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

Yesterday political forces involved in forming the government agreed on allocation of three Cabinet posts that were expected to cause the greatest struggle. Today parties will have to agree on Cabinet posts for which no nominees have been selected yet, and allocate the posts of welfare, justice and culture ministers. According to the leader of the New Era Einars Repse, each of the three largest parties will have to assume one post. The New Era agreed that the Union of Greens and Farmers will assume responsibility for the Ministry of Agriculture (their candidacy - Martins Roze), whereas the Latvian First Party will be responsible for the Ministry of Economy (their candidacy – Ainars Slesers) and FF/LNNK - the Ministry of Transport (Guntars Krasts or Roberts Zile). Valdis Dombrovskis (the New Era) has been nominated for the post of Finance Minister.

Yesterday political forces involved in forming the government agreed on allocation of three Cabinet posts that were expected to cause the greatest struggle. Today parties will have to agree on Cabinet posts for which no nominees have been selected yet, and allocate the posts of welfare, justice and culture ministers. According to the leader of the New Era Einars Repse, each of the three largest parties will have to assume one post. The New Era agreed that the Union of Greens and Farmers will assume responsibility for the Ministry of Agriculture (their candidacy - Martins Roze), whereas the Latvian First Party will be responsible for the Ministry of Economy (their candidacy – Ainars Slesers) and FF/LNNK - the Ministry of Transport (Guntars Krasts or Roberts Zile). Valdis Dombrovskis (the New Era) has been nominated for the post of Finance Minister.

The Latvian First Party announced its second candidacy for the post of Societal Integration Minister – the former Latvian ambassador to Russia Janis Peters.

The Latvian First Party announced its second candidacy for the post of Societal Integration Minister – the former Latvian ambassador to Russia Janis Peters. Diena, Neatkariga, Lauku Avize, Rigas Balss, Vechernaya Riga, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Panorama Latvii

The candidacy of the New Era for the post of the Minister of Societal Integration Ina Druviete comments on statements of George Soros, who said that Latvia should foster bilingual education and the usage of the Russian language. Ina Druviete believes that the reason for such statements is that George Soros received only one-sided information. According to Ina Druviete, one of the key tasks of the to-be-established Ministry of Integration will be providing information about the key national concepts regarding integration to Latvian society and foreign countries. Concerning language issues, Ina Druviete states that the status of the Latvian language as a communication language in the family and culture is secured. However, she is concerned that the usage of the Latvian language is decreasing in the business sphere and that Latvian is still not the main communication language in society. The candidacy of the Latvian First Party for the post of the Minister of Societal Integration Aleksandrs Brandavs says that the response of the press and officials to these statements was overly sensitive. He states that if somebody had such an impression it means that the problem exists.

The candidacy of the New Era for the post of the Minister of Societal Integration Ina Druviete comments on statements of George Soros, who said that Latvia should foster bilingual education and the usage of the Russian language. Ina Druviete believes that the reason for such statements is that George Soros received only one-sided information. According to Ina Druviete, one of the key tasks of the to-be-established Ministry of Integration will be providing information about the key national concepts regarding integration to Latvian society and foreign countries. Concerning language issues, Ina Druviete states that the status of the Latvian language as a communication language in the family and culture is secured. However, she is concerned that the usage of the Latvian language is decreasing in the business sphere and that Latvian is still not the main communication language in society. The candidacy of the Latvian First Party for the post of the Minister of Societal Integration Aleksandrs Brandavs says that the response of the press and officials to these statements was overly sensitive. He states that if somebody had such an impression it means that the problem exists. Lauku Avize

Lauku Avize

interviews journalist from the Russian Federation Otto Lacis about relations between Latvians and Russians. He believes that the education reform of 2004 is violent and hasty assimilation. He states that Russia could exert pressure on Latvia when the year of 2004 comes closer, but it will do it for its own benefit and not for the sake of Russians residing in Latvia. However, Otto Lacis believes that in the future relations between Latvia and Russia will improve. interviews journalist from the Russian Federation Otto Lacis about relations between Latvians and Russians. He believes that the education reform of 2004 is violent and hasty assimilation. He states that Russia could exert pressure on Latvia when the year of 2004 comes closer, but it will do it for its own benefit and not for the sake of Russians residing in Latvia. However, Otto Lacis believes that in the future relations between Latvia and Russia will improve.

Chas

columnist Leonid Fedoseyev compares the Saeima elections in Latvia to the municipal elections in Estonia. He stresses that in Estonia non-citizens have the right to participate in municipal elections. The columnist notes that in Estonia during the pre-election campaign none of the parties was stamped with the image of an enemy as it was with FHRUL in Latvia. columnist Leonid Fedoseyev compares the Saeima elections in Latvia to the municipal elections in Estonia. He stresses that in Estonia non-citizens have the right to participate in municipal elections. The columnist notes that in Estonia during the pre-election campaign none of the parties was stamped with the image of an enemy as it was with FHRUL in Latvia.

Chas

talks to head of the newly formed Roma NGO Ame Roma Vanda Zamicka. She states that the top priorities of her NGO are education, social welfare, employment and humanitarian aid. Vanda Zamicka says that unfortunately foreign countries are more interested in solving Roma problems in Latvia than Latvian authorities. talks to head of the newly formed Roma NGO “Ame Roma” Vanda Zamicka. She states that the top priorities of her NGO are education, social welfare, employment and humanitarian aid. Vanda Zamicka says that unfortunately foreign countries are more interested in solving Roma problems in Latvia than Latvian authorities.

Panorama Latvii

reports on the annual meeting of the Association of Ukrainians in Latvia. Participants of the meeting stressed that nowadays Ukrainian NGOs have to deal not only with cultural and socio-economic but also with political issues. One of the speakers called on all Ukrainians to naturalise and resultantly exercise their voting rights. reports on the annual meeting of the Association of Ukrainians in Latvia. Participants of the meeting stressed that nowadays Ukrainian NGOs have to deal not only with cultural and socio-economic but also with political issues. One of the speakers called on all Ukrainians to naturalise and resultantly exercise their voting rights.