for dismantling of the Skrunda radar. The project will be implemented by an American and a Latvian company. Today Amercican experts are expected to assess projects by Latvian companies. Diena