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

• High officials about the protest meeting
• Philologist comments on the education reform
• Rock group files a claim against the organisers of the protest meeting
• Corruption Prevention Office has recalled its claim against the Peoples Harmony Party
• Justice Ministry proposes to pay heath and life insurance to state language inspectors
• Security Police initiated a criminal case about comments on the Internet which incite racial hatred
• Interview with famous journalist from Russia Aleksandr Lubimov

Telegraf prints comments of the Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga and the Special Task Minister for Social Integration Nils Muiznieks regarding the protest meeting against the education reform last Friday. The President states that in a democratic society people have rights to express their opinions, however, she still believes that the education reform will bring only positive effects for non-Latvian children. The Integration Minister says that after the meeting he concluded that the government has to have a dialogue with the Association for the Support for Russian Schools and national minorities and solve problems of those schools, which are not ready for the reform.

Telegraf prints comments of the Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga and the Special Task Minister for Social Integration Nils Muiznieks regarding the protest meeting against the education reform last Friday. The President states that in a democratic society people have rights to express their opinions, however, she still believes that the education reform will bring only positive effects for non-Latvian children. The Integration Minister says that after the meeting he concluded that the government has to have a dialogue with the Association for the Support for Russian Schools and national minorities and solve problems of those schools, which are not ready for the reform.

Regarding the protest activities against the education reform, the Education Minister Karlis Sadurskis comments that the number of collected signatures against the reform do not mean anything and that the Cabinet of Ministers has adopted regulations concerning the standard of secondary education and these regulations will be implemented. He adds that a referendum probably would be the best solution, as it would put an end to all speculations.

Regarding the protest activities against the education reform, the Education Minister Karlis Sadurskis comments that the number of collected signatures against the reform do not mean anything and that the Cabinet of Ministers has adopted regulations concerning the standard of secondary education and these regulations will be implemented. He adds that a referendum probably would be the best solution, as it would put an end to all speculations. Lauku Avize

Neatkariga

features an article by philologist Mara Saturina about the education reform. She writes that recent events show that a two-community society starts forming in Latvia and members of both communities are very unwilling to integrate into another community. She believes that the education reform could be a step towards integration and parents should be happy that their children will speak Latvian fluently. She concludes that the education reform is the last chance and if it is not implemented, then there is only abyss. features an article by philologist Mara Saturina about the education reform. She writes that recent events show that a two-community society starts forming in Latvia and members of both communities are very unwilling to integrate into another community. She believes that the education reform could be a step towards integration and parents should be happy that their children will speak Latvian fluently. She concludes that the education reform is the last chance and if it is not implemented, then there is only “abyss.” Latvian rock group Livi will file a claim against the Association for the Support for Russian Schools in Latvia for performing their song without permission in the protest meeting on 23 May. The musicians state “it is profanation of our ideals of independence and freedom and the Latvian history and after all - us “Livi”.”

Latvian rock group Livi will file a claim against the Association for the Support for Russian Schools in Latvia for performing their song without permission in the protest meeting on 23 May. The musicians state it is profanation of our ideals of independence and freedom and the Latvian history and after all - us Livi. Diena, Lauku Avize, Vesti Segodnya

The Corruption Prevention Office has recalled its claim against the People’s Harmony Party after the Party re-submitted its corrected financial report.

The Corruption Prevention Office has recalled its claim against the Peoples Harmony Party after the Party re-submitted its corrected financial report. Neatkariga, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

The Justice Ministry submitted amendments to the state budget. The new amendments foresee that state language inspectors will have state-paid health and life insurance. Although since 1995 there have been no violent attacks on language inspectors, they continue to receive threatening phone calls.

The Justice Ministry submitted amendments to the state budget. The new amendments foresee that state language inspectors will have state-paid health and life insurance. Although since 1995 there have been no violent attacks on language inspectors, they continue to receive threatening phone calls.

The Security Police has initiated a criminal case against 16-year-old resident of Riga on the basis of the youth’s comments on the Internet. The Security Police believes that his comments incited national and racial hatred and expressed threats to organise terror acts during the Eurovision Song Festival.

The Security Police has initiated a criminal case against 16-year-old resident of Riga on the basis of the youths comments on the Internet. The Security Police believes that his comments incited national and racial hatred and expressed threats to organise terror acts during the Eurovision Song Festival. Vechernaya Riga, Vesti Segodnya

Chas

interviews famous journalist from Russia Aleksandr Lubimov. He states that people have to respect the country where they live and study its language. Lubimov notes that many ordinary people in Russia are concerned about lives of Russians in the Baltic States, however, the Russian government has very limited possibilities to have a serious influence on this issue. When asked whether there is an order to the Russian television to show the Baltic States only in a negative light, Lubimov says that he has not heard anything about that.