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

• Statements of the rapporteurs of Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (CEPA) Monitoring Committee on minority rights observation in Latvia
• For Human Rights in the United Latvia will request moratorium on the education reform
• Increasing amount of naturalization applications
• Meeting of the Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics with representatives of Saeima Education, Culture and Science Committee
• Opinion poll: part of minority students will not be capable to learn in Latvian
• Patriarch of the Russia Orthodox Church Aleksij II rejects invitation of the state authorities to visit Latvia

Latvia must ratify Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, speed up the naturalization process and implement the education reform, but there is no need for intervention of Russia, because minorities in Latvia are able to protect themselves, – stated the rapporteurs of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (CEPA) Monitoring Committee Erik Jurgens and Kimmo Sasi. According to the rapporteurs, amendments to the Law on Education comply with the Framework Convention and must be implemented, rendering assistance to the minority schools who have problems with the education reform’s implementation. CEPA officials were not able to answer the question about renewal of the monitoring procedure on the observation of minority rights in Latvia. Journalist of

Latvia must ratify Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, speed up the naturalization process and implement the education reform, but there is no need for intervention of Russia, because minorities in Latvia are able to protect themselves, – stated the rapporteurs of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (CEPA) Monitoring Committee Erik Jurgens and Kimmo Sasi. According to the rapporteurs, amendments to the Law on Education comply with the Framework Convention and must be implemented, rendering assistance to the minority schools who have problems with the education reforms implementation. CEPA officials were not able to answer the question about renewal of the monitoring procedure on the observation of minority rights in Latvia. Journalist of Vesti Segodnya Abiks Elkins believes that the rapporteurs will not require renewal of monitoring procedure immediately, but will give Latvia an opportunity to ratify the Framework Convention and to develop a dialogue on education reform till the end of this year. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Chas

Today Saeima For Human Rights in the United Latvia parliamentary group is planning to propose amendments to the Law on Education, stipulating the  moratorium on the education reform until the September 2007, defining  institution, which determines the subjects to be taught in Latvian in minority schools, as previously suggested by the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, and changing the paragraph of the law which allows state and local governments financial support only for those private schools, which provide education in the state language.

Today Saeima For Human Rights in the United Latvia parliamentary group is planning to propose amendments to the Law on Education, stipulating the moratorium on the education reform until the September 2007, defining institution, which determines the subjects to be taught in Latvian in minority schools, as previously suggested by the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, and changing the paragraph of the law which allows state and local governments financial support only for those private schools, which provide education in the state language. Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Naturalization Board foresees that approximately 15,000 – 16,000 non-citizens could naturalize during this year. According to the chairman of the Naturalization Board Eizenija Aldermane, 1900 naturalization applications have been received in March, which is the largest monthly amount of naturalization applications received by the Board since the beginning of the naturalization process. Eizenija Aldermane has also stated that at the present moment Naturalization board does not have sufficient capacity to ensure timely review of all applications.

Naturalization Board foresees that approximately 15,000 – 16,000 non-citizens could naturalize during this year. According to the chairman of the Naturalization Board Eizenija Aldermane, 1900 naturalization applications have been received in March, which is the largest monthly amount of naturalization applications received by the Board since the beginning of the naturalization process. Eizenija Aldermane has also stated that at the present moment Naturalization board does not have sufficient capacity to ensure timely review of all applications. Latvijas Avize, Telegraf

Newspapers feature articles about the meeting of the Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics with representatives of the Saeima Education, Culture and Science Committee. The minister stated that implementation of the education reform will not be postponed, and expressed readiness to meet the opponents of the education reform on condition that protest actions against the reform would be discontinued.

Newspapers feature articles about the meeting of the Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics with representatives of the Saeima Education, Culture and Science Committee. The minister stated that implementation of the education reform will not be postponed, and expressed readiness to meet the opponents of the education reform on condition that protest actions against the reform would be discontinued. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

According to the opinion poll, conducted by the head of Saeima For Human Rights in the United Latvia parliamentary group Jakovs Pliners and teacher Valerijs Buhvalovs,  part of minority students will not be capable to study in Latvian at secondary school, because they do not have sufficient learning skills. These conclusions have been made after the polling of 150 minority students from Grades 9 in ten minority schools.

According to the opinion poll, conducted by the head of Saeima For Human Rights in the United Latvia parliamentary group Jakovs Pliners and teacher Valerijs Buhvalovs, part of minority students will not be capable to study in Latvian at secondary school, because they do not have sufficient learning skills. These conclusions have been made after the polling of 150 minority students from Grades 9 in ten minority schools. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Chas

According to the Russia news agency

According to the Russia news agency Interfax, Patriarch of the Russia Orthodox Church Aleksij II will not accept the invitation of the state authorities to visit Latvia until problems in the area of observation of Russian-speakers rights are resolved. Aleksij II believes that rights of the Russian-speakers to obtain information and get education in their mother tongue are restricted in Latvia. Latvijas Avize, Telegraf, Chas