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

Latvian Foreign Minister, Indulis Berzins, speaking at the debates in the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly on Thursday, noted that Russia has still failed to return to the Baltic states their diplomatic properties that were taken over by the Soviet Union after World War II.

Latvian Foreign Minister, Indulis Berzins, speaking at the debates in the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly on Thursday, noted that Russia has still failed to return to the Baltic states their diplomatic properties that were taken over by the Soviet Union after World War II. Neatkariga

Jurmala City Council chairman will meet with the directors of Jurmala’s hotels and resorts to discuss introduction of changes in visa regime with Russia, Ukraine and other former CIS countries. The proposals on the procedure providing for easier travel arrangements for tourists coming to Jurmala will be developed and submitted to CoM.

Jurmala City Council chairman will meet with the directors of Jurmalas hotels and resorts to discuss introduction of changes in visa regime with Russia, Ukraine and other former CIS countries. The proposals on the procedure providing for easier travel arrangements for tourists coming to Jurmala will be developed and submitted to CoM. Diena

The Latvian parliament Thursday in the second reading adopted legislative amendments envisaging granting of the status of a politically repressed person and all related social guarantees such as pensions, tax and social insurance payments, as well as medical care free of charge and reduced price tickets in public transport to the persons falling in this category. The law applies to Latvian citizens only. FHRUL deputy M.Mitrofanov’s proposal that all persons who have been repressed after World War II in the territory of the USSR and now are residing in Latvia are to be included in this category only raised strong opposition and was turned down.

The Latvian parliament Thursday in the second reading adopted legislative amendments envisaging granting of the status of a politically repressed person and all related social guarantees such as pensions, tax and social insurance payments, as well as medical care free of charge and reduced price tickets in public transport to the persons falling in this category. The law applies to Latvian citizens only. FHRUL deputy M.Mitrofanovs proposal that all persons who have been repressed after World War II in the territory of the USSR and now are residing in Latvia are to be included in this category only raised strong opposition and was turned down. Neatkarig, Chas, Vesti Segodnja, Panorama Latvii

Yesterday 3-days conference “Russian Culture in the Baltic Countries Between the Wars” was opened in Riga. More than 30 researchers representing 7 countries will report on different aspects of Russian community life in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Finland.

Yesterday 3-days conference Russian Culture in the Baltic Countries Between the Wars was opened in Riga. More than 30 researchers representing 7 countries will report on different aspects of Russian community life in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Finland. Chas, Vesti Segodnja

Chas

interviews Latvian Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Centre director N.Muiznieks and the main discussion subject is the essay contest organised by publishing house Vieda. N.Muiznieks finds the idea of the contest is simply horrible, however, according to Latvian legislation, it does not have the ground to file a claim with court for kindling national hate. In regard to integration N.Muiznieks says that for sure it will happen one day, however, at different times in different areas. As a positive example he mentions language – more and more Russian-speakers know Latvian, but the sphere which is very difficult to integrate is information and the means of mass media. Concerning education, N.Muiznieks thinks that very seldom the Ministry of Education is ready to have a dialogue with national minorities. interviews Latvian Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Centre director N.Muiznieks and the main discussion subject is the essay contest organised by publishing house “Vieda”. N.Muiznieks finds the idea of the contest is “simply horrible, however, according to Latvian legislation, it does not have the ground to file a claim with court for kindling national hate”. In regard to integration N.Muiznieks says that for sure it will happen one day, however, at different times in different areas. As a positive example he mentions language – more and more Russian-speakers know Latvian, but the sphere which is very difficult to integrate is information and the means of mass media. Concerning education, N.Muiznieks thinks that very seldom the Ministry of Education is ready to have a dialogue with national minorities. Yesterday the Parliament approved in the first reading the Law on Ruled Professions and Recognition of Job Qualification containing the article according to which foreign diplomas are recognised only if their holders are Latvian or EU citizens or repatriates who have arrived to Latvia not from the former CIS countries. Thus, the law does not say anything about diplomas of non-citizens.

Yesterday the Parliament approved in the first reading the Law on Ruled Professions and Recognition of Job Qualification containing the article according to which foreign diplomas are recognised only if their holders are Latvian or EU citizens or repatriates who have arrived to Latvia not from the former CIS countries. Thus, the law does not say anything about diplomas of non-citizens. Vesti Segodnja

Vesti Segodnja

interviews the director of Ukrainian school in Riga. She provides information about the school, its curriculum and students. interviews the director of Ukrainian school in Riga. She provides information about the school, its curriculum and students. The State Language Centre together with lawyers working for the Government is exploiting whether there are possibilities to examine state language proficiency of 6 deputies of Riga City Council.

The State Language Centre together with lawyers working for the Government is exploiting whether there are possibilities to examine state language proficiency of 6 deputies of Riga City Council.

Rigas Balss

asked OSCE Mission to Latvia head P.Semneby how the cases when deputies have language problems are solved in the civilised world. It is hard to tell, whether such type of formal requirements exist in other countries, however, there is UN Convention on Civil and Political Rights which provides for that all citizens have to have rights and possibilities to take part in the affairs of state administration, vote and be elected without any discrimination and unjustified restrictions. The OSCE recommended Latvia to abolish these requirements, however, there is the conflict of interests. From one side, our organisation agrees that elected municipalities and the Parliament have to operate in the state language and that means a deputy has to speak the language. It could be regulated by the working documents of the sessions. From the other side, a voter has to have sovereign rights to vote for a candidate of his/her own choice not restricted in any way, including those candidates who are not able to work with a full capacity, for example, the blind. asked OSCE Mission to Latvia head P.Semneby how the cases when deputies have language problems are solved in the civilised world. “It is hard to tell, whether such type of formal requirements exist in other countries, however, there is UN Convention on Civil and Political Rights which provides for that all citizens have to have rights and possibilities to take part in the affairs of state administration, vote and be elected without any discrimination and unjustified restrictions. The OSCE recommended Latvia to abolish these requirements, however, there is the conflict of interests. From one side, our organisation agrees that elected municipalities and the Parliament have to operate in the state language and that means a deputy has to speak the language. It could be regulated by the working documents of the sessions. From the other side, a voter has to have sovereign rights to vote for a candidate of his/her own choice not restricted in any way, including those candidates who are not able to work with a full capacity, for example, the blind. It is difficult for me to give prognoses on the further development of the situation concerning the claims against Riga Council deputies – with a big interest I am waiting for the judgement of the European Human Rights Court in the case of Podkolzinoj; it will be of big importance in solving similar cases in the future.

It is difficult for me to give prognoses on the further development of the situation concerning the claims against Riga Council deputies – with a big interest I am waiting for the judgement of the European Human Rights Court in the case of Podkolzinoj; it will be of big importance in solving similar cases in the future.

Of course, the situation concerning the claims against the deputies is a difficult one. The requirements in regard to state language skills exist, but they should not be the reason for banning somebody rights to be elected. In this field the most important thing is sovereign right of voters and only then come secondary requirements, such as, language skills. I agree that this is a very difficult problem, which requires hard work to find a solution; it does not have simple solutions.

Of course, the situation concerning the claims against the deputies is a difficult one. The requirements in regard to state language skills exist, but they should not be the reason for banning somebody rights to be elected. In this field the most important thing is sovereign right of voters and only then come secondary requirements, such as, language skills. I agree that this is a very difficult problem, which requires hard work to find a solution; it does not have simple solutions.