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

Russia's ORT public TV cannel broadcasted a special New Year's show on January 2 called Sixteen Presidents and a King, including Latvia's president Vaira Vike-Freiberga. The program was produced in unofficial style and included the sixteen country leaders telling of themselves, their favourite dishes, drinks, literature, music and free time, as well as New Year toasts to Russia, which Vike-Freiberga said in Russian. All papers praised her Russian skills which she demonstrated when wishing everyone a happy new year, peace and welfare.

Russia's ORT public TV cannel broadcasted a special New Year's show on January 2 called Sixteen Presidents and a King, including Latvia's president Vaira Vike-Freiberga. The program was produced in unofficial style and included the sixteen country leaders telling of themselves, their favourite dishes, drinks, literature, music and free time, as well as New Year toasts to Russia, which Vike-Freiberga said in Russian. All papers praised her Russian skills which she demonstrated when wishing everyone a happy new year, peace and welfare. Neatkariga, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnja, Chas.

Lauku Avize interviews U.S. Ambassador to Latvia Brian Carlson. The main discussion issues are removal of language requirement for election candidates, the role of the Latvian language in the country, relations between Latvia and Russia considering Latvia’s membership to NATO. The ambassador, commenting on the language policy in Latvia, says that Latvia is lucky to have such president as Vike-Freiberga. He believes that the President sees Latvia’s interests in the long-term and is not interested in pandering to short-term political whims.

Lauku Avize interviews U.S. Ambassador to Latvia Brian Carlson. The main discussion issues are removal of language requirement for election candidates, the role of the Latvian language in the country, relations between Latvia and Russia considering Latvias membership to NATO. The ambassador, commenting on the language policy in Latvia, says that Latvia is lucky to have such president as Vike-Freiberga. He believes that the President sees Latvias interests in the long-term and is not interested in pandering to short-term political whims.

Lauku Avize

interviews Estonian MP Valve Kirsipu about removal of language requirement for election candidates in Estonia. She considers that the decision to remove language requirement was the wrong one because democracy in Estonia is new and not very stable, as well as now international community can demand also Latvia to abolish language requirement. Valve Kirsipu also talks about the EU Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities and suggests Latvia ratify the Convention. interviews Estonian MP Valve Kirsipu about removal of language requirement for election candidates in Estonia. She considers that the decision to remove language requirement was the wrong one because “democracy in Estonia is new and not very stable, as well as now international community can demand also Latvia to abolish language requirement”. Valve Kirsipu also talks about the EU Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities and suggests Latvia ratify the Convention.

Lauku Avize

continues to discuss the language issue in Latvia and talks with Latvian language teachers at minority schools from Latvias east district Karslava about the problems in bilingual education. In their opinion, neither students nor parents have any problems with that, the only problem in this field is insufficient resources. continues to discuss the language issue in Latvia and talks with Latvian language teachers at minority schools from Latvia’s east district Karslava about the problems in bilingual education. In their opinion, neither students nor parents have any problems with that, the only problem in this field is insufficient resources.

Latvijas Vestnesis

publishes the article by Society Integration Foundation Secretariat director Nils Sakss. He informs about the further activities of the Foundation, project application procedure and finances. publishes the article by Society Integration Foundation Secretariat director Nils Sakss. He informs about the further activities of the Foundation, project application procedure and finances.

Latvijas Vestnesis

publishes the printed version of Prime Minister A.Berzins interview for the National Radio. In the opinion of the Prime Minister, the country has made very positive achievements in both political and economical spheres. When asked to name one of unfulfilled tasks, the Prime Minister names the unaccepted Law on Anti-corruption Bureau. Regarding the performance of his party Latvias Way, A.Berzins says that this year for the party was stable. I think that the party is going through small changes and transformation, however, I do believe that everything is going to be OK." publishes the printed version of Prime Minister A.Berzins’ interview for the National Radio. In the opinion of the Prime Minister, the country has made very positive achievements in both political and economical spheres. When asked to name one of unfulfilled tasks, the Prime Minister names the unaccepted Law on Anti-corruption Bureau. Regarding the performance of his party “Latvia’s Way”, A.Berzins says that “this year for the party was stable. I think that the party is going through small changes and transformation, however, I do believe that everything is going to be OK."

Chas

interviews Great Britain professor William Bowring about the situation concerning discrimination of minorities in Latvia. He is positive about Presidents initiative to abolish language requirement for election candidates, however, he is rather sceptical whether the Latvian Parliament will take any further measures in this matter and, in his opinion, there are still some kilometres which Latvia should made together with the OSCE Mission." interviews Great Britain professor William Bowring about the situation concerning discrimination of minorities in Latvia. He is positive about President’s initiative to abolish language requirement for election candidates, however, he is rather sceptical whether the Latvian Parliament will take any further measures in this matter and, in his opinion, “there are still some kilometres which Latvia should made together with the OSCE Mission."