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

All newspapers inform about the letter and the draft language law submitted to the Saeima Standing Committee on Education by the OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel. Since the High Commissioner’s proposals cannot be submitted directly to the Saeima for voting, the consideration of their approval or rejection is under the competence of the Standing Committee. The Chair of the Committee Dzintars Abikis refrained from forecasting whether the Committee and the Saeima support the amendments proposed by Mr. van der Stoel. Dzintars Abikis informed that many amendments to the draft language law are submitted by deputies and the ministers, including the Prime Minster Vilis Kristopans whose proposals, to great extent, correspond with the OSCE opinion. The Committee will start the consideration of all proposals within next two weeks, at the beginning of May it will meet with the OSCE experts. Mr. Abikis hopes that the law will be adopted by St. John’s Day (24 June).

All newspapers inform about the letter and the draft language law submitted to the Saeima Standing Committee on Education by the OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel. Since the High Commissioners proposals cannot be submitted directly to the Saeima for voting, the consideration of their approval or rejection is under the competence of the Standing Committee. The Chair of the Committee Dzintars Abikis refrained from forecasting whether the Committee and the Saeima support the amendments proposed by Mr. van der Stoel. Dzintars Abikis informed that many amendments to the draft language law are submitted by deputies and the ministers, including the Prime Minster Vilis Kristopans whose proposals, to great extent, correspond with the OSCE opinion. The Committee will start the consideration of all proposals within next two weeks, at the beginning of May it will meet with the OSCE experts. Mr. Abikis hopes that the law will be adopted by St. Johns Day (24 June). Diena

According to Mr. Abikis, the OSCE proposals for the final reading of the draft language law cannot be fully supported. The suggestions not to require the use of the state language in record-keeping of private enterprises, as well as in public events organised by other than the state institutions, are not acceptable. Besides, Mr. Abikis believes that the proposal to have the translation into the Latvian language alonside the information in a foreign language in all posters and other informative materials of that sort will lead to the dominance of the foreign languages, and more specifically the Russian language, in the posters.

According to Mr. Abikis, the OSCE proposals for the final reading of the draft language law cannot be fully supported. The suggestions not to require the use of the state language in record-keeping of private enterprises, as well as in public events organised by other than the state institutions, are not acceptable. Besides, Mr. Abikis believes that the proposal to have the translation into the Latvian language alonside the information in a foreign language in all posters and other informative materials of that sort will lead to the dominance of the foreign languages, and more specifically the Russian language, in the posters. Jauna Avize

A deputy from the Saeima fraction

A deputy from the Saeima fraction For Human Rights expresses the doubts whether the High Commissioners proposals will be taken into account, since the current impression is that majority of the deputies is about to reject the liberal amendments [...] which completely correspond with the OSCE recommendations. The only hope is that the representatives of the ruling coalition might support the proposals of the Prime Minister which are in the manner ofMax van der Stoel. SM

Commenting the fact that this time the OSCE High Commissioner sent not only the letter of recommendations but also the proposed version of the draft language law, MP A. Bartashevich (

Commenting the fact that this time the OSCE High Commissioner sent not only the letter of recommendations but also the proposed version of the draft language law, MP A. Bartashevich (For Human Rights) thinks that the High Commissioner has give up the belief that the national radicals are able to interpret the meaning of his recommendations. Panorama Latvii

Yesterday the Latvian government approved and submitted to the Saeima for consideration the draft law on adherence to the UN Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons.

Yesterday the Latvian government approved and submitted to the Saeima for consideration the draft law on adherence to the UN Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons. Jauna Avize

Yesterday the Saeima Standing Committee decided not to express the opinion about the dismissal of the Director of the National Human Rights Office Olafs Bruvers, even if, according to the Saeima Roll of Procedure, the Committee should submit the draft decree on his dismissal prepared by the social democrats. It is planned that the Saeima will consider this issue some time in May

Yesterday the Saeima Standing Committee decided not to express the opinion about the dismissal of the Director of the National Human Rights Office Olafs Bruvers, even if, according to the Saeima Roll of Procedure, the Committee should submit the draft decree on his dismissal prepared by the social democrats. It is planned that the Saeima will consider this issue some time in May. Jauna Avize

At the meeting of the Daugavpils Russian Society the participants adopted the resolution suggesting the Daugavpils City administration to work out the conception for the development of education in Daugavpils. The conception should aim at the education of harmonious personality, acquiring the knowledge that is able to compete, the mastering the native language and the state language equally well. The organisation continues to collect the signatures for the letter to the State President and the government, asking to adopt the Law on languages of national minorities, to grant the Russian language the status of the State language, and to preserve the state education in the Russian language.

At the meeting of the Daugavpils Russian Society the participants adopted the resolution suggesting the Daugavpils City administration to work out the conception for the development of education in Daugavpils. The conception should aim at the education of harmonious personality, acquiring the knowledge that is able to compete, the mastering the native language and the state language equally well. The organisation continues to collect the signatures for the letter to the State President and the government, asking to adopt the Law on languages of national minorities, to grant the Russian language the status of the State language, and to preserve the state education in the Russian language. SM

The Russian newspaper “Versiya” on Tuesday has published an article stating that the demolition of the new building of the Skrunda Radar Station was instigated by the USA. According to the information at the disposal of “Versiya”, the new building of the Radar Station should have become the most modern station which would be able to detect any American missiles. The newspaper notes that the closing of the Skrunda Radar Station led to having a considerably big unprotected sector in the Russian anti-missile defence system westwards

The Russian newspaper Versiya on Tuesday has published an article stating that the demolition of the new building of the Skrunda Radar Station was instigated by the USA. According to the information at the disposal of Versiya, the new building of the Radar Station should have become the most modern station which would be able to detect any American missiles. The newspaper notes that the closing of the Skrunda Radar Station led to having a considerably big unprotected sector in the Russian anti-missile defence system westwards. B&B