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

 NATO Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs, Guenter Altenburg praised the Baltic state's "unbelievable progress" and efforts made in building defense capacity meeting the alliance's standards. In the talks with Latvian foreign minister Indulis Berzins on Friday the two officials agreed that Russia is loosening its negative stance concerning admission of the Baltic states to the alliance. Berzins and Altenburg also discussed society integration in Latvia, and the foreign minister assured the NATO official that the Latvian government was committed to pursue actively the society integration program.

NATO Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs, Guenter Altenburg praised the Baltic state's "unbelievable progress" and efforts made in building defense capacity meeting the alliance's standards. In the talks with Latvian foreign minister Indulis Berzins on Friday the two officials agreed that Russia is loosening its negative stance concerning admission of the Baltic states to the alliance. Berzins and Altenburg also discussed society integration in Latvia, and the foreign minister assured the NATO official that the Latvian government was committed to pursue actively the society integration program.

A task force of NATO experts examined in detail Latvia's efforts in MAP implementation, focusing on planning of Latvia's military capacity and its improvement, defence budget development as well as legal and information security matters.

A task force of NATO experts examined in detail Latvia's efforts in MAP implementation, focusing on planning of Latvia's military capacity and its improvement, defence budget development as well as legal and information security matters. Diena, Vesti Segodnja, Chas

Diena, Lauku Avize, Rigas Balss, Chas

provide some comments of language experts who were invited for a meeting at Presidents to discuss language issues in Latvia. The majority of them consider that the amendments to the Law on Election could be introduced if along that the positions of the Latvian language are strengthened not only by amending Saeimas Rules of Order and Municipality Election Law, but also by developing language policy. LU professor Ina Druviete and famous Latvian poetess Mara Zalite agree that the main emphasis should be placed to Latvias integration into the EU and NATO and if there is a smallest threat to fail Latvia has to yield to their requirements. I.Druviete thinks that the removal of language requirement for election candidates could stimulate deputies non-Latvians to ask the rights to speak in the Parliament and municipalities in their mother tongue as provided for by the rights to freedom of expression in the European Convene on Human Rights and the Latvian Constituion. provide some comments of language experts who were invited for a meeting at President’s to discuss language issues in Latvia. The majority of them consider that the amendments to the Law on Election could be introduced if along that the positions of the Latvian language are strengthened not only by amending Saeima’s Rules of Order and Municipality Election Law, but also by developing language policy. LU professor Ina Druviete and famous Latvian poetess Mara Zalite agree that the main emphasis should be placed to Latvia’s integration into the EU and NATO and if there is a smallest threat to fail Latvia has to yield to their requirements. I.Druviete thinks that the removal of language requirement for election candidates could stimulate deputies non-Latvians to ask the rights to speak in the Parliament and municipalities in their mother tongue as provided for by the rights to freedom of expression in the European Convene on Human Rights and the Latvian Constituion. Vesti SegodnjaVesti Segodnja provides FHRUL member Boriss Cilevics comments that Druviete talks about things she does not know and that the amended Election Law would not influence language situation in the Saeima and municipalities. In his opinion, the biggest concern in Latvia is not the language issue, but minority education. provides FHRUL member Boriss Cilevics comments that Druviete talks about things she does not know and that the amended Election Law would not influence language situation in the Saeima and municipalities. In his opinion, the biggest concern in Latvia is not the language issue, but minority education.

Vesti Segodnja

informs about the latest activities of the National Front headed by publishing house Vieda director A.Garda and other nationalistic organisations. The website of one of these organisations informs about the latest activities of the National Front headed by publishing house “Vieda” director A.Garda and other nationalistic organisations. The website of one of these organisations All for Latvia!All for Latvia! says that its members already has started to train in tactical manoeuvring in wood to get ready for the fourth Awakening and complete ethnic cleaning in Latvia. says that its members already has started to train in tactical manoeuvring in wood to get ready for the fourth Awakening and complete ethnic cleaning in Latvia. The main goal of the new members of Russia’s delegation to the PACE is to deal with the situation of the Russians residing in Latvia and Estonia. In particular, the members want to develop common approach to the rights of national minorities in Europe for all countries. The chairman of Russian delegation V.Bakulins says that Latvia and Estonia even should have higher requirements in the field of human rights because these countries want to become the members of the EU and NATO.

The main goal of the new members of Russias delegation to the PACE is to deal with the situation of the Russians residing in Latvia and Estonia. In particular, the members want to develop common approach to the rights of national minorities in Europe for all countries. The chairman of Russian delegation V.Bakulins says that Latvia and Estonia even should have higher requirements in the field of human rights because these countries want to become the members of the EU and NATO. Vesti Segodnja

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Adrian Severin when commenting the closure of the OSCE Missions to Latvia and Estonia said that Mission’s presence had to be viewed as a “specific support to solve certain problems and not as blemish.” A.Severin informed that OSCE PA has developed the report on Latvia and Estonia concerning the unsolved issues including situation of the Russians.

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Adrian Severin when commenting the closure of the OSCE Missions to Latvia and Estonia said that Missions presence had to be viewed as a specific support to solve certain problems and not as blemish. A.Severin informed that OSCE PA has developed the report on Latvia and Estonia concerning the unsolved issues including situation of the Russians. Neatkariga

Lauku Avize

writes about situation concerning falsification of state language certificates. Although during last three years the State Language Centre has sent 200 applications to the police asking to penalise the holders of fraud state language certificates the police have not imposed any criminal charges on anybody and only few have had administrative charges. FF/LNNK member Vents Balodis suggests to exchange all language certificates issued till 1997 for the new ones. State Language Centre director Dz.Hirsa considers the exchange impossible as 250 000 state language certificates have been issued till 1997. She also thinks that in this way people whose language proficiency level has decreased from that time would receive language certificates indicating inadequate language proficiency level. writes about situation concerning falsification of state language certificates. Although during last three years the State Language Centre has sent 200 applications to the police asking to penalise the holders of fraud state language certificates the police have not imposed any criminal charges on anybody and only few have had administrative charges. FF/LNNK member Vents Balodis suggests to exchange all language certificates issued till 1997 for the new ones. State Language Centre director Dz.Hirsa considers the exchange impossible as 250 000 state language certificates have been issued till 1997. She also thinks that in this way people whose language proficiency level has decreased from that time would receive language certificates indicating inadequate language proficiency level.