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

• January ratings of political parties
• Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Inese Vaidere reproves EP Deputy Elisabeth Schroedter for distribution of tendentious information about Latvia
• Polish support for Polish minority education in Latvia
• Differing opinions about the latest amendments to the Law on Education
• Participants at economic forum Russia and Baltic States in Larger Europe discuss observation of minority rights in Latvia and Estonia

Latvijas Fakti (Latvian Facts) opinion poll indicates that the most popular political party with the rating 27,3% in January was New Era. Other most popular parties were People’s Party (6,2%), For Human Rights in the United Latvia (6,1%), People’s Harmony Party (5,8%), Union of Greens and Farmers (5,0%). The rating of Latvia’s First Party was 2,3%. The opinion poll was conducted before the changes in the governing coalition.

Latvijas Fakti (Latvian Facts) opinion poll indicates that the most popular political party with the rating 27,3% in January was New Era. Other most popular parties were Peoples Party (6,2%), For Human Rights in the United Latvia (6,1%), Peoples Harmony Party (5,8%), Union of Greens and Farmers (5,0%). The rating of Latvias First Party was 2,3%. The opinion poll was conducted before the changes in the governing coalition. Neatkariga Rita Avize

Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Inese Vaidere (Fatherland and Freedom/Latvian National Independence Movement)has sent a letter to the head of the European Parliament’s (EP) Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defense Policy Elmar Brok,  criticizing EP Deputy Elisabeth Schroedter for distributing imprecise and tendentious information about Latvia. Inese Vaidere believes that the Elisabeth Schroedter’s reporting about the Law on Education and the choice of the instruction language in minority schools is not objective. The Latvian parliamentarian states that Elisabeth Schroedter’s suggestion to provide education on two languages, is advocating only the rights of Russian minority while ignoring the interests of other ethnic minorities living in Latvia.

Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Inese Vaidere (Fatherland and Freedom/Latvian National Independence Movement)has sent a letter to the head of the European Parliaments (EP) Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defense Policy Elmar Brok, criticizing EP Deputy Elisabeth Schroedter for distributing imprecise and tendentious information about Latvia. Inese Vaidere believes that the Elisabeth Schroedters reporting about the Law on Education and the choice of the instruction language in minority schools is not objective. The Latvian parliamentarian states that Elisabeth Schroedters suggestion to provide education on two languages, is advocating only the rights of Russian minority while ignoring the interests of other ethnic minorities living in Latvia. Latvijas Avize

Newspapers feature articles about the meeting of Ambassador of Poland to Latvia Tadeusz Fiszbach, Minister Education and Science of Latvia Karlis Sadurskis and representatives of Polish schools in Latvia. The ambassador has pointed to the stable place of six Polish schools and one kindergarten in the education system of Latvia, stressing that the Senate of Poland will continue the financial support for Polish education in Latvia. According to the ambassador, every year these schools receive various support from Poland, including teaching aids and 30 teachers, working at the Polish schools in Latvia.

Newspapers feature articles about the meeting of Ambassador of Poland to Latvia Tadeusz Fiszbach, Minister Education and Science of Latvia Karlis Sadurskis and representatives of Polish schools in Latvia. The ambassador has pointed to the stable place of six Polish schools and one kindergarten in the education system of Latvia, stressing that the Senate of Poland will continue the financial support for Polish education in Latvia. According to the ambassador, every year these schools receive various support from Poland, including teaching aids and 30 teachers, working at the Polish schools in Latvia. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize features different opinions about the latest amendments to the Law on Education including the ratio 60-40% of Latvian and minority language use in minority schools. The head of the Saeima parliamentary group For Human Rights in the United Latvia Jakov Pliner believes that the adoption of the amendments in the third reading will cause new protest actions. Meanwhile Saeima Education, Culture and Science Committee Janis Strazdins states that this ratio reflects arrangement with the left-wing opposition representatives. The Ex-Deputy Prime Minister Ainars Slesers (Latvias First Party) in an interview to Chas states that the most optimal ratio for instruction in minority schools is 50% - 50%. Latvijas Avize, Chas

The issue of observation of minority rights in Baltic States was discussed during the economic forum “Russia and Baltic States in Larger Europe”  in Moscow. Head of the Council of Russia Federation Committee on Foreign Affairs Mihail Margelov stated that Russia is troubled about the observation of ethnic minority rights in Latvia and Estonia. Meanwhile head of the Head of the European Commission's delegation to Russia Richard Wright stated that Latvia and Estonia have fulfilled all EU political criteria in the area of minority rights, stressing that representatives of minorities should be aware of the advantages of knowing the state language for social and political integration.

The issue of observation of minority rights in Baltic States was discussed during the economic forum Russia and Baltic States in Larger Europe in Moscow. Head of the Council of Russia Federation Committee on Foreign Affairs Mihail Margelov stated that Russia is troubled about the observation of ethnic minority rights in Latvia and Estonia. Meanwhile head of the Head of the European Commission's delegation to Russia Richard Wright stated that Latvia and Estonia have fulfilled all EU political criteria in the area of minority rights, stressing that representatives of minorities should be aware of the advantages of knowing the state language for social and political integration. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize