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

• Vechernaya Riga
looks into ineffective Latvian laws
• Interview with the President of the Parex Bank Valery Kargin
• Minority school graduates not very active in using their results of the centralised Latvian language examination when naturalising
• Interview with minority language expert Fernande de Varennes

Vechernaya Riga

features an article about those Latvian laws, which turned out to be ineffective and actually are not needed and do not work in the situation of Latvia. One of such laws is the regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers on issuing financial compensations to persons who leave for their ethnic homelands. The regulations stipulated that a person who returns to his/her ethnic homeland receives a compensation in the amount of LVL 2000 (USD 3521), but s/he has to leave her apartment in the possession of the state. However, the prices in the market are much higher for apartments. The author of the article concludes that actually majority of Latvian laws have a good quality, however, there are problems with their implementation. The author notes that state language inspectors should be treated as an example what concerns conducting control over the implementation of law. features an article about those Latvian laws, which turned out to be ineffective and actually are not needed and do not work in the situation of Latvia. One of such laws is the regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers on issuing financial compensations to persons who leave for their ethnic homelands. The regulations stipulated that a person who returns to his/her ethnic homeland receives a compensation in the amount of LVL 2000 (USD 3521), but s/he has to leave her apartment in the possession of the state. However, the prices in the market are much higher for apartments. The author of the article concludes that actually majority of Latvian laws have a good quality, however, there are problems with their implementation. The author notes that state language inspectors should be treated as an example what concerns conducting control over the implementation of law.

Chas

re-prints an interview with the President of the Parex Bank Valery Kargin given for the ITAR-TASS. According to the magazine Business Week Valery Kargin is the richest person in Latvia. He states that Latvia is a two-community country where two communities – Latvians and Russians – are living together peacefully in two separate environments and that it will not be possible to change the situation with forcible methods. He admits that on the whole the government acts in compliance with European standards under the close supervision of the European Commission. Regarding education issues, Kargin believes that it would be the best that all minorities could study in their native languages. He says that nationalism in the business sphere of Latvia does not work and attempts to establish Latvian or Russian businesses have failed. re-prints an interview with the President of the Parex Bank Valery Kargin given for the ITAR-TASS. According to the magazine “Business Week” Valery Kargin is the richest person in Latvia. He states that Latvia is a two-community country where two communities – Latvians and Russians – are living together peacefully in two separate environments and that it will not be possible to change the situation with forcible methods. He admits that on the whole the government acts in compliance with European standards under the close supervision of the European Commission. Regarding education issues, Kargin believes that it would be the best that all minorities could study in their native languages. He says that nationalism in the business sphere of Latvia does not work and attempts to establish Latvian or Russian businesses have failed.

Chas

reports that since last year secondary school graduates who are non-Latvians are given a possibility to present their results of the centralised examination in the Latvian language instead of taking the Latvian language test when applying for the Latvian citizenship through naturalisation. According to the data of the Naturalisation Board last year only 91 out of 7501 (it should be admitted that not all of 7501 are non-citizens) graduates took this opportunity. The Naturalisation Board believes that the small number of applicants is explained by the lack of information. reports that since last year secondary school graduates who are non-Latvians are given a possibility to present their results of the centralised examination in the Latvian language instead of taking the Latvian language test when applying for the Latvian citizenship through naturalisation. According to the data of the Naturalisation Board last year only 91 out of 7501 (it should be admitted that not all of 7501 are non-citizens) graduates took this opportunity. The Naturalisation Board believes that the small number of applicants is explained by the lack of information.

Vesti Segodnya

interviews Dr.jur. Fernande de Verannes about language rights of minorities. He agrees that the European Union increases the level of minority protection, while Latvia decreases. He believes that children should study in their native languages and foreign languages should study as individual subjects. However, he agrees that the Latvian and Estonian languages are under threat. interviews Dr.jur. Fernande de Verannes about language rights of minorities. He agrees that the European Union increases the level of minority protection, while Latvia decreases. He believes that children should study in their native languages and foreign languages should study as individual subjects. However, he agrees that the Latvian and Estonian languages are under threat.