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 Studies

• The lawyers of Slivenko hope to return to the family the permanent residents of Latvia status, and the apartment
• The delegation of Latvian officials will report to the UN Human Rights Committee
• The Secretariat of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration is working on a draft National Programme against intolerance and discrimination
• Gunter Verheugen answers Vladimir Buzaev
• Ventspils mayor Aivars Lembergs on education reform
• Quality of NGOs projects supported by the Society Integration Foundation
• An article of Vjacheslav Altuhov, the president of the Russian Community in Latvia

The lawyers of Tatjana Slivenko are preparing a petition to the Latvian government. They believe that Latvia should return both status of permanent residents of Latvia and the apartment to the Slivenko family. According to the advocate Aleksandr Asnis, if Latvia does not satisfy these claims, a petition will be submitted to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

The lawyers of Tatjana Slivenko are preparing a petition to the Latvian government. They believe that Latvia should return both status of permanent residents of Latvia and the apartment to the Slivenko family. According to the advocate Aleksandr Asnis, if Latvia does not satisfy these claims, a petition will be submitted to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Vechernaya Riga

On 28 and 29 October, the delegation of Latvian officials is planning to present a report on the implementation of the International Pact on Civic and Political Rights since 1995 to the UN Human Rights Committee. The report has been prepared by ministries’ representatives, and commented by the National Human Rights Office and the Human Rights Institute of the University of Latvia. The Special Task Minister for Societal Integration will head the delegation. The working group presumes that an alternative report can be presented at the Committee’s session.

On 28 and 29 October, the delegation of Latvian officials is planning to present a report on the implementation of the International Pact on Civic and Political Rights since 1995 to the UN Human Rights Committee. The report has been prepared by ministries representatives, and commented by the National Human Rights Office and the Human Rights Institute of the University of Latvia. The Special Task Minister for Societal Integration will head the delegation. The working group presumes that an alternative report can be presented at the Committees session. Lauku Avize, Chas

Yesterday the first meeting of the working group on intolerance and xenophobia was held at the Secretariat of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration. The Secretariat is planning to submit a draft National Programme against intolerance and discrimination to the government next week. The minister Nils Muiznieks believes that the problem of intolerance is not so acute in Latvia comparing with the other European states. However, there are cases of russofobia, Russian chauvinism, anti-Semitism, and racism. The minister is also concerned with intolerant attitude towards Roma in the society and foresees an increase of intolerance cases regarding black people after Latvia’s accession to the EU and NATO. Replying to

Yesterday the first meeting of the working group on intolerance and xenophobia was held at the Secretariat of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration. The Secretariat is planning to submit a draft National Programme against intolerance and discrimination to the government next week. The minister Nils Muiznieks believes that the problem of intolerance is not so acute in Latvia comparing with the other European states. However, there are cases of russofobia, Russian chauvinism, anti-Semitism, and racism. The minister is also concerned with intolerant attitude towards Roma in the society and foresees an increase of intolerance cases regarding black people after Latvias accession to the EU and NATO. Replying to Chas, the minister said that he does not consider the large number of non-citizens as a result of the state xenophobic policy since non-citizens belong to different ethnic groups. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya features the response of Gunter Verheugen, the Commissioner for Enlargement of the European Commission, to Vladimir Buzajev, the MP from the FHRUL, who has asked the Commissioner to support the idea of not switching Russian schools to Latvian language of instruction. According to the Commissioner, Latvia has no intent to liquidate minority education system, and the state will continue funding of education in eight languages. He also referred to the Council of Europe, pointing that 60/40 proportion between languages of instruction conforms with the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

Chas interviews Ventspils mayor Aivars Lembergs about education reform. The mayor believes that the reform has had a negative impact on economic cooperation between Latvia and Russia. According to him, nationalistic radical parties in Latvia and in Russia are the main beneficiaries from the reform. Lembergs also believes that local governments will not be able to control reform implementation since it was poorly prepared by the state.

Diena reports on the NGO forum yesterday. The boards chairman of the Society Integration Foundation (SIF) Sols Bukingolts said that around 10% of the projects supported by SIF are not qualitative, and there is a lack of interesting project proposals. At the same time, he noted that the quality of the projects has improved for the last project tenders.

Vesti Segodnya prints an article by Vjacheslav Altuhov, the president of the Russian Community of Latvia and a member of the newly established association of minority NGOs Sadraudziba. Altuhov stresses the necessity for close cooperation between Russians, Belarussians and Ukrainians in Latvia in order to defend minority rights. He also points to the importance of the new associations cooperation with the state bodies, and denies any collaboration between Sadraudziba and other states.