Press Report

Press Report

The Council for Co-operation between the Governing Factions supported an urgent ratification of the UN Convention on Refugees by Latvia and the adoption of the Law on Refugees by the

The Council for Co-operation between the Governing Factions supported an urgent ratification of the UN Convention on Refugees by Latvia and the adoption of the Law on Refugees by the Saeima. Last Wednesday Minister of Foreign Affairs Valdis Birkavs in his report to the Council named flaws in the Latvian legislation as the main obstacle to introducing a non-visa entry regime with several European countries. Diena

According to

According to "PANORAMA LATVII", Estonia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Byelorussia, Slovakia, USA, Israel, Poland, Norway, Great Britain, Finland, Czech Republic, Italy, South Africa, Switzerland, France, Germany, Turkey, Samoa and the Philippines have recognized the new non-citizens' passport. Estonia and Lithuania do not require entrance visas from holder of the new passports. PL

Council of the Association of Latvian National Cultural Societies Marija Briede believes that one of the important reasons of non-citizens' indifference toward naturalization is the feeling of being cheated by politicians who promised citizenship to everyone during Latvia's struggle for independence. The majority of non-Latvians supported the country's independence during the referendum and many of them defended independent Latvia in 1991. Even the nationalistic Citizens' Congress supported the idea of granting citizenship to all independence supporters. Although the CID was to a great extent formed on the basis of the Congress, its officials often openly humiliated non-citizens while the CID acted as a political organization and not a State institution. Mrs. Briede expects that negative attitude toward naturalization may form among children of mixed marriages where one of the parents is a non-citizen. She believes that the Citizenship Law itself is more "liberal" than technical procedures of its implementation. Therefore, the situation may be improved even without amending the Law just by reviewing separate technical naturalization procedures.

Council of the Association of Latvian National Cultural Societies Marija Briede believes that one of the important reasons of non-citizens' indifference toward naturalization is the feeling of being cheated by politicians who promised citizenship to everyone during Latvia's struggle for independence. The majority of non-Latvians supported the country's independence during the referendum and many of them defended independent Latvia in 1991. Even the nationalistic Citizens' Congress supported the idea of granting citizenship to all independence supporters. Although the CID was to a great extent formed on the basis of the Congress, its officials often openly humiliated non-citizens while the CID acted as a political organization and not a State institution. Mrs. Briede expects that negative attitude toward naturalization may form among children of mixed marriages where one of the parents is a non-citizen. She believes that the Citizenship Law itself is more "liberal" than technical procedures of its implementation. Therefore, the situation may be improved even without amending the Law just by reviewing separate technical naturalization procedures. Diena

Yesterday the Governing Coalition Council considered candidates for Head of the Human Rights Office. Those are E.Vebers (

Yesterday the Governing Coalition Council considered candidates for Head of the Human Rights Office. Those are E.Vebers (LNNK), O.Bruvers ("Saimnieks") and O.Baterevskis (suggested by Prime-Minister Skele). The latter gained no support from the Council members. Mr. Vebers won two votes while O.Bruvers was supported by three members of the Council and the Saeima will choose between the two candidates. SM

Press Report

Press Report

Director of the Latvian Center for Human Rights and Ethnic Research Nils Muiznieks dispels the most common illusions about international reaction to the problem of non-citizens in Latvia. In his article for

Director of the Latvian Center for Human Rights and Ethnic Research Nils Muiznieks dispels the most common illusions about international reaction to the problem of non-citizens in Latvia. In his article for "DIENA" he deals with the "myths" propagated by Latvian politicians. The first "myth" is "the lack of understanding of the situation in Latvia by representatives of international organizations." Mr. Muiznieks reminds that several international organizations have studied Latvia's problems and are aware of the consequences of occupation, the situation of non-citizens and the naturalization process. The OSCE Mission, UN representatives and foreign embassies hold consultations with Latvian experts, NGO representatives and minority societies as well as with Naturalization Board officers and other Government officials. The second "myth" is connected with expected support of repatriation of non-Latvians by the international community. None of the Western countries will agree to receive emigrants from Latvia or to support any repatriation program. Mr. Muiznieks singles out misinterpretation of comments on the Citizenship law. Some politicians declare it to be an act fully approved by international organizations. The originators of this "myth" ignore the principle of "silent diplomacy" practiced by these organizations. In this connection he quotes Decree 183 by the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly that points at the inadmissibility of discrimination of non-citizens. Nils Muiznieks also points at the growing co-operation between OSCE High Commissioner van der Stoel and the European Union. The OSCE High Commissioner and EU Commissioner van den Broek will report on the situation in Latvia to the EU Conference in the Netherlands this May. Another "myth" is the demands of the West to naturalize non-citizens without demanding a knowledge of the Latvian language. None of the recommendations, including those by the OSCE High Commissioner, provided for canceling language tests. Diena

Chairman of the

Chairman of the Saeima Committee for the Implementation of the Citizenship Law Andrejs Pozarnovs believes that "a lack of motivation" accounts for a low number of applicants for naturalization. Only 10% of Latvia's inhabitants having the right to obtain citizenship through naturalization used it as of February 1, 1997. Persons loyal to Latvia, according to Mr. Pozarnovs, will prefer obtaining citizenship to enjoying certain advantages provided by a non-citizen="s" status.Diena

"SM" interviewed CID Immigration officers on the procedure of issuance of residence permits. According to an amendment to the Law on Foreigners and Stateless Persons, foreigners who had "propiska" in Latvia on July 1, 1992, should apply for residence permits. The amendment came into force on January 27, 1997. Holders of permanent residence permits should re-register their permits annually. CID officers confirmed that holders of residence permits were allowed to invite their parents for permanent residence in Latvia only in exceptional cases. Holders of residence permits can lose the permits if they do not have sources of income sufficient to support them and their families. This does not apply to individuals who had "propiska" in Latvia on July 1, 1992.

Journalist Yegor Olshantsev in an article for

Journalist Yegor Olshantsev in an article for "SM" explains the passivity of potential applicants for citizenship by their sense of dignity. Many non-Latvians voted for independence and defended Latvia's independence at the barricades. They supported democratic ideals and were promised citizenship by the leaders of the "Awakening". Now they feel disappointed and humiliated by nationalistic policies and rhetoric. The author also believes that non-citizens will not rush for new non-citizens' passports until they are pressed to do so. SM

Press Review

Press Review

EU Commissioner van den Broek and OSCE High Commissioner van der Stoel paid special attention to employment restrictions for non-citizens. Although

EU Commissioner van den Broek and OSCE High Commissioner van der Stoel paid special attention to employment restrictions for non-citizens. Although Saeima Chairman Alfreds Cepanis told Mr. van der Stoel that the differences between the rights of citizens and non-citizens were being gradually abolished, recent developments do not prove it to be true. The Saeima declined amendments to the Law on Pharmacies that would have allowed non-citizens to run pharmacy businesses. The amendments were opposed by "Tevzemei un Brivibai", "Latvijai" and some "Latvijas Cels" deputies. The State Human Rights Bureau considered the list of 60 differences between the rights of citizens and non-citizens submitted by the "People's Harmony Faction". The Bureau found out that several employment restrictions contradicted international conventions acceded to by Latvia. Among those are bans on non-citizens="" employment as firemen, private detectives, aircraft maintenance specialists, aircraft pilots, issuance of licenses of pharmacy or veterinary pharmacy owners to non-citizens, as well as a ban on non-citizens working as lawyers or lawyers' assistants. Head of the Saeima Human Rights Committee Antons Seiksts told "DIENA" that the Committee was analyzing the restrictions on non-citizens' rights for taking certain jobs and positions. Mr. Seiksts believes that, according to a Chicago Convention, only a citizen can head an aircraft crew. Still, he admits that non-citizens could be permitted to work as members of a crew. Saeima member Vladlen Dozortsev ("Peoples' Harmony") says that the Saeima blocks all the attempts of resolving the problem of non-citizens and will not abolish the restrictions. He believes that current policies toward non-citizens to be an obstacle to the country's advancement toward EU membership. "Latvijas Cels" Deputy Karlis Leiskalns believes that the number of restrictions should have been made as low as possible. That would minimize their interest toward obtaining citizenship. Diena

Boris Tsilevich in an article for

Boris Tsilevich in an article for "SM" stresses that EU Commissioner van den Broek during his visit to Latvia also played attention to the problem of non-citizens. Tsilevich believes that Latvia will have to change its policy toward non-citizens to be accepted as a potential EU member by the European community. Latvia, being a member of the 1961 Convention on the reduction of statelessness, has to grant citizenship to all individuals born on its territory. Latvian politicians ignored the requirement explaining that its non-citizens cannot be considered stateless since they can obtain Russian citizenship and the Convention cannot be applied to them. Now the same argument can be used against Latvia's admission to the EU. The EU is not likely to welcome a country with a large portion of its residents being potential Russian citizens. Tsilevich points at the general increase of interest toward the problem of non-citizens among politicians and in the media. He believes that the Government is laying the basis for reviewing naturalization principles. Boris Tsilevich predicts the growth of the Social-Democrats' influence in the Saeima and their possible alliance with "Tevzemei un Brivibai". Still, he also does not exclude the possibility of "Latvijas Cels", "Saimnieks" and smaller parties forming a coalition and choosing a more liberal policy toward non-citizens. This, according to Tsilevich, would improve the economic situation in the country and stimulate non-citizens to undergo naturalization. SM

Member of the

Member of the "Tevzemei un Brivibai" Party Council Olgerts Dzenitis in an article for "DIENA" tries to prove the idea of a political nation not to be acceptable to Latvia. He believes that the Latvian and the Russian communities have opposite interests. Ethnic Latvians are interested in maintaining democratic independent Latvia with the predominance of Latvian culture. According to Mr. Dzenitis, a large part of the non-Latvian community represents "the great Eastern empire" and is looking for the ways to weaken Latvia's independence. Its goal is the forming of a satellite state controlled by Russian capital. Mr. Dzenitis believes that the majority of Latvians would not welcome the forming of a political nation, since it would not meet the interests of the Latvian community. He points at the lack of respect toward the state among ethnic Latvians. Their distrust is caused by the crisis in the legal system. According to Mr. Dzenitis, the crisis is a result of providing citizenship to non-Latvians and attempts to integrate non-Latvians in the Latvian society. Diena

Press Report

Minister for European Union Affairs Aleksandrs Kirsteins told

Minister for European Union Affairs Aleksandrs Kirsteins told "DIENA" that he believed recent interest toward the problem of non-citizens in Latvia to be a result of Russia's pressure on the USA during the Helsinki summit. Mr. Kirsteins believes that Russia uses the issue of Russian-speakers to disguise its strategic interests in the Baltic region. He thinks that Latvia's admission to the EU would depend on its economic progress and not on the Citizenship Law. Mr. Kirsteins suggested to study the reasons for the lack of interest toward obtaining citizenship among non-citizens. Head of the Latvian Institute of Foreign Policy Atis Leins said that the problem of non-citizens was used by the EU as a pretext for not admitting Latvia, the country being Russia's neighbor. Mr. Leins said the he was surprised by the fact that the UN allocated huge amounts to language problems and ignored the possibility of repatriating Latvia's non-citizens. Statistical data shows that emigration from Latvia has decreased tremendously from 53,130 in 1992 to 9,999 in 1996. The Naturalization Board has worked out a new program for history tests. Currently, the changes suggested by the Board are reviewed by the Ministry of Education. Diena

Press Report

Minister of Economics Guntars Krasts and Director General of the Privatization Agency Janis Naglis agreed on the procedure of appointing Directors of the Agency. The Minister of Economics suggested replacing the four Directors to fill the vacancies through a contest while the Director General of the Agency insisted on all four Directors retaining their offices. Prime-Minister Skele also objected to replacing all the Directors seeing it as an attempt to bring the Agency under

Minister of Economics Guntars Krasts and Director General of the Privatization Agency Janis Naglis agreed on the procedure of appointing Directors of the Agency. The Minister of Economics suggested replacing the four Directors to fill the vacancies through a contest while the Director General of the Agency insisted on all four Directors retaining their offices. Prime-Minister Skele also objected to replacing all the Directors seeing it as an attempt to bring the Agency under "Tevzemei un Brivibai" control. The agreement between the Minister of Economics and the Director General of the Privatization Agency provides for replacing two Directors and holding a contest for the vacancies. The contest will be held by an independent auditing company. Diena

President Ulmanis in an interview for

President Ulmanis in an interview for "DIENA" said that EU Commissioner van den Broek and OSCE High Commissioner van der Stoel had not interpreted his suggestion to "open naturalization windows" to non-citizens as a call for amending the Citizenship Law. According to Mr. Ulmanis, both Mr. van den Broek and Mr. van der Stoel stressed that the Citizenship Law complied with European standards. The Commissioners did not criticize or press upon the President. President Ulmanis noted that Mr. van der Stoel, while speaking about complicated history tests, pointed at the question on the President's powers and duties. Mr. Ulmanis had to agree that he himself would have had problems while answering the question. President Ulmanis believes that naturalization of non-citizens could prevent the forming of two isolated communities in Latvia. He agreed that some of employment restrictions were pointless. Still, according to Mr. Ulmanis, time was needed to cancel some of them. Diena

Russian ambassador to Latvia Alexander Udaltsov. Mr. Udaltsov confirmed that Prime-Minister Skele's visit to Moscow was canceled after that Saeima adopted the Declaration on Occupation. He did not exclude the possibility of Mr. Skele's visit to Moscow during the meeting of the Joint Committee in May. The Russian Ambassador pointed at the difference in priorities pursued by the two countries. Latvia focuses on economic aspects while Russia sees the situation of Russian-speakers as a priority issue. Mr. Udaltsov stressed that Russia insisted on Latvia "implementing UN, Council of Europe, Baltic Council and OSCE recommendations to a full extent." He mentioned his meeting with OSCE High Commissioner van der Stoel who criticized naturalization history tests for being too complicated. Ambassador Udaltsov noted that test questions "were ideologically charged" and could be unacceptable to many ethnic Russians. When interviewed on security issues, Mr. Udaltsov explained that Russia saw no reason for NATO enlargement and would prefer the OSCE to become the basis for security in Europe.

Russian ambassador to Latvia Alexander Udaltsov. Mr. Udaltsov confirmed that Prime-Minister Skele's visit to Moscow was canceled after that Saeima adopted the Declaration on Occupation. He did not exclude the possibility of Mr. Skele's visit to Moscow during the meeting of the Joint Committee in May. The Russian Ambassador pointed at the difference in priorities pursued by the two countries. Latvia focuses on economic aspects while Russia sees the situation of Russian-speakers as a priority issue. Mr. Udaltsov stressed that Russia insisted on Latvia "implementing UN, Council of Europe, Baltic Council and OSCE recommendations to a full extent." He mentioned his meeting with OSCE High Commissioner van der Stoel who criticized naturalization history tests for being too complicated. Ambassador Udaltsov noted that test questions "were ideologically charged" and could be unacceptable to many ethnic Russians. When interviewed on security issues, Mr. Udaltsov explained that Russia saw no reason for NATO enlargement and would prefer the OSCE to become the basis for security in Europe. Diena

Writer Marina Kostenetskaya in an article for

Writer Marina Kostenetskaya in an article for "NEATKARIGA" analyzes the reasons for non-citizens' indifference toward naturalization. She believes that a large part of non-citizens is offended by politicians claiming all non-Latvians not to be loyal to independent Latvia. Mrs. Kostenetskaya reminds that Latvia would not have gained its independence through the 1990 referendum if not for Russian-speakers' votes. Middle-aged non-citizens often consider complicated history tests to be humiliating, writes Mrs. Kostenetskaya.