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

• Defenders of Russian-language schools plan to appeal to the EU member states governments
• Parliamentarian discussions of the European Parliament (EP) election law
• Students of the Riga Zolitude secondary school are forbidden to participate at the protest actions against the education reform
• EP Draft resolution condemns totalitarian communist regimes

During their congress in February or March defenders of Russian-language schools are planning to adopt an appeal to the EU member states’ governments and international organizations, asking to condemn the assimilating policy of the Latvian government in the area of minority education. Meanwhile, MP Vladimir Buzajev (FHRUL) informed that the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-Language Schools is planning to organize the action “Empty Schools” on May 1, 2004, calling on minority students to boycott all lessons which are taught in Latvian.

During their congress in February or March defenders of Russian-language schools are planning to adopt an appeal to the EU member states governments and international organizations, asking to condemn the assimilating policy of the Latvian government in the area of minority education. Meanwhile, MP Vladimir Buzajev (FHRUL) informed that the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-Language Schools is planning to organize the action Empty Schools on May 1, 2004, calling on minority students to boycott all lessons which are taught in Latvian. Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vechernaya Riga, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

Discussion of the planned review of the European Parliament (EP) election law continues, highlighting the divided attitude within the governing coalition to the prohibition to stand for the EP elections for ex-officials of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia and those individuals who were members of the Communist Party and related organizations after January 13, 1991. The decision depends on the vote of New Era MPs, who disagree on the issue.

Discussion of the planned review of the European Parliament (EP) election law continues, highlighting the divided attitude within the governing coalition to the prohibition to stand for the EP elections for ex-officials of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia and those individuals who were members of the Communist Party and related organizations after January 13, 1991. The decision depends on the vote of New Era MPs, who disagree on the issue. Latvijas Avize prints an article by the head of the New Era parliamentary group Krisjanis Karins about the matter. The newspaper publishes interview with the Head of the EPs Information Bureau in Latvia Philippe Kamaris. According to Mr Kamaris during the drafting of the EP election law the introduction of the prohibition is a matter of national legislation, but once the law is adopted it will be the competence of the European Commission to examine the observation of EU standards in the national legislation. Telegraf, Latvijas Avize

Vechernaya Riga writes about the prohibition for the students of the Riga Zolitude secondary school to participate in protest actions against the 2004 education. The school director Svetlana Slivenko holds that the children should not participate in the political games of the adults. The director says that non-attendance of school with the goal to participate in actions against the education reform will be considered unjustified absences.

The European Parliament (EP) European People’s Party and European Democrats parliamentary groups are preparing a resolution condemning totalitarian communism regimes. If the resolution is adopted, EP will recognize the equality of all victims of totalitarian regimes. The resolution will also require the establishment of a European research and documentation centre and the introduction of a special commemoration day for the victims of the totalitarian communist regimes.

The European Parliament (EP) European Peoples Party and European Democrats parliamentary groups are preparing a resolution condemning totalitarian communism regimes. If the resolution is adopted, EP will recognize the equality of all victims of totalitarian regimes. The resolution will also require the establishment of a European research and documentation centre and the introduction of a special commemoration day for the victims of the totalitarian communist regimes. Diena, Latvijas Avize