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.

• Police arrested vandals of the Pokrovs Orthodox cemetery
• The EU-Russia Summit will be held tomorrow in Rome
• Discussion on the recall of Marjan Bekasov from the European Parliament
• Lauku Avize criticizes Nils Muiznieks statements on naturalization promotion
• The Advisory Council for Minority Education Affairs has not approved the proposals of the Latvian Associations for the Support for Russian Schools
• Members of the Peoples party and the Union of Greens and Farmers meet with Russian students visiting the Council of Europe
• EducationState Inspection: the absence of Russian studentsfrom school during their visit to Strasbourg and Moscow has been justified
• Newspapers aboutthe seminar Latvia – Russia: new cooperation prospects
• Olgerts Tipans will join the New Era party

Riga Central Police Department has arrested two young persons suspected in breaking of more than 50 crosses at the Pokrov’s Orthodox cemetery on the Halloween night. Two young men have been under the alcohol influence when they went home through the cemetery and committed the crime.

Riga Central Police Department has arrested two young persons suspected in breaking of more than 50 crosses at the Pokrovs Orthodox cemetery on the Halloween night. Two young men have been under the alcohol influence when they went home through the cemetery and committed the crime. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Lauku Avize, Rigas Balss, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Chas, Vechernaya Riga

At the EU-Russia Summit on 6 November in Rome, the EU President Romano Prodi and other EU leaders will meet with the President of Russia Vladimir Putin. The European Commission is planning to ask Russia to extend the EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement to the acceding EU member states, and to sign the border agreements with Latvia and Estonia. The perspective of a visa-free regime between the EU and Russia will also be addressed.

At the EU-Russia Summit on 6 November in Rome, the EU President Romano Prodi and other EU leaders will meet with the President of Russia Vladimir Putin. The European Commission is planning to ask Russia to extend the EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement to the acceding EU member states, and to sign the border agreements with Latvia and Estonia. The perspective of a visa-free regime between the EU and Russia will also be addressed. Vesti Segodnya refers to the official information from the Presidents Administration that Vladimir Putin is planning to discuss the issue of Russian Diaspora in Estonia and Latvia with the EU leaders. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize.

According to

According to Lauku Avize, the European Parliament (EP) will possibly examine the legitimacy of the recall of Martjan Bekasov (the Latvian Socialist party) from the status of an observer to the EP during the session next Wednesday. The EPs regulations on the status of the observers from the candidate states stipulate that the change of an observer can take place under the following circumstances: observers death, resignation, expiration of his mandate, and dismissal from the National Parliament. The EP President Pat Cox has not responded to the recall of Bekasov yet. The speaker of the Saeima Ingrida Udre has sent a letter to the EP explaining the reasons of the Saeima decision to recall Bekasov. According to Vesty Segodnya, Bekasovs recall will be already discussed at the todays session of the EP, and left-wing politicians of the EP have met with Pat Cox pointing to the Saeimas anti-democratic recall of Bekasov without preliminary informing the EP of this decision.

Lauku Avize criticizes the views of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks, which he has recently expressed in an interview to the Russian media agency ITAR-TASS. The Minister has said that the switch to professional army will increase motivation to apply for Latvian citizenship among young non-citizens, who will take citizenship without being afraid to be called to military service. He has also emphasized the activities of the government for promoting Latvian citizenship. The columnist disagrees with the minister that the state should invite non-citizens to apply for the Latvian citizenship, or should ease naturalization conditions.

Yesterday the Advisory Council for Minority Education Affairs at the Ministry on Education and Science has not approved the proposals of the Latvian Association’s for the Support for Russian Schools (LASRS). The Chairman of the Board of LASRS Igor Pimenov said that the Council has denied some proposals and refused to examine others.

Yesterday the Advisory Council for Minority Education Affairs at the Ministry on Education and Science has not approved the proposals of the Latvian Associations for the Support for Russian Schools (LASRS). The Chairman of the Board of LASRS Igor Pimenov said that the Council has denied some proposals and refused to examine others. Chas

The members of a youth organization of the People’s party and MPs from the Union of Greens and Farmers have met with the activists from the youth organization “Strasbourg” to discuss education reform. The Russian students from “Strasbourg” have visited the Council of Europe last September. The politicians are planning to meet with Russian school teachers next week.

The members of a youth organization of the Peoples party and MPs from the Union of Greens and Farmers have met with the activists from the youth organization Strasbourg to discuss education reform. The Russian students from Strasbourg have visited the Council of Europe last September. The politicians are planning to meet with Russian school teachers next week. Vesty Segodnya

The Education State Inspection has concluded that explanatory notes of parents justify the absence of Russian studentsfrom school during their visit to Strasbourg and Moscow.

The Education State Inspection has concluded that explanatory notes of parents justify the absence of Russian studentsfrom school during their visit to Strasbourg and Moscow. Telegraf

Lauku Avize and Vesty Segodnya report on the seminar Latvia – Russia: new cooperation prospects which has taken place in Moscow last Saturday. Lauku Avize concludes that the experts believe that after Latvias accession to the EU the dialog between two countries will improve, or at least will be taken to a new quality level. At the same time, Russia is likely to continue pressure on Latvia and the EU. Vesty Segodnya points to the importance of continuing the discussion.

Olgerts Tipans, the former advisor to the President of Latvia on nationality issues, has left his post at the President’s Chancery and is planning to join the New Era party.

Olgerts Tipans, the former advisor to the President of Latvia on nationality issues, has left his post at the Presidents Chancery and is planning to join the New Era party. Lauku Avize