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 Report

Press Report

A meeting of the three Baltic countries, Polish and Finnish presidents will be held today in Tallinn.

A meeting of the three Baltic countries, Polish and Finnish presidents will be held today in Tallinn. LETA

Latvian Naturalization Board Sept. 19, jointly with United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and OSCE mission in Latvia, will present a new project envisaging introduction of intense Latvian language teaching program in order to promote naturalization process in the country. It is expected to provide training to 2000 people as part of the project, the Naturalization Board reported. The project presentation ceremony will be joined by Latvian government officials as well as representatives from the UNDP, foreign diplomats, teachers and others. The ceremony will be addressed by Prime Minister Andris Berzins and others. The project is financially supported by the United States, Swedish and Norwegian governments.

Latvian Naturalization Board Sept. 19, jointly with United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and OSCE mission in Latvia, will present a new project envisaging introduction of intense Latvian language teaching program in order to promote naturalization process in the country. It is expected to provide training to 2000 people as part of the project, the Naturalization Board reported. The project presentation ceremony will be joined by Latvian government officials as well as representatives from the UNDP, foreign diplomats, teachers and others. The ceremony will be addressed by Prime Minister Andris Berzins and others. The project is financially supported by the United States, Swedish and Norwegian governments. BNS

From Sept 20 to 21 the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) High Commissioner on national minority issues, Rolf Ekeus, will be visiting in Latvia in order to discuss social integration issues, reported the Foreign Ministry. Ekeus will be meeting Latvia's President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Parliament Speaker Janis Straume, Prime Minister Andris Berzins, parliament members, as well as leaders of the naturalization board and state language center.

From Sept 20 to 21 the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) High Commissioner on national minority issues, Rolf Ekeus, will be visiting in Latvia in order to discuss social integration issues, reported the Foreign Ministry. Ekeus will be meeting Latvia's President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Parliament Speaker Janis Straume, Prime Minister Andris Berzins, parliament members, as well as leaders of the naturalization board and state language center. BNS, Lauku Avize

Improving of Latvia's court system is the third priority of the country after defense and interior spheres, Latvian president told reporters. Remark by Vaira Vike-Freiberga came on Monday following the meeting with Justice Minister Ingrida Labucka. "Latvia should regard improving of the court system as one of its top priorities. I would place it in the third position after improvement of our security, defense and interior ministry structures, and also, of course, customs and border issues," said Vike-Freiberga.

Improving of Latvia's court system is the third priority of the country after defense and interior spheres, Latvian president told reporters. Remark by Vaira Vike-Freiberga came on Monday following the meeting with Justice Minister Ingrida Labucka. "Latvia should regard improving of the court system as one of its top priorities. I would place it in the third position after improvement of our security, defense and interior ministry structures, and also, of course, customs and border issues," said Vike-Freiberga. BNS

During the Joint EU and Latvian Parliamentary Committee meeting the Saeima faction For Human Rights in United Latvia circulated a comparison where the situation of national minorities in Latvia was compared to the one in Macedonia. Although For Human Rights in United Latvia points out to the different approach for solving national minority problems in those two countries, especial attention should be paid to the last phrase where is was stated that Albanians in Macedonia fought for their rights using violent methods, but in Latvia national minorities so far had struggled for equal rights with Latvians using peaceful methods but had not succeeded to improve the situation essentially. FHRUL representative M.Mitrofanov told newspaper

During the Joint EU and Latvian Parliamentary Committee meeting the Saeima faction For Human Rights in United Latvia circulated a comparison where the situation of national minorities in Latvia was compared to the one in Macedonia. Although For Human Rights in United Latvia points out to the different approach for solving national minority problems in those two countries, especial attention should be paid to the last phrase where is was stated that Albanians in Macedonia fought for their rights using violent methods, but in Latvia national minorities so far had struggled for equal rights with Latvians using peaceful methods but had not succeeded to improve the situation essentially. FHRUL representative M.Mitrofanov told newspaper Diena that they did not expect any concrete political solution from EU and the comparison was circulated to make European Parliament members to start thinking about double standards in the sphere of national minority rights. Diena, Vesti Segonya

I.Pimenov, Chairman of Association for Support of Russian Language Schools in Latvia, opposing to V.Avotins states that the school reform taking place in Latvia was originally planned as assimilation of Russian-speaking population because the reform was started and only then authorities started to speak about integration as a specific state policy. Starting from 1995 a pressure was increased on Russian-speaking schools, and in 1998 it was transformed into National Program on transferring tuition language to the state language. Last year a conference “To study in one’s mother tongue” was organised for parents of students attending Russian-speaking schools where there were representatives from 89 schools. In 2001 parents from Valmiera, Aizkraukle and Jelgava schools spoke against such a reform. Now ASRLS prepares the second conference.

I.Pimenov, Chairman of Association for Support of Russian Language Schools in Latvia, opposing to V.Avotins states that the school reform taking place in Latvia was originally planned as assimilation of Russian-speaking population because the reform was started and only then authorities started to speak about integration as a specific state policy. Starting from 1995 a pressure was increased on Russian-speaking schools, and in 1998 it was transformed into National Program on transferring tuition language to the state language. Last year a conference To study in ones mother tongue was organised for parents of students attending Russian-speaking schools where there were representatives from 89 schools. In 2001 parents from Valmiera, Aizkraukle and Jelgava schools spoke against such a reform. Now ASRLS prepares the second conference. Respublika

N.Kabanov from

N.Kabanov from Vesti Segonya interviewed European Parliament deputy M.Galer who specialised in the Baltic States. Mr. Galer assured that Latvian legislation complied with EU standards, and therefore OSCE representation in Latvia would be closed. But it did not mean that European Parliament considered interethnic relations in Latvia to be solved. The position of Brussels is included in the term integration.

The ambassador of Belgium and the head of the Delegation of the European Commission in Latvia have both praised Latvia's progress towards the European Union, but have a critical view of Latvia's administrative and political options. Head of the European Commission's delegation in Latvia, Gunter Weiss, said at the Joint Latvian and European Union Parliamentary Committee meeting on Monday that the professionalism of Latvia's parliament and legislation has grown speedily. "The parliament has enormous experience and it has grown to an effective and working parliament," said Weiss.

The ambassador of Belgium and the head of the Delegation of the European Commission in Latvia have both praised Latvia's progress towards the European Union, but have a critical view of Latvia's administrative and political options. Head of the European Commission's delegation in Latvia, Gunter Weiss, said at the Joint Latvian and European Union Parliamentary Committee meeting on Monday that the professionalism of Latvia's parliament and legislation has grown speedily. "The parliament has enormous experience and it has grown to an effective and working parliament," said Weiss. BNS

As Mr. Weiss reported, European Commission was concerned also about the integration and naturalization processes in Latvian society. He pointed out that so far had not been established Public Integration Fund. In the light of recent events EU will pay more attention to the situation of national minorities in the candidate states. It is possible that EU would develop united standards concerning national minorities. Eurodeputies “pushed” on Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs trying to learn more about how the state performed the dialog with non-Latvian population. I.Berzins told visitors that older non-Latvians had a completely different thinking, and it was difficult to change it. Nevertheless, more and more non-Latvians started to support integration in EU.

As Mr. Weiss reported, European Commission was concerned also about the integration and naturalization processes in Latvian society. He pointed out that so far had not been established Public Integration Fund. In the light of recent events EU will pay more attention to the situation of national minorities in the candidate states. It is possible that EU would develop united standards concerning national minorities. Eurodeputies pushed on Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs trying to learn more about how the state performed the dialog with non-Latvian population. I.Berzins told visitors that older non-Latvians had a completely different thinking, and it was difficult to change it. Nevertheless, more and more non-Latvians started to support integration in EU. Vesti Segonya, Respublika

Today in Riga will take place round table discussion on Framework Convention on national minorities. The event is organised by Information Center of Council of Europe. Five years have passed but Latvia has not ratified this document. MP B.Cilevich, commenting this situation, said that Framework Convention contained the following norms - in regions, densely populated by national minority representatives, their language might be used in communicating with state authorities, names of cities, towns, regions and streets might be used in two language if national minority representatives ask for that. And in the convention is stipulated the right of using person’s name and family name in his mother tongue in official documents. But Latvian language law prohibits these norms.

Today in Riga will take place round table discussion on Framework Convention on national minorities. The event is organised by Information Center of Council of Europe. Five years have passed but Latvia has not ratified this document. MP B.Cilevich, commenting this situation, said that Framework Convention contained the following norms - in regions, densely populated by national minority representatives, their language might be used in communicating with state authorities, names of cities, towns, regions and streets might be used in two language if national minority representatives ask for that. And in the convention is stipulated the right of using persons name and family name in his mother tongue in official documents. But Latvian language law prohibits these norms. Chas