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.

• Diena features an article about tasks of social integration
• Einars Repse issues assurances - children and societal integration are top priorities of this government
• State Language Centre imposed fines on more than 400 people this year
• Number of students at Latvian schools has increased by 5% and in Russian schools decreased by 5%
• Vechernaya Riga re-publishes the results of the survey about the education reform of 2004
• Boston Globe criticises Latvian legislation, which polarises Latvias population
• Vesti Segodnya about the protection of the state language
• Latvian theatre will stage a play in the Russian language

Diena features an article about the tasks and visions concerning the societal integration in Latvia. The dialogue with national minorities and update of the National Programme for Social Integration are the key tasks of the Special Task Minister for the Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks. The Integration Programme will not allocate money for projects aimed at regional integration anymore. Regarding Latvian language training for non-Latvians, Muiznieks says that there are a number of institutions dealing with this issue and their activities are overlapping and it is necessary to develop one overall system.

After the meeting with the Latvian First Party last weekend, Prime Minister Einars Repse issued assurances that children and societal integration are top priorities of this government.

After the meeting with the Latvian First Party last weekend, Prime Minister Einars Repse issued assurances that children and societal integration are top priorities of this government. Diena

This year the State Language Centre imposed fines on more than 400 people. The most frequently fined are people working in the sphere of service, including doctors and ticket sellers in public transport, followed by owners of shops who forget to translate instructions.

This year the State Language Centre imposed fines on more than 400 people. The most frequently fined are people working in the sphere of service, including doctors and ticket sellers in public transport, followed by owners of shops who forget to translate instructions. Vechernaya Riga

Diena

reports that since 1998 the number of students at Latvian schools has increased by 5% and in Russian schools decreased exactly by 5%. Director of the Integration Department at the Ministry of Justice Reinis Aboltins believes that these changes are related to the planned education reform in 2004 reports that since 1998 the number of students at Latvian schools has increased by 5% and in Russian schools decreased exactly by 5%. Director of the Integration Department at the Ministry of Justice Reinis Aboltins believes that these changes are related to the planned education reform in 2004

Vechernaya Riga

publishes the results of the survey about the education reform conducted by the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences several months ago. The results show that state language skills of minority school students are improving and that their interest in the Latvian language is increasing. However, 44% of schools are not ready for the implementation of the reform. The newspaper suggests re-establishing university-level education in the Russian language. conducted by the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences several months ago. The results show that state language skills of minority school students are improving and that their interest in the Latvian language is increasing. However, 44% of schools are not ready for the implementation of the reform. The newspaper suggests re-establishing university-level education in the Russian language.

Boston Globe

in one of its latest issues reportedly criticised Latvia and stated that Latvian legislation, namely the Law on Education, the Citizenship Law and the Language Law, polarises Latvias population. in one of its latest issues reportedly criticised Latvia and stated that Latvian legislation, namely the Law on Education, the Citizenship Law and the Language Law, polarises Latvia’s population. Vesti SegodnyaVesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya

features a long article about the activities relating to the protection of the state language over the last 10 years. The newspaper stresses that the approach of the state towards the protection of the state language could be called soldier-style: all languages except for Latvian were prohibited and a strict administrative system controlling the language usage was formed. The newspaper stresses that the government has not provided any support to publishing books in Latvian, which actually is one of activities that promote the development of language. . The newspaper stresses that the approach of the state towards the protection of the state language could be called soldier-style: all languages except for Latvian were prohibited and a strict administrative system controlling the language usage was formed. The newspaper stresses that the government has not provided any support to publishing books in Latvian, which actually is one of activities that promote the development of language. Vesti SegodnyaVesti Segodnya also points out that there is almost no serious literature and publications in Latvian. The newspaper states that the total amount of money spent during these years is substantial, however, there are still many people who do not speak the state language. also points out that there is almost no serious literature and publications in Latvian. The newspaper states that the total amount of money spent during these years is substantial, however, there are still many people who do not speak the state language. The most popular Latvian theatre “Jaunais Rigas teatris” will stage a play "He, she and Francis" by Nabokov in the Russian language . All actors are Latvians.

The most popular Latvian theatre Jaunais Rigas teatris will stage a play "He, she and Francis" by Nabokov in the Russian language . All actors are Latvians.