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 Coalition Council of the government forming factions supported the objections of

The Coalition Council of the government forming factions supported the objections of TB/LNNK to the draft regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers establishing the procedure how applications for recognising a child to be a Latvian citizen should be submitted and considered. TB/LNNK Deputy Chairman J.Dobelis told Neatkariga that these government draft regulations listed to many documents valid for submitting a request for granting citizenship for a child. This would create an artificial chaos, and where there is a chaos, there it is possible to make mistakes. And we know that in this country they fake many different documents. Neatkariga, Jauna Avize

The Head of the Naturalisation Board E.Aldermane acknowledged that these

The Head of the Naturalisation Board E.Aldermane acknowledged that these TB/LNNK recommendations limited the rights of children to Latvian citizenship, established by the Law on Citizenship. Diena

The OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel considers that Latvian education policy should correspond to European norms, but during this visit he has not given any new recommendations. During the meeting at the Saeima Commission on Education, Culture and Science, he mostly spoke about the state language and education laws and said that the use of state language in private businesses should be regulated as little as possible, although he admitted that such a regulation might be permissible if it concerned interests, security and health care of employees and consumers. Max van der Stoel thinks that Latvia has fulfilled his recommendation on the Law on Citizenship, therefore no questions about amendments to the Law on Citizenship were discussed. While meeting with the Commission, the High Commissioner expressed a wish let the state language law should not contradict to international norms. When speaking about the education law, Max van der Stoel did not express any objections only pointed out that the Ministry of Education and Science, when implementing this law, should also observe international recommendations.

The OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel considers that Latvian education policy should correspond to European norms, but during this visit he has not given any new recommendations. During the meeting at the Saeima Commission on Education, Culture and Science, he mostly spoke about the state language and education laws and said that the use of state language in private businesses should be regulated as little as possible, although he admitted that such a regulation might be permissible if it concerned interests, security and health care of employees and consumers. Max van der Stoel thinks that Latvia has fulfilled his recommendation on the Law on Citizenship, therefore no questions about amendments to the Law on Citizenship were discussed. While meeting with the Commission, the High Commissioner expressed a wish let the state language law should not contradict to international norms. When speaking about the education law, Max van der Stoel did not express any objections only pointed out that the Ministry of Education and Science, when implementing this law, should also observe international recommendations. Neatkariga, Diena, Jauna Avize

The newspapers for the Russian speaking public

The newspapers for the Russian speaking public SM and Panorama Latvii see this visit in a slightly different light and states that the High Commissioner has not changed his position of strictness and principality. During the meeting with A.Seiksts the Chairman of the Saeima Commission on Education, Culture and Science, he continued insisting on Latvia observing all international and European conventions, binding for Latvia. What concerns the draft language law, he thinks that the articles, admitting state regulation of the language use in private businesses, should be amended. A.Seiksts, commenting this meeting, said that, in spite this strict position of the High Commissioner, a compromise was still possible.

The government, by adopting the new budget, decided to allocate 350 000 Ls to additional salary payments for teachers of the Latvian language in minorities schools. The Minister of Education and Science J.Gaigals stressed that these teachers needed the most support.

The government, by adopting the new budget, decided to allocate 350 000 Ls to additional salary payments for teachers of the Latvian language in minorities schools. The Minister of Education and Science J.Gaigals stressed that these teachers needed the most support. Neatkariga

The State Language Centre informed that about 120 teachers had acquired their state language knowledge certificates illegally. There are 96 such cases in Daugavpils and 24 in Riga.

The State Language Centre informed that about 120 teachers had acquired their state language knowledge certificates illegally. There are 96 such cases in Daugavpils and 24 in Riga. Diena

SM tries to explain the situation in Daugavpils when teachers purchased the state language knowledge certificates by a psychological stress and fear they felt of this test.