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.

LATVIAN MEDIA REVIEW

LATVIAN MEDIA REVIEW

Dita Araja in

Dita Araja in Diena writes about the future of the Latvian language as the state language. The upcoming events in January when the experts group summoned by the President submits its proposals concerning amending the election laws show that the time up to the planned transfer to the tuition into the state language in secondary school classes of national minority schools on September 1, 2004 will be decisive to the Latvian language. Language specialists have found that the favourable attitude of non-Latvians towards the state language is decreasing, and this happens due to the political events of several last years. Of course, Latvia has to follow the recommendations of international organisations and has to sacrifice the language proficiency norm for deputy candidates in favour of joining EU and NATO. Experts still point out that it will be important for the future of the Latvian language how the President will announce on a regular receding from the existing language legal norms. In Latvia, contrary to Western states, exists a wide gap among knowledge of the language, usage of it and attitude towards it. Dr.Phil. D.Baltaiskalna in a research has found that the most positive towards the Latvian language are people who were raised after WW II in a language environment. Most negative are people in the age group of 25 – 40 years. Ms. Baltaiskalna concludes that at the beginning of 90s when there was a clear position that the Latvian language would bet only state language was created a positive attitude towards it but the turning point was the referendum on amending the citizenship law of 1998 that was accompanied with the prolonged development of the State language law when under influence of the OSCE experts the wording of the law was changed several times. Diena

The new Social Democratic faction, established at Saeima, will in the future become the core of a new political party - the Social Democratic Union, Social Democrat Egils Baldzens told a press conference today. Baldzens said that the Social Democratic Union "will not be a party of leaders but a constellation". A statement on establishing a new Social Democratic faction, signed by deputies Baldzens, Janis Leja, Imants Burvis, Peteris Salkazanovs and Risards Labanovskis, was filed to the Saeima presidium today.

The new Social Democratic faction, established at Saeima, will in the future become the core of a new political party - the Social Democratic Union, Social Democrat Egils Baldzens told a press conference today. Baldzens said that the Social Democratic Union "will not be a party of leaders but a constellation". A statement on establishing a new Social Democratic faction, signed by deputies Baldzens, Janis Leja, Imants Burvis, Peteris Salkazanovs and Risards Labanovskis, was filed to the Saeima presidium today. LETA

President Vaira Vike-Freiberga will meet with Minister of Education and Science Karlis Greiskalns this week. President's press secretary Aiva Rozenberga told LETA that the meeting would be held at the president's initiative, during the meeting, issues that concern the situation with education in Latvia will be discussed. The officials are to meet on Thursday, January 10, at 3:30 p.m.

President Vaira Vike-Freiberga will meet with Minister of Education and Science Karlis Greiskalns this week. President's press secretary Aiva Rozenberga told LETA that the meeting would be held at the president's initiative, during the meeting, issues that concern the situation with education in Latvia will be discussed. The officials are to meet on Thursday, January 10, at 3:30 p.m. LETA

Legal experts’ task force summoned by the president Monday after listening to the report of State Language Center representative on the problems of observing the state language law have agreed to prepare more precise proposals how language inspectors could control implementation of language norms after abolishing language restrictions. There would be no problems with language use in the Saeima but they could arise in municipalities. The experts agree on proposal to amend the law on municipalities in order to ensure the usage of the Latvian language at municipalities after potential changes to the election law take effect. They also agreed: it is no longer demanded that candidates for deputies have a top-grade command of the state language.

Legal experts task force summoned by the president Monday after listening to the report of State Language Center representative on the problems of observing the state language law have agreed to prepare more precise proposals how language inspectors could control implementation of language norms after abolishing language restrictions. There would be no problems with language use in the Saeima but they could arise in municipalities. The experts agree on proposal to amend the law on municipalities in order to ensure the usage of the Latvian language at municipalities after potential changes to the election law take effect. They also agreed: it is no longer demanded that candidates for deputies have a top-grade command of the state language. Diena, Neatkariga, Lauku Avize, BNS,

Leftist block For Human Rights in United Latvia parliament faction chairman Janis Jurkans has issued a statement calling on Defence Minister Girts Valdis Kristovskis to apologise to residents of eastern Latvian region Latgale and Russia over his statements in an open letter the minister distributed in connection with the planned installation of TPS-117 radar in Audrini county, eastern Latvia. Otherwise the faction undertakes to launch a no-confidence motion against the minister in the parliament. Kristovskis meanwhile said he knows that political force very well and is not to set either to comment or resign.

Leftist block For Human Rights in United Latvia parliament faction chairman Janis Jurkans has issued a statement calling on Defence Minister Girts Valdis Kristovskis to apologise to residents of eastern Latvian region Latgale and Russia over his statements in an open letter the minister distributed in connection with the planned installation of TPS-117 radar in Audrini county, eastern Latvia. Otherwise the faction undertakes to launch a no-confidence motion against the minister in the parliament. Kristovskis meanwhile said he knows that political force very well and is not to set either to comment or resign. BNS Diena, Neatkariga, Panorama Latvii, Chas, BNS

The Latvian government committee Monday upheld amendments to the criminal law and other legislative acts abolishing death penalty in Latvia, government press office reported. Before the matter is put before the Cabinet, the Justice Ministry has to prepare some more amendments, acting on the opinion of the State Chancellery that pointed out the need to reshape other criminal law articles, penalty execution code and pardon law. These amendments will be approved under urgent procedures so that the government would be able to review them together with those upheld by the Cabinet committee on Monday. It is not known yet when the government would deal with this issue.

The Latvian government committee Monday upheld amendments to the criminal law and other legislative acts abolishing death penalty in Latvia, government press office reported. Before the matter is put before the Cabinet, the Justice Ministry has to prepare some more amendments, acting on the opinion of the State Chancellery that pointed out the need to reshape other criminal law articles, penalty execution code and pardon law. These amendments will be approved under urgent procedures so that the government would be able to review them together with those upheld by the Cabinet committee on Monday. It is not known yet when the government would deal with this issue. BNS

Newspaper

Newspaper Lauku Avize interviewed several Latvian MPs asking what they thought about the conclusion of the Jamestown Foundation that Russian President V.Putin tried to create ethnic tension in the Baltic States to hinder their moving towards NATO. G.Krasts (FF/LNNK) thinks that the Foundation is right, and Latvia just has to be frank and explain the international society it position on ethnic issues. Latvia has to prove that accession to NATO would improve security in the region. A.Kirsteins (Peoples Party) agrees with this conclusion and says that the comparison of Latvia to Macedonia was a pure provocation. M.Lujans (For Human Rights in United Latvia) says that we should not perceive this Putins announcement as an attempt to cause any ethnic tension here. So far he had no policy concerning compatriots abroad, and now he wants to start forming it.

Newspaper

Newspaper Latvijas Vestnesis informs about the new procedure of annulling persons domicile registration. According to the new temporary procedure of receiving domicile registration and checking out, the decision on annulling ones domicile registration will be taken by a local municipality. It will have the authority to annul it within one month after receiving appropriate information in the ten cases stipulated in the Cabinet of Ministers regulations. This temporary procedure will take effect on February 1, 200. It is planned that the new law on declaring ones place of residence could take effect on January 1, 2003.

Head of National Human Rights Office O.Bruveris went on one of his regular visit to DCMA to see how this institution was solving the cases registered with the Office. This time there were eight cases. Two of them are in Strasbourg Human Rights Court. O.Bruveris was optimistic describing the situation at the Department. Working process is going on and if a person has not committed any criminal violations and does not try to cheat the state, then his status is established quite smoothly.

Head of National Human Rights Office O.Bruveris went on one of his regular visit to DCMA to see how this institution was solving the cases registered with the Office. This time there were eight cases. Two of them are in Strasbourg Human Rights Court. O.Bruveris was optimistic describing the situation at the Department. Working process is going on and if a person has not committed any criminal violations and does not try to cheat the state, then his status is established quite smoothly. Chas

Vesti Segodnya writes about the fate of Valentina Demidovec, a Biology teacher of Salaspils School No 2. She is dismissed for not sufficient state language knowledge. Ninety students of the school signed a letter to defend their teacher.

Vesti Segodnya writes about the fate of Valentina Demidovec, a Biology teacher of Salaspils School No 2. She is dismissed for not sufficient state language knowledge. Ninety students of the school signed a letter to defend their teacher.

Russian Parliament is very busy considering a package of laws concerning the citizenship of the Russian Federation, Status of foreigners, refugees, procedure of entry and leaving, migration, etc. So far is valid the USSR law of 1981 that grants the right of political asylum for citizens persecuted in their countries of residence for “defending the rights of working people, for participation in revolutionary of national liberation movements.”

Russian Parliament is very busy considering a package of laws concerning the citizenship of the Russian Federation, Status of foreigners, refugees, procedure of entry and leaving, migration, etc. So far is valid the USSR law of 1981 that grants the right of political asylum for citizens persecuted in their countries of residence for defending the rights of working people, for participation in revolutionary of national liberation movements. Panorama Latvii