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

At the request of 36 deputies from

At the request of 36 deputies from the Fatherland and Freedom, the Peoples Party and Social Democratic Union the Saeima Presidium announced the summoning of the extraordinary session on 16 June to adopt the state language law in the final reading. Today the Saeima Standing Commission on Education, Science and Culture will decide whether to uphold the previous decision to postpone the consideration of the draft law till fall. If the commission decides to postpone the consideration, the Saeima will not be able to review the draft law on the 16th of June. In a case the commission decides to have the consideration of the draft law before the summer recess, it should prepare the draft law for the final reading by the end of this week. As Mr. Abikis told Diena, theoretically it is possible.

Chair of the fraction

Chair of the fraction For Fatherland and Freedom A. Pozharnovs thinks that it would be possible to review the proposals submitted for the final reading without a conclusion of the responsible commission - the Commission on Education, Science and Culture.(JAUNA AVIZE, 8 June)

The New Party

will ask will ask the Fatherland and Freedomthe Fatherland and Freedom to explain the hurried summoning of the extraordinary session because it does not see a reason for rushing with the adoption of the law. to explain the hurried summoning of the extraordinary session because it does not see a reason for rushing with the adoption of the law. Yesterday during the interview for the Latvian Radio the State President Guntis Ulmanis does not see a reason why the adoption of the state language law should be delayed.

Yesterday during the interview for the Latvian Radio the State President Guntis Ulmanis does not see a reason why the adoption of the state language law should be delayed. Diena, Neatkariga, SM, Panorama Latvii

Deputy of the fraction

Deputy of the fraction For Human Rights Janis Urbanovich believes that if the commission decides to prepare the draft law for the extraordinary session on 16 June, the state law will be adopted in the present version which contradicts with all international norms. As a result, for Latvia the road to the EU will be blocked, and the Latvian - Russian relations will worsen. SM

In an article for Rigas Balss Ph.D student of the Latvian University D. Baltaiskalna reminds that the present language policy has been implemented for more than 10 years. Its basic principles correspond with the fundamental statements of the international law binding on Latvia, namely - providing the functioning of the state language in all spheres of life, the state guaranteed development of the national minority languages and their use for certain functions. Moreover, many studies have showed that the existing state policy fulfils these tasks and the language conflicts have not increased. Therefore, there is not need to digress from the model set by the existing Language law.

In an article for Rigas Balss Ph.D student of the Latvian University D. Baltaiskalna reminds that the present language policy has been implemented for more than 10 years. Its basic principles correspond with the fundamental statements of the international law binding on Latvia, namely - providing the functioning of the state language in all spheres of life, the state guaranteed development of the national minority languages and their use for certain functions. Moreover, many studies have showed that the existing state policy fulfils these tasks and the language conflicts have not increased. Therefore, there is not need to digress from the model set by the existing Language law. Rigas Balss

Panorama Latvii and SM review the interview with chair of the For Fatherland and Freedom fraction A. Pozharnovs broadcast on the Latvian TV. Mr. Pozharnovs explained the position of the party on the draft language law.

Mr. Pozharnovs also told that his party together with social democrats have address the Constitutional Court with a request to assess the decision of the Naturalisation Board concerning the combining of the graduation exam of the Latvian language with the language exam for naturalisation. Mr. Pozharnovs believes that this decision was illegal.

Mr. Pozharnovs also told that his party together with social democrats have address the Constitutional Court with a request to assess the decision of the Naturalisation Board concerning the combining of the graduation exam of the Latvian language with the language exam for naturalisation. Mr. Pozharnovs believes that this decision was illegal. SM, Panorama Latvii