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

Diena publishes an article about the possible choices of new citizens in the upcoming Saeima elections. While recently naturalised citizens are ready to take part in the 8th Saeima elections, they have only a vague idea about political parties in Latvia. Diena took part in one of the official ceremonies for awarding Latvian citizenship and asked about 40 new citizens about their choice in the next Saeima elections. The new citizens named the New Era party, Jurkans party and the social democrats as their possible choices. Politicians of the governing parties state that they are not going to address the new citizens as a specific group. Parties want to stress that they are equally interested in and concerned about all groups of Latvian residents. Latvias Way admits that the party is planning to attract this part of voters by accepting head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane as its member. Political scientist Artis Pabriks believes that the best policy towards the new citizens would be their inclusion in party lists and involvement in activities of parties.

Head of the International Migration Organisation in Riga Ilmars Mezs writes about the roles and interaction of the Latvian and Russian languages in Latvia. Within ten years the number of national minority representatives who know Latvian has grown from 23% in 1991 to 53% in 2000. The number of residents who do not know the language has decreased from a million to half a million. According to the latest census the number of non-Latvians who can speak Latvian is gradually increasing, while the number of Latvians who can speak Russian is decreasing. However, a survey by the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences shows that although the majority of Russians know Latvian they use the language very little. He concludes that current language policy is more oriented to achieving goals by applying repressive methods, fines and certificates. However, this brings along a certain portion of negativism. Ilmars Mezs suggests the implementation of a language policy, which motivates and attracts. For example, giving bonuses to teachers in those national minority schools, which make a successful switch to education in the Latvian language already in 2003.

Head of the International Migration Organisation in Riga Ilmars Mezs writes about the roles and interaction of the Latvian and Russian languages in Latvia. Within ten years the number of national minority representatives who know Latvian has grown from 23% in 1991 to 53% in 2000. The number of residents who do not know the language has decreased from a million to half a million. According to the latest census the number of non-Latvians who can speak Latvian is gradually increasing, while the number of Latvians who can speak Russian is decreasing. However, a survey by the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences shows that although the majority of Russians know Latvian they use the language very little. He concludes that current language policy is more oriented to achieving goals by applying repressive methods, fines and certificates. However, this brings along a certain portion of negativism. Ilmars Mezs suggests the implementation of a language policy, which motivates and attracts. For example, giving bonuses to teachers in those national minority schools, which make a successful switch to education in the Latvian language already in 2003. Diena

Neatkariga

writes about the practice of organising an information day in the Examination and Methodology Centre of the Naturalisation Board once a month. The newspaper took part in one such information day. People who attended the event were well informed about the naturalisation procedure and were more interested in taking trial naturalisation tests in language and history. The staff of the Centre admit that the written part of the language test is usually the hardest part for the majority of applicants. They also note that the number of people who want to naturalise has not decreased because of the scandal concerning the alleged sale of Latvian citizenship. writes about the practice of organising an information day in the Examination and Methodology Centre of the Naturalisation Board once a month. The newspaper took part in one such information day. People who attended the event were well informed about the naturalisation procedure and were more interested in taking trial naturalisation tests in language and history. The staff of the Centre admit that the written part of the language test is usually the hardest part for the majority of applicants. They also note that the number of people who want to naturalise has not decreased because of the scandal concerning the alleged sale of Latvian citizenship.

Vechernaya Riga

attended the official ceremony of awarding Latvian citizenship as well. The newspaper notes that 1/3 of the new citizens are students and pupils. attended the official ceremony of awarding Latvian citizenship as well. The newspaper notes that 1/3 of the new citizens are students and pupils. According to the data of the company SKDS the key motivation for naturalisation (42.6%) is the desire to find a job in one’s area of interest. 38.1% of respondents decided to naturalise because Latvian citizenship provides easier travel arrangements, and 28.1% stated that the key reason for naturalisation was the possibility to participate in elections.

According to the data of the company SKDS the key motivation for naturalisation (42.6%) is the desire to find a job in ones area of interest. 38.1% of respondents decided to naturalise because Latvian citizenship provides easier travel arrangements, and 28.1% stated that the key reason for naturalisation was the possibility to participate in elections. Panorama Latvii

Chas

reports that culture expert and psychotherapist Artur Dombrovsky will conduct a study about the identity of Russians in Latvia and why it is so hard for Russians to learn Latvian. He states that in the terms of cultural affiliation there are no Russians in Latvia and gradually also the term Russian-speakers will lose its topicality. reports that culture expert and psychotherapist Artur Dombrovsky will conduct a study about the identity of Russians in Latvia and why it is so hard for Russians to learn Latvian. He states that in the terms of cultural affiliation there are no Russians in Latvia and gradually also the term “Russian-speakers” will lose its topicality.

Chas

provides more in-depth information about the results of the Public Awareness and Citizenship Promotion Campaign run by the Naturalisation Board. provides more in-depth information about the results of the Public Awareness and Citizenship Promotion Campaign run by the Naturalisation Board.

Vesti Segodnja

writes that after some years of delimitation Russian organisations in Latvia are coming together. Head of the Russian Society in Latvia Tatyana Favorskaya was elected to the post of the vice president of the NGO Russian Community in Latvia. The leaders of the organisations state that they felt a necessity to strengthen the position of the Russian community in Latvia. writes that after some years of delimitation Russian organisations in Latvia are coming together. Head of the Russian Society in Latvia Tatyana Favorskaya was elected to the post of the vice president of the NGO Russian Community in Latvia. The leaders of the organisations state that they felt a necessity to strengthen the position of the Russian community in Latvia.

Vesti Segodnja

interviews Latvian language professor Ina Druviete. She is also responsible for ethnic policy in the programme of the New Era party. She states that integration in Latvia should be based on the Latvian language and disagrees that language policy of Latvia uses only administrative repressive measures. Regarding the recent debate about tightening language requirements in the private sphere, Ina Druviete states that the state should not regulate language usage in the family and when people communicate unofficially at work. However, she is convinced that the state could and in some cases should regulate some spheres of private business. interviews Latvian language professor Ina Druviete. She is also responsible for ethnic policy in the programme of the New Era party. She states that integration in Latvia should be based on the Latvian language and disagrees that language policy of Latvia uses only administrative repressive measures. Regarding the recent debate about tightening language requirements in the private sphere, Ina Druviete states that the state should not regulate language usage in the family and when people communicate unofficially at work. However, she is convinced that the state could and in some cases should regulate some spheres of private business.

Panorama Latvii

publishes in-depth information and answers to questions concerning immigration from Latvia to Russia. publishes in-depth information and answers to questions concerning immigration from Latvia to Russia. The English-language interface of the Soros internet public policy portal publishes an article by Nils Muiznieks called

The English-language interface of the Soros internet public policy portal publishes an article by Nils Muiznieks called Extremism in Latvia. The piece is a draft chapter of a forthcoming book called Racist Extremism in Central and Eastern Europe.