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.

• President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga about the necessity to continue the implementation of education reform
• Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics meets representatives of the ministrys Advisory Council on Issues of Minority Education and the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools
• Interview with the Minister for the Interior Eriks Jekabsons about protest actions against the education reform
• Executive director of the Riga City Council Maris Tralmaks does not authorize a protest meeting against the education reform
• Russia Foreign Affairs Ministry on Saeimas decision against moratorium on the education reform
• Russia requests the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to condemn the Waffen SS legions
• Political parties election programs on society integration issues
• Discussion on education reform issues in Daugavpils

 President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga believes that it is necessary to continue the implementation of education reform despite the protest actions. According to the president, the sharper are the protests against the reform, the lesser are the chances for any amendments to the Law on Education, because MPs are forced to resist pressure which is being put on them.

President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga believes that it is necessary to continue the implementation of education reform despite the protest actions. According to the president, the sharper are the protests against the reform, the lesser are the chances for any amendments to the Law on Education, because MPs are forced to resist pressure which is being put on them. Diena

Latvijas Avize prints an article about meetings of the Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics with the representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science Advisory Council on Issues of Minority Education and the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools (LASHOR). During the meeting, representative of the LASHOR Igors Pimenovs has pointed to the necessity to establish a separate department within the ministry, dealing with the problems of minorities education. Juris Radzevics has answered that he evaluates a possibility of creating a position of the deputy State secretary on minorities education issues, but sees no need for a separate department.

Latvijas Avize features an interview with the Minister for the Interior Eriks Jekabsons about the protest actions against the education reform. According to the minister, he possesses information on provocateurs behind the protest actions and related money flows, but still hopes to avoid arrests, deportations and criminal sanctions, especially on the eve of joining the EU. However, Eriks Jekabsons says that the observation period is about to end, and if somebody is acting against the law, they will be held responsible.

Executive director of the Riga City Council Maris Tralmaks has not authorized a protest meeting against the education reform, planned on 16 April by the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language schools. Maris Tralmaks has motivated his decision not to authorize the meeting by doubts about the organizers’ ability to maintain order during the event.

Executive director of the Riga City Council Maris Tralmaks has not authorized a protest meeting against the education reform, planned on 16 April by the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language schools. Maris Tralmaks has motivated his decision not to authorize the meeting by doubts about the organizers ability to maintain order during the event. Latvijas Avize

Russia Foreign Affairs Ministry has expressed regret about the Saeima’s decision to reject the proposal of the For Human Rights in the United Latvia on establishing moratorium on the education reform until September 2007.

Russia Foreign Affairs Ministry has expressed regret about the Saeimas decision to reject the proposal of the For Human Rights in the United Latvia on establishing moratorium on the education reform until September 2007. Diena, Latvijas Avize

Right after Latvia’s accession to the NATO, Russia has submitted a resolution to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights requesting condemnation of the

Right after Latvias accession to the NATO, Russia has submitted a resolution to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights requesting condemnation of the Waffen SS legions. Although no particular state is mentioned in the resolution, diplomats polled by the news agency Associated Press, believe that Russia requests to condemn the Latvian legionnaires. According to the head of Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Artis Pabriks, Latvia is not preparing to express an official attitude towards this resolution. Diena

Diena features statements of the political parties on society integration issues in their European Parliament election programs. New Era and Peoples Party promise to attain a condemnation of the communism totalitarian regime, For Human Rights in the United Latvia – to support demands of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian Language Schools and needs of the World War II veterans, as well as to promote recognition of the status of non-citizens of Latvia as citizens of the EU.

Chas writes about discussion on the education reform issues in Daugavpils.