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 devotes a page to a discussion about naturalisation and non-citizen issues in Latvia. Representatives of 7 leading parties are asked two questions Does Latvia benefit from such a great number of non-citizens? If not, what will your party do to foster non-citizens wish to naturalise? and the second question What changes will Latvias membership to the EU bring in respect to naturalisation?
FF/LNNK believes that citizenship should not be advertised - the acquisition of Latvian citizenship should be based on persons wish and beliefs. Regarding the consequences of Latvias membership to the EU, FF/LNNK MP Aida Predele says that it should foster integration in the country.
Maris Kalve, FHRUL, states that simpler requirements for the acquisition of Latvian citizenship should be introduced. About the impact of the EU membership on naturalisation, Maris Kalve states that after becoming an EU member, Latvia will have to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities without any reservations. He suggests providing the right to non-citizens to participate at municipal elections.
The Latvian Social Democrats MP Viola Lazo criticises the current ethno-policy which is not acceptable either by minorities or the core nation and says that now the only way out is to correct the admitted mistakes, first, define the term a national minority and determine obligations and rights of minorities in Latvian legislation, second, look for international sources of funding to ensure repatriation of those persons who want to go back to their native countries.
Ilmars Mezs, the New Era, believes that the vast number of non-citizens harms Latvias interests, however, mass or automatic naturalisation would be even worse. Ilmars Mezs notes that Latvias membership to the EU will not bring any changes in regard to naturalisation, however, it could foster non-citizens motivation to acquire Latvian citizenship.
Peoples Party MP Anta Rugate says that the vast number of non-citizens bring no good for any country, however, Latvia is in a special situation. According to Anta Rugate, decision to become a Latvian citizen should be taken individually. She stresses that education is the most essential way to motivate non-citizens to naturalise.
Election candidate from Latvias Way, head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane agrees that the great number of non-citizens brings harm to Latvia and believes that all activities launched by the Naturalisation Board – iformation campaigns, Latvian language courses, etc. – should be continued. Eizenija Aldermane is convinced that Latvias membership to the EU will increase the tempo of naturalisation.
Ruta Bendere, the Union of the Green Party and the FarmersUnion, says that the Union will continue integration of Latvian society.

Panorama Latvii

interviews FHRUL MP Boris Tsilevich. When asked what consequences Latvias membership to the EU will have on national minorities residing in Latvia, Boris Tsilevich states that the EU is an organisation formed to facilitate free trade and nothing more. However, he notes that the EU adopted the Race Directive in 2000, which implementation could cause difficulties for Latvia. Boris Tsilevitch believes that national minorities should benefit from periods when Latvia is trying to become a member of international organisations and is forced to adopt norms, which are in compliance with international standards. He suggests national minorities to formulate clearly their goals, namely, review of the education reform in 2004 and the ratification of the Framework Convention, to able to achieve results in these spheres. interviews FHRUL MP Boris Tsilevich. When asked what consequences Latvia’s membership to the EU will have on national minorities residing in Latvia, Boris Tsilevich states that the EU is an organisation formed to facilitate free trade and nothing more. However, he notes that the EU adopted the Race Directive in 2000, which implementation could cause difficulties for Latvia. Boris Tsilevitch believes that national minorities should benefit from periods when Latvia is trying to become a member of international organisations and is forced to adopt norms, which are in compliance with international standards. He suggests national minorities to formulate clearly their goals, namely, review of the education reform in 2004 and the ratification of the Framework Convention, to able to achieve results in these spheres.

Chas

writes about the failure of the proposal of FHRUL to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. According to the newspaper, the key reason why ruling parties do not want to ratify the Convention is that in the result of the ratification a number of laws, such as the Language Law, should be amended and softened. The newspaper stresses that FF/LNNK and Latvias Way MP Edvins Inkens who is the head of the Saeima Committee on European Affairs were against the ratification. writes about the failure of the proposal of FHRUL to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. According to the newspaper, the key reason why ruling parties do not want to ratify the Convention is that in the result of the ratification a number of laws, such as the Language Law, should be amended and softened. The newspaper stresses that FF/LNNK and Latvia’s Way MP Edvins Inkens who is the head of the Saeima Committee on European Affairs were against the ratification. Vesti SegodnyaVesti Segodnya Latvia’s Way MP Kristiana Libane in her interview for

Latvias Way MP Kristiana Libane in her interview for Jauna Avize states that the state should fund campaigns, which promote and popularise the usage of the Latvian language among non-Latvians.

Vechernaya Riga

interviews FHRUL MP Yuriy Sokolovskiy. He is the head of the youth club of the Russian Society in Latvia. Yuriy Sokolovskiy argues against the conclusions of a study Occupational Representation and Ethnic Discrimination in Latvia by political scientist Artis Pabriks and states that in Latvia there is discrimination on ethnic grounds. The key task of his club is to provide support to talented Russian young people to get jobs in state and administrative institutions. interviews FHRUL MP Yuriy Sokolovskiy. He is the head of the youth club of the Russian Society in Latvia. Yuriy Sokolovskiy argues against the conclusions of a study “Occupational Representation and Ethnic Discrimination in Latvia” by political scientist Artis Pabriks and states that in Latvia there is discrimination on ethnic grounds. The key task of his club is to provide support to talented Russian young people to get jobs in state and administrative institutions.

Neatkariga

publishes a report based on the materials provided by the Ministry of Education and Science about the implementation of the switch of minority schools to instruction in Latvian in 2004. publishes a report based on the materials provided by the Ministry of Education and Science about the implementation of the switch of minority schools to instruction in Latvian in 2004. Distributors of programmes of the Russian Public Television in Latvia the company “Tem TV” is planning to launch a new satellite TV channel “First Baltic Channel” which will air programmes of the Russian Public Television and programmes produced by the company “Tem TV” as well. The majority of programmes will be in the Russian language.

Distributors of programmes of the Russian Public Television in Latvia the company Tem TV is planning to launch a new satellite TV channel First Baltic Channel which will air programmes of the Russian Public Television and programmes produced by the company Tem TV as well. The majority of programmes will be in the Russian language. Vesti Segodnya