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

Vesti Segodnya reports on the TV discussion “What’s Going On in Latvia?” about integration issues and plans to establish the Societal Integration Ministry. The newspaper stresses that participants in the discussion – linguist Ina Druviete, former Ambassador to Russia Janis Peters – could not clearly indicate the tasks and authority of the new minister, as well as the majority of viewers did not support the idea of forming this ministry. The newspaper believes that the new ministry will implement integration in accordance with the old mechanism: a part of society issues directives and another part has to implement them without any objections.

Vesti Segodnya reports on the TV discussion Whats Going On in Latvia? about integration issues and plans to establish the Societal Integration Ministry. The newspaper stresses that participants in the discussion – linguist Ina Druviete, former Ambassador to Russia Janis Peters – could not clearly indicate the tasks and authority of the new minister, as well as the majority of viewers did not support the idea of forming this ministry. The newspaper believes that the new ministry will implement integration in accordance with the old mechanism: a part of society issues directives and another part has to implement them without any objections.

Telegraf

reports that today the last information booth where people can obtain information about naturalisation possibilities will be organised in one of the districts of Riga. During 4 months 2175 people visited these information booths. For the time being there is no accurate information whether the campaign influenced the rate of naturalisation. According to the Naturalisation Board the number of people who want to naturalise is increasing. The newspaper stresses that it is mostly thanks to head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane who has showed non-citizens how important is to receive Latvian citizenship. However, it adds that the Latvian government has not given any money for the campaign. The campaign was funded with the financial support of foreign embassies. reports that today the last information booth where people can obtain information about naturalisation possibilities will be organised in one of the districts of Riga. During 4 months 2175 people visited these information booths. For the time being there is no accurate information whether the campaign influenced the rate of naturalisation. According to the Naturalisation Board the number of people who want to naturalise is increasing. The newspaper stresses that it is mostly thanks to head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane who has showed non-citizens how important is to receive Latvian citizenship. However, it adds that the Latvian government has not given any money for the campaign. The campaign was funded with the financial support of foreign embassies.

Telegraf

interviews FHRUL MP Boriss Tsilevich. He states that Latvias EU membership will not solve the non-citizen issue, though it could create the conditions for solving it. Tsilevich is convinced that the switch of minority secondary schools to instruction in Latvian will not take place in 2004 and the government will be sensible enough to consider the interests of students. Tsilevich believes that FHRUL can co-operate with any party except for FF/LNNK and that FHRUL should become one party in place of the current coalition of three parties. interviews FHRUL MP Boriss Tsilevich. He states that Latvia’s EU membership will not solve the non-citizen issue, though it could create the conditions for solving it. Tsilevich is convinced that the switch of minority secondary schools to instruction in Latvian will not take place in 2004 and the government will be sensible enough to consider the interests of students. Tsilevich believes that FHRUL can co-operate with any party except for FF/LNNK and that FHRUL should become one party in place of the current coalition of three parties.

Neatkarigas

columnist Viktors Avotins comments on the decision of the ruling coalition to ban Boris Tsilevich from speaking in the European Parliament. He states that the 7th Saeima was not able to develop a constructive national opposition to the stances of Tsilevich and FHRUL. He concludes that the 8th Saeima is not concerned about how to influence and overtake the electorate of FHRUL. columnist Viktors Avotins comments on the decision of the ruling coalition to ban Boris Tsilevich from speaking in the European Parliament. He states that the 7th Saeima was not able to develop a constructive national opposition to the stances of Tsilevich and FHRUL. He concludes that the 8th Saeima is not concerned about how to influence and overtake the electorate of FHRUL.