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.

• Russia expels Latvian diplomat
• The Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics offers flexibility in bilingual teaching of the subjects
• Teachers, who participated in protest actions against the education reform, will not be deprived of the additional payments
• Plans of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools regarding manifestation on 1 May
• The Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies presents its 2003 annual report on human rights
• Discussion about possible increase of ethnic tensions in Latvia
• Daugavpils City mayor Rita Strode on implementation of the education reform
• 150 students from a Riga Secondary school point to the need for the close involvement of professionals in education policies
• International conference Old-Believers in Latvia: historical experience, culture and modern processes in the society
• Neatkariga Rita Avize stresses the need for justifying the education reform to the public

Russia has expelled Latvian diplomat in response to Latvia’s expulsion of the Russian diplomat.

Russia has expelled Latvian diplomat in response to Latvias expulsion of the Russian diplomat. Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga Rita Avize

Vesti Segodnya prints statement of the Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics that social tensions regarding education reform arise from the lack of information and constructive dialog, which were not ensured by the previous government. The Ministry of Education and Science is considering following activities in order to intensify learning of the Latvian language: increase of Latvian language lessons by one hour a week for 10th grade students; dividing classes into two groups during Latvian language lessons; publication of special methodological literature, establishment of bilingual education centre. In order to ease learning of exact subjects, the Ministry offers to apply flexibility in teaching subjects bilingually – for example, if the program foresees four lessons a week, three of them may be taught in minority language, and one – in Latvian.

The Education, Youth and Sports Department of the Riga City Council has decided not to deprive the teachers participating in protest actions against the education reform of the additional payments.

The Education, Youth and Sports Department of the Riga City Council has decided not to deprive the teachers participating in protest actions against the education reform of the additional payments. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

The Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools hope to gather about 30,000 people at the manifestation against the education reform on 1 May. At the press conference, the members of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools representing students and parents have informed journalists on the objectives of manifestation. On 1 May, the protest action against education reform organized by the Headquarters will be held also in Liepaja.

The Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools hope to gather about 30,000 people at the manifestation against the education reform on 1 May. At the press conference, the members of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools representing students and parents have informed journalists on the objectives of manifestation. On 1 May, the protest action against education reform organized by the Headquarters will be held also in Liepaja. Diena, Chas

The Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies (LCESC) has published its annual report on human rights in Latvia. According to the LCESC, human rights violations in prisons and mental facilities, police, illegal immigrants’ camps as well problems in the area of minority rights are topical human rights problems. The report points to the social tensions over education reform and still large number of non-citizens. Among the positive trends, creation of additional incentives for naturalization and establishment of the work group for elaboration of the amendments to the Citizenship Law in order to ease restrictions of children’s’ rights to citizenship, are noted.

The Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies (LCESC) has published its annual report on human rights in Latvia. According to the LCESC, human rights violations in prisons and mental facilities, police, illegal immigrants camps as well problems in the area of minority rights are topical human rights problems. The report points to the social tensions over education reform and still large number of non-citizens. Among the positive trends, creation of additional incentives for naturalization and establishment of the work group for elaboration of the amendments to the Citizenship Law in order to ease restrictions of childrens rights to citizenship, are noted. Latvijas Avize refers to the director of the LCESC Ilze Brands Kehris pointing to the fact that the problems in the area of minority rights have not changed significantly over the last years, including still not ratified the Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities. Regarding the education reform, Ilze Brands Kehris stated that the government has not listened to minority opinion during the elaboration of the education reform. Latvijas Vestnesis, Latvijas Avize

Rigas Balss publishes report on the discussion between activist of the Headquarters for Defense of Russian-language Schools Jurijs Petropavlovskis (Equality), MPs Nikolajs Kabanovs (FHRUL) and Karlis Sadurskis (Jaunais Laiks), and Janis Sils (Klubs 415). The aim of the discussion was to clarify if ethnic tensions in Latvia are increasing. Jurijs Petropavlovskis believes that there is no conflict between Latvian and Russian communities, but rather between Russian community and the Latvian establishment. Nilolajs Kabanovs calls protest actions against the education reform ‘the biggest public initiative in Latvia modern history since regaining independence, when people actively participate in political life. Karlis Sadurskis thinks there is no ethnic conflict in Latvia, but it is being ‘organized on purpose. Juris Sils says about the protest actions against the education reform that ‘all the fuss is really about creating an ethnic conflict between Latvians and Russians.

Chas interviews the Daugavpils City mayor Rita Strode about the education reform. Rita Strode believes that political discussions on the education law and the proportions of language use have had negative impact on the relations between students and teachers, and on integration process as a whole, and insists on the gradual reforms implementation. The mayor points to the lack of state support for organization of additional Latvian language lessons. The municipality supports Latvian language training in kindergartens and in the Youth School, as well as acquisition of study materials. 6 of 11 schools are fully prepared for switch to bilingual education. 2 schools are not able to ensure teaching of 60% subjects in the state language. According to the data of Education Board, 72% of teachers are not ready to teach their subjects bilingually.

Chas prints the letter signed by 150 students form a Riga Secondary school protesting against the existent language proportion, defined in the Education Law. The students claim that it is necessary to involve professionals in elaboration of the specific methods of teaching in a non-native language.

Yesterday the international conference “Old-Believers in Latvia: historical experience, culture and modern processes in the society” was opened at the Latvian Academy of Science. There are approximately 70,000-80,000 Old-believers living in Latvia.

Yesterday the international conference Old-Believers in Latvia: historical experience, culture and modern processes in the society was opened at the Latvian Academy of Science. There are approximately 70,000-80,000 Old-believers living in Latvia. Chas

Neatkariga Rita Avize columnist Viktors Avotins believes that it order to stop the protest actions, it is necessary to publicly justify the necessity of the education reform, and to prove that it is thoroughly prepared for implementation.