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.

• Interview with the Minister of Education and Science Ina Druviete
• Viktor Kaluznij: Russia does not have to apologise to Latvia for occupation
• Latvian Union of the Politically Repressed Persons calls the government to appeal the ruling issued by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the case of Mihails Farbtuhs
• Attitudes of minority students from Daugavpils towards the implementation of the education reform
• Congress of the Socialist Party of Latvia took place in Riga
• Integration project implemented by Latvian and Russian students in Indra
• Latvijas Avize clarifies legitimacy of the usage of Russian in private food shops
• Latvijas Avize comments on the proposal to mark 7 January – Christmas Day celebrated by Orthodox believers and Old Believers – a national holiday

Neatkariga Rita Avize prints an interview with the Minister of Education and Science Ina Druviete. The main discussion topic is the education reform. The Minister believes that it is too early to draw any conclusions on effects of the education reform on the quality of education, because results of bilingual education are evident after 3 – 4 years after its implementation. The Minister declares that she will continue provide explanations concerning the implementation of the reform, however, she will not place emphasis on political aspects of the reform. Ina Druviete also comments on ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and notes that in regard to education there is no necessity to introduce any reservations because ‘Latvia has fulfilled all international standards concerning minority education.

The Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kaluznij does not believe that Russia should apologise to Latvia for the Soviet Occupation, because the majority of today’s population of Russia did not live at that time and there was no Russian state. According to the Ambassador, recognition of Latvia’s sovereignty is a clear demonstration of Russia’s attitude towards Latvia.

The Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kaluznij does not believe that Russia should apologise to Latvia for the Soviet Occupation, because the majority of todays population of Russia did not live at that time and there was no Russian state. According to the Ambassador, recognition of Latvias sovereignty is a clear demonstration of Russias attitude towards Latvia. Vesti Segodnya features an interview with Viktor Kaluznij, who states that Latvia should ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities without any reservations. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Vesti Segodnya

The Latvian Union of the Politically Repressed Persons calls the government to appeal the ruling issued by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the case of Mihails Farbtuhs. Politically repressed persons are dissatisfied that according to the ECHR’s ruling Latvia has to pay compensation to a person, who has been found guilty in genocide. Politically repressed persons note that thousands of Farbtuhs’ victims have not received either his regrets or apologies.

The Latvian Union of the Politically Repressed Persons calls the government to appeal the ruling issued by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the case of Mihails Farbtuhs. Politically repressed persons are dissatisfied that according to the ECHRs ruling Latvia has to pay compensation to a person, who has been found guilty in genocide. Politically repressed persons note that thousands of Farbtuhs victims have not received either his regrets or apologies. Neatkariga Rita Avize

Vesti Segodnya writes about attitudes of minority students from Daugavpils towards the implementation of the education reform. The coordinator of the Daugavpils Department of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools Sergejs Solovjovs believes that majority of minority school students from Daugavpils are ready to participate in protest actions against the education reform. While Russian students point that the quality of education is getting worse due to the low level of Latvian language proficiency of their teachers. According to the newspaper students do not believe in a promise to develop a dialogue with all stakeholders made by the Minister of Education and Science.

Latvijas Avize reports on the congress of the Latvias Socialist Party. In his speech partys leader Alfreds Rubiks stressed that Latvian citizenship should be granted for all those Latvias residents, who were residents of Latvia until 1991. According to the partys leader, Latvian non-citizens should also have a right to participate in municipal elections.

Diena reports on the ethnic integration project ‘Indra: the End or Beginning of Europe? The project was developed and implemented by Latvian and Russian students who live in Indra parish (a very remote town in the south eastern part of Latvia). Students developed their vision on the development of the parish and printed these visions in a special magazine. They also developed a plan how to reduce the level of unemployment. The project is supported by the National Agency for Latvian Language Training, EU PHARE programme and the Indra municipality.

Referring to the letter of the newspaper reader,

Referring to the letter of the newspaper reader, Latvijas Avize investigates whether it is legitimate to use the Russian language on the signs placed on shelves in a private food shop. The reader of the newspaper reported that there are two languages on these signs - Latvian and Russian. According to the chief inspector of the Control Department of the State Language Inspection Ruta Livija Icaka, the Law on the State Language does not prohibit the usage of Russian together with Latvian in private shops. However, Ruta Livija Icaka notes that the Law is very liberal and promotes bilingualism. According to the inspector, many people who work in the service area, including salespersons, do not speak sufficient Latvian. Latvijas Avize

The Columnist of

The Columnist of Latvijas Avize Maris Antonevics discusses the necessity to mark 7 January – Christmas Day celebrated by Orthodox believers and Old Believers – a national holiday. The journalist notes that this proposal has been submitted by the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia, which regards Latvia as two-community state and thus Orthodox Christmas would become a day-off for ‘the closed Russian community.