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.

Integration and Minority Information Service

Integration and Minority Information Service
of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies

After ten years as Director of the State Language Centre, Dzintra Hirsa has handed in a letter of resignation. Hirsa does not disclose the reasons of her resignation and refuses to talk to the press. Her colleagues at the President’s State Language Commission assume that she could no longer take the constant pressure from the press and politicians and inadequate financial support. The last drop was the opposition of human rights and integration experts against amendments to the regulations of the State Language Law providing the expansion of the list of professions in the private sector proposed by the State Language Centre and the ruling on Podkolzina’s case. Justice Minister Ingrida Labucka will take a decision on Hirsa’s resignation after returning from Sweden.

After ten years as Director of the State Language Centre, Dzintra Hirsa has handed in a letter of resignation. Hirsa does not disclose the reasons of her resignation and refuses to talk to the press. Her colleagues at the Presidents State Language Commission assume that she could no longer take the constant pressure from the press and politicians and inadequate financial support. The last drop was the opposition of human rights and integration experts against amendments to the regulations of the State Language Law providing the expansion of the list of professions in the private sector proposed by the State Language Centre and the ruling on Podkolzinas case. Justice Minister Ingrida Labucka will take a decision on Hirsas resignation after returning from Sweden. Diena, Neatkariga, Lauku Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnja, Telegraf

Diena

interviews the Latvian Ambassador to Russia Normunds Penke. The ambassador agrees that relations with Russia have improved during the last year. He believes that Russia wants to benefit from the new status of Latvia when it becomes an EU member state. Regarding the situation in Latvia, Penke is concerned that Latvia has two information spaces and that the Russian language press continues to work in the old style. In Moscow cooperation and discussions between the two countries are no longer so emotional and the emphasis is on legal aspects. interviews the Latvian Ambassador to Russia Normunds Penke. The ambassador agrees that relations with Russia have improved during the last year. He believes that Russia wants to benefit from the new status of Latvia when it becomes an EU member state. Regarding the situation in Latvia, Penke is concerned that Latvia has two information spaces and that the Russian language press continues to work in “the old style.” In Moscow cooperation and discussions between the two countries are no longer so emotional and the emphasis is on legal aspects. The President’s State Language Commission is going to submit amendments to the state budget asking to provide 275,000 lats for implementing projects aimed at improving the situation concerning the state language. The State Language Commission has determined five areas, which should receive funding from the state budget. One of the priorities is to provide funding in the amount of 25,000 lats for Latvian language training for Russian teachers who will have to teach in Latvian as of 2004. State Language Commission chairperson Mara Zalite proposed creating a state language agency to manage funding for projects related to the state language

The Presidents State Language Commission is going to submit amendments to the state budget asking to provide 275,000 lats for implementing projects aimed at improving the situation concerning the state language. The State Language Commission has determined five areas, which should receive funding from the state budget. One of the priorities is to provide funding in the amount of 25,000 lats for Latvian language training for Russian teachers who will have to teach in Latvian as of 2004. State Language Commission chairperson Mara Zalite proposed creating a state language agency to manage funding for projects related to the state language. Diena, Lauku Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnja, Telegraf

Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Prime Minister Andris Berzins state that no drastic amendments to the Constitution should be adopted this year as it would send the wrong signals about the situation in the country to the world. The Prime Minister’s party Latvia’s Way is categorically against the “proposed amendments” to the Constitution developed by Social Democratic Party leader Juris Bojars. The President did not comment on the content of Bojar’s Constitution but she is not going to support it.

Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Prime Minister Andris Berzins state that no drastic amendments to the Constitution should be adopted this year as it would send the wrong signals about the situation in the country to the world. The Prime Ministers party Latvias Way is categorically against the proposed amendments to the Constitution developed by Social Democratic Party leader Juris Bojars. The President did not comment on the content of Bojars Constitution but she is not going to support it. Diena

The Saeima’s Legal Commission has drafted the final version of the amendments to the Constitution aimed at securing the status of the state language. The Saeima will review the amendments in the third reading on 30 April. The Commission has specified the article regarding local municipalities “Full-fledged citizens of Latvia shall elect local governments, and the Latvian language shall be the working language.” The biggest discussions were about the solemn undertaking. The current wording says that an MP takes an oath, however, old-believers and MPs who have dual citizenship will be allowed to take an undertaking.

The Saeimas Legal Commission has drafted the final version of the amendments to the Constitution aimed at securing the status of the state language. The Saeima will review the amendments in the third reading on 30 April. The Commission has specified the article regarding local municipalities Full-fledged citizens of Latvia shall elect local governments, and the Latvian language shall be the working language. The biggest discussions were about the solemn undertaking. The current wording says that an MP takes an oath, however, old-believers and MPs who have dual citizenship will be allowed to take an undertaking. Diena, Neatkariga, Chas, Vesti Segodnja, Panorama Latvii

Lauku Avize

reports that an OSCE expert opposes the amendments to the Constitution aimed at securing the status of the state language. The OSCE expert has sent his objections to head of the Legal Office Gunars Kusins. Kusins does not disclose the name of the expert as it was a private letter. The OSCE representative suggests amending the wording of the solemn oath by striking out the phrase where an MP promises to strengthen the Latvian language as the sole state language. While Head of the Legal Office Gunars Kusins as well Latvias Way deputy Karlis Leiskalns backed the proposed amendments, however, MPs voted against the amendments. reports that “an OSCE expert opposes the amendments to the Constitution aimed at securing the status of the state language.” The OSCE expert has sent his objections to head of the Legal Office Gunars Kusins. Kusins does not disclose the name of the expert as it was a private letter. The OSCE representative suggests amending the wording of the solemn oath by striking out the phrase where an MP promises to strengthen the Latvian language as the sole state language. While Head of the Legal Office Gunars Kusins as well Latvia’s Way deputy Karlis Leiskalns backed the proposed amendments, however, MPs voted against the amendments. Deputy State Secretary of the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Martins Virsis reports on the results of the Ministry’s delegation visit to Pskov, St.Petersburg and Moscow in the middle of April. He states that Pskov and St.Petersburg are very interested in cross border cooperation with Latvia.

Deputy State Secretary of the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Martins Virsis reports on the results of the Ministrys delegation visit to Pskov, St.Petersburg and Moscow in the middle of April. He states that Pskov and St.Petersburg are very interested in cross border cooperation with Latvia. Lauku Avize

Lauku Avize

interviews the representative of the Latvian government at human rights institutions Kristine Malinovska. She provides information about the current status of the cases of Slivenko, Shevanova and the Sisoyevi against Latvia filed with the European Court of Human Rights. interviews the representative of the Latvian government at human rights institutions Kristine Malinovska. She provides information about the current status of the cases of Slivenko, Shevanova and the Sisoyevi against Latvia filed with the European Court of Human Rights. Full integration of Russian-speaking residents into Latvian society is a condition for security in the region, therefore the USA will continue thorough monitoring of the Baltic states also after the summit in Prague, said Heather Conley

Full integration of Russian-speaking residents into Latvian society is a condition for security in the region, therefore the USA will continue thorough monitoring of the Baltic states also after the summit in Prague, said Heather Conley, USDeputy Assistant Secretary of State, at the annual Conference on Regional Cooperation and Development in Stockholm. Chas

Vesti Segodnja follows the delegation of Russia’s TV in Latvia. The newspaper reports on the delegation’s meetings with the Mayor of Riga Gundars Bojars, Mayor of Jurmala Dainis Urbanovics and students of the Baltic Russian Institute.

Vesti Segodnja follows the delegation of Russias TV in Latvia. The newspaper reports on the delegations meetings with the Mayor of Riga Gundars Bojars, Mayor of Jurmala Dainis Urbanovics and students of the Baltic Russian Institute. Vesti Segodnja concludes that journalists from Moscow are very far from the problems of Russian-speakers in Latvia and view these problems as unimportant and easy to solve. Telegraf

The administration of National TV has dismissed the head of the Russian news department of Channel II Irina Vinnika. She states that the administration simply does not like her. Nobody has set any guidelines for the Russian news department. It does not care about the Russian audience at all. Vinnika also assumes that the administration does not like the fact that she is an active figure in the field of integration.

Telegraf