Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

President, party and nationality policy in Latvia, 1991–1999

2004; Routledge; Volume: 56; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/0966813042000220467

1465-3427

Helen M. Morris,

Historical Geopolitical and Social Dynamics

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image size Notes Sergei Zaletaev, ‘Ya nikogda skazhu: ukhodi, ukhodite otsyuda!’, interview with President Guntis Ulmanis, Panorama Latvii, 6 October 1993, p. 1. RFE/RL, 30 September 1993. Pavel Shinkarenko, ‘Russkie v Latvii’, Rossiiskie vesti, 1 September 1994, p. 4. ITAR TASS, 22 July 1994, BBC SWB, SU/2057, E/2, 26 July 1994. RFE/RL, 4 October 1994. RFE/RL, 22 August 1994. Diena, 10 July 1997; RFE/RL, 21 May 1997; RFE/RL, 11 July 1997. Interview with Olgerts Tipans, Adviser to the President on Nationality Affairs, Riga, 25 October 1999; Protection of Ethnic Minorities, Report by the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights 54th Session, Geneva, 16 March–24 April 1998. RFE/RL, 20 November 1997; RFE/RL, 30 December 1997. Baltic News Service (BNS), 29 October 1997. Helen M. Morris, ‘EU Enlargement and Latvian Citizenship Policy’, Journal on Ethnopolitics and Minority Issues in Europe, 2003, 1. Interview with European Commission Official, October 1998. Jamestown Monitor, 28 January 1998; RFE/RL, 10 February 1998. Interfax, 13 February 1998, BBC SWB, SU/3153, E/1, 17 February 1998. RFE/RL, 6 April 1998; James Meeks, ‘Latvia Tries to Clean up its Nationalist Act’, Guardian, 4 April 1998. Latvian Radio, 7 April 1998, BBC SWB, SU/3197, E/3, 9 April 1998. RFE/RL, 25 August 1998. BNS, 2 October 1998. BNS, 6 July 1999; ‘Valsts prezidentes Vairas Viķes‐Freibergas uzruna Sarajevā, Rīgā, 1999.gada 29.jūlijā’ (Speech by H.E. Mrs. Vaira Vike‐Freiberga, President of the Republic of Latvia, in Sarajevo, 29 July 1999). ‘Latvijas Valsts prezidentes uzruna ANO Ģenerālās asamblejas 54.sesijā Ņujorkā, 1999.gada 22.septembrī’ (Speech by H.E. Mrs. Vaira Vike‐Freiberga, President of the Republic of Latvia, at the 54th General Assembly of the United Nations, New York, 22 September 1999). ‘Letter from President Vaira Vike‐Freiberga to Saeima Committee Chairman Janis Straume,’ 14 July 1999, Diena, 15 July 1999. Interview with Undine Bollow, Deputy Head of OSCE Mission to Latvia, 13 October 1998. Basic Directions of Latvia's Foreign Policy until the Year 2005 (Riga, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1998); Speech by Valdis Birkavs, Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, 80th Anniversary of the Republic of Latvia, Riga, 17 November 1998. Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia Standing Commission on Human Rights and National Questions, ‘The Republic of Latvia: Human Rights Issues,’ 1993. RFE/RL, 7 April 1992. The Equal Rights deputies walked out of the Supreme Soviet after the Soviet crackdown in Vilnius in January 1991. As a condition of their return, the faction demanded the abolition of all laws contravening Soviet legislation, formation of a new coalition government and the removal of all barricades from Riga. After six weeks an agreement was reached in which an inter‐faction bureau was established to mediate future disputes. Eric Rudenshiold, ‘Ethnic Dimensions in Contemporary Latvian Politics: Focusing Forces for Change’, Soviet Studies, 44, 4, 1992, p. 624. Interview with Dr Aleksandr Gaponenko, Baltic Russian Institute, 23 October 1998, Riga. Anatol Lieven, ‘The Baltic Russians’, in Anatol Lieven, The Baltic Revolution: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and the Path to Independence (London, Yale University Press, 1993), pp. 200–201. RFE/RL, 17 October 1991. Rudenshiold, ‘Ethnic Dimensions in Contemporary Latvian Politics: Focusing Forces for Change’, p. 625. Jan Trapans, ‘Latvian Supreme Council Faces Split over Citizenship Law’, Report on the USSR, 3, 39, 27 September 1991. Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia, Standing Commission on Human Rights and National Questions, ‘The Current Legislative Situation in Latvia. The Republic of Latvia: Human Rights Issues’, 1993; ‘On the Renewal of Republic of Latvia Citizens, Rights and Fundamental Principles of Naturalisation,’ Republic of Latvia Supreme Council Resolution, 15 October 1991. Helsinki Watch, ‘Violations by the Latvian Department of Citizenship and Immigration’, Helsinki Watch, October 1993. Trapans, ‘Latvian Supreme Council Faces Split over Citizenship Law’. Rigas Latvijas Jaunatne, 24 November 1993, FBIS‐USR‐94‐002, 10 January 1994. RFE/RL, 11 August 1992. Izvestiya, 13 October 1992, p. 7. L. Liege, assistant to the Latvian parliamentary commission on human rights and national questions, in Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia, Standing Commission on Human Rights and National Questions, ‘The Current Legislative Situation in Latvia. The Republic of Latvia: Human Rights Issues’, 1993. Interview with Juris Vidins, MP For Fatherland and Freedom, Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee, Riga, Latvia, 10 June 1996. ‘Latvia Factions Jointly Prepare Citizenship Draft Law’, Interfax, 24 January 1994, FBIS‐SOV‐94‐016, Daily Report, 25 January 1994. Livs, a Finno‐Ugric people, are the oldest nationality to have settled the territory which is now Latvia. The Economist Intelligence Unit, ‘Country Report Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania’, 2nd Quarter 1994, p. 24. ‘Latvia Saeima Faction Sends Letter to CSCE Official’, Riga LETA, 6 January 1994, FBIS‐SOV‐94‐005, Daily Report, 7 January 1994. William Schmidt, ‘Latvia’s Worry: What to do with all its Russians', The New York Times, 1 March 1994, p. 3. Mission of Experts to Latvia on the Laws on Citizenship and on the Status of Foreigners, ‘Secretariat Memorandum prepared by the Directorate of Legal Affairs’, Riga, 13–15 September 1993. Diena, 3 February 1996. Viesturs Pauls Karnups, Saeima deputy, Latvian National Independence Party, ‘Nacionala Neatkariba’, 29 December 1993, in FBIS‐USR‐94‐018, 28 February 1994. Outlines of laws are in Diena Supplement to Publication in the Saeima and the Cabinet of Ministers, 1993, 20.10.02, p. 3. Panorama Latvii, 20 January 1993. Diena, 19 October 1995, cited in Nils Muižnieks, ‘The Legal and Social Situation of Non‐citizens in Latvia: Topical Issues’, paper presented at a seminar on the legal and social situation, legislation and implementation, Riga, 3 November 1995. Neatkariga Cina, 1 June 1995, p. 5, FBIS‐SOV‐95‐135‐S, 1 June 1995. CSCE Mission to Latvia, ‘Activity Report #1’, Riga, 6 December 1993. RFE/RL, 29 November 1993. Latvijas Jaunatie, 24 November 1993. The Economist Intelligence Unit, ‘Country Report Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,’ 3rd Quarter 1994, p. 25. Siegerist, a German citizen of Latvian descent, has a conviction in Germany for inciting racial hatred. ‘Ulmanis Invites Maris Grinblats to Form New Government’, ITAR‐TASS, 8 November 1995, FBIS‐SOV‐95‐216, Daily Report, 8 November 1995. ‘Apvienības “Tēvzemei un Brīvībai”/LNNK Programma Ievads’ (Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK, Programme Introduction), Rīgā, 21 Jūnijā 1997. RFE/RL Newsline, 23 June 1997. BNS, 29 February 1996. BNS, 28 September 1996. BNS, 20 September 1996. Latvian Radio, 16 October 1997, BBC SWB, SU/3052, E/2–3, 17 October 1997. OMRI Daily Digest, 9 October 1996. Baltic Data House, The Programme for Studies and Activities ‘Towards a Civic Society’, Survey of Latvian Inhabitants November 1997–January 1998. The Economist Intelligence Unit, ‘Country Report Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,’ 2 Quarter 1994, p. 24. Baltic Data House, The Programme for Studies and Activities ‘Towards a Civic Society’, Survey of Latvian Inhabitants, November 1997–January 1998. The Naturalisation Board, Latvian Human Rights Office, Board for Citizenship and Migration Affairs and the Ministry of Education and Science were among those who participated in the working group for the Programme for Studies and Activities ‘Towards a Civic Society’. The Programme of Studies and Activities: On the Way to a Civil Society, Stage 4, Regional Conferences, November 1997–May 1998. Kristiâna Lîbane, MP for Latvia's Way, comments by the Latvian authorities on the preliminary draft report to the committee on the honouring of obligations and commitments by member states of the Council of Europe (monitoring committee), Doc. 8426, 24 May 1999, Appendix V. On 4–11 February 1945 Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt met in the Crimean resort of Yalta to gain Stalin's agreement to enter the war against Japan and also address the division of occupied Germany and, more broadly, Europe into spheres of influence. BNS, 28 May 1997. Diena, 26/27 December 1997. Radio Riga Network, 1500 GMT, 26 November 1997. BNS, 21 February 1998. BNS, 8 January 1998. Interfax, 1 May 1998, BBC SWB, SU/3217, E/1, 4 May 1998. BNS, 30 January 1998. Interview with Olgerts Tipans, Adviser to the President on Nationality Affairs and Member of the Planning Committee for the Integration Concept, Riga, 25 October 1999. ‘West Can No Longer Tolerate Rights Violations in Latvia’, Rossiiskaya gazeta, 20 March 1998 p. 5, FBIS‐SOV‐98‐079, Daily Report, 20 March 1998. Latvian Radio, Riga, 15 April 1998, BBC SWB, SU/3203 E/1, 17 April 1998. Interfax News Agency, Moscow, 1 April 1998. BNS, 21 April 1998. RFE/RL, 14 April 1998. Russian TV channel, 9 April 1998, BBC SWB, SU/3199, E/3, 13 April 1998. Interfax, 21 April 1998, BBC SWB, SU/3208, E/1, 23 April 1998. RFE/RL, 14 April 1998. Juris Dobelis of For Fatherland and Freedom Party/Latvian National Independence Party, The Baltic Times, 27 August–2 September 1998. RFE/RL, 2 October 1998. Interview with Indulis Berzins, Latvian Foreign Minister, Saeima Deputy, Latvia's Way, Riga, 21 October 1998. BNS, 15 May 1998. The question on the referendum was ‘Do you want the law of 22 June 1998, “The amendment to the law on citizenship,” to be repealed?’ Therefore, if you were in favour of the amendments you had to vote ‘no’. Interview with Boris Tsilevich, Saeima Deputy, National Harmony Party, For Human Rights in a United Latvia faction, Riga, 20 October 1998. Election results: Tautas Partija (People's Party) 24 seats, Latvijas Ceļs (Latvia's Way) 21, For Fatherland and Freedom Party/Latvian National Independence Party 17, Tautas Saskaoas Partija (People's Harmony party) 16, Latvijas Sociāldemokrātu Apvienība (Social Democratic Party) 14, Jaunā Partija (New Party) 8. The referendum votes were ‘Yes’ 44.8% and ‘No’ 53%. Moscow Times, 25 April 1998. BNS, 14 August 1998. BNS, 2 October 1998. Interview with Boris Tsilevich, Saeima Deputy National Harmony Party, For Human Rights in a United Latvia faction, Riga, 13 May 1999. ‘Latvian Voters Say Yes to Amendments’, The Baltic Times, 8–14 October 1998. Personal correspondence from Juris Sinka, Saeima Deputy For Fatherland and Freedom/Latvian National Independence Party, 30 November 1999. Interview with Latvian Foreign Ministry official, 15 October 1999. Interview with Vaira Paegle, Saeima Deputy, People's Party, Riga, 21 October 1998. BNS, 12 January 1999. Personal correspondence with Dzintars Abikis, Saeima Deputy, People's Party, Chairman, Committee on Education, Culture and Science, 29 November 1999. BNS, 24 August 1999. Oxford Analytica Daily Brief, 7 June 2000: LATVIA: Privatisation Problems. Oxford Analytica Daily Brief, 1 December 1998: LATVIA: New Government. BNS, 9 April 1999. BNS, 6 July 1999. BNS, 9 December 1999. Jamestown Monitor, 13 July 1999. Non‐paper handed over by Latvian Embassy in London, 18 October 1999. Interview with Ilmars Geige, National Affairs Division, Ministry of Justice, 14 June 1996. ‘About Citizenship and Migration Issues Board’, http://www.pid.gov.lv/aboutpid/eabout.htm. Helsinki Watch, ‘Violations by the Latvian Department of Citizenship and Immigration’; Secretary General of the UN, ‘Summary of the Report on a Fact‐Finding Mission to Latvia’, 27 November 1992. An executive summary of that report was issued on 2 December 1992 (A/47/748, annex). Helsinki Watch, ‘Violations by the Latvian Department of Citizenship and Immigration’, p. 5. Ibid., p. 22. Ibid., p. 9. The historical minority are those non‐Latvians who lived in Latvia prior to 1940. Ibid., p. 11; G. Kotov & V. Buzajev, ‘Main Characteristics of Latvian Human Rights and International Humanitarian Co‐operation Committee Activities’, 1 July 1994, in Ole Nørgaard, Lars Johannsen, & Hello Willumsen, ‘Divided Societies’, in The Baltic States after Independence (Cheltenham, Edward Elgar, 1996), p. 192. Interview with Mr. Lietuvnikes, Prosecutor, Daugavpils Court, 12 June 1996; ‘People’s Accord Party Political Platform', Neatkariga Cina, 1 June 1995 p. 5, FBIS‐SOV‐95‐135‐S, Daily Report, 1 June 1995. Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers, No. 351, 21 November 1995; ‘Darbibas mērķi un uzdevumi, Naturalizācijas Pāravalde’, (Objectives and Tasks of the Naturalisation Board), 2000; Interview with Janis Kahanovics, Deputy Head, Republic of Latvia Naturalisation Board, Riga, 14 June 1996; RFE/RL, 9 January 1998. Interview with Vitalijs Aizbalts, Managing Director, Daugavpils Muncipal Council, 11 June 1996. The Lat is around £0.9, the average monthly net wage in Latvia in 1998 was 97 Lats (Latvijas Statistikas Gadagrāmata 1999); Interview with Angelita Kamenska, Research Associate, Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies, Riga, 10 June 1996; ‘Naturalizācijas pārvaldes projekti’, (Projects of the Naturalisation Board), Naturalizācijas Pāravalde, 2000.