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

Vechernaya Riga

provides the information on the procedure and required documents for naturalisation of children in Latvia. provides the information on the procedure and required documents for naturalisation of children in Latvia.

Vesti Segodnya

looks at parties pre-election programmes, in particular, whether parties have included the issue concerning rights of national minorities in their programmes. Latvias Way included a promise to strengthen civil society and foster society integration, but does not indicate the means how to achieve this goal. The long programme of the Peoples Party says that the party will motivate representatives of national minorities to be actively involved in all spheres and affairs. looks at parties’ pre-election programmes, in particular, whether parties have included the issue concerning rights of national minorities in their programmes. Latvia’s Way included a promise to strengthen civil society and foster society integration, but does not indicate the means how to achieve this goal. The long programme of the People’s Party says that the party will “motivate representatives of national minorities to be actively involved in all spheres and affairs.” Vesti SegodnyaVesti Segodnya reminds that the Peoples Party headed the Ministry of Education when the education reform, which foresees the switch of minority secondary schools to Latvian in 2004, was elaborated and adopted. The newspaper reproaches the Peoples Party for not paying any attention to this issue. Regarding the New Era party, the newspaper writes that the party does not mention national minorities in its programme at all. reminds that the People’s Party headed the Ministry of Education when the education reform, which foresees the switch of minority secondary schools to Latvian in 2004, was elaborated and adopted. The newspaper reproaches the People’s Party for not paying any attention to this issue. Regarding the New Era party, the newspaper writes that the party does not mention national minorities in its programme at all. Vesti SegodnyaVesti Segodnya stresses that none of the parties except FHRUL states the need to ratify the Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities. stresses that none of the parties except FHRUL states the need to ratify the Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities.

Neatkariga

reports that there are two political parties running for the 8th Saeima which clearly demonstrates their ethnic principles in their names and ideologies – the Latvian Party and the Russian Party. The newspaper concludes that both parties fail to represent the majority of Latvians and Russians. reports that there are two political parties running for the 8th Saeima which clearly demonstrates their ethnic principles in their names and ideologies – the Latvian Party and the Russian Party. The newspaper concludes that both parties fail to represent the majority of Latvians and Russians.

Chas

interviews the first ambassador of the Russian Federation to Latvia Aleksandr Rannih. He says that he has a feeling that Latvia did not understand what he wanted to say while being as an Russian ambassador. He states that at these times, when he was an ambassador to Latvia, Russia was ready to start a dialogue with Latvia, however, Latvia was not ready for it. interviews the first ambassador of the Russian Federation to Latvia Aleksandr Rannih. He says that he has a feeling that Latvia did not understand what he wanted to say while being as an Russian ambassador. He states that at these times, when he was an ambassador to Latvia, Russia was ready to start a dialogue with Latvia, however, Latvia was not ready for it.