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

• EU allots EUR 2 million for integration and civil society development projects
• Russia presents 55,000 books to schools in Latvia
• Vechernaya Riga
interviews PHP MP Boris Tsilevich
• Headquarter of organisers of protest activities against the education reform dissatisfied with the attitude of officials

For the first time the EU has allotted such a big amount for the implementation of projects aimed at ethnic and social integration and development of civil society. The allotted amount is EUR 2 million. The Integration Foundation is in the charge of administration of money and has already announced the tender of projects.

For the first time the EU has allotted such a big amount for the implementation of projects aimed at ethnic and social integration and development of civil society. The allotted amount is EUR 2 million. The Integration Foundation is in the charge of administration of money and has already announced the tender of projects. Diena, Neatkariga, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Russia has presented 55,000 books to schools in Latvia. The head of the Association for the Support for Russian Schools in Latvia Igor Pimenov is particularly delighted that 1/10 of schools which requested these books are Latvian schools. Vechernaya Riga, Chas, Telegraf

Vechernaya Riga

features an interview with Peoples Harmony Party Boris Tsilevich about the education reform of minority schools in Latvia. The newspaper starts the article with conclusion that many people are disappointed with the policies of European organisations. He explains the key tasks of some organisations, such as the EU, the Council of Europe and the OSCE. The newspaper notes that the OSCE Mission to Latvia was closed just before the conflict regarding the education reform started to develop, however, Boris Tsilevich believes that some, albeit small, progress has been made regarding the education reform and that people should not expect miracles from Europe. He believes that negotiations containing compromises could be a solution in this situation.

Vechernaya Riga, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

and Telegraf print the statement released by the Headquarter of organisers of protest activities against the education reform. It states that a number of protest activities and 82,000 signatures collected against the education reform clearly show the attitude of Russian-speaking population towards the reform. It expresses dissatisfaction with the attitude of officials, in particular, the Education Minister Karlis Sadurskis, towards building a dialogue with the Headquarter.