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

• Saeima adopted legislation on Latvias accession to NATO
• OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Rolf Ekeus and the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga agree that the implementation of education reform should be pragmatic and flexible
• European Parliament requests Russia to sign the border agreements with Latvia and Estonia
• Aleksandr Sabanov article and interview with the teacher-actor of aggressive anti-education reform video clip
• Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Chizov visits Latvia and stresses education reform issues
• The Jewish Community of Latvia distances itself from the Simon Wiesenthal Centre representative Efraim Zuroffs citicism of the President of Latvia
• US Department of State human rights reports published
• Proposed amendments to the Law on the Protection of the Rights of the Child with the aim to limit participation in political protest actions

Yesterday the Saeima adopted legislation on Latvia’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty with 77 votes for (all right-wing parties and some deputies from People’s Harmony Party), 6 against (5 Socialist Party and one FHRUL deputy) and 5 abstentions (by FHRUL deputies).  Commentators point out that thus one of the main foreign policy goals of the state has been achieved.

Yesterday the Saeima adopted legislation on Latvias accession to the North Atlantic Treaty with 77 votes for (all right-wing parties and some deputies from Peoples Harmony Party), 6 against (5 Socialist Party and one FHRUL deputy) and 5 abstentions (by FHRUL deputies). Commentators point out that thus one of the main foreign policy goals of the state has been achieved. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Vechernaya Riga, Chas

The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Rolf Ekeus reiterated his support for the education reform, which guarantees equal opportunities and quality of education for all children in Latvia. During the meeting of the High Commissioner with the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga both officials agreed that the implementation of the education reform must be pragmatic and flexible, considering the real situation in the each of the minority schools. Rolf Ekeus also indicated that Latvia could act to decrease international criticism in the area of minority rights by ratifying the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Rolf Ekeus reiterated his support for the education reform, which guarantees equal opportunities and quality of education for all children in Latvia. During the meeting of the High Commissioner with the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga both officials agreed that the implementation of the education reform must be pragmatic and flexible, considering the real situation in the each of the minority schools. Rolf Ekeus also indicated that Latvia could act to decrease international criticism in the area of minority rights by ratifying the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Vechernaya Riga, Telegraf

The European Parliament (EP) has adopted recommendations for the future collaboration between EU and Russia, stressing that the EU should require Russia to sign border agreements with Latvia and Estonia. The head of the EP’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defense Policy Elmar Brok reportedly stated that Russia cannot use the issue of the Russian minority situation in the Baltic States as an argument against the signing of the border agreement because the minority situation in these states is better than the one in Russia itself. The EP requests the Council of the European Union (CEU) to ensure a unified stance of the EU member states’ leaders toward Russia and recommends the CEU to stand firm on the stance that the treaty on collaboration between Russia and the European Union should be applied also to the new member states of the EU. 

The European Parliament (EP) has adopted recommendations for the future collaboration between EU and Russia, stressing that the EU should require Russia to sign border agreements with Latvia and Estonia. The head of the EPs Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defense Policy Elmar Brok reportedly stated that Russia cannot use the issue of the Russian minority situation in the Baltic States as an argument against the signing of the border agreement because the minority situation in these states is better than the one in Russia itself. The EP requests the Council of the European Union (CEU) to ensure a unified stance of the EU member states leaders toward Russia and recommends the CEU to stand firm on the stance that the treaty on collaboration between Russia and the European Union should be applied also to the new member states of the EU. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Diena features and article by Aleksandr Sabanov, in which he interviews the teacher who is featured in the anti-education reform video clip that recently has stirred up emotions with its aggressive posturing bordering on violence, and includes elements of extremist symbols. The teacher claims he is not en enemy of Latvia and says it is not true that Russians in Latvia do not want to learn Latvian. The teacher and amateur actor claims that the lack of attention to opposition to the reform by Latvian and European institutions has forced the opponents towards more radical forms of protest. The Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-Language schools has called for a public demonstration in Riga today defending the video clip and its authors.

Russian-language newspapers feature articles about visit of the Russia Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Chizov to Latvia. During the meeting with the Russians from Latvia at the Russian Embassy in Latvia yesterday, Vladimir Chizov allegedly stated that the main issue discussed during his meeting with the representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia will be the education reform. The Russia official also has stated that the relationship between Latvia and Russia after Latvia’s accession to the EU could improve only in case the situation of Russian-speaking people in Latvia will improve.

Russian-language newspapers feature articles about visit of the Russia Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Chizov to Latvia. During the meeting with the Russians from Latvia at the Russian Embassy in Latvia yesterday, Vladimir Chizov allegedly stated that the main issue discussed during his meeting with the representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia will be the education reform. The Russia official also has stated that the relationship between Latvia and Russia after Latvias accession to the EU could improve only in case the situation of Russian-speaking people in Latvia will improve. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Chas

The Jewish Community of Latvia distances itself from the criticism the Simon Wiesenthal Centre representative Efraim Zuroff has expressed of the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, charging that she is ignoring the Holocaust and comparing it with the crimes of genocide of the communist regime. The Council of Jewish Communities and congregations regards the action of Efraim Zuroff as unacceptable and stresses that his stance is not supported by the general opinion of the Jewish community in Latvia.

The Jewish Community of Latvia distances itself from the criticism the Simon Wiesenthal Centre representative Efraim Zuroff has expressed of the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, charging that she is ignoring the Holocaust and comparing it with the crimes of genocide of the communist regime. The Council of Jewish Communities and congregations regards the action of Efraim Zuroff as unacceptable and stresses that his stance is not supported by the general opinion of the Jewish community in Latvia. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Chas

Latvijas Avize prints an excerpt on minority rights in Latvia from the US Departments of State report about the situation in the area of observation of human rights in the world. Diena features an overview of the report stressing pre-trial detention, not mentioning the minority rights.

Yesterday the Saeima Sub-Committee for the Protection on the Child submitted amendments to the Law on the Protection of the Rights of the Child Law to the commissions for review. The amendments stipulate that all demonstrations, protest walks and public protest events in which children participate must be coordinated with the municipality and the police. According to the proponents of the amendments, the aim of these amendments is the preclusion of children’s participation in political protest actions.

Yesterday the Saeima Sub-Committee for the Protection on the Child submitted amendments to the Law on the Protection of the Rights of the Child Law to the commissions for review. The amendments stipulate that all demonstrations, protest walks and public protest events in which children participate must be coordinated with the municipality and the police. According to the proponents of the amendments, the aim of these amendments is the preclusion of childrens participation in political protest actions. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Rigas Balss, Telegraf