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

Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga has asked the Constitution Protection Office and the General Prosecutor’s Office for a clear explanation about what kind of activities and which cases constititute incitement of national hatred. The President decided to ask for such an explanation in regard to the recent controversial pre-election campaign ads of the Freedom Party. The President finds such ads unacceptable.

Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga has asked the Constitution Protection Office and the General Prosecutors Office for a clear explanation about what kind of activities and which cases constititute incitement of national hatred. The President decided to ask for such an explanation in regard to the recent controversial pre-election campaign ads of the Freedom Party. The President finds such ads unacceptable. Diena, Neatkariga, Vesti Segodnja, Telegraf

Only one applicant has applied for the post of the director of the State Language Centre. The Commission will review the suitability of the applicant for the post next week. Although the applicant has asked not to disclose his/her name, BNS reports that it is current deputy director of the State Language Centre Agris Timuska. However, he has also noted that not only the left wing parties, but also the governing parties excert pressure on the State Language Centre. In his opinion, the real restriction of the rights of the Centre was amendments to the Statutes of the Centre adopted at the end of the last year which provide that language inspectors do not have the right to re-examine a person’s state language proficiency.

Only one applicant has applied for the post of the director of the State Language Centre. The Commission will review the suitability of the applicant for the post next week. Although the applicant has asked not to disclose his/her name, BNS reports that it is current deputy director of the State Language Centre Agris Timuska. However, he has also noted that not only the left wing parties, but also the governing parties excert pressure on the State Language Centre. In his opinion, the real restriction of the rights of the Centre was amendments to the Statutes of the Centre adopted at the end of the last year which provide that language inspectors do not have the right to re-examine a persons state language proficiency. Neatkariga

Vechernaya Riga

journalist Yelena Slusareva talks to FHRUL deputy Yakov Pliner about the quality of education in Latvia. He states that the termination of higher education in Russian funded from the state budget has brought only losses for Latvia and believes that it is possible to re-start providing higher education in Russian as there are international documents which recommend providing education in languages of national minorities. journalist Yelena Slusareva talks to FHRUL deputy Yakov Pliner about the quality of education in Latvia. He states that the termination of higher education in Russian funded from the state budget has brought only losses for Latvia and believes that it is possible to re-start providing higher education in Russian as there are international documents which recommend providing education in languages of national minorities.

Chas

reports that the Valmiera Town Council has decided to move the Latvian evening school to the building of the only Russian school in the town. Some local Russians claim this is a political decision to get rid of the only Russian school in the town. reports that the Valmiera Town Council has decided to move the Latvian evening school to the building of the only Russian school in the town. Some local Russians claim this is a political decision to get rid of the only Russian school in the town.

Vesti Segodnja, Panorama Latvii

and and TelegrafTelegraf report that the campaign of collecting signatures for supporting education in the Russian language is going well. The youth movement Solidarnostj led by Ivan Stalnoy is conducting the campaign. The newspaper notes that during yesterdays campaign at the City Department Store the majority of those who signed in support of education in the Russian language were Latvians. report that the campaign of collecting signatures for supporting education in the Russian language is going well. The youth movement “Solidarnostj” led by Ivan Stalnoy is conducting the campaign. The newspaper notes that during yesterday’s campaign at the City Department Store the majority of those who signed in support of education in the Russian language were Latvians.

Telegraf

talks to Chief Rabbi Natan Barkan. He talks about the activities of the Jewish religious community in Riga. talks to Chief Rabbi Natan Barkan. He talks about the activities of the Jewish religious community in Riga.