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.

• 52% residents of Latvia believe that two distinct communities – Latvians and non-Latvians – will remain in Latvia
• More comments on the OSCE Parliamentary Assemblys recommendations to Latvia
• Peoples Harmony Party wants to know the views of the candidates to the post of the Foreign Affairs Minister regarding ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
• About possible changes in the Special Tasks Ministers for Society Integration Secretariat status
• Working group of the LASHOR and the Ministry of Education and Science comes to the agreement on the key principles of the minorities educational programmes
• President of Russia Vladimir Putin talks about protection of compatriots outside Russia
• Teachers are concerned about the norm effective within 3 years stipulating that final exams in minorities secondary schools will be in both the Latvian and Russian language
• Article by the professor Ilga Apine and historian Dzintra Viksna on social and economic needs of new-repatriates
• Special Tasks Ministers for Societal Integration Secretariat plans to learn reasons of minority NGOs formation
• Interview with the recently naturalised Gagauz Galina Arnauta

The opinion poll, conducted by the SKDS, induces that 52% of the residents of Latvia believe that two country’s biggest communities – Latvians and Russian-speakers – will remain distinct in the future. The most sceptical about the possibility to form a single community society in Latvia are respondents of the age of 35 – 44, ones who have higher education and the Latvian non-citizens. Scepticism of Latvian residents this year has increased, as in 1998 and 2003 when similar polls were conducted 46.8% and 47% respondents respectively believed in the further existence of two distinct communities in Latvia. The MP, Head of the Saeima Human Rights Committee Ina Druviete thinks that too much attention is paid to the survey and states that within five years there will be a single community society in Latvia. While the director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Ilze Brands Kehre believes that the results of the survey could be explained not only by the protest actions against the implementation of the education reform, but also by stances of politicians towards the education reform.

The opinion poll, conducted by the SKDS, induces that 52% of the residents of Latvia believe that two countrys biggest communities – Latvians and Russian-speakers – will remain distinct in the future. The most sceptical about the possibility to form a single community society in Latvia are respondents of the age of 35 – 44, ones who have higher education and the Latvian non-citizens. Scepticism of Latvian residents this year has increased, as in 1998 and 2003 when similar polls were conducted 46.8% and 47% respondents respectively believed in the further existence of two distinct communities in Latvia. The MP, Head of the Saeima Human Rights Committee Ina Druviete thinks that too much attention is paid to the survey and states that within five years there will be a single community society in Latvia. While the director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Ilze Brands Kehre believes that the results of the survey could be explained not only by the protest actions against the implementation of the education reform, but also by stances of politicians towards the education reform. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Newspapers continue to write about the recommendations, adopted by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly, which includes recommendations to Latvia in the area of minorities’ rights.

Newspapers continue to write about the recommendations, adopted by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly, which includes recommendations to Latvia in the area of minorities rights. Telegraf features opinions of state officials about a possible response of the state to the recommendation to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The Head of the Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee Ina Druviete stated that a specific date when the Convention could be ratified is not under discussions, because, first, it is necessary to clarify the opinion of the society on this issue. Latvijas Avize, Telegraf

The People’s Harmony Party wants to know the stance of the candidate to the post of the Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks towards ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities before the Party makes a decision whether it will support this candidature. The New Era and For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM have already declared that they would not support the candidature. The necessity to re-elect a new Minister of Foreign Affairs became urgent after the election of the present minister Rihards Piks to the European Parliament.

The Peoples Harmony Party wants to know the stance of the candidate to the post of the Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks towards ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities before the Party makes a decision whether it will support this candidature. The New Era and For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM have already declared that they would not support the candidature. The necessity to re-elect a new Minister of Foreign Affairs became urgent after the election of the present minister Rihards Piks to the European Parliament. Diena, Chas, Telegraf

The Special Tasks Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks has expressed a desire to change the status of the Special Tasks Minister’s for Societal Integration Secretariat.  According to Nils Muiznieks, societal integration is not a short-term process , therefore a ministry and not the secretariat should be in charge of these issues. However, the head of the Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee Ina Druviete does not support the proposed change and states that societal integration process is long, but not endless.  Therefore, one day there will be no need to have an institution dealing with these issues. According to Ina Druviete, the funding from the state budget to this institution is fully sufficient, but the staff of the Secretariat is already too large.

The Special Tasks Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks has expressed a desire to change the status of the Special Tasks Ministers for Societal Integration Secretariat. According to Nils Muiznieks, societal integration is not a short-term process , therefore a ministry and not the secretariat should be in charge of these issues. However, the head of the Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee Ina Druviete does not support the proposed change and states that societal integration process is long, but not endless. Therefore, one day there will be no need to have an institution dealing with these issues. According to Ina Druviete, the funding from the state budget to this institution is fully sufficient, but the staff of the Secretariat is already too large. Latvijas Avize

Newspapers print articles about the meeting of the working group, combined of representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science and the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-language Schools (LASHOR). During the meeting members of both parties came to an agreement on four key principles, which should be elaborated into the minorities’ educational programmes. Minority educational programmes should develop patriotic feelings towards the Latvian state, ensure the high level of Latvian language proficiency, preserve a minority language and provide multicultural instruction.

Newspapers print articles about the meeting of the working group, combined of representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science and the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-language Schools (LASHOR). During the meeting members of both parties came to an agreement on four key principles, which should be elaborated into the minorities educational programmes. Minority educational programmes should develop patriotic feelings towards the Latvian state, ensure the high level of Latvian language proficiency, preserve a minority language and provide multicultural instruction. Chas features an interview with the deputy chairman of the LASHOR Olga Isakova about this meeting. Latvijas Avize, Telegraf, Chas

‘Protection of compatriots living outside Russia, especially in the Baltic States, is one of the most important tasks of the Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs,’ stated the President of Russia Vladimir Putin during his meeting with Russian diplomats. During the meeting diplomats also discussed the situation of Russian-speakers in Latvia and implementation of the education reform.

‘Protection of compatriots living outside Russia, especially in the Baltic States, is one of the most important tasks of the Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated the President of Russia Vladimir Putin during his meeting with Russian diplomats. During the meeting diplomats also discussed the situation of Russian-speakers in Latvia and implementation of the education reform. Vesti Segodnya

Teachers have expressed their concern about the norm which foresees that in 2007 the final exams in the Latvian and Russian languages for Latvian-language and minority secondary school students will have the same content. That means that in 2007 this year’s students of the 10

Teachers have expressed their concern about the norm which foresees that in 2007 the final exams in the Latvian and Russian languages for Latvian-language and minority secondary school students will have the same content. That means that in 2007 this years students of the 10th grade will have to pass a final exam of the unified content in four subjects: Latvian language and literature as native language in Latvian-language schools and Latvian-language and literature as foreign language in minorities schools as well as Russian language and literature as native in minority schools and as foreign language in Latvian language schools. Diena

Neatkariga Rita Avize features an article by Professor Ilga Apine and historian Dzintra Viksna on the sociological portrait and social and economic needs of new-repatriates, i.e., Latvians and their families, who have moved to Latvia from the Commonwealth of the Independent States for the last seven years. The research reveals that approximately 75% of new-repatriates are Latvians and that they have very positive attitude towards Latvia – 74,3% of interviewed new-repatriates are proud of their affiliation to Latvia. While the authors of the article also point to the sustained bureaucratic procedure, stipulating the requirement to resign form the citizenship of Russia, Ukraine or Belorus in order to get the citizenship of Latvia, as the key reason for abstaining from naturalisation.

Special Tasks Minister’s for Societal Integration Secretariat in collaboration with Riga Stradins University plans to conduct a research on reasons of forming minority NGOs in Latvia. There are approximately 200 minority NGOs in the country.

Special Tasks Ministers for Societal Integration Secretariat in collaboration with Riga Stradins University plans to conduct a research on reasons of forming minority NGOs in Latvia. There are approximately 200 minority NGOs in the country. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize features an interview with the recently naturalised Gagauz Galina Arnauta about societal integration processes in Latvia. According to Galina Arnauta, the implementation of the education reform should have been started already at the kindergarten and not secondary school level.