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

of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studiesof the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies

• Konstantin Zatulin: the governments in the Baltic States displace the Russian language
• Vesti Segodnya
about seminars organised by the Society Integration Foundation
• Oleg Shipcov about the education reform
• Opinions of non-citizens about Latvias EU membership
• Lauku Avize
comments on initiatives that invite Russian speakers to vote against Latvias EU membership
• Non-Latvian pensioners against Latvias NATO membership
• This year 3318 persons have received Latvian citizenship through naturalisation. Chas
• Social linguist Gatis Dilans features an article about assimilation
• Chas: only mass media may improve the dialogue between the two communities in Latvia
• Interview with the Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee, FF/LNNK MP Inese Vaidere
• Integration Minister comments on the article by Aleksey Dmitrov

Vesti Segodnya

presents the opinion of the Konstantin Zatulin, the director of the Institute of NVS, about the Russian language presented in the conference in Moscow. He believes that the governments in the Baltic States displace Russian language from state and business sphere; therefore the rights of Russian citizens living in these countries who doesnt speak the official language are restricted. Vladimir Buzaev, the member of the Saeimas Commission of Human Rights and Social Affairs agrees with this opinion saying that the Russian language in Latvia has the status of a foreign language regardless the fact that Russian is the most common language in Latvia. The Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane reminded that there is only one official language in Latvia and that the government has done a lot for those who want to learn Latvian. The Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks considers that the decrease of the usage of the Russian language is a normal process, however it will not disappear. presents the opinion of the Konstantin Zatulin, the director of the Institute of NVS, about the Russian language presented in the conference in Moscow. He believes that the governments in the Baltic States displace Russian language from state and business sphere; therefore the rights of Russian citizens living in these countries who doesn’t speak the official language are restricted. Vladimir Buzaev, the member of the Saeima’s Commission of Human Rights and Social Affairs agrees with this opinion saying that the Russian language in Latvia has the status of a foreign language regardless the fact that Russian is the most common language in Latvia. The Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane reminded that there is only one official language in Latvia and that the government has done a lot for those who want to learn Latvian. The Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks considers that the decrease of the usage of the Russian language is a normal process, however it will not disappear.

Vesti Segodnya

features an article about the seminars organised by the Society Integration Foundation on how to apply for the EU funding for projects. The Director of the Society Integration Foundation explained that project applications aimed at providing Latvian language courses for individuals will not be accepted by the Foundation. The NGO Prata Speks announced that the Society Integration Foundation is not interested to provide funding for Latvian language courses, therefore they intend to ask the assistance of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration. features an article about the seminars organised by the Society Integration Foundation on how to apply for the EU funding for projects. The Director of the Society Integration Foundation explained that project applications aimed at providing Latvian language courses for individuals will not be accepted by the Foundation. The NGO “Prata Speks” announced that the Society Integration Foundation is not interested to provide funding for Latvian language courses, therefore they intend to ask the assistance of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration.

Vesti Segodnya

features an article by Oleg Shipcov, professor, member of the Riga City Council about the education reform. features an article by Oleg Shipcov, professor, member of the Riga City Council about the education reform. The Baltic Institute of Social Sciences conducted a focus group research about the opinion of inhabitants regarding the Latvia’s EU membership. According to the research non-citizens believe that the government already has made the decision and is not interested in people’s opinion. Non -citizens think that after Latvia’s accession to the EU prices will increase, but salaries and pensions will reduce. There is a concern among non-citizens that Latvia will have to send troops to the military areas and that the number of immigrants will increase. Non-citizens in Daugavpils fear that Latvia could become the place of chemical wastage for Europe and that there will be military stations and armament. As for positive aspects non-citizens mention the possible development of information technologies and production (manufacturing). The director of the Institute Brigita Zepa states that citizens are more informed about the EU than non-citizens are.

The Baltic Institute of Social Sciences conducted a focus group research about the opinion of inhabitants regarding the Latvias EU membership. According to the research non-citizens believe that the government already has made the decision and is not interested in peoples opinion. Non -citizens think that after Latvias accession to the EU prices will increase, but salaries and pensions will reduce. There is a concern among non-citizens that Latvia will have to send troops to the military areas and that the number of immigrants will increase. Non-citizens in Daugavpils fear that Latvia could become the place of chemical wastage for Europe and that there will be military stations and armament. As for positive aspects non-citizens mention the possible development of information technologies and production (manufacturing). The director of the Institute Brigita Zepa states that citizens are more informed about the EU than non-citizens are. Neatkariga

Lauku Avize

comments that some organisations in Latvia purposely dispose Russian speakers to vote against Latvias EU membership. comments that some organisations in Latvia purposely dispose Russian speakers to vote against Latvia’s EU membership. According to the survey conducted by the company “Latvijas fakti” two thirds of Latvia’s inhabitants support Latvia’s NATO membership, greatest part of population that are against are non-Latvian pensioners in Riga and Daugavpils.

According to the survey conducted by the company Latvijas fakti two thirds of Latvias inhabitants support Latvias NATO membership, greatest part of population that are against are non-Latvian pensioners in Riga and Daugavpils. Lauku Avize

This year 3318 persons have received Latvian citizenship through naturalisation.

Chas Social linguist Gatis Dilans features an article about assimilation. Both – defenders of Russian rights and officials use this term in a negative sense. Gatis Dilans interprets the term in the same sense as Latvian officials – assimilation means Latvisation and it does not mean that a person loses his/her native language.

Social linguist Gatis Dilans features an article about assimilation. Both – defenders of Russian rights and officials use this term in a negative sense. Gatis Dilans interprets the term in the same sense as Latvian officials – assimilation means Latvisation and it does not mean that a person loses his/her native language. Chas

Chas

columnist Leonid Fedoseyev states that there is no dialogue between the Russian and Latvian communities in Latvia. Only the means of mass media and exert of all society on politicians can change the situation, as at the moment those politicians, for instance, FF/LNNK, are dealing with integration issues that are not interested to solve them. He calls on people to discuss integration issues in newspapers and other means of mass media. columnist Leonid Fedoseyev states that there is no dialogue between the Russian and Latvian communities in Latvia. Only the means of mass media and exert of all society on politicians can change the situation, as at the moment those politicians, for instance, FF/LNNK, are dealing with integration issues that are not interested to solve them. He calls on people to discuss integration issues in newspapers and other means of mass media.

Vechernaya Riga

interviews the Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee, FF/LNNK MP Inese Vaidere. She states that it is very important for her that the Latvian language is heard in Latvia, while cultures of another nationalities are preserved and that all minorities feel comfortable in Latvia. Regarding the status of non-citizens in the EU, Vaidere announces the stance of Latvia: non-citizens shall not receive more rights than Latvian citizens will. interviews the Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee, FF/LNNK MP Inese Vaidere. She states that it is very important for her that the Latvian language is heard in Latvia, while cultures of another nationalities are preserved and that all minorities feel comfortable in Latvia. Regarding the status of non-citizens in the EU, Vaidere announces the stance of Latvia: non-citizens shall not receive more rights than Latvian citizens will. The public policy portal

The public policy portal www.politika.lv prints comments of the Special Task Minister for Social Integration Affairs Nils Muiznieks on the article of Aleksey Dmitrov about the activity plan developed by the Integration Minister. Nils Muiznieks agrees that at the first impression the activity plan of the Secretariat may seem general, however, there are specific tasks which are not included in this plan, for instance, various co-operation projects with the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, work with minority youth and children.
The article in Latvian is available here.