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

In January there might be a governmental crisis, on Friday the leader of

In January there might be a governmental crisis, on Friday the leader of the Fatherland and Freedom Maris Grinblats predicted. He did not want to elaborate whether it would lead to resignation of the government. According to unofficial information, in a case of resignation of the present government, in the next government the fraction of the Fatherland and Freedom would not be included. Diena

This situation came about come about after the Board of the

This situation came about come about after the Board of the Fatherland and Freedom decided to discuss the participation of Social democrats in the government only on January 23. Until then, the candidate for the post of the Minister of Agriculture P. Salkazanov (social democrat) will not be able to assume his duties. The Prime Minister Vilis Kristopans told the press that he will delegate the duties of the Minister of Agriculture to a minister from the For Fatherland and Freedom Kristiana Libane (Latvian way) stated that activities of the For Fatherland and Freedom how that this party is not interested in keeping the present government.Diena

On Saturday Central Committee of the

On Saturday Central Committee of the Latvian Social Democratic Workers Party stated that leadership of the Fatherland and Freedom wants to instigate the crisis of the minority government in order to overtake the power. Maris Grinblats, leader of the Fatherland and Freedom, called these statements wrong and said that before the party decides on inclusion of the social democrats into the government, the regional party divisions should give their opinion.Diena

B&B commenting activities of the Fatherland and Freedom, argues that it is the first step to serious disorder within the coalition rather than an accidental whim of the party. Chas, on contrary, argue that it is the Union of Social Democrats that might undermine the Kristopanss government.

Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is satisfied with a solution of problems related with non-citizens residing in the Baltic States and does not want to wide discussions about this matter, an official spokesman of the Russian MFA said. Press Secretary of the Latvian MFA Toms Baumanis described the statement as a positive sign. On Friday the official representative of the Russian MFA Vladimir Rachmanin said that Russia does not intend to get into any heated public debate. “The work is all that matters.” On Thursday the Deputy of the Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Avdeev met with the Latvian Ambassador in Russia Imants Daudiss. Mr. Avdeev stressed that there are some hopeful tendencies appeared in the Latvian-Russian relations.

Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is satisfied with a solution of problems related with non-citizens residing in the Baltic States and does not want to wide discussions about this matter, an official spokesman of the Russian MFA said. Press Secretary of the Latvian MFA Toms Baumanis described the statement as a positive sign. On Friday the official representative of the Russian MFA Vladimir Rachmanin said that Russia does not intend to get into any heated public debate. The work is all that matters. On Thursday the Deputy of the Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Avdeev met with the Latvian Ambassador in Russia Imants Daudiss. Mr. Avdeev stressed that there are some hopeful tendencies appeared in the Latvian-Russian relations. Diena, Chas, Panorama Latvii

During a lecture at the University of Latvia on Friday the CBSS Commissioner Ole Espersen acknowledged Latvia’s attempts to abolish death penalty. He mentioned the moratorium on death penalty announced by the State President and the Saeima decision to start ratification procedure of the 6th protocol of the European Human Rights Convention. In his speech, Mr. Espersen also pointed out the spheres in which there are human rights violations in Latvia, namely, legal system and freedom of speech. Mr. Espersen stressed that Latvia should deal with human rights issues not because European institutions require to do so, but because it positively affects the formation of the civic society in Latvia. 

During a lecture at the University of Latvia on Friday the CBSS Commissioner Ole Espersen acknowledged Latvias attempts to abolish death penalty. He mentioned the moratorium on death penalty announced by the State President and the Saeima decision to start ratification procedure of the 6th protocol of the European Human Rights Convention. In his speech, Mr. Espersen also pointed out the spheres in which there are human rights violations in Latvia, namely, legal system and freedom of speech. Mr. Espersen stressed that Latvia should deal with human rights issues not because European institutions require to do so, but because it positively affects the formation of the civic society in Latvia.Diena

On Thursday the Saeima unanimously adopted an appeal to the leaders of the EU member states during the Vienna summit to decide on a possibility to invite Latvia to accession talks in 1999. 

On Thursday the Saeima unanimously adopted an appeal to the leaders of the EU member states during the Vienna summit to decide on a possibility to invite Latvia to accession talks in 1999.Diena

SM publishes a summary of a press conference organised by the co-chairmen of the Latvian Committee on Human Rights. According to Gennady Kotov, only four articles of the Universal Human Rights Declaration are observed in Latvia. As human rights violations, Mr. Kotov named restrictions on election rights for non-citizens, right to work for all the population, right to housing. There are no guarantees for freedom of assembly, for rights to free creative development. Vladimir Buzayev questions the usefulness of the amendments to the Citizenship Law. According to him, there are still restrictions on naturalisation on the basis of political convictions. For instance, 100, 000 people who were members of Interfront are not eligible to naturalisation. Besides, the capacity of the Natiralisation Board is limited to 20-25 thousand applications per year. Thus, it will take 20-25 years to naturalise 600,000 non-citizens. SM

In an interview for the 

In an interview for theDiena in Russian, a director of the Latvian Multi-National Cultural Centre Arturs Prieditis discusses perspectives of multi-culturalism in Latvia. Historically, Latvia has been a multi national country and there are no other option than to built an integrated society by taking into account this historical situation. According to Mr. Prieditis a lot will depend on whether Latvians will prove to be pragmatic and drop an archaic pre-conception about a national state. Speaking about a debate around the state language, Mr. Prieditis agrees that each culture, including Latvian, have certain mechanism of self-protection and the language is one of such mechanisms. Unfortunately, in nowadays Latvia there is a lack of harmony and respect, and self esteem in communication with national minorities. Mr. Prieditis believes that the social integration should be based on culture as a system of certain values and not only on a language. Diena

In

In B&B Ms. Y.Favorskaya discusses an issue of higher education for Russian-speaking young people. The labour market requires specialists who have sufficient command of the state language. Therefore, many high school graduates go to the state higher education institutions where the instruction is in the state language. The first year is very difficult, but later these students have the command of professional Latvian language and are on the same level with Latvian-speaking classmates. Speaking of private higher education institutions, Ms. Favorskaya argues that students do not experience language or psychological adaptation. The question, however, is whether they acquire the sufficient command of the Latvian language. The authorities of these institutions claim that their student have good command of the professional Latvian language. In conclusion, Ms. Favorskaya states that during the last 5 years the command of the Latvian language of graduates of Russian schools has improved.