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

Yesterday when considering the State Language Law in the third reading, deputies adopted contradictory provisions and finally were forced to return the draft law to the Saeima Commission on Education and Science for a review. As Mr. Dzintars Abikis said, due to adopted contradictory provisions the law has become absurd. He put blame for failure of a constructive work on deputies of those parties which did not obtain seats in the next parliament.

Yesterday when considering the State Language Law in the third reading, deputies adopted contradictory provisions and finally were forced to return the draft law to the Saeima Commission on Education and Science for a review. As Mr. Dzintars Abikis said, due to adopted contradictory provisions the law has become absurd. He put blame for failure of a constructive work on deputies of those parties which did not obtain seats in the next parliament. Neatkariga writes that the most objections caused a provision concerning educational programs of national minorities in state schools. The proposal of MP Karlis Druva stating that the educational programs of national minorities should be implemented only in private schools, was supported by 39 deputies (7- against, 10 - abstained). This provision contradicts with the analogous provision in the draft Education Law which was adopted in the second reading on 7 October. Another adopted provision reflected in newspapers concerns the use of language at meeting, pickets and demonstrations. According to the adopted version, only state language shall be use in these cases. Modris Lujans (Poeples Harmony Party) toldPanorama Latvii that the opposition had took a decision to support the most marasmic amendments, so, that the legislative provisions became absurd, and we managed that. According to the Saeima Roll of Procedure, the commission may review a draft law for unlimited time. MP Ilmars Bisers thinks that the State Language Law will be adopted by the next Saeima. Neatkariga, B&B, Chas

Panorama Latvii publishes a letter of Moscow City Mayor Jury Luzhkov in which he greets leaders of Peoples Harmony Party list with victory at elections.

Yesterday a picket against the State Language Law took place by the parliament. One of participants Tatjana Favorskaya, chair of Russian Society in Latvia, told SM that her organization start investigating the use of money allotted by international organizations for the State Language Training Program. Some 700 teachers of Russian schools applied for the state language training, 400 teachers are learning the language, while for the training of others there is no money.

Yesterday a picket against the State Language Law took place by the parliament. One of participants Tatjana Favorskaya, chair of Russian Society in Latvia, told SM that her organization start investigating the use of money allotted by international organizations for the State Language Training Program. Some 700 teachers of Russian schools applied for the state language training, 400 teachers are learning the language, while for the training of others there is no money. SM

Summarizing the Hague Recommendations on Rights of National Minorities, Oleg Shipcov argues that these recommendations provide Russians residing in Latvia with legal basis for struggle for education in the Russian language at all schools, including elementary, primary, vocational, secondary and higher educational institutions.

Summarizing the Hague Recommendations on Rights of National Minorities, Oleg Shipcov argues that these recommendations provide Russians residing in Latvia with legal basis for struggle for education in the Russian language at all schools, including elementary, primary, vocational, secondary and higher educational institutions. SM

The Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Igor Ivanov told journalists that the Baltic States’ membership in the NATO will make Russia completely reconsider its relations with the organization. “There is a “red line” whose crossing is directly related with the security of Russia. And this line coincides with the frontier of the former USSR, including the Baltic States. “

The Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Igor Ivanov told journalists that the Baltic States membership in the NATO will make Russia completely reconsider its relations with the organization. There is a red line whose crossing is directly related with the security of Russia. And this line coincides with the frontier of the former USSR, including the Baltic States. B&B

Board of

Board of For Fatherland and Freedom/ LNNK thinks that a stable government could be formed by three parties which received the most votes. The party supports the talks between the Peoples Party and the Latvian Way. Leader of For Fatherland and Freedom/ LNNK Maris Grinblats argues that the Latvian Way should look for more flexible candidate for the post of Prime Minister than Vilis Kristopans. According to Andrejs Pantelejevs (the Latvian Way) a lot will depend on the talks with the Peoples Party on Friday. State President Guntis Ulmanis believes that, first, parties should agree on basic programmatic issues. Diena

In an interview for 

In an interview forRigas Balss, State President Guntis Ulmanis evaluates the outcome of elections and the referendum. Referring to the results of elections, Mr. Ulmanis said that he was pleasantly surprised by a chose of voters, since they elected responsible and serious political forces. The outcome of the referendum has two important aspects. First is related with Russian -Latvian relations. According to Mr. Ulmanis, a formal reason why Russia cannot continue talks with Latvia, is gone, now the political dialogue of two countries should be continued. The second aspect is that now Europe also believes that we are proper, pragmatic and politically perfect. State President does not support speculative statements by For Fatherland and Freedom that Latvians voted for the abolishment of amendments. He calls it a dangerous game to divide citizens in good ones (who vote for) and bad ones(who voted against the abolishment of amendments). Rigas Balss

Yesterday at the press conference the Minister of Education Janis Gaigals said that 38 teachers of Russian schools have passed the state language certification, and 677 teachers, majority of them are from Riga district and Liepaja, should take the examination by 31 December 1998.

Yesterday at the press conference the Minister of Education Janis Gaigals said that 38 teachers of Russian schools have passed the state language certification, and 677 teachers, majority of them are from Riga district and Liepaja, should take the examination by 31 December 1998. Diena, Chas

Commenting the draft Education Law adopted in the 2nd reading, a president of Latvian Association of Teachers of the Russian language and Literature Tatjana Laguta argues that neither Saeima Commissions nor Ministry of Education wanted to consider the conception of education prepared by the association, although the association represents schools with Russian as a language of instruction which future is directly related with the new law.

Commenting the draft Education Law adopted in the 2nd reading, a president of Latvian Association of Teachers of the Russian language and Literature Tatjana Laguta argues that neither Saeima Commissions nor Ministry of Education wanted to consider the conception of education prepared by the association, although the association represents schools with Russian as a language of instruction which future is directly related with the new law. Chas