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 report has been accepted by the European Parliament
• Discussion about Latvian – Russian relationship
• Speaker of the Russias State Duma is invited to Latvia
• Saeima adopted the draft law on joining the NATO
• Paradoxes of the naturalization process
• Latvian Russian society divided by the attitude towards the education reform
• Latvian and Russian students at Rinuzhi school try to better understand each other

Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Parliament has accepted changes to the report on Latvia’s preparedness to join the European Union, submitted by the German deputy Elisabeth Schroedter. The new version of the report recognizes that Latvian policy in the fields of citizenship, language and education does correspond to the international standards. The Committee appreciated the growth in the speed of naturalization, but points out that it should be even faster and easier for the applicants. The report recommends the Latvian government to grant voting rights for non-citizens at the municipal elections and to speed up the ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of the National Minorities.

Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Parliament has accepted changes to the report on Latvias preparedness to join the European Union, submitted by the German deputy Elisabeth Schroedter. The new version of the report recognizes that Latvian policy in the fields of citizenship, language and education does correspond to the international standards. The Committee appreciated the growth in the speed of naturalization, but points out that it should be even faster and easier for the applicants. The report recommends the Latvian government to grant voting rights for non-citizens at the municipal elections and to speed up the ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of the National Minorities. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

Rigas Balss features a discussion about the relationship between Latvia and its biggest neighbor Russia. The weakest points are being identified as the lack of normal communication, real wish to develop the relationship, and professional dedication from both sides.

The Speaker of Saeima Ingrida Udre has invited Boris Grizlov, the Speaker of Russia’s State Duma on an official visit to Latvia in order to develop contacts between the two countries on the parliamentary level.

The Speaker of Saeima Ingrida Udre has invited Boris Grizlov, the Speaker of Russias State Duma on an official visit to Latvia in order to develop contacts between the two countries on the parliamentary level. Diena, Telegraf, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Neatkariga Rita Avize informs, that Saeima has adopted (73 votes for, 6 – against) the draft law on Latvia joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Telegraf points out the paradoxes of the naturalization process. With the number of applications almost doubling lately, the relevant institutions can hardly cope with managing the whole process due to the lack of financial and human resources. Help from international organizations could have sped up the process again.

Chas has published an article by Boriss Cilevics, the deputy from the Peoples Harmony Party, who analyzes the Russian society of Latvia from the point of view of attitude towards the education reform. Main three groups have been identified: the most integrated part of the population, ‘pragmatists, who have only constructive objections to the reform; the second group, ‘community supporters, are mainly concerned about the preservation of the Russian community in Latvia, and usually employ mass manifestations as the methods; and the third group, ‘diaspora, is clearly oriented towards Russia not only in language and cultural sense, but also politically..

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Chas also features an account of the discussion in the Rinuzhi secondary school, where Russian and Latvian students together tried to find an answer to the question: where does the division between Latvians and Russians start? The discussion has helped both sides to identify mutual stereotypes and prejudices.