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

• Discussions about ratification of the Framework Convention
• Chas on-line discussion with Education Minister Karlis Sadurskis
• Case about spelling of foreign names in Latvian
• Interview with co-chairperson of FHRUL Tatyana Zdanoka
• Panorama Latvii
about integration

Vechernaya Riga

features an article about experts of the Latvian Human Rights Committee – Boris Kolchanov, Leonid Raihman, Aleksey Dmitrov and Tatyana Bogusevica - who prepared their shadow report about compliance of Latvian legislation with the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. One of the authors states that after ratification no automatic changes for better will take place, however, discussions about certain issues will be launched. He believes that the first changes after ratification will be abolition of language restrictions provided for by the Law on Radio and TV, second, Russians schools will be able to function normally. Alkeksey Dimitrov calls on Russian-speakers to express their views more actively.

Lauku Avize

draws attention to the opposite views of two ministers regarding ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks has named ratification of the Convention as one of his priority tasks, while Foreign Affair Ministers Sandra Kalniete believes that Latvia should not ratify the Convention.

Vesti Segodnya

notes that ratification of the Convention will be one of the key discussion subjects on the agenda of OSCE High Commissioner Rolf Ekeus during his visit to Latvia on December 4.

Chas

publishes the key statements of Education Minister Karlis Sadurskis about education issues. Regarding the switch of national minority schools to instruction in Latvian he says that bilingual education means that 60% of subjects are taught in a language of a national minority and 40% in the state language. Sadurskis admits that in principle parents could participate in the decision-making process about which subjects should be taught in a minority language. He notes that individual timeframes for the implementation of the switch are permissible.

Chas

reports about the case of ethnically Russian resident Shiskina, who refused to have a passport with her last name spelled in accordance with the Latvian grammar rules. Now she decided to change her last name to her maiden name and have a new passport, but refuses to write an application in the Latvian language to the Department of Citizenship and Migration Affairs requesting to change her passport.

Co-chairperson of FHRUL Tatyana Zdanoka just recently returned from Moscow where she took part in discussions held at the Russian State Duma. She states that one of the discussion subjects was diplomatic instruments, which should be used to influence Latvia to observe the rights of Russians. She states that the pre-election programme of FHRUL regarding the rights of national minorities almost coincides with requirements of the EU and the Council of Europe. Zdanoka stresses that the only issue which is not required by European institutions is the revision of the education reform and that is the top priority task of FHRUL to ensure that Russians can study in their native language at all education levels. Vesti Segodnya

Panorama Latvii

features an article about integration. Panorama Latviis columnist writes that the formation of the Integration Ministry and appointment of Nils Muiznieks for the post of the Minister were very positive steps. Now it is very important that the team working for the ministry are people with non-standard thinking, who are able to search for ideas beyond the stereotypes of ethnic thinking.