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

• Latvian government crisis
• Latvias First Party and the Minister of Special Task Minister of Societal integration will ask for more explicitdefinitions on the use of Latvian as a language of school instruction in the Law on Education
• Interview with the Minister of Education and Science Karlis Shadurskis
• Latvian National Human Rights Office asks for explanations about letters sent out to minority schools by the police
• Prominent members of the Latvian society about the latest amendments to the Law on Education
• President of Latvia asks to evaluate the communism regimes crimes
• Opinion poll: 60,5% inhabitants of Latvia believe that the society is not united

Prime Minister of Latvia has demanded a resignation of the Deputy Prime Minister Ainars Slesers (Latvia’s First Party). The Prime Minister states that Ainars Slesers’s performance in providing the link between the Saeima and the Cabinet of Ministers has not been satisfactory. Tomorrow Latvia’s First Party is planning to decide possible withdrawal from the governing coalition. The Union of Greens and Farmers and the party For Fatherlands and Freedom/LNIM do not regard the minority government as a stable formation.

Prime Minister of Latvia has demanded a resignation of the Deputy Prime Minister Ainars Slesers (Latvias First Party). The Prime Minister states that Ainars Sleserss performance in providing the link between the Saeima and the Cabinet of Ministers has not been satisfactory. Tomorrow Latvias First Party is planning to decide possible withdrawal from the governing coalition. The Union of Greens and Farmers and the party For Fatherlands and Freedom/LNIM do not regard the minority government as a stable formation. Diena, Rigas Balss, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Vechernaya Riga, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Latvia’s First Party and the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks are planning to ask for more explicit definitions for use of Latvian as language of instruction at the minority schools in the Law on Education. According to the party, amendments to the Law on Education must fully correspond to the previous promises given by the government, which stipulated that 40% of lessons will be taught in minority language, and the schools themselves would decide on the language choice for different subjects.

Latvias First Party and the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks are planning to ask for more explicit definitions for use of Latvian as language of instruction at the minority schools in the Law on Education. According to the party, amendments to the Law on Education must fully correspond to the previous promises given by the government, which stipulated that 40% of lessons will be taught in minority language, and the schools themselves would decide on the language choice for different subjects. Latvijas Avize prints an opinion of the member of Saeima Education, Culture and Science Committee Dzintars Abikis, who believes that the position of Nils Muiznieks in the area of minority education is too liberal. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Chas

Latvijas Avize features an interview with the Minister of Education and Science Karlis Shadurskis, who states that the Prime Minister fully supports the education reform. According to Karlis Shadurskis, the Ministry of Education and Science will ask the local governments to dismiss those schools directors and teachers, who will support the mass protest actions against the Law on Education. Latvijas Avize

Latvian National Human Rights Office has sent a letter to the Chief of the State Police Janis Zascirinskis, requesting to explain the Riga City Central Police Department actions. In the letters sent to the minority schools  directors, Department’s officials required to supply information on all students who had been absent during the protest meeting against the education reform 2004.

Latvian National Human Rights Office has sent a letter to the Chief of the State Police Janis Zascirinskis, requesting to explain the Riga City Central Police Department actions. In the letters sent to the minority schools directors, Departments officials required to supply information on all students who had been absent during the protest meeting against the education reform 2004. Vesti Segodnya features the statements of the Riga Municipality Police, the State Police and the State Security Police, denying any connection of these institutions representatives to the action. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Vechernaya Riga, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Newspapers feature opinions of the prominent members of the society about the latest amendments to the Law on Education. The Ventspils Mayor Aivars Lembergs believes that the education reform provokes antagonistic attitude of the minority youth toward the state.

Newspapers feature opinions of the prominent members of the society about the latest amendments to the Law on Education. The Ventspils Mayor Aivars Lembergs believes that the education reform provokes antagonistic attitude of the minority youth toward the state. Latvijas Avize features the statements of the director of the Riga City Council Education, Youth and Sport department Elmars Vebers, who believes that the education reform will not cause problems in maintaining the ethnic identity of minority students. The ex-President of Latvia Guntis Ulmanis points to the necessity of dialogue between supporters and opponents of the reform. Latvijas Avize, Vechernaya Riga, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, speaking at the international summit on genocide, has asked to evaluate the communist regime’s crimes.

President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, speaking at the international summit on genocide, has asked to evaluate the communist regimes crimes. Diena, Telegraf

According to the opinion poll conducted by the research centre SKDS, 60, 5% inhabitants of Latvia believe that society is not united and only 15% are giving an affirmative answer.

According to the opinion poll conducted by the research centre SKDS, 60, 5% inhabitants of Latvia believe that society is not united and only 15% are giving an affirmative answer. Latvijas Avize