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

• Discussion about the statements of Alvaro Gill-Robles, the First Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe
• Cabinet of Ministers approves the establishment of the State Language Agency
• MPs plan to meet Nils Muiznieks, the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration, to talk over the mutual disagreements
• Nils Muiznieks: non-citizens are passive in the naturalization process
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia distributes the statements of Walter Schwimmer, the Secretary-General of Council of Europe, about the education reform in Latvia
• The President of Latvia and parliamentary faction For Human Rights in the United Latvia talk over the education reform
• Historian Dr. Leo Dribins and the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks about ethnic factors in voting results of the referendum on the Latvia`s accession to the EU

Newspapers write about the visit of the First Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Alvaro Gill-Robles to Latvia, featuring the responses of Latvian officials to his statements. Lauku Avize refers to Olafs Bruvers, the head of the Latvian National Human Rights Office. According to him, the recommendation of the Commissioner to grant voting rights at municipal elections to non-citizens was his private opinion, not the official stance of the Council of Europe. Bruvers also stresses that this suggestion was not based on an in-depth analysis of the situation of Latvia. The newspaper also refers to the opinions of Anta Rugate, a MP, believing that granting of voting rights to non-citizens would decrease their motivation to naturalize. Ina Druviete, the head of the Saeima Human Rights Committee, states that fulfilling of this recommendation would hinder the process of social integration and decrease motivation to learn the Latvian language. Vesti Segodnya and Vecernaya Riga refer to Kristine Juckovica, the press secretary of the Prime Minister of Latvia, informing that Latvia will not fulfill the recommendation of the Commisioner to grant voting rights to non-citizens since there are opportunities for non-citizens to naturalize. Lauku Avize, Chas, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya, Vechernaya Riga

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a concept of the establishment of the State Language Agency. Telegraf points to the overlap of functions between the new State Language Agency and the State Language Centre as well as other institutions responsible for the implementation of the state language policy, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

Rigas Balss writes about the conflict between the representatives of Saeima and the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks since last August. The newspaper points out that the opponents of Muiznieks are planning to meet with him in the coming days to talk over the mutual disagreements.

Vesti Segodnya

features an article about an interview of Nils Muiznieks, the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration, to Russian radio station Eho Moskvi. According to the Minister, the main non-citizens problem in Latvia is their own passivity in the process of naturalization.

The press-center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia has distributed the opinion of Walter Schwimmer, the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, on the education reform in Latvia. According to him, there are different models of minority education in Europe, but the Council of Europe is expecting Latvia to observe both the rights to get education in minority language and the rights to get a qualitative education in the state language. Lauku Avize also refers to the false interpretation of Schwimmer`s statements by several Russian news agencies and Russian language newspapers in Latvia. Lauku Avize

Chas features an article about the meeting of Vaira Vike-Freiberga, the President of Latvia, with the representatives of Saeima opposition parties. Education reform was the main subject of discussion between the President and the faction For Human Rights in the United Latvia. The President promised to talk over this issue with the Minister of Education and Science.

The public policy portal www.politika.lv publishes an article of the historian Dr. Leo Dribins and an interview of Nils Muiznieks, the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration, to the radio station Briva Eiropa (Free Europe), where they both discuss ethnic factors in voting results of the referendum on the Latvia`s accession to the EU.