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

• Discussion about amendments to the Law on Education, proposed by the Saeima Education and Science Committee
• Latvian and European Parliament MPs on the report about Latvias preparedness to join to the European Union
• About the granting of voting rights for non-citizens at municipal elections
• Russia engages in court proceeding against Latvia by Russian ex-militarys family at the European Court for Human Rights
• Latvias First Party about proposal to grant civil servants status to school directors
• Interview with the Chairperson of Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Inese Vaidere
• Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-LanguageSchools and the statements by the Minister of Education and Science

Newspapers discuss amendments to the Law on Education, proposed by the Saeima Education and Science Committee, which stipulate that all instruction in minority secondary schools from the grade 10 must be provided in Latvian language, with the exception of minority languages as subjects and those which are related to the maintenance of minority identity.  Opposition politician Jakov Pliner (FHRUL) regards this amendment as deviation from the previously planned legislation changes, replacing the foreseen 40% subjects to be taught in minority language with only 10%.

Newspapers discuss amendments to the Law on Education, proposed by the Saeima Education and Science Committee, which stipulate that all instruction in minority secondary schools from the grade 10 must be provided in Latvian language, with the exception of minority languages as subjects and those which are related to the maintenance of minority identity. Opposition politician Jakov Pliner (FHRUL) regards this amendment as deviation from the previously planned legislation changes, replacing the foreseen 40% subjects to be taught in minority language with only 10%. Vesti Segodnya features the statements of school directors about this proposal. Diena, Telegraf

Latvijas Avize features Latvian MPs and European Parliament MPs statements on the report of the European Parliament deputy from Germany Elisabeth Schroedter about the preparedness of Latvia to join the European Union. According to Rihards Piks, Latvian representative at the EU Convention, the biggest discontent was caused by the conclusions of Elisabeth Schroedter about the extent of corruption in Latvia and the education reform of 2004. Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with Elisabeth Schroedter.

Yesterday the Saeima rejected a proposal of the parliamentary faction FHRUL to grant voting rights for non-citizens at the municipal elections. Latvian observer to the European Parliament Boris Tsilevich believes that in the future pressure will increase from international institutions for the extension of non-citizens’ rights. According to the observer, the European Parliament has included a recommendation to grant  voting rights at the municipal elections and European Parliament elections for all EU permanent residents in the report “Immigration, integration and employment.”

Yesterday the Saeima rejected a proposal of the parliamentary faction FHRUL to grant voting rights for non-citizens at the municipal elections. Latvian observer to the European Parliament Boris Tsilevich believes that in the future pressure will increase from international institutions for the extension of non-citizens rights. According to the observer, the European Parliament has included a recommendation to grant voting rights at the municipal elections and European Parliament elections for all EU permanent residents in the report Immigration, integration and employment. Telegraf, Vechernaya Riga, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Russia has officially engaged in the court proceeding initiated by Russian ex-military Vikulov’s family against Latvia at the European Court for Human Rights (ECHR) about the violation of their human rights when expelled from Latvia. The Vikulov family members are citizens of Russia.

Russia has officially engaged in the court proceeding initiated by Russian ex-military Vikulovs family against Latvia at the European Court for Human Rights (ECHR) about the violation of their human rights when expelled from Latvia. The Vikulov family members are citizens of Russia. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Latvia’s First Party is planning to meet the Minister of Education and Science Karlis Sadurskis in order to discuss his proposal to grant civil servants’ status to schools directors from September 1, 2004. Latvia’s First Party, in comments by the head of the party’s parliamentary group Oskars Kastens, regards this proposal as premature.

Latvias First Party is planning to meet the Minister of Education and Science Karlis Sadurskis in order to discuss his proposal to grant civil servants status to schools directors from September 1, 2004. Latvias First Party, in comments by the head of the partys parliamentary group Oskars Kastens, regards this proposal as premature. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Telegraf features an interview with the Head of Saeimas Foreign Affairs Committee Inese Vaidere (Fatherland and Freedom/Latvian National Independence Movement) about the education reform and the proposal to confer civil servants status on school directors.

Diena publishes commentary of Centres for Public Policy PROVIDUS researcherIndra Dedze on the response of the Minister of Education and Science Karlis Sadurskis to the recent vandalism act at the Ministry of Education and Science, when the Minister has blamed the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools (LASHOR) for motivating minority representatives to join in destructive actions. The author believes that the Ministers statements deepen the gap between Latvians and Russians, and hinder the societal integration process. Russian-language newspapers print an official LASHOR response to the Ministers statements. Diena, Vesti Segodnya, Chas