Press Report

"DIENA" interviewed Deputy-Chairman of the Russian Parliament Committee for CIS Affairs and Contacts with Compatriots Abroad Vyacheslav Igrunov. While touching upon the situation in the Baltic states, Mr. Igrunov emphasized the importance of providing non-citizens with economic rights equal to those enjoyed by citizens. He stressed that naturalization of non-citizens along with granting them equal political and economic rights would be a powerful factor of strengthening Latvia's independence. Mr.Igrunov believes that non-citizens should not be used as a tool for political pressure on the Baltic states. Instead, the pressure may be used to improve the situation of non-citizens. Mr. Igrunov supports the concept of "sleeping" Russian citizenship for all compatriots. (The principle is practiced by Spain, the country granting its citizenship to all citizens of Latin countries.) The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee warned Latvia against joining NATO and explained that the step would force Russia to alter its transit roots to bypass Latvia. Diena

Yesterday the Saeima adopted the second reading of amendments to the Law on Elections. The Saeima declined suggestions on allowing former KGB officers and members of the Communist party and the Interfront to run for seats in the Saeima. The next elections will be held on the first Saturday of October 1998. Diena, SM

Member of the Saeima Ilmars Bisers in an interview for "SM" spoke in favor of canceling employment restrictions for non-citizens. Mr. Bisers is a member of the Saeima Committee working on a human rights chapter to be added to the Satversme (the Constitution). Its draft guarantees basic human rights and liberties to all residents of Latvia and names human rights a priority of the state of Latvia. Mr. Bisers agreed that the adoption of the new Satversme chapter would require amending of several laws and abolishing death penalty. SM

Mr. Vladlen Dozortsev ("People's Harmony") believes the recent support of canceling the "window mechanism" by Head of the Human Rights Committee Antons Seiksts ("Latvijas Cels") to be a populist maneuver. According to Mr. Dozortsev's forecasts, all initiatives aimed at amending the Citizenship Law will be blocked by the "Tevzemei un Brivibai"/LNNK faction. SM