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

• Council of Europe Parliamentary Assemblys Monitoring Committee evaluates the possibility to renew the monitoring procedure on the observation of minority rights in Latvia
• Society integration in the draft of the new Governments Declaration
• Naturalization Board received the largest ever monthly amount of naturalization applications
• President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga meets Metropolitan Aleksandrs of the Orthodox Church
• Sweden Foreign Affairs Minister Laila Freivalds denies the reproofs of Russia about violation of minority rights in Latvia
• Interview with the head of the Department of Society Integration of the Special Task Ministers for Societal Integration Secretariat Irina Vinnika
• Preparations to the Congress of the Defenders of Russian language schools
• Cabinet of Ministers adopts the regulation On personal names spelling and use in the Latvian language, and on its identification
• Plans of the vice-speaker of the Russias State Council Dmitry Rogozin to visit Latvia

Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly’s (CEPA) Monitoring Committee has nominated two rapporteurs who will evaluate a possibility to renew the monitoring procedure on the observation of minority rights in Latvia. Saeima MP and Latvian delegate to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (CEPA)Boris Tsilevitch has pointed to the obligation of the Committee to evaluate this proposal, officially submitted by the vice-speaker of Russia State Council Dmitry Rogozin, while stating that the chairman of the Monitoring Committee Josette Durrieu does not supports the renewal of monitoring procedure.

Council of Europe Parliamentary Assemblys (CEPA) Monitoring Committee has nominated two rapporteurs who will evaluate a possibility to renew the monitoring procedure on the observation of minority rights in Latvia. Saeima MP and Latvian delegate to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (CEPA)Boris Tsilevitch has pointed to the obligation of the Committee to evaluate this proposal, officially submitted by the vice-speaker of Russia State Council Dmitry Rogozin, while stating that the chairman of the Monitoring Committee Josette Durrieu does not supports the renewal of monitoring procedure. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize prints a draft of the Governments Declaration of the emerging Cabinet of Ministers, which stipulates the development of Latvia as a national state with the integrated society. The declaration also stipulates promotion of the naturalization process, providing the Latvian language courses free of charge, and the implementation of the amendments to the Law on Education, while taking into account interests of the society and maintaining the quality of minority education.

In February, the Naturalization Board has received 1600 naturalization applications, which is the largest monthly amount of naturalization applications received by the Board since the beginning of the naturalization process, informed the chairman of the Board Eizenija Aldermane. During her meeting with the Saeima MPs, the chairman has also called MPs to provide financial resources for the Latvian language courses for non-citizens. Opposite to the last year, this year the state has not allocated any financing to the courses.

In February, the Naturalization Board has received 1600 naturalization applications, which is the largest monthly amount of naturalization applications received by the Board since the beginning of the naturalization process, informed the chairman of the Board Eizenija Aldermane. During her meeting with the Saeima MPs, the chairman has also called MPs to provide financial resources for the Latvian language courses for non-citizens. Opposite to the last year, this year the state has not allocated any financing to the courses. Latvijas Avize

Newspapers feature articles about the meeting of the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Metropolitan Aleksandrs of the Latvian Orthodox Church. After the meeting, Metropolitan Aleksandrs has pointed out that the state has not provided enough explanations   about the importance of the Latvian language to the minority youth, school teachers and the whole society during the last 10 years. According to the Metropolitan, such activities would raise motivation to learn Latvian.

Newspapers feature articles about the meeting of the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Metropolitan Aleksandrs of the Latvian Orthodox Church. After the meeting, Metropolitan Aleksandrs has pointed out that the state has not provided enough explanations about the importance of the Latvian language to the minority youth, school teachers and the whole society during the last 10 years. According to the Metropolitan, such activities would raise motivation to learn Latvian. Latvijas Avize features an interview with Metropolitan Aleksandrs. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Latvijas Vestnesis

Sweden Foreign Affairs Minister Laila Freivalds submitted an official document to the Russia Foreign Affairs Minister Igor Ivanov, denying reproofs of Russia about the violation of minority rights in Latvia and Estonia.

Sweden Foreign Affairs Minister Laila Freivalds submitted an official document to the Russia Foreign Affairs Minister Igor Ivanov, denying reproofs of Russia about the violation of minority rights in Latvia and Estonia. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize

Official newspaper

Official newspaper Latvijas Vestnesis features an interview with the head of the Department of Society Integration of the Special Task Ministers for Society Integration Secretariat Irina Vinnika, who states that Latvia does not have a sustainable program for society integration, thus sending a wrong message to the minorities about their role in the society. She also stresses that all minority rights protective mechanisms have been incorporated into the Latvian legislation, but it is necessary to work on its implementation.

Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-Language Schools has received lists with the names of 826 persons, nominated to the Congress of the Defenders of Russian language schools. According to the organizer of the Congress Jurijs Petropavlovskis, 40% of the nominated persons could be parents, 40% - minority students, 10% - teachers and 10% - representatives of the non-governmental organizations.

Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-Language Schools has received lists with the names of 826 persons, nominated to the Congress of the Defenders of Russian language schools. According to the organizer of the Congress Jurijs Petropavlovskis, 40% of the nominated persons could be parents, 40% - minority students, 10% - teachers and 10% - representatives of the non-governmental organizations. Telegraf and Chas write about the support of the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schoolsto the Congress. Diena, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Chas

Yesterday Cabinet of Ministers has adopted the regulation “On personal names’ spelling and use in the Latvian language, and on its identification’’, which stipulates that the person’s name will be reproduced in correspondence with its pronunciation in the original language, while endings will change in accordance with the declination norms of the Latvian language.

Yesterday Cabinet of Ministers has adopted the regulation On personal names spelling and use in the Latvian language, and on its identification, which stipulates that the persons name will be reproduced in correspondence with its pronunciation in the original language, while endings will change in accordance with the declination norms of the Latvian language. Diena, Vesti Segodnya

Vice-speaker of the Russia’s State Council Dmitry Rogozin’s plans, mentioned previously in the Russian-language newspapers, to get around the ban to entry Latvia and visit the country after its accession to the EU on 1 May, using Schengen visa, have failed. According to the press secretary of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs Inga Saleniece, Latvia will access the Schengen Treaty only in 2007–2008.

Vice-speaker of the Russias State Council Dmitry Rogozins plans, mentioned previously in the Russian-language newspapers, to get around the ban to entry Latvia and visit the country after its accession to the EU on 1 May, using Schengen visa, have failed. According to the press secretary of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs Inga Saleniece, Latvia will access the Schengen Treaty only in 2007–2008. Diena