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.

• Media on the statements of PACE Monitoring Committee Chair György Frunda
• The Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice of Latvia do not support the suggestion of FF/LNIM to dismiss Eizenija Aldermane
• Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee approves the draft law stipulating the evaluation of the conformity of the Russian-Latvian border agreement to the Constitution
• Chair of the World Federation of Free Latvians points to the meeting of representatives from the Latvian diaspora with the President of OSCE PA
• Article on a liquidated Russian school
• Lauku Avize criticises the printing an examination test for general schools students in both Latvian and Russian

Newspapers continue discussion on the visit of the Monitoring Committee Chair of the Council’s of Europe Parliamentary Assembly György Frunda to Latvia. On the press conference in Saeima, György Frunda has summarized his recommendations to Latvia, including the abolishment of reservations to the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, granting non-citizens the right to vote on municipal elections, granting automatic citizenship to children born in Latvia after 21 August 1991, easing naturalisation requirements for persons over 60 years old, and not including the loyalty principle for acquiring citizenship. György Frunda has generally supported minority education reform. In the meeting with the Russian Ambassador to Latvia, György Frunda has suggested to introduce the similar pays for visas both for Latvian citizens and non-citizens for travelling to Russia. The PACE Monitoring Committee will make the decision on the interruption of post-monitoring on 23 November 2005. In the meeting with György Frunda, the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga has stressed that the question on the Latvian language as the only state language is not disputable, and social integration in the state priority. The PACE representative has also met with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia.

Newspapers continue discussion on the visit of the Monitoring Committee Chair of the Councils of Europe Parliamentary Assembly György Frunda to Latvia. On the press conference in Saeima, György Frunda has summarized his recommendations to Latvia, including the abolishment of reservations to the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, granting non-citizens the right to vote on municipal elections, granting automatic citizenship to children born in Latvia after 21 August 1991, easing naturalisation requirements for persons over 60 years old, and not including the loyalty principle for acquiring citizenship. György Frunda has generally supported minority education reform. In the meeting with the Russian Ambassador to Latvia, György Frunda has suggested to introduce the similar pays for visas both for Latvian citizens and non-citizens for travelling to Russia. The PACE Monitoring Committee will make the decision on the interruption of post-monitoring on 23 November 2005. In the meeting with György Frunda, the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga has stressed that the question on the Latvian language as the only state language is not disputable, and social integration in the state priority. The PACE representative has also met with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia. Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga, Telegraf, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

In the light of the reported cases of alleged bribery in the Naturalization Board, MPs from FF/LNIM and a MP Aleksandrs Kirsteins from People’s Party have sent a letter to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice where they asked to dissmiss the head of the Naturalization Board Eizenija Aldermane and to sustend naturalization. According to the Minister of Justice, there are no grounds to dismiss Eizenija Aldermane before the court proceedings on the separately reported cases are completed. The Prime Minister has supported the suggestion of FF/LNIM to make a duty investigation in the Naturalization Board. Eizenija Aldermane has stated that she is not going to resign.

In the light of the reported cases of alleged bribery in the Naturalization Board, MPs from FF/LNIM and a MP Aleksandrs Kirsteins from Peoples Party have sent a letter to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice where they asked to dissmiss the head of the Naturalization Board Eizenija Aldermane and to sustend naturalization. According to the Minister of Justice, there are no grounds to dismiss Eizenija Aldermane before the court proceedings on the separately reported cases are completed. The Prime Minister has supported the suggestion of FF/LNIM to make a duty investigation in the Naturalization Board. Eizenija Aldermane has stated that she is not going to resign. Diena, Neatkariga, Telegraf, Chas, Vesti Segodnya,

The Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee has approved a draft law stipulating the investigation of the conformity of the Russian-Latvian border argeement initialled in 1997 with the Constitution of Latvia. According to the draft law, the Cabinet of Ministers should submit the application the Constitutional Court during 20 days after the law enters into force.

The Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee has approved a draft law stipulating the investigation of the conformity of the Russian-Latvian border argeement initialled in 1997 with the Constitution of Latvia. According to the draft law, the Cabinet of Ministers should submit the application the Constitutional Court during 20 days after the law enters into force. Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

At the annual conference of the World Federation of Free Latvians, the chair of the Federation Janis Kukainis has informed on the meeting of the representatives of the American Latvian Association and the Committee of the United Balts with the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Alcee L. Hastings in order to inform him on minority rights situation in the Baltic States. According to Janis Kukainis, this meeting helped to avoid critics to the Baltic States on this issue at the forthcoming OSCE annual conference.

At the annual conference of the World Federation of Free Latvians, the chair of the Federation Janis Kukainis has informed on the meeting of the representatives of the American Latvian Association and the Committee of the United Balts with the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Alcee L. Hastings in order to inform him on minority rights situation in the Baltic States. According to Janis Kukainis, this meeting helped to avoid critics to the Baltic States on this issue at the forthcoming OSCE annual conference. Latvijas Avize

Telegraf features an article on the consequences of the liquidation of a two-stream secondary school (both with Latvian and Russian languages of instruction) made by the decision of the Riga City Council on May this year. The school had also special classes for Roma children. The newspaper points to the problems of teachers to find a job and to the lack of information whether all students currently attend other schools.

Lauku Avize features an article on the controversy errupted due to the printing of a diagnostic examination test on labour security for general school students both in Latvian and Russian. While the Centre for Curricula Development and Examination has printed this test in both languages allegedly because of the lack of funds, Lauku Avize and some interviewed representatives of administration in Latvian schools have expressed their dissappointment with Russian language use in Latvian schools.