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.

LATVIAN MEDIA REVIEW

LATVIAN MEDIA REVIEW

FHRUL called President Vaira Vike-Freiberga to turn to the Constitutional Court over state language proficiency requirement under the Election Law. "We call on the President of the state to exercise her statutory right and to propose to the Constitutional Court to cancel this legislative provisions incompatible with the Constitution and Latvia's international obligations," the leftist parliamentary faction said in a statement released Thursday. Leftists support the president's initiative to abolish the state language proficiency requirement under the Election Law but opposes the idea to combine this abolishment with other amendments aimed at strengthening position of Latvian as the state language. These amendments will result in further restriction of ethnic minority rights to use their native languages, claimed FHRUL. Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga so far has neither supported nor rejected the suggestion by leftist alliance to ask the Constitutional Court to examine legality of state language proficiency requirement under the effective election law. LatviaТs Way proposal to amend Article 4 of the Constitution by adding that Уthe Latvian language is the sole working language at state and municipal institutionsФ is to be reviewed by the Coalition Council. PeopleТs Party leader Andris Skele could not tell what could be his party proposal, however, in his opinion, Article 9 of the Constitution providing for that Уall full-fledged Latvian citizens who have reached the age of 21 on the election day shall have rights to be elected to the SaeimaФ should be supplemented by the following Уand speaks the state language fluentlyФ.

FHRUL called President Vaira Vike-Freiberga to turn to the Constitutional Court over state language proficiency requirement under the Election Law. "We call on the President of the state to exercise her statutory right and to propose to the Constitutional Court to cancel this legislative provisions incompatible with the Constitution and Latvia's international obligations," the leftist parliamentary faction said in a statement released Thursday. Leftists support the president's initiative to abolish the state language proficiency requirement under the Election Law but opposes the idea to combine this abolishment with other amendments aimed at strengthening position of Latvian as the state language. These amendments will result in further restriction of ethnic minority rights to use their native languages, claimed FHRUL. Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga so far has neither supported nor rejected the suggestion by leftist alliance to ask the Constitutional Court to examine legality of state language proficiency requirement under the effective election law. LatviaТs Way proposal to amend Article 4 of the Constitution by adding that Уthe Latvian language is the sole working language at state and municipal institutionsФ is to be reviewed by the Coalition Council. PeopleТs Party leader Andris Skele could not tell what could be his party proposal, however, in his opinion, Article 9 of the Constitution providing for that Уall full-fledged Latvian citizens who have reached the age of 21 on the election day shall have rights to be elected to the SaeimaФ should be supplemented by the following Уand speaks the state language fluentlyФ. Diena, Vesti Segodnja, Panorama Latvii

Party New Age leader Einars Repse has also voiced his personal support to PresidentТs initiative.

Party New Age leader Einars Repse has also voiced his personal support to PresidentТs initiative. Chas, Panorama Latvii

Chas provides its interpretation of PresidentТs initiative. It writes that PresidentТs initiative and MPs response should not be assessed only as PresidentТs failure. First, her rating probably will grow because the Russians will give positive assessment to the initiative and the Latvians, in their turn, should also be positive about that as they received rather detailed explanation why Latvia needs these amendments. Second, the international community has also appreciated Latvian PresidentТs step. The newspaper also considers PresidentТs further steps. Involvement of the Constitutional Court is the most likely and the most suitable solution for this issue, believes the newspaper.

Chas provides its interpretation of PresidentТs initiative. It writes that PresidentТs initiative and MPs response should not be assessed only as PresidentТs failure. First, her rating probably will grow because the Russians will give positive assessment to the initiative and the Latvians, in their turn, should also be positive about that as they received rather detailed explanation why Latvia needs these amendments. Second, the international community has also appreciated Latvian PresidentТs step. The newspaper also considers PresidentТs further steps. Involvement of the Constitutional Court is the most likely and the most suitable solution for this issue, believes the newspaper.

Diena

informs that at its disposal is the draft report of the EU which states that the EU member states agrees with OSCE High Commissioner of National Minorities Ralf Ekeus that also after the closure of the Missions in Estonia and Latvia OSCE institutions and in particular the High Commissioner will have an important role in co-operation with both countries. The EU calls the Latvian Parliament to provide immediate response to President Vairas Vikes-Freibergas essential initiative. informs that at its disposal is the draft report of the EU which states that the EU member states agrees with OSCE High Commissioner of National Minorities Ralf Ekeus that also after the closure of the Missions in Estonia and Latvia OSCE institutions and in particular the High Commissioner will have an important role in co-operation with both countries. The EU calls the Latvian Parliament to provide immediate response to President Vairas Vikes-Freibergas essential initiative. LatviaТs Way is getting ready for its party congress on Saturday. The party is planning to introduce some changes in its leadership. Saeima deputy and LatviaТs WayТs analytical team leader Ivars Godmanis and campaign coordinator Janis Gaigals will be in charge of the partyТs campaign ahead of the 8th Saeima election.

LatviaТs Way is getting ready for its party congress on Saturday. The party is planning to introduce some changes in its leadership. Saeima deputy and LatviaТs WayТs analytical team leader Ivars Godmanis and campaign coordinator Janis Gaigals will be in charge of the partyТs campaign ahead of the 8th Saeima election. Diena calls Godmanis as the partyТs "hope for the future" as the former prime minister once again appears to be ascending new heights. However, LatviaТs Way chairman and Prime Minister Andris Berzins will remain in the post till the election. Diena

Today, the Saeima New Faction and Social Democratic Union faction signed an agreement on mutual support and unity in a political bloc

Today, the Saeima New Faction and Social Democratic Union faction signed an agreement on mutual support and unity in a political bloc. Diena, Chas

The Latvian parliament Thursday supported the National Security Framework Program although numerous opposition lawmakers voiced objections and called on the Parliament to turn it down. The program is based on assumption that the country's security situation is affected not only by political situation abroad and military political situation but also by domestic factors, like democratic foundation, economic development, social security and welfare, crime situation, social factors and other aspects.

The Latvian parliament Thursday supported the National Security Framework Program although numerous opposition lawmakers voiced objections and called on the Parliament to turn it down. The program is based on assumption that the country's security situation is affected not only by political situation abroad and military political situation but also by domestic factors, like democratic foundation, economic development, social security and welfare, crime situation, social factors and other aspects. Diena, Neatkariga

Chas and Vesti Segodnja write that in the discussions on the program MPs also involved language issue. Defense Minister Girts Valdis Kristovskis said that language issue is very important part of national security УI think that in our country there is one national minority which does not want to know the state language and thinks that they have rights to speak only their languageФ. But he concluded that the main threat to LatviaТs security is Уour own stupidityФ. FF/LNNK member J.Vidins considered that in order to ensure national security Latvia should start with de-colonization and taking measures against Russian press that initiates provocations against Latvia and the Latvians. Saeima Vice-speaker Piks agreed that the Latvians are too liberal towards press printed in Russian.

Chas and Vesti Segodnja write that in the discussions on the program MPs also involved language issue. Defense Minister Girts Valdis Kristovskis said that language issue is very important part of national security УI think that in our country there is one national minority which does not want to know the state language and thinks that they have rights to speak only their languageФ. But he concluded that the main threat to LatviaТs security is Уour own stupidityФ. FF/LNNK member J.Vidins considered that in order to ensure national security Latvia should start with de-colonization and taking measures against Russian press that initiates provocations against Latvia and the Latvians. Saeima Vice-speaker Piks agreed that the Latvians are too liberal towards press printed in Russian.

NeatkarigaТs

columnist Viktors Avotins looks into the issue concerning PresidentТs initiative and MPsТ response to it. Avotiтр believes that the existing circumstances are the main reason why PresidentТs initiative did not receive support of deputies. In his opinion, in fact, there are no sound arguments that the abolishment of language proficiency requirement for election candidates is the decisive factor for LatviaТs NATO membership. Second, he blames politicians for speculations with language and national issues just for boosting their ratings. Third, he thinks that big country language laws should not be mechanically applied to small countries. And fourth, he refers to provisions in international norms, which provide for that exercising of certain rights is linked to specific obligations and responsibilities, meaning that is up to politicians to observe moral values and obligations towards the country. columnist Viktors Avotins looks into the issue concerning PresidentТs initiative and MPsТ response to it. Avotiтр believes that the existing circumstances are the main reason why PresidentТs initiative did not receive support of deputies. In his opinion, in fact, there are no sound arguments that the abolishment of language proficiency requirement for election candidates is the decisive factor for LatviaТs NATO membership. Second, he blames politicians for speculations with language and national issues just for boosting their ratings. Third, he thinks that big country language laws should not be mechanically applied to small countries. And fourth, he refers to provisions in international norms, which provide for that exercising of certain rights is linked to specific obligations and responsibilities, meaning that is up to politicians to observe moral values and obligations towards the country.

Latvijas Vestnesis

publishes the printed version of Latvian Prime Minister Andris BerzinsТ interviewon National Radio. publishes the printed version of Latvian Prime Minister Andris BerzinsТ interview on National Radio.

Chas

editorial is about integration. The columnist concludes that all three parties - the Latvians, Russians and Government are not doing very much to foster society integration in Latvia and therefore there is no actual result. editorial is about integration. The columnist concludes that all three parties - the Latvians, Russians and Government are not doing very much to foster society integration in Latvia and therefore there is no actual result. National TV and Radio Council postponed the revision of draft bill on Surveillance on the Usage of Languages in Commercial Broadcasting Stations.

National TV and Radio Council postponed the revision of draft bill on Surveillance on the Usage of Languages in Commercial Broadcasting Stations. Vesti Segodnja