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.

• Saeima will not review amendments to the Law on Education in its extraordinary meeting this Thursday
• Protest actions against the education reform take place in Riga
• Minister of Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks offers the Commissioner of the European Commission Sandra Kalniete to become Latvias ambassador in the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe
• Interview with the Special Tasks Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks
• Critical article on statements made by minority school directors on the readiness of minority schools to implement the education reform
• Former Minister of Education and Science Karlis Sadurskis talks about the implementation of the education reform and protest actions against it
• State officials will explain the goals of Latvias education reform to the mass media of Russia

Yesterday the Saeima Presidium refused to include in the agenda of the extraordinary meeting of the Saeima amendments to the Law on Education, prepared by the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia. The amendments stipulate the establishment of a moratorium on the education reform and keeping the previous ratio between the languages of instruction.

Yesterday the Saeima Presidium refused to include in the agenda of the extraordinary meeting of the Saeima amendments to the Law on Education, prepared by the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia. The amendments stipulate the establishment of a moratorium on the education reform and keeping the previous ratio between the languages of instruction. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Newspapers report on the protest actions against education reform. Six activists of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools have started a hunger strike. The six activists have installed a tent in the centre of Riga, where interested people can obtain various materials agitating against the education reform. Organisers of the strike report that the hunger strike will go on until the moratorium on education reform is established and a dialogue between the state and a discussion group, nominated by the Congress of the Defenders of Russian language schools, is launched. The deputy of Riga City Council Aleksandrs Gilmans reports on other protest actions: minority school students will be called not to attend school on 2 September, but assemble in the centre of Riga to express their protest against the education reform. Another form of protest will be refusal to speak and respond in Latvian at school. Meanwhile, the Minister of Education and Science has called minority students not to respond to appeals of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools. The Riga City Council has authorised a planned protest meeting against the education reform on 1 September.

Newspapers report on the protest actions against education reform. Six activists of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools have started a hunger strike. The six activists have installed a tent in the centre of Riga, where interested people can obtain various materials agitating against the education reform. Organisers of the strike report that the hunger strike will go on until the moratorium on education reform is established and a dialogue between the state and a discussion group, nominated by the Congress of the Defenders of Russian language schools, is launched. The deputy of Riga City Council Aleksandrs Gilmans reports on other protest actions: minority school students will be called not to attend school on 2 September, but assemble in the centre of Riga to express their protest against the education reform. Another form of protest will be refusal to speak and respond in Latvian at school. Meanwhile, the Minister of Education and Science has called minority students not to respond to appeals of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools. The Riga City Council has authorised a planned protest meeting against the education reform on 1 September. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Rigas Balss, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks has offered the present Commissioner of the European Commission (EC) Sandra Kalniete the post of ambassador at the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe after her mandate in the European Commission is expired. Artis Pabriks believes that so far Sandra Kalniete has been very successful in explaining the Latvian history to the international community, therefore she is an appropriate candidacy for the post in the organisation, engaged into solving conflict situations in the areas of human rights and ethnic relations.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks has offered the present Commissioner of the European Commission (EC) Sandra Kalniete the post of ambassador at the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe after her mandate in the European Commission is expired. Artis Pabriks believes that so far Sandra Kalniete has been very successful in explaining the Latvian history to the international community, therefore she is an appropriate candidacy for the post in the organisation, engaged into solving conflict situations in the areas of human rights and ethnic relations. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Telegraf

Latvijas Avize features an interview with the Special Tasks Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks about the necessity to explain the position of Latvia concerning the observation of minority rights. According to the Minister, some terms and concepts concerning minorities have quite different meaning in Latvia. As an example Nils Muiznieks provides the situation regarding the Russian language – ‘it is not a minority language, because it is more widespread than Latvian language and therefore it does not need the same defence mechanisms as other minority languages do. The Minister believes that the statement that the situation regarding minority issues in Latvia is not comparable with situations in other Western countries is only the first step. ‘Latvia needs to explain the situation regarding language situation, migration, occupation etc should be very thoroughly to her international partners.

Vesti Segodnya prints a critical article on the statements of minority school directors about the readiness of minority schools to implement the education reform. The controversial statement that good grades received by minority school students in centralised exams proofs that two languages of instruction in minority schools do not worsen the quality of education were made during the meeting with Prime Minister Indulis Emsis. The newspaper blames minority school directors that they have trade the truth about the readiness of schools for a ‘cup of coffee in the company of the Prime Minister. According to the newspaper, minority school students have not passed unitary exams in mathematics, physics and chemistry in Latvian or learned these subjects in Latvian and hence it is impossible to speak about results.

Telegraf prints an interview with the former Minister of Education and Science Karlis Sadurskis about the implementation of the education reform and protest actions against it. The former minister foresees that the protest actions against the education reform could stop in November or December. Karlis Sadurskis is rather sceptical about drafting the Law on Minority Schools. He believes that it will be senseless because it will contradict the effective laws and it would only cause new discussions in the Saeima and new protest actions, therefore it would only obstruct the implementation of the reform in minority schools.

Today the advisor of the Minister of Education and Science Sergejs Ancupovs, the Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane and the Chairman of the Department of Ethnic Minority Affairs of the Special Tasks Minister’s for Societal Integration Secretariat Irina Vinnika and the director of Riga Russian Classic Gymnasium Romans Alijevs left for Moscow. The goal of their visit is raise awareness and explain to Russia’s mass media the implementation of the education reform in Latvia. During their visit the state officials will give interviews and will hold a press conference.

Today the advisor of the Minister of Education and Science Sergejs Ancupovs, the Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane and the Chairman of the Department of Ethnic Minority Affairs of the Special Tasks Ministers for Societal Integration Secretariat Irina Vinnika and the director of Riga Russian Classic Gymnasium Romans Alijevs left for Moscow. The goal of their visit is raise awareness and explain to Russias mass media the implementation of the education reform in Latvia. During their visit the state officials will give interviews and will hold a press conference. Latvijas Avize, Telegraf