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.

• On-line discussion forum with Special Task Minister of the Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks
• Education Minister plans to meet with all directors of national minority schools
• Advisory Council approved the curriculum for minority schools
• 57,483 persons have acquired Latvian citizenship through naturalisation
• Latvian ambassador to the USA Aivis Ronis about Latvias path towards NATO membership
• Monitoring of the Roma situation will be launched in Latvia

Chas publishes excerpts from the on-line discussion forum with Special Task Minister of the Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks, which took place last Thursday. One of the first questions was why he agreed to accept the post of the minister. Muiznieks replied that he would never agree to accept the post if he were convinced that the post is just a decoration and no real activities could be implemented. He states that he has the support of the Latvian First Party, but is not clear about the whole government. According to Muiznieks, integration implies two aspects: co-operation and participation. He notes that one of the tasks of his ministry is to fight against forcible assimilation. Muiznieks provides three myths which Russians and Latvians have about each other and integration. Latvians believe that: 1) Latvia cannot go on with the current demographic situation in the country (so many Russians) 2) Russians do not want to integrate and learn Latvian; 3) Muiznieks will introduce two state languages, zero option citizenship and open the border to the East. In their turn Russians have myths that: 1) everything what was promised during the Awakening actually is the continuation of two language situation in the Soviet style and it will be implemented in the future; 2) Latvian is a VERY difficult language; 3) Muiznieks will introduce two state languages, zero option citizenship and open the border to the East.

Education Minister Karlis Sadurskis plans to meet with all directors of national minority schools to discuss the education reform in 2004.

Education Minister Karlis Sadurskis plans to meet with all directors of national minority schools to discuss the education reform in 2004. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Panorama Latvii

Telegraf reports that yesterday the Advisory Council approved the project elaborated by the working group formed at the Ministry of Education to develop a curriculum for minority schools. The project divides all subjects into three blocks: two groups of mandatory subjects and one group of optional subjects. The first group should be taught in Latvian, up to one third of classes belonging to the second group may be taught in a minority language and optional subjects may be taught in a minority language. Head of the Association of the Support for the Russian Language Schools in Latvia Igor Pimenov, who is also a member of the Advisory Council, voted against the project, reasoning that he does not see how according to the offered curriculum up to 40% of classes can be taught in a minority language.

Lauku Avize reports that through this year 57,483 persons have acquired Latvian citizenship through naturalisation.

Telegraf interviews Latvian ambassador to the USA Aivis Ronis about Latvias path towards NATO membership. When asked whether the key subject of ratification of Latvia NATO agreement will be corruption, Ambassador Ronis replies that in his view more disputable issues could be Latvias economical progress and societal integration.

Lauku Avize reports that Ilze Brands-Kehre has been appointed to the post of the director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies after its former director Nils Muiznieks was appointed to the post of the Special Task Minister of the Societal Integration. Ilze Brands-Kehre states that the top priorities of the centre will be societal integration issues. According to Brands-Kehre preparation for the education reform in 2004 will be very important task – such education models should be developed which decrease tension in society.

Panorama Latvii reports that leader of the recently established Roma NGO Ave Roma Vanda Zamicka has set two priority tasks in her work: changing the image of Roma prevailing in society and changing the attitude of Roma towards society as well. The NGO Ave Roma in co-operation with the European Roma Rights Centre will launch monitoring of the Roma situation in Latvia and, in co-operation with the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies, will conduct a study about the situation of Roma in Latvia.