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

Diena interviews Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Indulis Berzins. The main discussion subject is the Election Law and the responsibility of Latvian politicians concerning this issue.

Dienas

commentary by Askolds Rodins looks into signature drives for political party election campaigns, predicts that referendums will "rain down". The upcoming "rain of referendums" makes Rodins ponder if the threshold of 10,000 voters signatures is not too low. Rodins fears it could entice politicians into using referendums not for the purposes intended but for advertising political parties free of charge. commentary by Askolds Rodins looks into signature drives for political party election campaigns, predicts that referendums will "rain down". The upcoming "rain of referendums" makes Rodins ponder if the threshold of 10,000 voters’ signatures is not too low. Rodins fears it could entice politicians into using referendums not for the purposes intended but for advertising political parties free of charge.

Neatkariga

informs about the meetings of OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Rolf Ekeus with Latvian officials. informs about the meetings of OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Rolf Ekeus with Latvian officials.

Lauku Avize

interviews Ventspils City Mayor Aivars Lembergs. He provides his views about political forces and situation in the country. Regarding integration policy in Ventspils the mayor believes that integration processes should be on free will basis. My approach is that any administration of ethnic policy issues is forceful, but any force creates conflict. interviews Ventspils City Mayor Aivars Lembergs. He provides his views about political forces and situation in the country. Regarding integration policy in Ventspils the mayor believes that “integration processes should be on free will basis. My approach is that any administration of ethnic policy issues is forceful, but any force creates conflict.” The President's Chancery today received draft amendments to the Constitution drawn up by the ruling coalition and representatives from Saeima's opposition - Social Democrat Union's faction. Press Secretary Rozenberga informed that the President has not yet become acquainted with the draft project. The representatives from the ruling coalition and the Social Democrat Union's faction signed amendments today to the Constitution in order to strengthen the status of the state language.

The President's Chancery today received draft amendments to the Constitution drawn up by the ruling coalition and representatives from Saeima's opposition - Social Democrat Union's faction. Press Secretary Rozenberga informed that the President has not yet become acquainted with the draft project. The representatives from the ruling coalition and the Social Democrat Union's faction signed amendments today to the Constitution in order to strengthen the status of the state language. Diena, Neatkariga, Latvijas Vestnesis, Vesti Segodnja

Vesti Segodnja informs that the members of National Radio and TV Council examined some programs and shows of TV channel 5 as the Council received complaints that this channel airs shows and programs without dubbing them in Latvian. The producers of one of the shows promised to provide translations into Latvian. Concerning other shows TV people explained that it is impossible to fulfil one of the provisions of the TV Law, in particular, that a live program should be aired in one language, as very often many Russian people call to live Latvian programs and ask their questions in Russian. The members of the Council suggested that TV people collect the required number of MPs’ signatures and amend the TV Law.

Vesti Segodnja informs that the members of National Radio and TV Council examined some programs and shows of TV channel 5 as the Council received complaints that this channel airs shows and programs without dubbing them in Latvian. The producers of one of the shows promised to provide translations into Latvian. Concerning other shows TV people explained that it is impossible to fulfil one of the provisions of the TV Law, in particular, that a live program should be aired in one language, as very often many Russian people call to live Latvian programs and ask their questions in Russian. The members of the Council suggested that TV people collect the required number of MPs signatures and amend the TV Law.

Latvia’s Way Saeima faction chairperson Kristiana Libane explains to the audience of

Latvias Way Saeima faction chairperson Kristiana Libane explains to the audience of Vesti Segodnja why Latvia has to enter the amendments to the Constitution. She says that the amendments are not aimed against the rights of national minorities, but they are targeted at MPs and deputies of local governments to increase their responsibility towards the observance of law and the state language. She denies that the amendments to the Constitution will be followed by the introduction of stricter amendments to the State Language Law.

Yesterday the Cabinet of Ministers' committee postponed revision of amendments to the State Language Law's transitional provisions, that should set that the State Police, Security Police and Border Guard Forces may submit not-translated documents to courts. The author of the amendments, Ministry of Internal Affairs, explains that the Criminal Code allows investigative authorities to receive and prepare documents in foreign languages in some cases, however, according to the State Language Law's Article 10, all documents must be either in the state language or supplemented with a translation when submitted to courts. Since the State Police, Security Police, Border Guard Forces and institutions of the prosecutor's office have not been allotted the required funding from the national budget, the State Language Law's Article 10 cannot be fully observed. LVL 1.62 million are required to provide translations.

Yesterday the Cabinet of Ministers' committee postponed revision of amendments to the State Language Law's transitional provisions, that should set that the State Police, Security Police and Border Guard Forces may submit not-translated documents to courts. The author of the amendments, Ministry of Internal Affairs, explains that the Criminal Code allows investigative authorities to receive and prepare documents in foreign languages in some cases, however, according to the State Language Law's Article 10, all documents must be either in the state language or supplemented with a translation when submitted to courts. Since the State Police, Security Police, Border Guard Forces and institutions of the prosecutor's office have not been allotted the required funding from the national budget, the State Language Law's Article 10 cannot be fully observed. LVL 1.62 million are required to provide translations. LETA

Chas informs that notorious publisher and the leader of Latvian National Front Aivars Garda has sent a letter to Russian President, UN Secretary General, American President and number of foreign diplomats in Riga where he calls on the Russian President to deal with injustice committed by the former leaders of the USSR and help to de-colonize Latvia. In its turn, in the letter to the Chairman of the European Commission, A.Garda blames Prodi for his readiness to accept Latvia to the EU with all “occupants” residing in Latvia.

Chas informs that notorious publisher and the leader of Latvian National Front Aivars Garda has sent a letter to Russian President, UN Secretary General, American President and number of foreign diplomats in Riga where he calls on the Russian President to deal with injustice committed by the former leaders of the USSR and help to de-colonize Latvia. In its turn, in the letter to the Chairman of the European Commission, A.Garda blames Prodi for his readiness to accept Latvia to the EU with all occupants residing in Latvia. Panorama Latvii, Telegraf

In Daugavpils Russian students parents and other activists organized a campaign of collecting signatures against education reform in 2004. According to the organizers of the campaign more than 1.5 thousand signatures have been collected.

In Daugavpils Russian students parents and other activists organized a campaign of collecting signatures against education reform in 2004. According to the organizers of the campaign more than 1.5 thousand signatures have been collected. Panorama Latvii