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

Latvia's hopes for the closure of the OSCE mission operating here since 1994 could come true on Monday as the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna Dec. 20 will look into the matter, Foreign Ministry and OSCE mission in Latvia reported. Latvia's top officials, including President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Prime Minister Andris Berzins and Foreign Minister Indulis Berzins, have voiced conviction the OSCE mission has fulfilled guidelines under its mandate therefore it should be closed before the end of the year, like the mission in Estonia. The OSCE mission head in Latvia, Peter Semneby, had been evasive during past six month concerning the possibility to close the mission before the end of the year.

Latvia's hopes for the closure of the OSCE mission operating here since 1994 could come true on Monday as the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna Dec. 20 will look into the matter, Foreign Ministry and OSCE mission in Latvia reported. Latvia's top officials, including President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Prime Minister Andris Berzins and Foreign Minister Indulis Berzins, have voiced conviction the OSCE mission has fulfilled guidelines under its mandate therefore it should be closed before the end of the year, like the mission in Estonia. The OSCE mission head in Latvia, Peter Semneby, had been evasive during past six month concerning the possibility to close the mission before the end of the year. BNS

K.Plamse,

Diena commentator in Brussels writes that the OSCE decision on closing the OSCE Mission to Latvia will be one of the most difficult the organisation has taken during the last years. Latvias stubborn unwillingness to amend the election law and the critical position on this attitude from one part of the OSCE member states and the Permanent Council, that has to decide what to do, makes a difficult dilemma for the Council.

US Government greeted the decision of the OSCE to close its representation in Estonia. US Government also praised the steps of the Estonian authorities to increase democracy and form an integrated society. Diena

Latvia's new ambassador to Estonia will be Edgars Skuja, the current ambassador to Latvia at the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Latvia's new ambassador to Estonia will be Edgars Skuja, the current ambassador to Latvia at the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). BNS, Diena

The Interior ministry has submitted to the government amendments to the state language law envisaging that prosecutor's office and police will be allowed to submit to courts materials of criminal cases without translating them into the state language. The ministry explained the amendments are needed due to the shortage of funds as in 2002 as many as 1.5 million lats (USD 2.38 Million) are needed for the purpose. The State Language Center meanwhile regards these amendments as a regular restriction of rights of the Latvian language.

The Interior ministry has submitted to the government amendments to the state language law envisaging that prosecutor's office and police will be allowed to submit to courts materials of criminal cases without translating them into the state language. The ministry explained the amendments are needed due to the shortage of funds as in 2002 as many as 1.5 million lats (USD 2.38 Million) are needed for the purpose. The State Language Center meanwhile regards these amendments as a regular restriction of rights of the Latvian language. Diena, Panorama Latvii, Chas (17.12.)

The head of the State Language Center Dz.Hirsa after nine years spent struggling for preserving the state language in Latvia is facing now a difficult dilemma – whether it is worthwhile to continue this struggle because everything they managed to achieve now is gradually destroyed. People need stimuli not only to learn the language but also to use it, and these are exactly those issues Latvian legislation had to yield to the OSCE demands. Now employees in private businesses do not need to know the language, even the candidates for municipal and parliamentary elections will not need it. If they do not need it, why it should be necessary for a simple man? Of course, Dz.Hirsa is just an official and she may not decide what and how decide those, who adopt the law: “I am here to implement things stipulated there. I am doing it and will do, and if my opinion will differ too much from the opinion of politicians, I will have to resign. They tell me that I have a wrong opinion, but I still want to ask politicians if they realise where the boundary lies, behind which compromises turn into treachery.

The head of the State Language Center Dz.Hirsa after nine years spent struggling for preserving the state language in Latvia is facing now a difficult dilemma – whether it is worthwhile to continue this struggle because everything they managed to achieve now is gradually destroyed. People need stimuli not only to learn the language but also to use it, and these are exactly those issues Latvian legislation had to yield to the OSCE demands. Now employees in private businesses do not need to know the language, even the candidates for municipal and parliamentary elections will not need it. If they do not need it, why it should be necessary for a simple man? Of course, Dz.Hirsa is just an official and she may not decide what and how decide those, who adopt the law: I am here to implement things stipulated there. I am doing it and will do, and if my opinion will differ too much from the opinion of politicians, I will have to resign. They tell me that I have a wrong opinion, but I still want to ask politicians if they realise where the boundary lies, behind which compromises turn into treachery. Rigas Balss

Latvian President speaking at the Swiss Press Club assured that it was not worthwhile for Latvian Russian-speaking population to hope that Russian language could become the second state language in Latvia. In Latvia non-Latvians constitute 40% of all population, and it is much more that e.g. in Switzerland. Explaining the refusal to ensure proportional representation of national minorities in state authorities, Vaira Vike-Freiberga mentioned the different history and peculiarities of Latvia and Switzerland. According to the President, Russians in Latvia can not hope for the same rights as national minorities enjoy in Switzerland.

Latvian President speaking at the Swiss Press Club assured that it was not worthwhile for Latvian Russian-speaking population to hope that Russian language could become the second state language in Latvia. In Latvia non-Latvians constitute 40% of all population, and it is much more that e.g. in Switzerland. Explaining the refusal to ensure proportional representation of national minorities in state authorities, Vaira Vike-Freiberga mentioned the different history and peculiarities of Latvia and Switzerland. According to the President, Russians in Latvia can not hope for the same rights as national minorities enjoy in Switzerland. Lauku Avize

It seems that the planned transition to the tuition in the Latvian language in secondary schools from 2004 could become on of the major topics before the next Saeima election. Only a few days after the President Vaira Vike-Freiberga spoke out the necessity to amend the election laws, Latvia’s pro-Russian politicians expressed a hope that the President could also speak against the norm in the State education law stipulated transition to the tuition in the state language. MP from the Union For Human Rights in United Latvia Ya.Pliner, President of Russian Community in Latvia V.Altuhov and Co-Chairman of the Union of Citizens and Non-citizens of Latvia V.Sokolov signed an open letter to the President asking to take up an initiative to amend the education law. The Saeima Education, Culture and Science Commission listened to the report of the Head of the Integration Section of the General Education Department E.Papule on how Russian-speaking schools succeed with this transition. E.Papule said that according to the submitted program licenses about 55 – 60% of all non-Latvians were ready to transit to the tuition in the Latvian language, 10% of schools already work in the state language and 30 – 35 % show in their programs the intention to teach only three subjects in the Latvian language.

It seems that the planned transition to the tuition in the Latvian language in secondary schools from 2004 could become on of the major topics before the next Saeima election. Only a few days after the President Vaira Vike-Freiberga spoke out the necessity to amend the election laws, Latvias pro-Russian politicians expressed a hope that the President could also speak against the norm in the State education law stipulated transition to the tuition in the state language. MP from the Union For Human Rights in United Latvia Ya.Pliner, President of Russian Community in Latvia V.Altuhov and Co-Chairman of the Union of Citizens and Non-citizens of Latvia V.Sokolov signed an open letter to the President asking to take up an initiative to amend the education law. The Saeima Education, Culture and Science Commission listened to the report of the Head of the Integration Section of the General Education Department E.Papule on how Russian-speaking schools succeed with this transition. E.Papule said that according to the submitted program licenses about 55 – 60% of all non-Latvians were ready to transit to the tuition in the Latvian language, 10% of schools already work in the state language and 30 – 35 % show in their programs the intention to teach only three subjects in the Latvian language. Lauku Avize

Russian-speaking newspaper

Russian-speaking newspaper Chas interviewed the leader of Social Democrats Saeima faction E.Baldzens. Most of the interview was about Social Democrats relations with the union For Human Rights in United Latvia. Mr.Baldzens thinks that FHRUL like FF/LNNK is a strictly nationally orientated union, and it does not depend so much on declarations but on the offered policy. Contrary to FHRUL, Social Democrats support the status of the Latvian language as the only state language in Latvia. Speaking about socially economical differences between citizens and non-citizens, Mr.Baldzens explained that Social Democrats stood for equal right in this sphere, there should be no discrimination of non-citizens concerning their term of service spent outside Latvia.

The Saeima Commission on Social Affairs started to prepare for the third (final) reading the draft law on pensions. The most active discussion was between the left- wingers For Human Rights in United Latvia, who offered to count in the service term of non-citizens also the years worked outside the territory of Latvia. FF/LNNK was against it. The leader of People’s Party A.Skele offered a solution – as now all non-citizens might naturalise, let they received Latvian citizenship and then they would receive full pension. If this position of the ruling coalition was nothing new, then the left wingers got surprised when they asked the Federation of Pensioners of Latvia to support them and got refused.

The Saeima Commission on Social Affairs started to prepare for the third (final) reading the draft law on pensions. The most active discussion was between the left- wingers For Human Rights in United Latvia, who offered to count in the service term of non-citizens also the years worked outside the territory of Latvia. FF/LNNK was against it. The leader of Peoples Party A.Skele offered a solution – as now all non-citizens might naturalise, let they received Latvian citizenship and then they would receive full pension. If this position of the ruling coalition was nothing new, then the left wingers got surprised when they asked the Federation of Pensioners of Latvia to support them and got refused. Vesti Segodnya

Mayors of Riga and Moscow signed an agreement on co-operation in the fields of trade, economy, science and technics, humanitarian and culture.

Mayors of Riga and Moscow signed an agreement on co-operation in the fields of trade, economy, science and technics, humanitarian and culture. Vesti Segodnya

Newspaper

Newspaper Vechernyaya Riga informs that on Saturday from 11 to 4 p.m. non-citizens of Riga District Purvciems will be able to learn why the blue passport of a citizen is better that the violet one of a non-citizen. Purvciems if the fourth city district where this information campaign takes place. In the previous actions participated 200, 150 and 118 people.