Integration monitor is a daily Latvian press digest on ethnic minority and society integration issues. The Monitor reviews the biggest Latvian dailies: Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga (in Latvian language), Vesti Segodnya (in Russian language). In specific cases other information sources are used. Latvian Centre for Human Rights is not responsible for information published by the media.

Press Report

Press Report

Diena

publishes comments by columnist Visvaldis Laâcis to the article Language, Democracy and Western Values by OSCE Mission to Latvia Head P.Semneby (Diena, 29 November). V.Lacis blames the officials of the EU and the OSCE, in particular Mr.Semneby for ignoring all international legal and moral aspects and not understanding the real values and the truth. He provides the quotes of several Swedish politicians and academics concerning Latvia and Russia relations and Soviet occupation, where these politicians and academics acknowledge the fact that Russia occupied Latvia and suffered heavy consequences. V.Lacis arguments against the statements of the Europeans that the issues of national minorities are the main problem for Latvia, in his opinion, Russian migrants who came to Latvia after World War II, makes Latvias position difficult and it is wrong to consider these people a minority. As well as he refers to the national policies concerning national minorities of Sweden and Germany, saying, Sweden does not recognise 40 thousand Estonians who came to Sweden 57 years ago and now are the citizens of Sweden as a minority. V.Lacis also gives his interpretation of the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights stating that the Latvians and Latvia are the ones that are under the threat and should be protected with international legal instruments. publishes comments by columnist Visvaldis Laâcis to the article “Language, Democracy and Western Values” by OSCE Mission to Latvia Head P.Semneby (Diena, 29 November). V.Lacis blames the officials of the EU and the OSCE, in particular Mr.Semneby for ignoring all international legal and moral aspects and not understanding the real values and the truth. He provides the quotes of several Swedish politicians and academics concerning Latvia and Russia relations and Soviet occupation, where these politicians and academics acknowledge the fact that Russia occupied Latvia and suffered heavy consequences. V.Lacis arguments against the statements of the Europeans that the issues of national minorities are the main problem for Latvia, in his opinion, “Russian migrants who came to Latvia after World War II, makes Latvia’s position difficult and it is wrong to consider these people a minority”. As well as he refers to the national policies concerning national minorities of Sweden and Germany, saying, “Sweden does not recognise 40 thousand Estonians who came to Sweden 57 years ago and now are the citizens of Sweden as a minority”. V.Lacis also gives his interpretation of the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights stating that the Latvians and Latvia are the ones that are under the threat and should be protected with international legal instruments. Society Integration Foundation has distributed the funds for the approved integration projects. In total 60 projects were submitted to the Foundation and 22 were approved with total funding of the amount of LVL 126 845. More funding is allotted for projects targeted at social integration (54%) than to the projects targeted to ethnic integration (46%).

Society Integration Foundation has distributed the funds for the approved integration projects. In total 60 projects were submitted to the Foundation and 22 were approved with total funding of the amount of LVL 126 845. More funding is allotted for projects targeted at social integration (54%) than to the projects targeted to ethnic integration (46%). Diena

Chas comments that “first, again education and culture projects for national minorities were not approved and did not get money. Second, the work of the Foundation overlaps the work of National Programme of the Latvian Language Learning”.

Chas comments that first, again education and culture projects for national minorities were not approved and did not get money. Second, the work of the Foundation overlaps the work of National Programme of the Latvian Language Learning.

Representatives of alliance of leftist forces For Human Rights in United Latvia, Latvia's Russian Community and Latvia's Citizens and Non-citizens Union asked in an open letter to Vaira Vike-Freiberga not to impose "forceful replacement of native tongue" with the state language which, the authors of the letter believe, may harm society integration and "strengthen splitting within Latvia's society". According to the letter, signed by MP Jakovs Pliners from the alliance of leftist forces, Russian Community head Vjaceslavs Altuhovs and Citizens and Non-citizens Union head Vladimirs Sokolovs, the intention to transfer to Latvian as the language of instruction at all public secondary schools as of 2004 is in contradiction with the basic idea of society integration and the international rights of minorities. The letter states that society integration should not be forced in any area, saying "Mrs. President, we believe that you too agree to that principle". Pliners, talking to reporters on Wednesday, pointed at the low quality of Latvia's education which is proved by international research but "the ruling parties, despite protests and international norms concerning minorities, want to stop financing" the secondary schools with Russian language of instruction. Pliners believes representatives of minorities should have state language literacy but "children are better developing if they study in their native tongue".

Representatives of alliance of leftist forces For Human Rights in United Latvia, Latvia's Russian Community and Latvia's Citizens and Non-citizens Union asked in an open letter to Vaira Vike-Freiberga not to impose "forceful replacement of native tongue" with the state language which, the authors of the letter believe, may harm society integration and "strengthen splitting within Latvia's society". According to the letter, signed by MP Jakovs Pliners from the alliance of leftist forces, Russian Community head Vjaceslavs Altuhovs and Citizens and Non-citizens Union head Vladimirs Sokolovs, the intention to transfer to Latvian as the language of instruction at all public secondary schools as of 2004 is in contradiction with the basic idea of society integration and the international rights of minorities. The letter states that society integration should not be forced in any area, saying "Mrs. President, we believe that you too agree to that principle". Pliners, talking to reporters on Wednesday, pointed at the low quality of Latvia's education which is proved by international research but "the ruling parties, despite protests and international norms concerning minorities, want to stop financing" the secondary schools with Russian language of instruction. Pliners believes representatives of minorities should have state language literacy but "children are better developing if they study in their native tongue". Chas, Vesti Segodnja, Telegraf, Panorama Latvii

Saeima Education, Science and Culture Committee when discussing the amendments to the Law on Municipalities regarding the regulating the usage of the Latvian language drafted by FF/LNNK has concluded that the usage of the Latvian language is already regulated by the State Language Law and the submitted amendments even narrows the area of the usage of the state language.

Saeima Education, Science and Culture Committee when discussing the amendments to the Law on Municipalities regarding the regulating the usage of the Latvian language drafted by FF/LNNK has concluded that the usage of the Latvian language is already regulated by the State Language Law and the submitted amendments even narrows the area of the usage of the state language. Diena

Chas

informs that Saeimas Social Democrats faction decided not to support the initiative of the President to abolish language requirements for election candidates. informs that Saeima’s Social Democrats faction decided not to support the initiative of the President to abolish language requirements for election candidates. Latvian prime minister Thursday will depart for a working visit in Brussels to join a meeting of Europe's liberal-democratic and reform party leaders on Friday. A.Berzins in Brussels is scheduled to meet also NATO Secretary General George Robertson and join a dinner with NATO member countries ambassadors in Brussels.

Latvian prime minister Thursday will depart for a working visit in Brussels to join a meeting of Europe's liberal-democratic and reform party leaders on Friday. A.Berzins in Brussels is scheduled to meet also NATO Secretary General George Robertson and join a dinner with NATO member countries ambassadors in Brussels. Latvijas Vestnesis

A statement on a "film about Latvia on the Russian State Television [RTR]" has been worked out within the Russian Duma, it expresses indignation over the film's "extremely biased" content, the newspaper

A statement on a "film about Latvia on the Russian State Television [RTR]" has been worked out within the Russian Duma, it expresses indignation over the film's "extremely biased" content, the newspaper Vesti Segodnja reports today. RTR aired the documentary on Latvia November 28, part of the series "The Former Union". The deputies are indignant that the film, instead of speaking of "the actual situation with compatriots in Latvia", chose to show only the "family life of Russian businessmen". The draft statement says that the film's authors have not touched upon "screaming problems" - the large number of non-citizens, social and economic discrimination of Russian residents, language restrictions. Diena, Neatkariga

Vesti Segodnja

talks to FHRUL member M.Mitrafanov. In regard to Presidents initiative to abolish language requirements for election candidates he says, We have to conclude that the deal – the OSCE closure for such trifle [the abolishment of language requirements] is small cheating from the party of the international community. He also blames OSCE for not taking stronger position in the issues of national minorities in Latvia. M.Mitrafanovs voices the strong opposition against the education reform in 2004. Education and science minister Karlis Greiskalns announced that he does not see any reasons why the transfer to secondary education in the Latvian language as the only instruction language should be postponed.

Education and science minister Karlis Greiskalns announced that he does not see any reasons why the transfer to secondary education in the Latvian language as the only instruction language should be postponed. Telegraf writes the minister boasted that his ministry has not made any serious mistakes for 19 months, including bilingual education. The minister says that education issue has been politicised.

Panorama Latvii

publishes the article about the work, functions, plans and role of the Association of the Russians in Latvia. publishes the article about the work, functions, plans and role of the Association of the Russians in Latvia.

Vecernaya Riga

publishes the article The New Political Perspectives of the OSCE, where the newspaper refers to the recent summit of the OSCE foreign affairs ministers in Bucharest, in particular, Russias efforts to introduce changes in the regulations of the OSCE. publishes the article “The New Political Perspectives of the OSCE”, where the newspaper refers to the recent summit of the OSCE foreign affairs ministers in Bucharest, in particular, Russia’s efforts to introduce changes in the regulations of the OSCE.