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.

• Councils of Europe Commissioner for Human RightsAlvaro Gill-Robles talks about minority problems in Latvia
• Article about positions of political parties towards ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
• Peoples Harmony Party develops amendments to the Citizenship Law
• Russian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Vladimir Chizhov comments on ratification of the boarder agreement with the Baltic States
• MPs comment on the decision of Cabinet of Ministers to deny Latvian citizenship to the opponent of the education reform Jurijs Petropavlovskis
• Value of the Russian language in the job market in Latvia
• Article about activities of minority Sunday Schools in Latvia

Russian-language newspapers feature interviews with the Council’s of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Alvaro Gill-Robles about the minority problems in Latvia. According to Alvaro Gill-Robles, Latvia should grant non-citizens the right to participate in municipal elections. The Commissioner believes that all residents of Latvia should be Latvian citizens and that there is a time for Latvia to eliminate the institution of non-citizenship. When talking about positive achievements in the area of social integration Alvaro Gill-Robles mentions the improved dialogue between the last government and minorities, flexibility in the implementation of the education reform and the statement of the Minister for Special Assignments for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks that the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities could be ratified in the near future. The Latvian language newspaper

Russian-language newspapers feature interviews with the Councils of Europe Commissioner for Human RightsAlvaro Gill-Robles about the minority problems in Latvia. According to Alvaro Gill-Robles, Latvia should grant non-citizens the right to participate in municipal elections. The Commissioner believes that all residents of Latvia should be Latvian citizens and that there is a time for Latvia to eliminate the institution of non-citizenship. When talking about positive achievements in the area of social integration Alvaro Gill-Robles mentions the improved dialogue between the last government and minorities, flexibility in the implementation of the education reform and the statement of the Minister for Special Assignments for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks that the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities could be ratified in the near future. The Latvian language newspaper Latvijas Avize reports that in general the Councils of Europe Commissioner for Human RightsAlvaro Gill-Robles has evaluated the situation of minorities as good. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

The majority of the right-wing political parties, represented in Saeima, have revaluated their attitude towards ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities after the call of the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga where she asked parties to express clearly their stances towards ratification of the Convention. Although previously almost all were negative about ratification of the Convention, the call of the President has changed their stances and now parties express readiness to ratify the Convention. Representatives of the New Era and the People’s Party – Ina Druviete and Artis Pabriks – state that the Convention should be ratified with two reservations: only Latvian should be used on the plates of street names and in the communication with municipalities. While the representative of the First Party Nils Muiznieks is convinced that the Convention should be ratified with one reservation: only Latvian should be used on the plates of street names, places, etc. For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM is the only potential coalition party, strictly refusing ratification of the Convention.

The majority of the right-wing political parties, represented in Saeima, have revaluated their attitude towards ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities after the call of the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga where she asked parties to express clearly their stances towards ratification of the Convention. Although previously almost all were negative about ratification of the Convention, the call of the President has changed their stances and now parties express readiness to ratify the Convention. Representatives of the New Era and the Peoples Party – Ina Druviete and Artis Pabriks – state that the Convention should be ratified with two reservations: only Latvian should be used on the plates of street names and in the communication with municipalities. While the representative of the First Party Nils Muiznieks is convinced that the Convention should be ratified with one reservation: only Latvian should be used on the plates of street names, places, etc. For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM is the only potential coalition party, strictly refusing ratification of the Convention. Diena

The People’s Harmony Party has developed amendments to the Citizenship Law. The amendments are aimed at promoting naturalisation process. According to the party the following means would promote naturalisation: the test of the Latvian history from naturalisation examinations should be omitted because of ‘complexity and ambiguity of the test', persons who have reached the age of 60 years should be exempted from the Latvian language exams, as well as persons with low income should be exempted from the fee to be paid for naturalisation exams.

The Peoples Harmony Party has developed amendments to the Citizenship Law. The amendments are aimed at promoting naturalisation process. According to the party the following means would promote naturalisation: the test of the Latvian history from naturalisation examinations should be omitted because of ‘complexity and ambiguity of the test', persons who have reached the age of 60 years should be exempted from the Latvian language exams, as well as persons with low income should be exempted from the fee to be paid for naturalisation exams. Latvijas Avize, Chas, Telegrafs

‘Russia does not see the reason to reconsider its stance towards ratification of the boarder agreement with Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania until there is no understanding on the issues concerning the situation of national minorities in these states,’ stated the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Russia Vladimir Chizhov during his press conference in Moscow. According to Vladimir Chizhov, Russia only asks the implementation of the OSCE recommendations in the area of minority rights. The Russian official believes that granting non-citizens the right to participate in municipal elections is the most topical issue to be solved. The official stated that Russia plans to draw the attention of the European Union to minority situation in the Baltic States during the planned EU-Russia summit in Hague on 25 November. 

‘Russia does not see the reason to reconsider its stance towards ratification of the boarder agreement with Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania until there is no understanding on the issues concerning the situation of national minorities in these states, stated the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Russia Vladimir Chizhov during his press conference in Moscow. According to Vladimir Chizhov, Russia only asks the implementation of the OSCE recommendations in the area of minority rights. The Russian official believes that granting non-citizens the right to participate in municipal elections is the most topical issue to be solved. The official stated that Russia plans to draw the attention of the European Union to minority situation in the Baltic States during the planned EU-Russia summit in Hague on 25 November. Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with Vladimir Chizhov. Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Vesti Segodnya prints the statements of several MPs on the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers to deny Latvian citizenship to the opponent of the education reform Jurijs Petropavlovskis. The representatives of right-wing parties Peteris Tabuns (For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM) and the Head of the Saeima Committee on Citizenship Law Implementation Antra Rugate (Peoples Party) believe that the government had the right to adopt such decision because Jurijs Petropavlovskis does not meet specific criteria set for citizenship applicants, namely, loyalty toward the state. While the leader of the Parliamentary Group of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia Jakovs Pliners says that the decision of the government is based on the activities of the Jurijs Petropavlovskis concerning the education reform and his plans to run for the seat in Riga municipality.

Diena prints an article about the increasing tendency to hire people whose native language is Russian in ‘Latvian companies. The newspaper states that roots of these people and knowledge about their community is an additional value which brings profit to a company through attraction of new customers and achieving better business results. ‘The demand for people who are able to orient in both communities is increasing, says the head of the Marketing Department of Hansabanka Oksana Sivokobilska. She adds that in three years Hansabanka has achieved a balanced poll of Russian and Latvian customers, however, it was a very difficult and accurate job, as the working environment is very sensitive and fragile.

Latvijas Avize prints an article about activities of Armenian, Azerbaijan, Uzbek, Georgian, and Greek Sunday Schools in Latvia. The majority of them are not funded from the state budget.