Press Review

Procurator General Janis Skrastins in his article for

Procurator General Janis Skrastins in his article for "DIENA" pointed at the fact that Latvia had not acceded to the Sixth Protocol to the European Human Rights Convention. The Protocol recommends abolishing capital punishment. Several European countries have not signed the Sixth Protocol. Still, most European Union countries have abolished capital punishment. According to Skrastins, the European experience shows that the number of murders in a country does not depend on whether the country's legislation provides for capital punishment. Although the majority of a country="s" population traditionally objects against abolishing capital punishment, most European governments have ignored public opinion. Skrastins suggests to apply capital punishment in exceptional cases and to analyze the crime situation in the country under the President's moratorium on death penalty. Diena

"DIENA"

journalist Ainars Dimants claims that only thirty-four restrictions of non-citizens' rights out of seventy listed by Tsilevich have remained in the Latvian legislation. None of them, according to Dimants, restricts non-citizens' political rights. He refers to Kaija Gertnere, who said that ten differences between the rights of citizens and non-citizens contradict the European Human Rights Convention. Two of these restrictions (banning non-citizens from being elected to a church parish council and depriving non-citizens of the right to be released from a penitentiary on amnesty) have been already abolished. Dimants stresses the importance of legislative initiative for improving the human rights situation in the country. journalist Ainars Dimants claims that only thirty-four restrictions of non-citizens' rights out of seventy listed by Tsilevich have remained in the Latvian legislation. None of them, according to Dimants, restricts non-citizens' political rights. He refers to Kaija Gertnere, who said that ten differences between the rights of citizens and non-citizens contradict the European Human Rights Convention. Two of these restrictions (banning non-citizens from being elected to a church parish council and depriving non-citizens of the right to be released from a penitentiary on amnesty) have been already abolished. Dimants stresses the importance of legislative initiative for improving the human rights situation in the country. Diena, PLDiena, PL According to “SM”, Council of Europe experts have not discovered any contradictions between the Latvian legislation and the European Human Rights Convention. During their meetings with Latvian authorities the experts recommended granting the right for education to foreigners residing in Latvia and abolishing capital punishment.

According to SM, Council of Europe experts have not discovered any contradictions between the Latvian legislation and the European Human Rights Convention. During their meetings with Latvian authorities the experts recommended granting the right for education to foreigners residing in Latvia and abolishing capital punishment. SM

"PANORAMA LATVII" reports on Mr. Paperny's case. Paperny's mother was born in Daugavpils was a citizen of Latvia before 1941, and was kept in a concentration camp by the Nazis. The Vidzeme CID office refused to issue Mr. Paperny with a citizen's passport although he had a "citizenship stamp@ in his USSR passport. The CID demanded additional confirmation of his mother's right for citizenship. Paperny applied to the court, the Procurator's Office, and to the OSCE Mission. Finally, the CID office demanded Mrs. Paperny's skull measurements to prove her identity. The OSCE Mission representative called the demand "absurd." PL

Press Report

Press Report

The Human Rights Office has worked out a document listing the differences between the rights of citizens and non-citizens. Initially, the list was drafted by Boris Tsilevich several years ago. The final version of the document by the Office was discussed by V.Dozortsev (

The Human Rights Office has worked out a document listing the differences between the rights of citizens and non-citizens. Initially, the list was drafted by Boris Tsilevich several years ago. The final version of the document by the Office was discussed by V.Dozortsev (Saeima deputy, member of the Consultative Council on Nationalities), A.Seiksts (Chairman of the Saeima Human Rights Committee), B.Tsilevich (political scientist), and L.Raihman of the Latvian Human Rights Committee. At a press-conference held last week the participants of the discussion stressed that the document was the first official recognition of discrepancies between the Latvian legislation and international norms. The document lists sixty-one differences between the rights of citizens and non-citizens and singles out 34 of them for non-compliance with international norms. The Office found ten differences contradicting international obligations taken by Latvia. Mr. Dozortsev criticized the list prepared by the Office for being inconsistent. He believed contradictions between the restrictions on the rights of non-citizens and international norms to be more numerous and said that the Office displayed a politically biased approach. Boris Tsilevich stressed that "the Russian threat" was a poor excuse for discriminating non-citizens, since the majority (80%) of Latvia="s" population are citizens. SM

A closed meeting of the Cabinet supported a proposal by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on settling the Latvian-Russian border issue. The essence of the proposal has not been revealed to the press by the Ministry. The date of the next round of the border talks has not been agreed on yet. Both Prime-Minister Skele and President Ulmanis said that they did not believe mentioning the 1920 Riga Peace Treaty to be an indispensable part of the border agreement.

A closed meeting of the Cabinet supported a proposal by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on settling the Latvian-Russian border issue. The essence of the proposal has not been revealed to the press by the Ministry. The date of the next round of the border talks has not been agreed on yet. Both Prime-Minister Skele and President Ulmanis said that they did not believe mentioning the 1920 Riga Peace Treaty to be an indispensable part of the border agreement. Neatkariga

Press Report

Chief of the Immigration Police Aivars Kurpnieks told the press yesterday that thirteen illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Angola, Sudan and Iran could not be given a refugee status. Those persons will be expelled from Latvia. Seventy-four immigrants left the Olaine Camp yesterday and will be received by Denmark, Sweden and Australia. Mr. Kurpnieks said that the Olaine Camp will not be closed. He believes that more illegal immigrants might manage to enter Latvia using the country as transit state on their way to West-European and Nordic countries.

Chief of the Immigration Police Aivars Kurpnieks told the press yesterday that thirteen illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Angola, Sudan and Iran could not be given a refugee status. Those persons will be expelled from Latvia. Seventy-four immigrants left the Olaine Camp yesterday and will be received by Denmark, Sweden and Australia. Mr. Kurpnieks said that the Olaine Camp will not be closed. He believes that more illegal immigrants might manage to enter Latvia using the country as transit state on their way to West-European and Nordic countries. Diena

The Council of Europe experts in a report to the European Commission pointed at corruption in the Latvian state institution. The report recommends Latvian Government to investigate cases of unlawful pressure on the Ministry of Finance, the Customs Department, and the State Revenue Service by senior Government officials.

The Council of Europe experts in a report to the European Commission pointed at corruption in the Latvian state institution. The report recommends Latvian Government to investigate cases of unlawful pressure on the Ministry of Finance, the Customs Department, and the State Revenue Service by senior Government officials. Diena

Press Report

Press Report

Yesterday Prime-Minister Skele delivered a speech at the European Union summit in Dublin. He pointed at Latvia's achievements in reforming the court system and the Ministry of the Interior. He also mentioned reorganization currently taking place in the Border Guard that would allow to improve control over illegal immigration. Skele stressed that foreign investments were encouraged by adopting a more liberal Land Law.

Yesterday Prime-Minister Skele delivered a speech at the European Union summit in Dublin. He pointed at Latvia's achievements in reforming the court system and the Ministry of the Interior. He also mentioned reorganization currently taking place in the Border Guard that would allow to improve control over illegal immigration. Skele stressed that foreign investments were encouraged by adopting a more liberal Land Law. Diena

The Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed concern about the possibility of NATO concluding an agreement with Russia allowing the Czech Republic, Hungary and other Central European countries to join the block, leaving the Baltic states outside the enlargement process. Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Birkavs told the press that the agreement would not mean a deal between NATO and Russia. He added that European security was impossible without Russia's participation.

The Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed concern about the possibility of NATO concluding an agreement with Russia allowing the Czech Republic, Hungary and other Central European countries to join the block, leaving the Baltic states outside the enlargement process. Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Birkavs told the press that the agreement would not mean a deal between NATO and Russia. He added that European security was impossible without Russia's participation. Diena

According to an

According to an "SM" correspondent in Moscow, Russia is considering taking a firmer stand in its relations with Latvia and Estonia. The journalist refers to a source in the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs who said that Russia would stop "being soft" toward the countries "violating the rights of compatriots". The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs circulated a statement saying that Russia would insist on Latvia and Estonia granting citizenship to all its permanent residents. The agreement concluded after the recognition of Latvia's independence by Russia obliges the two countries to grant citizenship to all individuals residing in the countries on the day of the signing of the agreement. The Ministry stresses that Russia has fulfilled its obligations. Russia is expecting Latvia to exclude the 1920 Peace Treaty from the agenda of the border delimitation talks. It is only after this change in the Latvian delegation mandate that Russia will agree to hold a meeting between Prime-Minister Chernomyrdin and Latvian Premier Skele. The article in "SM" claims that the OSCE Mission mandate was extended as a result of Russia's pressure. SM

Fifty-three refugees from the Olaine Camp are leaving for Sweden today (16 December).

Fifty-three refugees from the Olaine Camp are leaving for Sweden today (16 December). Diena

The majority of Christian Democrats at the fifth congress of the party voted against uniting with

The majority of Christian Democrats at the fifth congress of the party voted against uniting with "Tevzemei un Brivibai" and LNNK. Diena

Press Report

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided to extend the mandate of the OSCE Mission to Latvia for six moths. Last summer the Latvian Government stated the tasks set by the Mission mandate to be almost fulfilled with only few technical issues awaiting their final solution. The Government and the OSCE member countries will discuss other possible forms of co-operation with the OSCE.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided to extend the mandate of the OSCE Mission to Latvia for six moths. Last summer the Latvian Government stated the tasks set by the Mission mandate to be almost fulfilled with only few technical issues awaiting their final solution. The Government and the OSCE member countries will discuss other possible forms of co-operation with the OSCE. Neatkariga

According to several politicians, Sarmite Jegere may not be appointed Minister of Finance. Although she was named as the

According to several politicians, Sarmite Jegere may not be appointed Minister of Finance. Although she was named as the "Saimnieks" candidate, "Saimnieks" deputy Kezbergs told "DIENA" that the party has other candidates as well. Another "Saimnieks" member told "DIENA" that Prime-Minister Skele was not satisfied with Mrs. Jegere work in the Government. Still, he did not object openly to Jegere's candidature.

Vladlen Dozortsev told

Vladlen Dozortsev told "SM" that he might leave the Consultative Council on Nationalities. He criticized the Council for ignoring minority problems. He said that he, being a member of the Council, insisted on working out practical decisions to burning problems. Dozortsev suggested that the Council should deal with differences between the rights of citizens and non-citizens. Dozortsev believes that the Government should declare a moratorium on further restrictions of non-citizens' rights. Dozortsev also suggested that the President could personally monitor the situation with non-citizens' passports. Among Dozortsev's suggestions is also forming of national and cultural autonomies. Suggestions on education submitted by Mr. Dozortsev to the Council included state financing of Russian language schools and a signing of an agreement between the schools and the Government. The agreement should oblige the schools to ensure perfect knowledge of Latvian by their graduates. Dozortsev insisted on considering possible amendments to the Citizenship Law that would eliminate the "window" principle of naturalization. He believes that the President should support the Council by expressing his opinion to the Saeima. Otherwise, the Council would seem to be just an facade created to show the world that Latvia has no human rights and minority problems. SM