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

• Saeima Legal Affairs Committee recommends to exclude the restrictions on standing for the European Parliament elections
• Proposed amendments to the Law on Education reduce proportion of minority language in secondary schools
• Minister of Education and Science Karlis Sadurskis on obstacles to the 2004 education reform
• European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defense Policy discusses the draft report about the preparedness of Latvia to join the European Union
• EP report includes call on Russia to ratify the boarder agreements with Latvia and Estonia

The Saeima Legal Affairs Committee has recommended to exclude the prohibition to stand for the European Parliament 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 in the election law. According to the Head of the Committee Solvita Aboltina, after Latvia’s accession to the EU and NATO the candidacy of these persons for the EP elections can not be considered a security risk for Latvia as a democratic state.

The Saeima Legal Affairs Committee has recommended to exclude the prohibition to stand for the European Parliament electionsfor 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 in the election law. According to the Head of the Committee Solvita Aboltina, after Latvias accession to the EU and NATO the candidacy of these persons for the EP elections can not be considered a security risk for Latvia as a democratic state. Diena, Rigas Balss, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Vechernaya Riga, Chas, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

Today the amendments to the Law on Education, stipulating that all instruction in minority secondary schools from grade 10 must be in the Latvian language, with the exception of minority languages as subjects in themselves and those subjects which relate to the maintenance of minority identity will be reviewed by the Saeima. Russian-language newspapers point out that most of the Saeima MPs are positive towards these amendments and predict a parliamentary majority supporting the amendments. Although this would entail a breech of the promise given by the government that secondary school minority education would allow for 40% of classes to be taught in the minority language, the Minister of Education’s party New Era parliamentary faction has supported the new amendments proposed by the parliamentary committee on education. MP and observer of Latvia to the European Parliament (EP) Boris Tsilevich reportedly informed

Today the amendments to the Law on Education, stipulating that all instruction in minority secondary schools from grade 10 must be in the Latvian language, with the exception of minority languages as subjects in themselves and those subjects which relate to the maintenance of minority identity will be reviewed by the Saeima. Russian-language newspapers point out that most of the Saeima MPs are positive towards these amendments and predict a parliamentary majority supporting the amendments. Although this would entail a breech of the promise given by the government that secondary school minority education would allow for 40% of classes to be taught in the minority language, the Minister of Educations party New Era parliamentary faction has supported the new amendments proposed by the parliamentary committee on education. MP and observer of Latvia to the European Parliament (EP) Boris Tsilevich reportedly informed Vesti Segodnya that he hasprepared a letter calling on the officials of the EP to put pressure on the Saeima in order to ensure the safeguarding of the interests of minority students. Diena, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Latvijas Avize prints an article by the Minister of Education and Science Karlis Sadurskis about obstacles to the successful implementation of the 2004 education reform. The Minister points to the necessity of dialogue between the supporters and opponents of education reform in a unified information space and stresses that the actual situation shows that opponents to the reform use a different information space than supporters. Karlis Sadurskis also believes that positive discussion outcome is possible only after depoliticizing the issue.

Newspapers report on the discussion in the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defense Policy about the draft report prepared by the European Parliament deputy Elisabeth Schrodter about the preparedness of Latvia to join the European Union. The Head of the EP Committee Elmar Brok, reports

Newspapers report on the discussion in the European Parliaments Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defense Policy about the draft report prepared by the European Parliament deputy Elisabeth Schrodter about the preparedness of Latvia to join the European Union. The Head of the EP Committee Elmar Brok, reports Diena, has stressed that new member states should not have higher demands put on them than EU member states themselves are fulfilling. Telegraf reports that Ambassador of Latvia to the European Union Andris Kesteris admits that the problems pointed out by Elisabeth Schrodter really do exist but there is a question about the formulation and wording used in the report. Diena, Latvijas Avize

European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defense Policy, in a report about the relationship between Russia and the EU, calls on Russia to ratify the boarder agreements with Latvia and Estonia immediately.

European Parliaments Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defense Policy, in a report about the relationship between Russia and the EU, calls on Russia to ratify the boarder agreements with Latvia and Estonia immediately. Diena