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.

Integration and Minority Information Service
of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies

• Discussions about the new government
• European Commission (EC) will not prepare any recommendations regarding the education reform
• Problems in the area of the education reform implementation
• Deputies of the Russia State Council discuss possible economic sanctions against Latvia
• Connection between the Venstpils Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language schools activist and the Russias State Council deputy speaker
• Saeima MP Boris Tsilevich points to the lack of discussion about the education reform
• Commentary of the political analyst Vladimir Grjaznevich (Russia) on the latest protest actions against the education reform in Latvia
• Seminar Ethnic cleavage in referendum on the Latvias accession to the European Union
• Embassy of Uzbekistan in Latvia opens a Sunday school

New government of Latvia could be established on the basis of five Saeima right-wing political parties. This initiative of People’s Party and Latvia’s First Party has been already supported by the For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM and the Union of Greens and Farmers.

New government of Latvia could be established on the basis of five Saeima right-wing political parties. This initiative of Peoples Party and Latvias First Party has been already supported by the For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM and the Union of Greens and Farmers. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

During the press conference the Spokesman for EU Enlargement Jean-Christophe Filori has reportedly stated that education system of Latvia is an interior affair of the state and not within the competence of the EC. Spokesman also stressed that the opinion of EC regarding observation of minority rights in Latvia has not changed, and that EC believes that Latvia complies with all EU standards in this area.

During the press conference the Spokesman for EU Enlargement Jean-Christophe Filori has reportedly stated that education system of Latvia is an interior affair of the state and not within the competence of the EC. Spokesman also stressed that the opinion of EC regarding observation of minority rights in Latvia has not changed, and that EC believes that Latvia complies with all EU standards in this area. Latvijas Avize

According to the information of the Ministry of Education and Science, the educational programs of approximately 40% minority schools already correspond to the requirements of the Law on Education, allowing up to 40% of instruction in minority language at minority schools. The schools directors, interviewed by

According to the information of the Ministry of Education and Science, the educational programs of approximately 40% minority schools already correspond to the requirements of the Law on Education, allowing up to 40% of instruction in minority language at minority schools. The schools directors, interviewed by Diena journalist, have pointed to radical negative changes in the attitude of minority students and their parents towards the reform over the last year, as one of the main problems.

Deputies of the Russia State Council have discussed the latest amendments to the Law on Education adopted by the Saeima. Several MPs have reportedly pointed to the necessity to adopt the law which would stipulate economic sanctions against Latvia.

Deputies of the Russia State Council have discussed the latest amendments to the Law on Education adopted by the Saeima. Several MPs have reportedly pointed to the necessity to adopt the law which would stipulate economic sanctions against Latvia. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Latvian foreign policy experts believe that actions against the education reform have been partly organized in Moscow. This statement is motivated by the fact that the leader of Venstpils Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language schools Aleksandrs Kazakovs is also an assistant to theRussia’s State Council deputy speaker Dmitry Rogozin.

Latvian foreign policy experts believe that actions against the education reform have been partly organized in Moscow. This statement is motivated by the fact that the leader of Venstpils Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language schools Aleksandrs Kazakovs is also an assistant to theRussias State Council deputy speaker Dmitry Rogozin. Diena

Chas featuresan article by the Saeima MP Boriss Tsilevich, who points to the lack of discussion in the area of education reform.

Diena features a commentary of the political analyst of the magazine Expert Severo-Zapad Vladimir Grjaznevich (Russia) about the latest protest actions against the education reform in Latvia. Vladimir Grjaznevich believes that the protest actions are mainly directed against the new political reality for Russian-speaking youth, where there is no bright future for ‘Russian-speaking political organizations retaining nostalgia for the USSR. According to the author, the actual situation in the area of minority languages has become more balanced in the Baltic States over the last 10 years.

Latvijas Avize features an article about the seminar Ethnic cleavage in referendum on the Latvias accession to the European Union. According to the researcher of the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences Inese Supule, the most dangerous dividing factor is the attitude of Russian-speaking youth towards the national values, which has become aggressively negative over the last years. Media expert Sergejs Kruks has stated that the main problem is the unsuccessful communication between government and ethnic minorities or the lack of this communication.

Embassy of Uzbekistan in Latvia has opened a Sunday school, in order to provide an opportunity for Uzbek youth to study their mother tongue and traditions.

Embassy of Uzbekistan in Latvia has opened a Sunday school, in order to provide an opportunity for Uzbek youth to study their mother tongue and traditions. Diena