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

The newspaper

The newspaper Chas writes that on December 20 will be taken a decision on the future of the OSCE Mission to Latvia. The eight years of OSCE presence in Latvia, their recommendations, including the ones of the OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel have been a real splinter for Latvian authorities. Therefore they have made a titanic attempt to close the Mission. Also the President, when suggesting abolishing the language knowledge norm for deputy candidates in the election law. P.Semneby, Head of the OSCE Mission to Latvia commenting this said that it was an important step increasing the chances to close the Mission. Still Chas thinks that it would be better if both the Mission and Mr.Semneby stayed in Latvia a little bit longer.

The newspaper

The newspaper Panorama Latvii, commenting on the Presidents proposal on the language norm, states that if the norm were abolished then the number of well-known people would increase in the candidate lists. Of course, the ruling parties are not so fond of this proposal, but the Head of the OSCE Mission P.Semneby has a different opinion.

New US ambassador to Latvia approves of the Latvian president's initiative to remove from the election law the provision requiring candidates running for general elections to have top-level state language proficiency. Ambassador Brian E.Carlson, who on Friday made an introductory visit to the Latvian premier, also evaluated positively the fact that a discussion had been started on the subject, said an advisor to the Latvian Prime Minister Andris Berzins. The US ambassador and the Latvian premier also talked about further co-operation between the two nations, Prime Minister's foreign advisor Atis Sjanits told

New US ambassador to Latvia approves of the Latvian president's initiative to remove from the election law the provision requiring candidates running for general elections to have top-level state language proficiency. Ambassador Brian E.Carlson, who on Friday made an introductory visit to the Latvian premier, also evaluated positively the fact that a discussion had been started on the subject, said an advisor to the Latvian Prime Minister Andris Berzins. The US ambassador and the Latvian premier also talked about further co-operation between the two nations, Prime Minister's foreign advisor Atis Sjanits told BNS.

Neatkariga adds that the both officials expressed their conviction that Latvia was ready for closing the OSCE Mission at the end of this year because the Mission guidelines had been fulfilled.

Latvian foreign minister Indulis Berzins approves of the Latvian president's initiative to remove from the election law the provision requiring candidates running for general elections to have top level state language proficiency. Answering a question by BNS, Berzins said the suggestion by Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga was a good idea that would increase the standing of the Latvian language in elected state bodies. "The president as a responsible head of state with adequate understanding of democracy and democratic principles has proposed a very good and right idea," said the foreign minister.

Latvian foreign minister Indulis Berzins approves of the Latvian president's initiative to remove from the election law the provision requiring candidates running for general elections to have top level state language proficiency. Answering a question by BNS, Berzins said the suggestion by Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga was a good idea that would increase the standing of the Latvian language in elected state bodies. "The president as a responsible head of state with adequate understanding of democracy and democratic principles has proposed a very good and right idea," said the foreign minister. BNS

MP B.Cilevich once more “spoiled” the image of Latvia during the PACE deputies meeting with the faction For Human Rights in United Latvia. He told the guests about the existing problems with education, citizenship, and language quotas in TV. When asked if he spoke about the problems with language limitation for deputy candidates, B.Cilevich answered that he had told the guests that the abolishing of these limitations would not affect their candidates. For Human Rights in United Latvia had a sufficiently long list of candidates with a very high Latvian language knowledge.

MP B.Cilevich once more spoiled the image of Latvia during the PACE deputies meeting with the faction For Human Rights in United Latvia. He told the guests about the existing problems with education, citizenship, and language quotas in TV. When asked if he spoke about the problems with language limitation for deputy candidates, B.Cilevich answered that he had told the guests that the abolishing of these limitations would not affect their candidates. For Human Rights in United Latvia had a sufficiently long list of candidates with a very high Latvian language knowledge. Panorama Latvii

Journalists from the newspaper

Journalists from the newspaper Diena visited two Russian-speaking schools to find out the attitude of students to the planned transition to the tuition in the state language in year 2004. Neither students in Riga Secondary School No 34 nor Kraslava Varaviksne School had many problems to communicate in Latvian and did not worry much about this transition but they did not want to lose their culture, identity and language. In Kraslava school students wanted to keep the bilingual education model and not to transfer to the Latvian language. But there are still problems with this bilingual model – when learning complicated things in the Latvian language students have difficulties with both - the Latvian language and the subject.

Diena also briefly describes the national minority education situation in Estonia and Lithuania.

Also

Also Chas writes about the bilingual education describing an event organised by Riga Secondary School No 88 when they invited 120 teachers to show their achievements in bilingual education. The guests could visit lessons of different subjects to see how teachers try to make these lessons attractive for students. But precaution of Russian teachers about this method is understandable because if not used properly, the result could be disastrous.

The announced action of the newspaper

The announced action of the newspaper Chas Become a citizen caused a vivid and contradictory discussion on Internet forum of Chas. And it proved the importance of this issue. Chas publishes some of the comments made.

Latvian left-wing parties’ members of the Human Rights alliance may merge, creating a strong party enjoying support of majority of population. This suggestion was made by Latvian Socialist Party (LSP) chairman Alfreds Rubiks at the party congress Saturday, and the National Harmony Party leader Janis Jurkans also did not rule out such possibility. The new party's name could be the Latvian Socialist National Harmony and Equal Rights Party, incorporating the names of all three alliance partners. Apart from the Socialists and the National Harmony Party the Human Rights alliance also includes Equal Rights movement.

Latvian left-wing parties members of the Human Rights alliance may merge, creating a strong party enjoying support of majority of population. This suggestion was made by Latvian Socialist Party (LSP) chairman Alfreds Rubiks at the party congress Saturday, and the National Harmony Party leader Janis Jurkans also did not rule out such possibility. The new party's name could be the Latvian Socialist National Harmony and Equal Rights Party, incorporating the names of all three alliance partners. Apart from the Socialists and the National Harmony Party the Human Rights alliance also includes Equal Rights movement. BNS, Neatkariga (10.11), Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

Latvian Socialist Party (LSP) chairman in his report to the party congress Saturday stated that only better relations with Russia could get the Latvian economy out of the present crisis. Socialist leader Alfred Rubiks said NATO was an aggressive military-political organisation and his party was ready to initiate a referendum to find out the public opinion about Latvia's plans to join the alliance. BNS

Latvian Socialist Party (LSP) chairman in his report to the party congress Saturday stated that only better relations with Russia could get the Latvian economy out of the present crisis. Socialist leader Alfred Rubiks said NATO was an aggressive military-political organisation and his party was ready to initiate a referendum to find out the public opinion about Latvia's plans to join the alliance. BNS

Latvia's publishing company, notorious with holding several scandalous contests, Friday sent an open letter to Latvian National Human Rights Office director reproaching him over the intention of Latvian president to amend the election law by deleting from it the state language proficiency requirement. Vieda in the letter to Olafs Bruvers also pointed at concrete gross violation of the state language law admitted by Baltcom TV cable television provider. Vieda director Aivars Garda described in the letter one specific incident when he, after unsuccessful conversation with one Russian speaker technician employed by Baltcom TV, was told that order by Vieda can be done only after Dec. 10 because there are no technicians employed at the company speaking in Latvian. BNS

Latvia's publishing company, notorious with holding several scandalous contests, Friday sent an open letter to Latvian National Human Rights Office director reproaching him over the intention of Latvian president to amend the election law by deleting from it the state language proficiency requirement. Vieda in the letter to Olafs Bruvers also pointed at concrete gross violation of the state language law admitted by Baltcom TV cable television provider. Vieda director Aivars Garda described in the letter one specific incident when he, after unsuccessful conversation with one Russian speaker technician employed by Baltcom TV, was told that order by Vieda can be done only after Dec. 10 because there are no technicians employed at the company speaking in Latvian. BNS

S.Tocs from

S.Tocs from Neatkariga writes that the President is right when suggesting abolishing the highest language knowledge level for the Saeima and local government deputy candidates. There is no such norm in any European country; also Estonia abolished it. The President stated that if necessary she was ready to come forth with the legislative initiative to abolish this discriminative norm. It is a brave step and politically – a responsible decision. Most likely there will be some yells about this and they will be also about Vaira Vike-Freiberga personally. S.Tocs states that abolishing these limitations for deputy candidates is not so important from the practical point of view but it is important how Latvia is perceived in Europe and the world.

On Friday were opened the new premises of the Naturalisation Board Information Centre. Centre is aimed at raising the level of public awareness and knowledge on integration issues and further public participation in social and political processes.

On Friday were opened the new premises of the Naturalisation Board Information Centre. Centre is aimed at raising the level of public awareness and knowledge on integration issues and further public participation in social and political processes. Neatkariga

The newspaper

The newspaper Chas published a letter of V.Minayeva where Ms. Minayeva wrote about the problems with the Russian school in Latvia. The author wonders - a Russian school but everything is in Latvian, Russian teachers but a Latvian director, is it a necessity or just a nonsense.