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

• Recommendations of the First Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Alvaro Gil-Robles
• President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga calls to define more exactly several paragraphs of the Law on Education
• Russias State Council Committee organize the discussion about the possibilities to establish the sanctions against Latvia
• About the Latvian language courses offered by the National Program for Latvian Language Training
• Interview with the observer from Latvia to the European Parliament Martinjan Bekasov
• Opinions of minority students learning in Latvian language schools about the education reform 2004

Newspapers feature the recommendations of the Council of Europe First Commissioner for Human Rights Alvaro Gil-Robles in the area of observation of minority rights in Latvia. The Commissioner calls Latvia to consider the possibility to grant the voting rights for non-citizens at municipal elections, to facilitate the naturalization process and to improve the protection of minorities in Latvia.  Alvaro Gil-Robles also recommends to increase the financial support for the Latvian language trainings and to provide the maintenance of high level education quality during the implementation of education reform.

Newspapers feature the recommendations of the Council of Europe First Commissioner for Human Rights Alvaro Gil-Robles in the area of observation of minority rights in Latvia. The Commissioner calls Latvia to consider the possibility to grant the voting rights for non-citizens at municipal elections, to facilitate the naturalization process and to improve the protection of minorities in Latvia. Alvaro Gil-Robles also recommends to increase the financial support for the Latvian language trainings and to provide the maintenance of high level education quality during the implementation of education reform. Chas features an interview with the Commissioner. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya, Vechernaya Riga, Chas

Diena prints the statements of the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga about the necessity to define more exactly several paragraphs of the Law on Education. According to the President, it is necessary to clarify the institution, which determines the subjects to be taught in Latvian in minority schools. Several norms delegate this choice to the school itself, but others – to the Ministry of Education and Science. Vaira Vike-Freiberga also suggests amending the paragraph of the law, which stipulates that the state and local governments deliver financial support only for private schools providing education in the state language. According to the President, this paragraph discriminates private minority schools.

Russia’s State Council Committee on Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs and the Relations with the Compatriots is planning to organize the discussion about the possibilities to establish the sanctions against Latvia in order to respond to the latest amendments to the Law on Education. According to the chairman of the Committee Andrej Kokoshin, the suggestions of the participants of the discussion will be taken into account when elaborating two draft laws about the situation of Russian-speaking people in Latvia.

Russias State Council Committee on Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs and the Relations with the Compatriots is planning to organize the discussion about the possibilities to establish the sanctions against Latvia in order to respond to the latest amendments to the Law on Education. According to the chairman of the Committee Andrej Kokoshin, the suggestions of the participants of the discussion will be taken into account when elaborating two draft laws about the situation of Russian-speaking people in Latvia. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Diena features an article about the Latvian language courses offered for the parents of minority students by the National Program for Latvian Language Training (NPLLT). The NPLLT project coordinator Zaiga Duka believes that the education reform would not be perceived so painfully, if parents of minority students have been learned Latvian language earlier.

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with the observer from Latvia to the European Parliament Martinjan Bekasov, who believes that the main goal of the governing coalition, adopting the latest amendments to the Law on Education, was to create a conflict situation between Russian and Latvian communities in order to distract the attention from the oncoming social problems connected with the Latvias accession to the European Union.

Diena features opinions of minority students learning in Latvian language schools, about the education reform 2004.