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

Diena

launches a new series of articles in which professor Dr.iur. Ineta Ziemele analyses rulings of the European Court of Human Rights which concern Latvia. The first article is about the ruling of the ECHR on the case of Ingrida Podkolzina. launches a new series of articles in which professor Dr.iur. Ineta Ziemele analyses rulings of the European Court of Human Rights which concern Latvia. The first article is about the ruling of the ECHR on the case of Ingrida Podkolzina. Yesterday, on the commemoration day of the victims of the Soviet regime, several national bolsheviks organised a picket against NATO in front of the Cabinet of Ministers. People’s Party and FF/LNNK Riga Council factions ask for the resignation of the responsible person who issued the permit to the national bolsheviks.

Yesterday, on the commemoration day of the victims of the Soviet regime, several national bolsheviks organised a picket against NATO in front of the Cabinet of Ministers. Peoples Party and FF/LNNK Riga Council factions ask for the resignation of the responsible person who issued the permit to the national bolsheviks. Diena, Lauku Avize, Rigas Balss, Chas, Vesti Segodnja, Panorama Latvii, Telegraf

The Russian press – Chas, Vesti Segodnja – reports on another demonstration which took place yesterday organised by the Latvian nationalist youth groups “Klubs 415” and “All for Latvia!” These groups organised a march from the Freedom Monument to the embassy of the Russian Federation demanding the deoccupation of Latvia.

The Russian press – Chas, Vesti Segodnja – reports on another demonstration which took place yesterday organised by the Latvian nationalist youth groups Klubs 415 and All for Latvia! These groups organised a march from the Freedom Monument to the embassy of the Russian Federation demanding the deoccupation of Latvia.

Neatkarigas

columnist Viktors Avotins comments on the recent congress of FHRUL. He states that FHRUL has rather good chances in the 8th Saeima elections. However, the party probably will not get the planned number of the seats in the next Saeima (20) because it does not offer any new ideas and solutions to problems. columnist Viktors Avotins comments on the recent congress of FHRUL. He states that FHRUL has rather good chances in the 8th Saeima elections. However, the party probably will not get the planned number of the seats in the next Saeima (20) because it does not offer any new ideas and solutions to problems.

Lauku Avize

interviews ambassador of the United Kingdom Andrew Tesoriere. The ambassador states his key goals in Latvia are welfare, security, transparency and social cohesion. Ambassador Tesoriere says that the embassy of Great Britain understands that the goal of the Latvian government is to achieve integration and the embassy provides practical support for achieving this goal. The embassy supports different programmes and projects aimed at fostering naturalisation. interviews ambassador of the United Kingdom Andrew Tesoriere. The ambassador states his key goals in Latvia are welfare, security, transparency and social cohesion. Ambassador Tesoriere says that the embassy of Great Britain understands that the goal of the Latvian government is to achieve integration and the embassy provides practical support for achieving this goal. The embassy supports different programmes and projects aimed at fostering naturalisation. Chairperson of the Roma Association MP Normunds Rudevics comments on the intention of the Union of Zemgale’s Roma to shoot a documentary about the discrimination of Roma in Latvia. Normunds Rudevics states that in comparison to all other countries there is no discrimination against Roma in Latvia. He agrees that Roma have problems in Latvia. However, these problems are mainly of an economic character. He stresses that the Union of Zemgale’s Roma has been created very recently and is “a pre-election tool in the hands of the social democrats.”

Chairperson of the Roma Association MP Normunds Rudevics comments on the intention of the Union of Zemgales Roma to shoot a documentary about the discrimination of Roma in Latvia. Normunds Rudevics states that in comparison to all other countries there is no discrimination against Roma in Latvia. He agrees that Roma have problems in Latvia. However, these problems are mainly of an economic character. He stresses that the Union of Zemgales Roma has been created very recently and is a pre-election tool in the hands of the social democrats.

Lauku Avize

publishes an article which discusses the interpretation of the term a national minority in Latvia. Author of the article Vladimir Chepurov states that the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities does not provide a definition for the term, because every state has the right to choose which definition best suits the particular situation of the country. According to political scientist Artis Pabriks, the status of a national minority in Latvia should be granted only to Latvian citizens, while political scientist Nils Muiznieks believes that citizenship should not be a crucial factor - more important is a persons longstanding tie with the state and [sic!] state language skills. According to Muiznieks, Russians, Jews, Roma, Lithuanians, Estonians and Poles should be considered minorities in Latvia. FF/LNNK deputy Dzintars Rasnachs thinks that the term should cover only Russians and Jews, but considering the current situation, Roma and Livs as well. [ publishes an article which discusses the interpretation of the term “a national minority” in Latvia. Author of the article Vladimir Chepurov states that the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities does not provide a definition for the term, because every state has the right to choose which definition best suits the particular situation of the country. According to political scientist Artis Pabriks, the status of a national minority in Latvia should be granted only to Latvian citizens, while political scientist Nils Muiznieks believes that citizenship should not be a crucial factor - more important is a person’s longstanding tie with the state and [sic!] state language skills. According to Muiznieks, Russians, Jews, Roma, Lithuanians, Estonians and Poles should be considered minorities in Latvia. FF/LNNK deputy Dzintars Rasnachs thinks that the term should cover only Russians and Jews, but considering the current situation, Roma and Livs as well. [Lauku AvizeLauku Avize did not reflect Muiznieks views completely accurately – the primary criteria are numerical size (less than ˝ of the population), non-dominant position, long-standing ties to the state, cultural distinctiveness and a desire to maintain and develop that distinct identity. By this standard, there are probably few Belarussian and Ukrainian persons belonging to their respective national minorities in Latvia, as most are not culturally or linguistically distinctive from Russians.] did not reflect Muiznieks’ views completely accurately – the primary criteria are numerical size (less than ˝ of the population), non-dominant position, long-standing ties to the state, cultural distinctiveness and a desire to maintain and develop that distinct identity. By this standard, there are probably few Belarussian and Ukrainian persons belonging to their respective national minorities in Latvia, as most are not culturally or linguistically distinctive from Russians.]

Chas

columnist Leonid Fedoseyev writes about the future of the Russian school after 2004. He states that the Latvian authorities and officials are cheating people stating that the reform will be the reorganisation of the Russian schools, while the columnist believes that the reform implies a closure of the Russian schools. columnist Leonid Fedoseyev writes about the future of the Russian school after 2004. He states that the Latvian authorities and officials are cheating people stating that the reform will be the reorganisation of the Russian schools, while the columnist believes that the reform implies a closure of the Russian schools.

Panorama Latvii

publishes its weekly supplement Our Latvia. This issue is devoted to Georgians in Latvia. publishes its weekly supplement “Our Latvia.” This issue is devoted to Georgians in Latvia.

Panorama Latvii

reports about the roundtable discussion on the draft of the EU Accession Monitoring Program, which focussed on the Society Integration Foundation and took place yesterday. The newspaper calls on national minority NGOs to contact the author of the draft to give their contribution to the report. reports about the roundtable discussion on the draft of the EU Accession Monitoring Program, which focussed on the Society Integration Foundation and took place yesterday. The newspaper calls on national minority NGOs to contact the author of the draft to give their contribution to the report.