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.

Integration and Minority Information Service

Integration and Minority Information Service
of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies

Telegraf interviews Minister of Foreign Affairs Indulis Berzins. He stresses that good relations with Russia have always been one of the top priorities of the Latvian foreign policy. He believes that the West will not set Latvia any more requirements to amend legislation in place concerning the rights of national minorities. Regarding the switch of secondary education in the Latvian language in 2004 Indulis Berzins believes that the course of the reform will not be changed, at least till the 8th Saeima elections. He agrees that Einars Repses party The New Era could win the majority of votes, then followed by FHRUL. He states that for the time being Latvias Way could not co-operate with FHRUL, but after the 8th Saeima elections everything is possible as FHRUL is composed of rather different political forces.

The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented that the recent statement On Discriminatory Policy of the Latvian Authorities towards Russians in Latvia made by the State Duma of the Russian Federation ignores Latvia’s achievements in the field of the protection of the rights of national minorities.

The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented that the recent statement On Discriminatory Policy of the Latvian Authorities towards Russians in Latvia made by the State Duma of the Russian Federation ignores Latvias achievements in the field of the protection of the rights of national minorities. BNS, Vesti Segodnja

Panorama Latvii

writes about the planned switch of secondary education of national minority schools to the Latvian language in 2004. The newspaper predicts that many Russian teachers will be fired after the implementation of the reform.

Chas, Telegraf

and and Panorama LatviiPanorama Latvii comment on the recent merge of Russian nationalistic organisation Russian National Unity with Latvian nationalistic movement. The newspaper talks to the leader of the organisation Armands Malins. He stresses that his organisation is not the organisation representing only Latvians but it is a national democratic organisation. comment on the recent merge of Russian nationalistic organisation “Russian National Unity” with Latvian nationalistic movement. The newspaper talks to the leader of the organisation Armands Malins. He stresses that his organisation is not the organisation representing only Latvians but it is a national democratic organisation. According to the data provided by the State Revenue Service the number of unemployed Russian-speakers in Latvia has decreased while the number of unemployed Latvians has increased. Russians are more active in such spheres as marketing while state sector and international companies employ more Latvians than Russians.

According to the data provided by the State Revenue Service the number of unemployed Russian-speakers in Latvia has decreased while the number of unemployed Latvians has increased. Russians are more active in such spheres as marketing while state sector and international companies employ more Latvians than Russians. Telegraf