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

A.Gomolka, Head of the European Parliament Commission for relations with Latvia said that EU was waiting for a stable government to be established in Latvia as soon as possible. It was very important to do it until Vienna summit. A.Gomolka reminded that the report of the European Parliament on Latvia had been very positive. The Foreign Affairs Commission of the European Parliament has decided to sent a letter to EU Commissioner van der Broek with a request to start talks with Latvia on accepting it to EU. A.Gomolka thought that the whole European Parliament would support such a position.

A.Gomolka, Head of the European Parliament Commission for relations with Latvia said that EU was waiting for a stable government to be established in Latvia as soon as possible. It was very important to do it until Vienna summit. A.Gomolka reminded that the report of the European Parliament on Latvia had been very positive. The Foreign Affairs Commission of the European Parliament has decided to sent a letter to EU Commissioner van der Broek with a request to start talks with Latvia on accepting it to EU. A.Gomolka thought that the whole European Parliament would support such a position. Diena

Expressions of V.Kristopans after consultations with

Expressions of V.Kristopans after consultations with Peoples Party show that he would prefer the co-operation with Social Democrats to the one with Peoples Party, but the final decision will be made by the decision taking institutions of Latvijas Cels, TB/LNNK and New Party. He anticipated that it could take up to one week until the composition of the new government would be clear. Also the leader of New Party A.Slesers confirmed that NP would prefer Social Democrats. Both politicians pointed out that they had to learn more about the people Peoples Party offered for the minister positions. V.Kristopans was angry with journalists for pushing him to co-operate with Peoples Party because it was possible to form a stable, long-time government basing it on another model. The Chairman of Peoples Party A.Skele characterised the discussions with the candidate to the post of the Prime Minister as businesslike and was sure that PP had provided answers to all questions that could interest V.Kristopans. Diena, Jauna Avize, Rigas Balss, Jauna Avize

SM analyses the new law on education stating that there are no exact numbers what percentage of subjects should be taught in the mother tongue and what in the state language. But practically in every article is said that the Ministry of Education and Science will decide what subjects should be taught in the Latvian language. Schools may have their own curriculum but elaborated on the basis of the sample curriculum of the Ministry of Education and Science. Answering to the journalist’s question about teachers who could teach the Latvian language in Russian speaking schools, the Director of Department of Strategy of Education B.Petersone said that there could be “some problems” with bi-lingual tuition in national minority schools but the situation was improving because teachers had finally understood that they had to know the state language.

SM analyses the new law on education stating that there are no exact numbers what percentage of subjects should be taught in the mother tongue and what in the state language. But practically in every article is said that the Ministry of Education and Science will decide what subjects should be taught in the Latvian language. Schools may have their own curriculum but elaborated on the basis of the sample curriculum of the Ministry of Education and Science. Answering to the journalists question about teachers who could teach the Latvian language in Russian speaking schools, the Director of Department of Strategy of Education B.Petersone said that there could be some problems with bi-lingual tuition in national minority schools but the situation was improving because teachers had finally understood that they had to know the state language.

In her interview to

In her interview to Chas B.Petersone says that nobody has to think that there will no education in the Russian language. The state is introducing the program of bilingual education and it is not clear yet how many subjects in minority schools will be taught in the Latvian language. What concerns the expressions of international experts on the norms of the new law, the Director thinks that they have read only the first sentence of Article 9 where it was stated that in state financed schools the language of tuition must be the state language.