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

Yesterday Latvia's Justice Minister Ingrida Labucka and justice ministers from around 40 other countries met Russia's President Vladimir Putin at the Council of Europe conference in Moscow. It was initially intended that Putin would be sending the conference a written greeting, but he unexpectedly invited the European justice ministers for a visit to the Kremlin on Thursday afternoon. Putin said in his speech that currently the main issue is to develop joint standards in legislation so that it would be easier to fight international terrorism.

Yesterday Latvia's Justice Minister Ingrida Labucka and justice ministers from around 40 other countries met Russia's President Vladimir Putin at the Council of Europe conference in Moscow. It was initially intended that Putin would be sending the conference a written greeting, but he unexpectedly invited the European justice ministers for a visit to the Kremlin on Thursday afternoon. Putin said in his speech that currently the main issue is to develop joint standards in legislation so that it would be easier to fight international terrorism. Diena, Latvijas Vestnesis, Chas

Neatkariga publishes the social poll data about the voters choice at the 8th Saeima election, in particular, how many voters would vote for the new party of E.Repse. According to the survey company SKDS almost half of Latvian population could consider to vote for Repse’s party although these results are in contradiction with the results of the survey on party popularity ratings conducted a week earlier. The latest survey also shows that the voters who would vote for Repse’s party mainly would come from the groups which previously supported the ruling parties, but FHRUL would not lose their supporters almost at all. However, the leaders of ruling parties consider their perspectives as stable when the election comes.

Neatkariga publishes the social poll data about the voters choice at the 8th Saeima election, in particular, how many voters would vote for the new party of E.Repse. According to the survey company SKDS almost half of Latvian population could consider to vote for Repses party although these results are in contradiction with the results of the survey on party popularity ratings conducted a week earlier. The latest survey also shows that the voters who would vote for Repses party mainly would come from the groups which previously supported the ruling parties, but FHRUL would not lose their supporters almost at all. However, the leaders of ruling parties consider their perspectives as stable when the election comes.

Neatkariga

reports about the situation in bilingual education and talks to the Ministry of Education and Science, General Education Department Integration Unit Head E.Papule and Saeima Education Committee chairperson Dz.Abikis. In their opinion the issue has been politicised because of the upcoming Saeima election. Dz.Abikis denies that the transfer to studies in the state language at secondary school in 2004 would cause serious problems, especially in the rural regions, but in regard to the big cities it would just require closer monitoring from the party of politicians, municipality officials and teachers. The newspaper also reports the data of the attitudes of citizens and non-citizens toward studies exclusively in the state language. reports about the situation in bilingual education and talks to the Ministry of Education and Science, General Education Department Integration Unit Head E.Papule and Saeima Education Committee chairperson Dz.Abikis. In their opinion the issue has been politicised because of the upcoming Saeima election. Dz.Abikis denies that the transfer to studies in the state language at secondary school in 2004 would cause serious problems, especially in the rural regions, but in regard to the big cities it would just require closer monitoring from the party of politicians, municipality officials and teachers. The newspaper also reports the data of the attitudes of citizens and non-citizens toward studies exclusively in the state language.

Neatkariga

provides statistics about the number of Latvian residents who still have not exchanged their old USSR passports for the passports of Latvian citizens or non-citizens. Up till September 8396 citizens and 17 142 non-citizens hold old USSR passports. provides statistics about the number of Latvian residents who still have not exchanged their old USSR passports for the passports of Latvian citizens or non-citizens. Up till September 8396 citizens and 17 142 non-citizens hold old USSR passports.

Diena

is the only newspaper in Latvian, which also provides information about drawing up the act for movie theatre Kino 52 for violating the State Language Law showing the movie in Russian without Latvian subtitles or dubbing. is the only newspaper in Latvian, which also provides information about drawing up the act for movie theatre “Kino 52” for violating the State Language Law showing the movie in Russian without Latvian subtitles or dubbing.

Vesti Segodnya

interviews OSCE Mission to Latvia Head P.Semneby. interviews OSCE Mission to Latvia Head P.Semneby.

Full translation of the article will be attached to an upcoming press review

Latvian Ambassador to Russia N.Penke has made his first meeting with Russian officials. The Ambassador met with the deputy of Russian foreign affairs minister A.Avdeev and discussed bilateral relations between the countries.

Latvian Ambassador to Russia N.Penke has made his first meeting with Russian officials. The Ambassador met with the deputy of Russian foreign affairs minister A.Avdeev and discussed bilateral relations between the countries. Vesti Segodnja, Neatkariga, Chas

Latvian Russian intergovernmental committee chairperson, communication minister A.Gorbunovs considers the committee an unnecessary institution, as real activities and agreements between the two countries are made on the level of specific industries and fields.

Latvian Russian intergovernmental committee chairperson, communication minister A.Gorbunovs considers the committee an unnecessary institution, as real activities and agreements between the two countries are made on the level of specific industries and fields. Vesti Segodnja, Chas

Latvia's political scientists do not have unequivocal opinion about statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin about possible change in Russia's position over NATO enlargement and later claims that alliance expansion would not increase security in Europe and the world. Political scientist M.Asmanis told that too much attention has been devoted to Putin's remarks. He believes Latvia's concerns over Russia's threats "also are fuelled by forces, which are exerting all efforts to pull us into NATO". Political scientists K.Dauksts believes Putin's remarks "generally fit into Russia's foreign policy channel". He believes these statements have rather positive nature because they point at fight of two opposite opinions inside Russia -- "the US has suffered a relative defeat in the international politics therefore Russia should go along its own path" or "Russia should co-operate with the West in fight against terrorism. Currently a period of doubts and discussions has set in the West," said Dauksts. Political scientist Artis Pabriks meanwhile believes "contradictions in Putin's remarks should be perceived rather seriously". Russia's diplomacy has often came out with contradictory statements and also this time it will "not hesitate to swap the enlargement against co-operation of Russia with the West in fight against terrorism in case the West begins doubting over NATO enlargement. It would be negative for us if Europe's position on NATO enlargement gains more weight". Therefore the Baltic states should warn and inform the Western community that they are ready to co-operate, assume responsibility, reminding about the negative domestic policy and regional consequences in case admission of the Baltic states to NATO is delayed.

Latvia's political scientists do not have unequivocal opinion about statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin about possible change in Russia's position over NATO enlargement and later claims that alliance expansion would not increase security in Europe and the world. Political scientist M.Asmanis told that too much attention has been devoted to Putin's remarks. He believes Latvia's concerns over Russia's threats "also are fuelled by forces, which are exerting all efforts to pull us into NATO". Political scientists K.Dauksts believes Putin's remarks "generally fit into Russia's foreign policy channel". He believes these statements have rather positive nature because they point at fight of two opposite opinions inside Russia -- "the US has suffered a relative defeat in the international politics therefore Russia should go along its own path" or "Russia should co-operate with the West in fight against terrorism. Currently a period of doubts and discussions has set in the West," said Dauksts. Political scientist Artis Pabriks meanwhile believes "contradictions in Putin's remarks should be perceived rather seriously". Russia's diplomacy has often came out with contradictory statements and also this time it will "not hesitate to swap the enlargement against co-operation of Russia with the West in fight against terrorism in case the West begins doubting over NATO enlargement. It would be negative for us if Europe's position on NATO enlargement gains more weight". Therefore the Baltic states should warn and inform the Western community that they are ready to co-operate, assume responsibility, reminding about the negative domestic policy and regional consequences in case admission of the Baltic states to NATO is delayed. BNS

According to

According to Vesti Segodnya columnist A.Elkin Latvian politicians have misinterpreted Russia and have not listened to the end of Presidents statement, as they had already practised before with the statement of OSCE HCNM Max van der Stoel, where the Latvian politicians heard only the part where the Commissioner said that the progress has been made, but pretended that did not hear anything about the necessity to improve the State Language Law.

Yesterday FHRUL deputy Y.Pliner released the call of Public Council of Education, Science and Culture for the mass media. The idea of the call is that parent committees and councils of national minority schools should now establish unions at city and regional councils of national minorities and launch the dialogues with deputies and municipality officials as “this is the only way how to keep our schools, protect our kids from the forcible studies in a foreign language”.

Yesterday FHRUL deputy Y.Pliner released the call of Public Council of Education, Science and Culture for the mass media. The idea of the call is that parent committees and councils of national minority schools should now establish unions at city and regional councils of national minorities and launch the dialogues with deputies and municipality officials as this is the only way how to keep our schools, protect our kids from the forcible studies in a foreign language. Chas

Latvijas Vestnesis

provides an extensive interview with Latvian education minister K.Greiskalns about different problems in regard to education, however, there is no regard to problems concerning bilingual education. provides an extensive interview with Latvian education minister K.Greiskalns about different problems in regard to education, however, there is no regard to problems concerning bilingual education.