Press Report

A special

A special Saeima committee is working on the draft of the Second Part of the Satversme entitled "On Human Rights". The final version of the draft is expected to be submitted to the Saeima in November. Mr. Ilmars Bisers, Chairman of the committee currently working on the draft, believes that Latvia will not be able to join the European Union without providing constitutional guarantees of human rights. The existing "Law on the Rights of an Individual and a Citizen" does not have the force of a constitutional law since it was not adopted by a qualified majority of votes. According to Mr. Bisers, the draft is based on constitutions of the EU countries and on international human rights instruments. Most of the discussions in the working committee are focused on the acceptability of capital punishment and on the difference between the rights of citizens and non-citizens. Still, Head of the Saeima Juridical Committee Antons Seiksts noted that most of the arguments concern legal issues rather than political ones. Diena

According to a spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the signing of the border agreement with Latvia as well as President Ulmanis' visit to Russia are not scheduled for the nearest future. He explained that although all the required documents were prepared, the agreement could not be signed until delimitation maps were completed.

According to a spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the signing of the border agreement with Latvia as well as President Ulmanis' visit to Russia are not scheduled for the nearest future. He explained that although all the required documents were prepared, the agreement could not be signed until delimitation maps were completed. B&B

According to the opinion poll by the SKDS company,

According to the opinion poll by the SKDS company, "Tevzemei un Brivibai"/LNNK has the highest rating among Latvia's inhabitants (13.6%). "TB"/LNNK is followed by Bojars' Social Democrats (12.3%), "Saimnieks" (9.4%) and "Latvijas Cels" (8.4%). All other parties are supported by not more than 4% of inhabitants. The poll shows the growth of "Saimnieks" popularity. All state institutions have a negative rating. The most unpopular ones are the Customs, the Police, the State Revenue Service, the Saeima, the State Human Rights Office, the Army and local self-governments. Neatkariga

Press Report

According to the CID, only 35,000 non-citizens have received new non-citizens' passports while the total number of new passports to be issued this year is 700,000. Old Soviet passports will become invalid for traveling abroad on January 1, 1997. Only 3.92% of non-citizens have received new passports in Riga.

According to the CID, only 35,000 non-citizens have received new non-citizens' passports while the total number of new passports to be issued this year is 700,000. Old Soviet passports will become invalid for traveling abroad on January 1, 1997. Only 3.92% of non-citizens have received new passports in Riga. Neatkariga

Press Report

Press Report

Last Saturday (13 September) a conference on the

Last Saturday (13 September) a conference on the Satversme Court and human rights was held in Riga. Its participants discussed the possibility of giving individuals the right to apply to the Satversme Court. The legislation in force does not provide for such an opportunity. The right of an individual to apply to the Constitutional court is provided by the European Convention on Human Rights. Judge of the European Human Rights Court Mr. Egils Levits spoke in support of amending the existing legislation to give individuals the right to apply to the Satversme Court if they have already applied to all court instances. Diena

"DIENA"

interviewed several prominent Latvian politicians on the possibility of reducing the number of employment restrictions currently applied to non-citizens. The Latvian Human Rights Bureau believes that part of the restrictions should be abolished. These are the restrictions of non-citizens' right to work as private detectives, armed guards, members of air vessel crews, sworn attorneys, assistants to sworn attorneys and a restriction of non-citizens' right to receive the license for establishing a pharmacy business. The interviewed several prominent Latvian politicians on the possibility of reducing the number of employment restrictions currently applied to non-citizens. The Latvian Human Rights Bureau believes that part of the restrictions should be abolished. These are the restrictions of non-citizens' right to work as private detectives, armed guards, members of air vessel crews, sworn attorneys, assistants to sworn attorneys and a restriction of non-citizens' right to receive the license for establishing a pharmacy business. The SaeimaSaeima has canceled only one of the restrictions by giving non-citizens the right to work as firefighters. Mr. Vladlen Dozortsev of the "Peoples' Harmony" faction is skeptical about the situation and believes that the governing coalition is not willing to support any considerable changes in the legislation that would expand non-citizens' rights. Head of the has canceled only one of the restrictions by giving non-citizens the right to work as firefighters. Mr. Vladlen Dozortsev of the "Peoples' Harmony" faction is skeptical about the situation and believes that the governing coalition is not willing to support any considerable changes in the legislation that would expand non-citizens' rights. Head of the "Saimnieks""Saimnieks" faction Ernests Jurkans suggests to consider the issue of restrictions in connection with amendments to the naturalization procedure. Still, he believes that citizens should have the sole right to work as sworn attorneys and captains of air vessels. faction Ernests Jurkans suggests to consider the issue of restrictions in connection with amendments to the naturalization procedure. Still, he believes that citizens should have the sole right to work as sworn attorneys and captains of air vessels. "Latvijas Cels""Latvijas Cels" deputy Karlis Leiskalns said that deputy Karlis Leiskalns said that "LC""LC" supported the abolishment of all restrictions with an exception of the right of a non-citizen to be a captain of an air vessel. Juris Sinka of supported the abolishment of all restrictions with an exception of the right of a non-citizen to be a captain of an air vessel. Juris Sinka of "Tevzemei un Brivibai"/LNNK"Tevzemei un Brivibai"/LNNK insists that most of the restrictions should be preserved. The only restriction that can be discussed, according to Sinka, is the one not allowing a non-citizen to run a pharmacy. Chairman of the insists that most of the restrictions should be preserved. The only restriction that can be discussed, according to Sinka, is the one not allowing a non-citizen to run a pharmacy. Chairman of the SaeimaSaeima Human Rights Committee Antons Seiksts told Human Rights Committee Antons Seiksts told "DIENA""DIENA" that the Committee would consider all suggestions on possible abolishment of the restrictions. that the Committee would consider all suggestions on possible abolishment of the restrictions.

"SM" interviewed leading Latvian politicians on the recent meeting of the Head of the OSCE Mission to Latvia with the Latvian President. Head of the Mission Charles Magee recommended to reduce naturalization fee, to simplify history and language tests and to grant citizenship to all children born in Latvia after August 1991. Aleksandrs Kirsteins of the AParty for National Reforms@ said that the measures suggested by Mr. Magee would not give any tangible results since non-citizens have better opportunities for business activities in Russia than Latvian citizens. Christian Democrat A.Rugate believes that the recommendations should be thoroughly considered. Still, the peculiar situation in the country should be kept in mind as well. Ziedonis Cevers ("Saimnieks") and Dzintars Abikis ("Latvijas Cels") share Mr. Magee's views. Mr. Abikis does not believe the naturalization fee to be too high. SM

Minister of Foreign Affairs Birkavs had a meeting with

Minister of Foreign Affairs Birkavs had a meeting with "Tevzemei un Brivibai"/LNNK faction members on the Border Agreement with Russia. "TB"/LNNK still insisted on referring to the 1920 Peace Treaty in the Agreement. Neatkariga

Press Report

Press Report

Yesterday the

Yesterday the Saeima adopted the first reading of the amendment to the Law on the Ratification of the Geneva Refugee Convention. The amendment provides for applying the refugee status to all refugees and not only to those entering Latvia from European countries. If the amendment is passed in its final (second) reading on 25 September, Sweden and Finland will finally agree to establish a non-visa regime with Latvia. "Tevzemei un Brivibai"/LNNK and "Latvijai" deputies as well as several independent deputies voted against the amendment. Their main argument was the weakness of Latvia's Eastern borders. Diena

Latvia has acceded to the Council of Europe Convention on Humiliation and Torture and to its two protocols. The Convention provides for the forming of an international committee that would, among other tasks, inspect penitentiaries on the territories of the countries that acceded to the Convention.

Latvia has acceded to the Council of Europe Convention on Humiliation and Torture and to its two protocols. The Convention provides for the forming of an international committee that would, among other tasks, inspect penitentiaries on the territories of the countries that acceded to the Convention. SM

Leaders of several Estonian political parties support the idea of granting citizenship to elderly non-citizens (over 60 years of age) and to non-citizens' children born after 1991. Such a noticeable change in Estonian domestic policy could be explained by the peculiar situation when 127,000 inhabitants of the country have Russian citizenship, 300,000 are stateless and several thousand have citizenship of countries other than Estonia while the entire population is 1,462,000. Every eleventh inhabitant of Estonia currently is a Russian citizen while each fourth is stateless.

Leaders of several Estonian political parties support the idea of granting citizenship to elderly non-citizens (over 60 years of age) and to non-citizens' children born after 1991. Such a noticeable change in Estonian domestic policy could be explained by the peculiar situation when 127,000 inhabitants of the country have Russian citizenship, 300,000 are stateless and several thousand have citizenship of countries other than Estonia while the entire population is 1,462,000. Every eleventh inhabitant of Estonia currently is a Russian citizen while each fourth is stateless.

Press Report

Press Report

"PANORAMA LATVII"

published an interview with Head of the OSCE Mission to Latvia Charles Magee. The Head of the OSCE Mission to Latvia believes that the Mission will continue its activities after December 1997. Mr. Magee supports the changing of the name of the Mission suggested by the Latvian Government. He noted that some delegations to the OSCE objected to such a change and that Latvia should do its best to prove that the change of the name is not used to disguise a plan of closing the Mission. Mr. Magee gave a brief survey of the tasks performed by the Mission since its establishment. He admitted that the Mission was not fully satisfied with all provisions of the Citizenship Law. Still, he is aware of the final version of the Law being a result of a compromise. The Head of the OSCE Mission pointed to the inefficiency of "the window mechanism". The Mission believes that the right to receive citizenship through naturalization should be given to all permanent residents. This would help to increase the naturalization rate and to reduce the number of non-citizens. Mr. Magee stressed that OSCE High Commissioner van der Stoel shared the opinion. He marked the growing interest to naturalization issues displayed by the President. Still, the Mission was discouraged by the final wording of the Memorandum for the European Commission. The document did not include any suggestions on resolving the problem of non-citizens and suggests to study it. Mr. Magee believes that the Government is capable of solving more significant problems than a mere study of the naturalization process. published an interview with Head of the OSCE Mission to Latvia Charles Magee. The Head of the OSCE Mission to Latvia believes that the Mission will continue its activities after December 1997. Mr. Magee supports the changing of the name of the Mission suggested by the Latvian Government. He noted that some delegations to the OSCE objected to such a change and that Latvia should do its best to prove that the change of the name is not used to disguise a plan of closing the Mission. Mr. Magee gave a brief survey of the tasks performed by the Mission since its establishment. He admitted that the Mission was not fully satisfied with all provisions of the Citizenship Law. Still, he is aware of the final version of the Law being a result of a compromise. The Head of the OSCE Mission pointed to the inefficiency of "the window mechanism". The Mission believes that the right to receive citizenship through naturalization should be given to all permanent residents. This would help to increase the naturalization rate and to reduce the number of non-citizens. Mr. Magee stressed that OSCE High Commissioner van der Stoel shared the opinion. He marked the growing interest to naturalization issues displayed by the President. Still, the Mission was discouraged by the final wording of the Memorandum for the European Commission. The document did not include any suggestions on resolving the problem of non-citizens and suggests to study it. Mr. Magee believes that the Government is capable of solving more significant problems than a mere study of the naturalization process. Panorama LatviiPanorama Latvii The Ministry of Education and Science banned the use of foreign text-books in Latvian schools this year. The ban is not applied to books on foreign languages. Books published abroad can be used in exceptional cases only. Still, books in many subjects for Russian-language schools are not available from Latvian publishing houses and are currently imported from Russia. All schools (including Russian-language schools) should use text-books in history, geography, physical training and music in the Latvian language. Riga City Council Deputy Jacob Pliner believes the requirement to be a violation of the Hague Recommendations on education for ethnic minorities.

The Ministry of Education and Science banned the use of foreign text-books in Latvian schools this year. The ban is not applied to books on foreign languages. Books published abroad can be used in exceptional cases only. Still, books in many subjects for Russian-language schools are not available from Latvian publishing houses and are currently imported from Russia. All schools (including Russian-language schools) should use text-books in history, geography, physical training and music in the Latvian language. Riga City Council Deputy Jacob Pliner believes the requirement to be a violation of the Hague Recommendations on education for ethnic minorities.