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

• OSCE presiding state offers assistance to help to solve Russian-speaking minority problems
• State officials comment on the recommendations of the Council of Europe First Commissioner for Human Rights Alvaro Gil-Robles
• Critical statements of Russian politicians about the decision of the President of Latvia to announce the amendments to the Law on Education
• Articles about the conflicts between Latvian and Russian students in Riga
• Project Qualitative education for Romani children
• Reprinted interview with the former Special Task Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks
• Commentator of Latvijas Avize Aija Calite about the goals of the protest actions against education reform

The Foreign Affairs Minister of Bulgaria, the presiding state of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Solomon Passy has expressed readiness to help solve Russian-speakers minority problems in the Baltic States.

The Foreign Affairs Minister of Bulgaria, the presiding state of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Solomon Passy has expressed readiness to help solve Russian-speakers minority problems in the Baltic States. Chas

Vesti Segodnya features the opinions of state officials about the recommendations of the Council of Europe First Commissioner for Human Rights Alvaro Gil-Robles. Saeima MP Aleksandrs Kirsteins (Peoples Party) believes that the proposal of Alvaro Gil-Robles to grant the voting rights for non-citizens at the municipal elections is not acceptable for Latvia. He also states that the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities could be ratified only after Russia will officially acknowledge Latvias occupation. Observer from Latvia to the European Parliament Boris Tsilevitch (Peoples Harmony Party) believes that recommendations of the First Commissioner have clearly pointed to the link between society integration and the extension of the minority rights. Meanwhile the former Special Task Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks predicts that voting rights for non-citizens will not be granted during this Saeima and the Law on Education will not be revised.

Russian politicians criticize the decision of the President of Latvia to announce the amendments to the Law on Education. Vice speaker of the Russia State Council Dmitry Rogozin condemns this decision and also points to the necessity for careful analysis before the establishment of economical sanctions against Latvia. According to Dmitry Rogozin the establishment of the sanctions is not advisable if they would have a negative impact on Russian-speaking inhabitants of Latvia. The Head of Council of Russia Federation Committee on Foreign Affairs Mihail Margelov believes that Russian-speaking people can affect the state authorities only by submitting the demands to the European Court for Human Rights.

Russian politicians criticize the decision of the President of Latvia to announce the amendments to the Law on Education. Vice speaker of the Russia State Council Dmitry Rogozin condemns this decision and also points to the necessity for careful analysis before the establishment of economical sanctions against Latvia. According to Dmitry Rogozin the establishment of the sanctions is not advisable if they would have a negative impact on Russian-speaking inhabitants of Latvia. The Head of Council of Russia Federation Committee on Foreign Affairs Mihail Margelov believes that Russian-speaking people can affect the state authorities only by submitting the demands to the European Court for Human Rights. Latvijas Avize, Telegraf

Newspapers feature articles about conflicts between Latvian and Russian students in Riga.

Newspapers feature articles about conflicts between Latvian and Russian students in Riga. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Rigas Balss, Telegraf

Neatkariga Rita Avize prints an article about the project Qualitative education for Romani children which has been launched in three towns - Jekabpils, Jelgava and Valmiera. The organisations implementing this project believe that the lack of education is one of the main problems of Roma social integration. The main goal of the project is to achieve the inclusion of Romani children in general schools. Head of the Jekabpils Roma Society Laila Leiskina believes that it will be very hard to involve Romani families in this project because this ethnic group has secluded itself from the rest of society and they are afraid to get into the contact with others.

Vechernaya Riga reprints fragments of an interview with the former Special Task Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks to the Russian newspaper Nezavisimaja Gazeta about society integration issues.

Latvijas Avize features an article by the commentator Aija Calite who believes that the goal of the protest actions against education reform is to achieve the ethnic conflict in Latvia. The journalist also believes that the television is increasingly engaged in the inciting hatred among the Russian-speaking part of society.