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.

Press Review

Press Review

Saeima Commission on Education, Culture and Science has received new OSCE recommendations before the planned consideration of the draft language law in the third reading on September 28. In his letter to the Head of the Commission Dz.Abikis, Max van der Stoel points out that Copenhagen document states for OSCE member states that persons belonging to national minorities shall have sufficient possibilities to receive education or study in their native language. The High Commissioner stresses that education institutions have to provide qualified teachers of the Latvian language in minority schools, “otherwise these pupils will find themselves in more disadvantageous position than Latvian pupils”. And Max van der Stoel calls the Saeima to establish the Latvian language as the working language only for those private enterprises where the state owns more than 50% of the equity capital. The current wording of the draft law does not provide such terms.

Saeima Commission on Education, Culture and Science has received new OSCE recommendations before the planned consideration of the draft language law in the third reading on September 28. In his letter to the Head of the Commission Dz.Abikis, Max van der Stoel points out that Copenhagen document states for OSCE member states that persons belonging to national minorities shall have sufficient possibilities to receive education or study in their native language. The High Commissioner stresses that education institutions have to provide qualified teachers of the Latvian language in minority schools, otherwise these pupils will find themselves in more disadvantageous position than Latvian pupils. And Max van der Stoel calls the Saeima to establish the Latvian language as the working language only for those private enterprises where the state owns more than 50% of the equity capital. The current wording of the draft law does not provide such terms. Neatkariga, Jauna Avize, Chas, Bizness & Baltiya

Diena publishes comments on the new draft language law. The new law will define more clearly and strictly the use of the state language in state authority and administration institution, businesses, education and public information. The draft law has been amended in great extent during the discussion that longed for several years, especially lately agreeing it with the recommendations of OSCE that are not implemented completely yet. OSCE have just some objections to it. They were expressed in Max van der Stoel’s letter to Dz.Abikis

Diena publishes comments on the new draft language law. The new law will define more clearly and strictly the use of the state language in state authority and administration institution, businesses, education and public information. The draft law has been amended in great extent during the discussion that longed for several years, especially lately agreeing it with the recommendations of OSCE that are not implemented completely yet. OSCE have just some objections to it. They were expressed in Max van der Stoels letter to Dz.Abikis

In its turn the newspaper

In its turn the newspaper Chas decided to interview the representatives of Estonia, Canada, Finland, Uzbekistan and the USA, where several languages are spoken, about the situation with the state language. Chas

State Police together with country guards will take care of security during the last pre-election week. About 90% of all police personnel will be involved in guarding polling stations and patrolling in operative groups.

State Police together with country guards will take care of security during the last pre-election week. About 90% of all police personnel will be involved in guarding polling stations and patrolling in operative groups. Neatkariga

Byelorussian democratic opposition considers that Latvian party has legitimized the regime of A.Lukashenko by the visit of the Saeima Speaker A.Cepanis to Minsk. Before this visit only Slavic friends from Yugoslavia had made friends with A.Lukashenko.

Byelorussian democratic opposition considers that Latvian party has legitimized the regime of A.Lukashenko by the visit of the Saeima Speaker A.Cepanis to Minsk. Before this visit only Slavic friends from Yugoslavia had made friends with A.Lukashenko. Neatkariga,

More than 400 Latvian citizens have not arrived to receive their citizen passports in Valka Region. The local DCMA office Head B.Zabaka considers that the reason of this is just carelessness because the DCMA officials visit themselves towns and villages to issue these passports.

More than 400 Latvian citizens have not arrived to receive their citizen passports in Valka Region. The local DCMA office Head B.Zabaka considers that the reason of this is just carelessness because the DCMA officials visit themselves towns and villages to issue these passports. Neatkariga

Sociologic research firms have not conducted any research on the possible outcome of this election, in addition, reliability of such data could be very low. And nobody ordered such a research.

Sociologic research firms have not conducted any research on the possible outcome of this election, in addition, reliability of such data could be very low. And nobody ordered such a research. Neatkariga

Diena

interviewed several officials, who are closely connected with the problem of integration in their everyday activities, about their understanding of the term - public integration. N.Muiznieks considers it to be the process during which common values and interests are strengthened. He finds the principle of granting citizenship to people when they have become 18 years old and have learned the Latvian language completely wrong because non-citizens associate their status with the feeling of insecurity, and you may not expect that the children who have grown up in such conditions would want Latvian citizenship. N.Muiznieks thinks that it is not possible to integrate older generation, many of them will never learn the Latvian language and forget their feeling of offense. A.Priedite says that many people think of integration as assimilation, losing their national identity. The process of integration should be voluntary. If people here want to live together, the existing stereotypes should be broken. Journalist A.Stroy, who represents Russian speaking population, considers Latvia to be a national state and it should not endanger identity of non-Latvians. It is important that non-Latvians, living here, would have the feeling of belonging to this state. G.Catlaks finds reality to be the basic motivation for integration. And stimuli are the actions of the government. The result of ethnic integration could also be assimilation, but it is a voluntary process. But the current issue is just political integration. interviewed several officials, who are closely connected with the problem of integration in their everyday activities, about their understanding of the term - public integration. N.Muiznieks considers it to be the process during which common values and interests are strengthened. He finds the principle of granting citizenship to people when they have become 18 years old and have learned the Latvian language completely wrong because non-citizens associate their status with the feeling of insecurity, and you may not expect that the children who have grown up in such conditions would want Latvian citizenship. N.Muiznieks thinks that it is not possible to integrate older generation, many of them will never learn the Latvian language and forget their feeling of offense. A.Priedite says that many people think of integration as assimilation, losing their national identity. The process of integration should be voluntary. If people here want to live together, the existing stereotypes should be broken. Journalist A.Stroy, who represents Russian speaking population, considers Latvia to be a national state and it should not endanger identity of non-Latvians. It is important that non-Latvians, living here, would have the feeling of belonging to this state. G.Catlaks finds reality to be the basic motivation for integration. And stimuli are the actions of the government. The result of ethnic integration could also be assimilation, but it is a voluntary process. But the current issue is just political integration. DienaDiena

The consultations planned between

The consultations planned between New Party and Latvijas Cels and Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK did not take place. The first were Latvijas Cels not to arrive due to some technical reasons, and the meeting was postponed for Monday. A day later also TB/LNNK did not show up with no argumented explanation and not fixing the date of the possible meeting in the future. Chas