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

Neatkariga, Diena: The Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry yesterday expressed regret over the OSCE's "technically" not extending the mandate for the OSCE mission in Latvia and Estonia. The ministry's statement says that an efficient mechanism has been dissembled which provided international monitoring on how Estonian and Latvian authorities had been fulfilling their commitments in the sector of human rights of minorities and approximation of legislation according to European standards. The OSCE mission's standards were not exhausted yet since serious tasks for guaranteeing the rights of Russian-speaking population in the education sector of both countries were not solved, as well as issues pertaining to language policy and social integration. The number of non-citizens is still high there, the pace of naturalization process has dropped, election and social rights have been violated as well as rights to culture and education for almost one-third of Latvian and Estonian residents, the statement says. The closure of the mission has been conducted despite the objections of Russian-speaking residents and their associations. The announcement warns that those who actually promoted the closure of OSCE missions in Latvia and Estonia have resumed responsibility for the future of minorities here.

LETA

: The OSCE Permanent Councils recent decision to close its mission in Latvia was carefully weighed, told by Prime Minister Andris Berzins' press secretary, quoting the premier. "Without a doubt, the OSCE nations knew what they were doing ... we know just as well that the evaluation of the situation was adequate", said Lapins. Lapins added that the prime minister has no comment on the "marginal opinion" of Russia and Belarus on this issue, released Friday. : The OSCE Permanent Council’s recent decision to close its mission in Latvia was carefully weighed, told by Prime Minister Andris Berzins' press secretary, quoting the premier. "Without a doubt, the OSCE nations knew what they were doing ... we know just as well that the evaluation of the situation was adequate", said Lapins. Lapins added that the prime minister has no comment on the "marginal opinion" of Russia and Belarus on this issue, released Friday.

Panorama Latvii:

Y.Pliner and V.Buhvalov about the education reform in 2004. The authors argue against the transfer to secondary education with the Latvian language as the only instruction language. They write that already now the level of knowledge of students from Latvia is much lower than students from Russia and that after the transfer it would decrease even more. The contributors ask for the choice of freedom for the students of national minorities. Y.Pliner and V.Buhvalov about the education reform in 2004. The authors argue against the transfer to secondary education with the Latvian language as the only instruction language. They write that already now the level of knowledge of students from Latvia is much lower than students from Russia and that after the transfer it would decrease even more. The contributors ask for the choice of freedom for the students of national minorities.