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.

• Yesterday the Cabinet of Ministers accepted ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
• Approximately 100 persons participated in a picket next to the building of the Cabinet of Ministers yesterday
• Chas criticises the judgement of the Constitutional Court about the compliance of the minority education reform to the Constitution and the international standards
• Chas is concerned about alleged suspension of the naturalisation process

Yesterday the Cabinet of Ministers accepted ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities with two reservations. One of the reservations concerns usage of minority language in communication with local authorities, and the other - street signs in minority language. The definition of national minority is applied only to citizens of Latvia living in Latvia for several generations. The government stresses that those ethnic groups, which do not fall under this definition, will not be deprived of the rights they have enjoyed until now. The convention should be still ratified by the Saeima.

Yesterday the Cabinet of Ministers accepted ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities with two reservations. One of the reservations concerns usage of minority language in communication with local authorities, and the other - street signs in minority language. The definition of national minority is applied only to citizens of Latvia living in Latvia for several generations. The government stresses that those ethnic groups, which do not fall under this definition, will not be deprived of the rights they have enjoyed until now. The convention should be still ratified by the Saeima. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Yesterday approximately 100 persons participated in a picket next to the building of the Cabinet of Ministers, organised by the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia. Participants of the picket requested government to grant all civic rights to the non-citizens and to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities without any reservations.

Yesterday approximately 100 persons participated in a picket next to the building of the Cabinet of Ministers, organised by the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia. Participants of the picket requested government to grant all civic rights to the non-citizens and to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities without any reservations. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Chas prints an article by a legal expert Yelizaveta Krivcova, who criticises decision of the Constitutional Court regarding compliance of the minority education reform to the Constitution of Latvia and the international standards. Krivcova believes that the court failed to deliver an unbiased judgement in accordance with the European democratic principles, sticking instead to the values of Latvian ‘ethnic democracy. According to the author, there are also contradictions within the courts verdict, which recognises minority participation and monitoring of the quality of education as a pre-requisite for non-discrimination but excludes possible intervention in states discriminatory practices.

Chas is concerned about the fact that the government has not approved any list of naturalised persons lately. The Naturalisation Board denies newspapers assumption that the naturalisation process is suspended and reminds that the state should inform an applicant about the naturalisation result within one year.