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.

• Head of the FHRUL parliamentary group Jakovs Pliners sends an open letter to the president of Latvia and the prime minister regarding implementation of the minority education reform
• Newspapers continue discussion about appeal of the group of intellectuals to the state officials regarding implementation of the minority education reform
• Director of the Second European department of the Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs Alexander Udaltsov about Russian-speakers situation in Latvia
• Vice-speaker of the Russia State Council Vladimir Zhirinovsky threatens the Baltic states with military invasion

Responding to the appeal of the group of intellectuals regarding implementation of the minority education reform, the head of the union’s For Human Rights in the United Latvia parliamentary group Jakovs Pliners has also sent an open letter to the president of Latvia and the prime Minister. In his letter, Jakovs Pliners points to the necessity of an urgent moratorium on education reform, and suggests to grant the rights to define the language of instruction and the ‘level of bilingualism’ to the minorities schools’ councils; to divide subject ‘Latvian language and literature’ into two separate subjects ‘Latvian language’ and ‘Latvian literature’, at the same time increasing number of lessons from 4 to 6 per week; and to establish a department on minorities’ education issues under the Ministry of Education and Science.

Responding to the appeal of the group of intellectuals regarding implementation of the minority education reform, the head of the unions For Human Rights in the United Latvia parliamentary group Jakovs Pliners has also sent an open letter to the president of Latvia and the prime Minister. In his letter, Jakovs Pliners points to the necessity of an urgent moratorium on education reform, and suggests to grant the rights to define the language of instruction and the ‘level of bilingualism to the minorities schools councils; to divide subject ‘Latvian language and literature into two separate subjects ‘Latvian language and ‘Latvian literature, at the same time increasing number of lessons from 4 to 6 per week; and to establish a department on minorities education issues under the Ministry of Education and Science. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Latvian-language newspapers continue discussion about the appeal of the group of intellectuals to the state officials regarding implementation of the minority education reform.

Latvian-language newspapers continue discussion about the appeal of the group of intellectuals to the state officials regarding implementation of the minority education reform. Diena features opinions of the state officials, most of whom believe that suggested abandonment of the language ratios is belated and cannot be accomplished at the present moment. The Prime Minister Indulis Emsis, as well as the Minister for Education and Science Juris Radzevics and Special Tasks Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks, categorically reject the possibility of opening the Law on Education in order to cancel the language ratios. Latvijas Avize features a commentary by the journalist Voldemars Krustins, who believes that proposals included in the appeal have been already expressed in the past by the representatives of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools.

“Russia will apply to international organisations more actively in order to solve Russian-speakers’ problems in Latvia,” stated director of the Second European department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Udaltsov during the meeting with the Baltic State’s journalists. According to Udaltsov, problems are well known – naturalisation, education in the Russian language, voting rights and attitude towards the Soviet Army veterans. Alexander Udaltsov believes that the education reform must be cancelled, or at least postponed in order to be carefully prepared. He also said that in the regions, where Russian-speakers live in substantial numbers, they should have rights to use the Russian language officially.

Russia will apply to international organisations more actively in order to solve Russian-speakers problems in Latvia, stated director of the Second European department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Udaltsov during the meeting with the Baltic States journalists. According to Udaltsov, problems are well known – naturalisation, education in the Russian language, voting rights and attitude towards the Soviet Army veterans. Alexander Udaltsov believes that the education reform must be cancelled, or at least postponed in order to be carefully prepared. He also said that in the regions, where Russian-speakers live in substantial numbers, they should have rights to use the Russian language officially. Chas features an interview with Alexander Udaltsov and the deputy director of the department Mikhail Demurin. Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Vice-speaker of the Russia State Council Vladimir Zhirinovsky (Russia Liberal Democratic Party) has threatened that Russia’s armed forces may be moved into the Baltic States if those countries continue to ‘offend the big neighbour’. Zhirinovsky said that all people born in a specific state should have its citizenship.

Vice-speaker of the Russia State Council Vladimir Zhirinovsky (Russia Liberal Democratic Party) has threatened that Russias armed forces may be moved into the Baltic States if those countries continue to ‘offend the big neighbour. Zhirinovsky said that all people born in a specific state should have its citizenship. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya