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
of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies

• Budget of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration will be reduced in three categories
• Naturalisation Board will have to close seven regional offices
• Two Russian schools will be merged in Jelgava
• Chairperson of the Latvian Association of National Cultural Societies about the conflict with the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration
• Protest activities against the education reform will take place on 4 September
• Lauku Avize interviews New Era MP Ina Druviete about the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration

Diena reports that the Secretariat of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration has to cut next years budget by 35,307 LVL. The budget will be reduced in the following categories: administrative expenses of the Secretariat (13,240 LVL), grants for other organisations (4,414 LVL), and the Society Integration Foundation will reduce the amount of funding for social integration projects (17 653 LVL).

In order to cut next year’s budget the Naturalisation Board will have to close seven regional offices.  In these regions the Naturalization Board’s office hours will be organised twice a month.

In order to cut next years budget the Naturalisation Board will have to close seven regional offices. In these regions the Naturalization Boards office hours will be organised twice a month. Neatkariga

Chas and Vesti Segonya publish information about the decision of the municipality to merge two Russian schools in Jelgava. Activists of the school council plan to file a court case against the municipality.

Nils Muiznieks, the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration, was disappointed that criticism about his work appeared while he was on a visit to Russia. Replying to critics on his statements about the ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, Nils Muiznieks explained that the FCNM will be ratified but not before the referendum about the Latvia’s EU membership.

Nils Muiznieks, the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration, was disappointed that criticism about his work appeared while he was on a visit to Russia. Replying to critics on his statements about the ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, Nils Muiznieks explained that the FCNM will be ratified but not before the referendum about the Latvias EU membership. Chas

Chas prints comments by Rafi Haradzajans, chairperson of the Latvian Association of National Cultural Societies (LANCS), about the conflict situation with the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration. Haradzajans considers that the Secretariat is not interested in the cultural activities of the minority organisations and that the Association should be administered by the Ministry of Culture. In reply to the statements made by Rafi Haradzajans advisor to the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Aleksandrs Brandavs informed that necessary funding for the premises of the Association will be provided, but it is necessary to sign an agreement between the Secretariat and the Association.

The Security Police authorized the organisation of the protest activities against the education reform on 4 September.

The Security Police authorized the organisation of the protest activities against the education reform on 4 September. Vesti Segodnya

Lauku Avize features an interview with New Era MP Ina Druviete, the Head of the Saeima Human Rights Committee. She criticizes the work of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration. She considers that the staff and the budget of the Secretariat of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration are not proportionate to the functions of the institution. Ina Druviete is not satisfied with staff members employed by the Secretariat. She considers that the Secretariat is not promoting the integration of society, therefore the governments coalition should evaluate the work of the Secretariat.