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

Finishing his three day visit to Latvia, the OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel announced that the status of the Latvian language had been endangered, and he supported any steps taken to strengthen the Latvian language. A very important tool to achieve this goal is a language law that corresponds to international norms. The High Commissioner pointed out that a state had rights to regulate the use of the language only in some private business spheres dealing with security, public health and customers rights. The Commissioner acknowledged that the education law as well should be used for strengthening the status of the Latvian language. He supported increase of the number of Latvian language lessons in national minority schools because it AS in their own interests to know this language, but the amount of lessons in the Latvian language and their mother tongue should be balanced. Max van der Stoel also repeated that Latvia had fulfilled all recommendations on the Law on Citizenship. He had received information that even the last not fulfilled recommendation on simplifying the history knowledge test was fulfilled by reducing the number of questions. He has no intention to put forward any new recommendations.

Finishing his three day visit to Latvia, the OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel announced that the status of the Latvian language had been endangered, and he supported any steps taken to strengthen the Latvian language. A very important tool to achieve this goal is a language law that corresponds to international norms. The High Commissioner pointed out that a state had rights to regulate the use of the language only in some private business spheres dealing with security, public health and customers rights. The Commissioner acknowledged that the education law as well should be used for strengthening the status of the Latvian language. He supported increase of the number of Latvian language lessons in national minority schools because it AS in their own interests to know this language, but the amount of lessons in the Latvian language and their mother tongue should be balanced. Max van der Stoel also repeated that Latvia had fulfilled all recommendations on the Law on Citizenship. He had received information that even the last not fulfilled recommendation on simplifying the history knowledge test was fulfilled by reducing the number of questions. He has no intention to put forward any new recommendations. Neatkariga, Jauna Avize

TheHigh Commissioner acknowledged that education law was in no contradiction to Hague recommendations on national minority language policy formation and refused the reproaches of the Saeima faction

TheHigh Commissioner acknowledged that education law was in no contradiction to Hague recommendations on national minority language policy formation and refused the reproaches of the Saeima faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRIUL) that the Hague recommendations had been neglected during the implementation of the education law. He did not see any contradictions in this process and had agreed to the intention of the Minister of Education and Science J.Gaigals to increase the number of subjects taught in the Latvian language in national minority schools. (FHRIUL) member J.Pliner considers that Max van der Stoel, when speaking about the conformity of Latvian legislation to the Hague recommendations had been very diplomatic.

The Chairman of Russian National Council G.Seleznyov, during a meeting with Latvian Ambassador in Russia I.Daudiss, expressed his satisfaction about the recent changes in Latvia and was positive about the future development of bilateral relations. They discussed a possibility to continue a political dialogue between parliaments of those two countries, formation of Russian delegation for Latvian - Russian intergovernmental Commission.

The Chairman of Russian National Council G.Seleznyov, during a meeting with Latvian Ambassador in Russia I.Daudiss, expressed his satisfaction about the recent changes in Latvia and was positive about the future development of bilateral relations. They discussed a possibility to continue a political dialogue between parliaments of those two countries, formation of Russian delegation for Latvian - Russian intergovernmental Commission. Neatkariga

The Asylum Seekers Centre in Mucenieki, Olaine received the first refugees. They are nine people from Afghanistan, Iraq and Zaire. The Head of the Centre Z.Brikovska told

The Asylum Seekers Centre in Mucenieki, Olaine received the first refugees. They are nine people from Afghanistan, Iraq and Zaire. The Head of the Centre Z.Brikovska told Diena that for these people had been provided not by the state but NGOs.

The last year crisis in Latvian - Russian relations has led to establishing a working group with an aim to prepare a program “Public Integration in Latvia”. The draft project was completed already in September, but it had not been submitted for public discussion so far. The Chairman of the Public Integration Council J.Gaigals promises that it will be done at the end of January. But there is little hope for it because there is no financing for this in the state budget. The program aims at establishing a democratic, united and civic society in Latvia, based on common values. The program is against establishing a two community state, confrontation of different parts of the society, segregation and forced assimilation, and as one of the major forces in this process, the authors of the program see education, but the obstacle - lack of financing. Some of the authors consider that there is a necessity to establish the post of State Minister of Public Integration Affairs.

The last year crisis in Latvian - Russian relations has led to establishing a working group with an aim to prepare a program Public Integration in Latvia. The draft project was completed already in September, but it had not been submitted for public discussion so far. The Chairman of the Public Integration Council J.Gaigals promises that it will be done at the end of January. But there is little hope for it because there is no financing for this in the state budget. The program aims at establishing a democratic, united and civic society in Latvia, based on common values. The program is against establishing a two community state, confrontation of different parts of the society, segregation and forced assimilation, and as one of the major forces in this process, the authors of the program see education, but the obstacle - lack of financing. Some of the authors consider that there is a necessity to establish the post of State Minister of Public Integration Affairs. Rigas Balss (13.01.99)

The editor of Russian version of

The editor of Russian version of Diena A.Stroy interviews the Chairman of the public organisation Union of Citizens and Non-citizens V.Sorokin about their initiative to submit for Saeima consideration a draft law on amending the law on Municipal elections giving the right of vote also to non-citizens.

The translations of Russian speaking newspapers will come additionally.

The translations of Russian speaking newspapers will come additionally.