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

The inquired politicians voiced the changes proposed by the Central Election Committee as limiting voter rights and thus most probably the Saeima Legal Committee will reject them.

The inquired politicians voiced the changes proposed by the Central Election Committee as limiting voter rights and thus most probably the Saeima Legal Committee will reject them. Diena also mentions that the dispute about changes to the Election Law can bring back the topicality of the proposal made by the FHRUL to abolish state language proficiency requirement for persons running for elections.

Society Integration Foundation Board chairperson R.Umbilja will ask the State Revenue Service to formulate whether the members of SIF Board should be considered state officials. The subject of concern is that a person, having the status of “state official”, is the subject of several restrictions. One of them is that while being a state official s/he can only be employed in the following spheres: pedagogy, research or in the fields related to creativity. Also it is not clear whether already appointed ministers and the representatives from municipalities are the subjects of the conflict of interests. Saeima Legal Committee Office Head says that each case should be revised separately.

Society Integration Foundation Board chairperson R.Umbilja will ask the State Revenue Service to formulate whether the members of SIF Board should be considered state officials. The subject of concern is that a person, having the status of state official, is the subject of several restrictions. One of them is that while being a state official s/he can only be employed in the following spheres: pedagogy, research or in the fields related to creativity. Also it is not clear whether already appointed ministers and the representatives from municipalities are the subjects of the conflict of interests. Saeima Legal Committee Office Head says that each case should be revised separately. Diena

Lauku Avize

informs about 2-day Princes Charles Visit. Prince Charles of Wales, set to visit Latvia on November 8 and 9 as part of his Baltic state visit, is interested to see the country's progress since his last visit in 1995 and achievements on the way to EU and NATO membership. His second day in Latvia will begin with a visit to Baltnet at the Riga airport from where he will fly to Daugavpils. In Daugavpils the Prince of Wales will be visiting an orphanage. Later he will visit an Orthodox Cathedral, the Daugavpils central market and a reception held by the city mayor. In Daugavpils Prince Charles will be meeting business representatives at a business support centre, open a language centre in his name and look in to work done by the naturalisation board in Daugavpils. informs about 2-day Princes Charles Visit. Prince Charles of Wales, set to visit Latvia on November 8 and 9 as part of his Baltic state visit, is interested to see the country's progress since his last visit in 1995 and achievements on the way to EU and NATO membership. His second day in Latvia will begin with a visit to Baltnet at the Riga airport from where he will fly to Daugavpils. In Daugavpils the Prince of Wales will be visiting an orphanage. Later he will visit an Orthodox Cathedral, the Daugavpils central market and a reception held by the city mayor. In Daugavpils Prince Charles will be meeting business representatives at a business support centre, open a language centre in his name and look in to work done by the naturalisation board in Daugavpils. ChasChas “In fact, Latvia has fulfilled the OSCE requirements, therefore the Mission should be closed,” thinks Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee. Committee deputy chairperson R.Labanovskis says that “there are almost none unfulfilled task for Latvia”. He also added that the issues concerning Saeima and municipal election laws have become more topical. In the opinion of R.Labonovskis the statement of the Prime Minister to take all necessary measures to ensure the observance of international human rights, including changes in law, is too rushed as only the Saeima is entitled to enter amendments to the legislation.

In fact, Latvia has fulfilled the OSCE requirements, therefore the Mission should be closed, thinks Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee. Committee deputy chairperson R.Labanovskis says that there are almost none unfulfilled task for Latvia. He also added that the issues concerning Saeima and municipal election laws have become more topical. In the opinion of R.Labonovskis the statement of the Prime Minister to take all necessary measures to ensure the observance of international human rights, including changes in law, is too rushed as only the Saeima is entitled to enter amendments to the legislation. Neatkariga adds that also HCNM R.Ekeus voiced that Latvia has fulfilled the majority of the tasks included in the guidelines for the closure of the OSCE. Neatkariga

Vesti Segodnja

also writes about the discussion at the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee about the closure of the Mission. also writes about the discussion at the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee about the closure of the Mission. “The representatives of the MoFA were invited to the closed session and they “shared their secret” and admitted to the parliamentarians that after all they will have to introduce the amendments to non-democratic Election Law. For the terror of the ruling coalition, that is not the end. According to the statements of diplomats, the OSCE demands Latvia to speed up naturalisation and improve a dialogue with national minorities. Yes, but in order to improve a dialogue it is necessary to have a dialogue as such. But there is no dialogue and if we look at the body of the newly established SIF Board it is not going to take place”.

The representatives of the MoFA were invited to the closed session and they shared their secret and admitted to the parliamentarians that after all they will have to introduce the amendments to non-democratic Election Law. For the terror of the ruling coalition, that is not the end. According to the statements of diplomats, the OSCE demands Latvia to speed up naturalisation and improve a dialogue with national minorities. Yes, but in order to improve a dialogue it is necessary to have a dialogue as such. But there is no dialogue and if we look at the body of the newly established SIF Board it is not going to take place.

Chas publishes the printed summarised version of the internet forum with the Association for the Support of the Russian Language Schools in Latvia chairperson Pimenovs. He does not think that his “fight” against the education reform in 2004 is useless, as he foresees that after “successful implementation of this reform”, the state will follow with another – all studies exclusively in the Latvian language from the very 1st grade. I.Pimenvs considers that the teachers are not the only ones to be blamed if students have not learned Latvian, it is the matter of resources and teaching aid. I.Pimenovs has also the support of the Russian embassy to Latvia, however, “the ground for our future is our own resources plus political support from Russia”.

Chas publishes the printed summarised version of the internet forum with the Association for the Support of the Russian Language Schools in Latvia chairperson Pimenovs. He does not think that his fight against the education reform in 2004 is useless, as he foresees that after successful implementation of this reform, the state will follow with another – all studies exclusively in the Latvian language from the very 1st grade. I.Pimenvs considers that the teachers are not the only ones to be blamed if students have not learned Latvian, it is the matter of resources and teaching aid. I.Pimenovs has also the support of the Russian embassy to Latvia, however, the ground for our future is our own resources plus political support from Russia.