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.

• New Era refuses the post of the Minister for Special Assignments for Society Integration
• Newspapers discuss ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
• Border agreement between Russia and Latvia
• Representative of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools Aleksandrs Kazakovs, recently expelled from Latvia, applies with the court
• Interview with the member of the United Congress of the Russian Community in Latvia Aleksandrs Gaponenko
• Commission examines state language proficiency of a teacher who opposes the education reform
• Agreement to preserve Jewish sites between Latvia and USA
• Article about the teacher of the Riga Ukrainian Secondary School Judite Suharecska

Newspapers report on the formation process of a new government. Newspapers state that in parties’ negotiations concerning posts of ministers, the party New Era has refused to take the post of the Minister for Special Assignments for Society Integration, but asked the post of the Minister for Children and Family Affairs instead. The President’s choice for the Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis refused the ultimatum and stated that the New Era should take responsibility for societal integration because the New Era promised the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga to support ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of the National Minorities.

Newspapers report on the formation process of a new government. Newspapers state that in parties negotiations concerning posts of ministers, the party New Era has refused to take the post of the Minister for Special Assignments for Society Integration, but asked the post of the Minister for Children and Family Affairs instead. The Presidents choice for the Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis refused the ultimatum and stated that the New Era should take responsibility for societal integration because the New Era promised the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga to support ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of the National Minorities. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize

Newspapers discuss ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

Newspapers discuss ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Diena prints an article by ethnologist Ilmars Mezs, who believes that Latvia should ratify the Convention. According to the ethnologist, first of all Latvia should define what is a minority in Latvia as well as parishes or regions which would be the subjects of the Convention. Ilmars Mezs is convinced that nobody can demand Latvia to ratify the Convention, which would provide that all ethnic groups living in the territory of Latvia are the subjects of the Convention. The columnist of Chas Leonid Fedoseyev believes that current attempts to ‘define minorities in Latvia resemble attempts to divide non-Latvians into two parts – citizens and non-citizens. The coculmist criticises the desire of politicians to introduce reservations concerning the usage of minority language in communication with municipalities. Diena, Chas

Newspapers

Newspapers write about the wish of the President of Russia Vladimir Putin to sign the Latvian Russian border agreement on the anniversary of the victory in World War II on 9 May 2005 in Moscow. The leaders of the Baltic States have not adopted a decision about their participation in the anniversary yet. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize,Vesti Segodnya, Chas

The representative of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools Aleksandrs Kazakovs has applied with the Administrative Court, asking to cancel the decision of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs about his expulsion from Latvia. Aleksandrs Kazakovs also asks Latvia to pay him Ls 76,000 for material losses and moral damages.

The representative of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools Aleksandrs Kazakovs has applied with the Administrative Court, asking to cancel the decision of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs about his expulsion from Latvia. Aleksandrs Kazakovs also asks Latvia to pay him Ls76,000 for material losses and moral damages. Diena, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Latvijas Avize features an interview with the member of the United Congress of the Russian Community in Latvia and the leader of its two projects Russian Club and The Union of Russian Businessmen Aleksandrs Gaponenko. According to Aleksandrs Gaponenko, Russia Club is developing the project European citizenship. The key activity of the project is demanding EU citizenship and rights of the EU citizens for Latvian non-citizens.

Chas features an article about the examination of Latvian language proficiency of Zhanna Kupcik, the Jurmala Mezmala School teacher. Zhanna Kupcik teaches the Russian language and ethics in Russian. According to the teacher, the examination commission, composed of the director of the school, the chief inspector of the State Education Inspection and the chief inspector of the State Language Centre, asked the teacher how she would teach the ethics in Latvian and was also asked to provide explanations regarding the meeting of her students with participants of a hunger strike against the education reform. Zhanna Kupcik passed naturalisation exams three years ago. At that time her Latvian language proficiency was admitted to correspond to the third category of state language proficiency, which is a sufficient level of Latvian language proficiency to work at school. This time, the commission evaluated her Latvian language proficiency as insufficient for teachers position. Zhanna Kupcik believes that this inspection was related to her negative attitude towards the education reform and active participation of her students in protest actions.

The Latvian USA agreement to protect Jewish memorial sites in Latvia has come into effect in November.

The Latvian USA agreement to protect Jewish memorial sites in Latvia has come into effect in November. Diena

Diena features an article about the teacher of the Riga Ukrainian Secondary Scholl teacher Judite Suharecska who teaches the Latvian language. Alongside with giving classes of the Latvian language, the teacher organises summer camps for students where Latvian and minority students watch movies in Latvian, sing Latvian songs and stage performances.