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

The Education Law adopted by the Saeima provides that the state language is the language of instruction in all state and municipal schools. However, the budget of the Ministry of Education and Science for 1999 does not provide any special financing for the Latvian language to become the language of instruction in all state and municipal schools, head of the Integration Department of the Ministry of Education Baiba Kinstlere told

The Education Law adopted by the Saeima provides that the state language is the language of instruction in all state and municipal schools. However, the budget of the Ministry of Education and Science for 1999 does not provide any special financing for the Latvian language to become the language of instruction in all state and municipal schools, head of the Integration Department of the Ministry of Education Baiba Kinstlere told Diena. Still, Ms. Kinstlere and Ms. Baiba Petersone, director of the Education Strategy Department of the Ministry of Education, thinks that teachers of other nationalities have enough possibilities to acquire state language. Besides, schools will be provided with necessary teaching aids. Ms. Kinstlere mentioned the opening of regional centre of the Latvian Language Training State Program in Daugavpils. Soon a similar centre will be opened in Liepaja. Igor Pimenov, head of the Association for Support of Schools with Russian as the language of instruction, thinks that within five years it will be impossible to implement the law and will have to be amended. The Ministry of Education has already worked out basic principles of bilingual education and presented several models for implementation of education program for national minorities. However, there are noteching aids prepared for implementation of this program.Diena

From all candidates of the second group for the EU accession talks Latvia is in the best position to be invited for talks along with the candidates of the first group. The European Commission will consider this issue on Monday and Tuesday. Head of the work group on EU enlargement issues Mr. van der Pass said that Latvia has good chances to be included into the first group of candidates for the EU accession talks.

From all candidates of the second group for the EU accession talks Latvia is in the best position to be invited for talks along with the candidates of the first group. The European Commission will consider this issue on Monday and Tuesday. Head of the work group on EU enlargement issues Mr. van der Pass said that Latvia has good chances to be included into the first group of candidates for the EU accession talks. Diena

After the referendum on the Citizenship Law amendments the number of applicants for naturalization in Daugavpils has tripled, a news agency LETA informs. Now more than 100 persons per day visits the regional Naturalization Board office. Majority of the applicants are persons who until now were not eligible for naturalization for at least 5 years.

After the referendum on the Citizenship Law amendments the number of applicants for naturalization in Daugavpils has tripled, a news agency LETA informs. Now more than 100 persons per day visits the regional Naturalization Board office. Majority of the applicants are persons who until now were not eligible for naturalization for at least 5 years. Neatkariga

Commenting this interview,

Commenting this interview, Jauna Avize states that the State President made it clear that he will not nominate Andris Skele ( Peoples Party ) as a candidate for the Prime Minister, since majority of politicians do not want to work under his leadership. Jauna Avize

On Saturday the Board of

On Saturday the Board of the Fatherland and Freedom decided to ask the President to nominate Vilis Kristopans (Latvian Way) as a candidate for the post of Prime Minister. At the same time, the party hopes that the Peoples Party will not refuse to participate in the coalition. The Fatherland and Freedom will not participate in the government where Peoples Harmony Party and Social Democratic Union will be represented, the resolution of the Board states. Still, the resolution of the Boad does not exclude a possibility that some social democrats will hold offices in the new government. Representatives of the Latvian Way, For Fatherland and Freedom, and the New Party agreed to sign a co-operation agreement on formation of a new government and to support Vilis Kristopans as a candidate for the Prime Ministers post. Parties also agreed to support other candidates for offices in the Saeima Presidium: Janis Straume (For Fatherland and Freedom) as a Speaker of the Saeima, representatives from Latvian Way and Social Democrats as Deputy Speakers of the Saeima, and a representative of New Party as a Secretary of the Saeima.Diena