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.

• Board of Peoples Harmony Party will make decision about future support to the government
• Seminar about the perspectives of society integration policy in Latvia
• About possible punishment of Saeima MPs organizing unapproved protest actions
• Deputy of the European Parliament from Peoples Party Aleksandrs Kirsteins believes that the Special Task Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks should resign
• Interview with President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga about society integration in Latvia
• About meeting of the Ministry of Education and Science Advisory Council on Minority Education
• Experts statements about the necessary activities of the police in order to prevent disorder during protest actions against the education reform

Council of People’s Harmony Party (PHP) is planning to make a decision about the future support of the party to the government of Indulis Emsis. According to the head of the Saeima PHP parliamentary group Janis Urbanovics, there are persons in the party not satisfied with the support of the government, as it allegedly is not solving the education reform issue. PHP could also request the establishment of a moratorium on education reform until 2007.

Council of Peoples Harmony Party (PHP) is planning to make a decision about the future support of the party to the government of Indulis Emsis. According to the head of the Saeima PHP parliamentary group Janis Urbanovics, there are persons in the party not satisfied with the support of the government, as it allegedly is not solving the education reform issue. PHP could also request the establishment of a moratorium on education reform until 2007. Diena, Telegraf

Today the Secretariat of the Special Task Minister for Society Integration Affairs organizes a seminar to discuss the perspectives of society integration policy in Latvia.

Today the Secretariat of the Special Task Minister for Society Integration Affairs organizes a seminar to discuss the perspectives of society integration policy in Latvia. Diena publishes a vision of the Special Task Minister for Society Integration Secretariat Nils Muiznieks on society integration issues after 10 years. Diena

Saeima will soon make a decision about lifting the immunity from prosecution for three Saeima MPs, who have been involved in organizing protest actions, so that they can be punished according to administrative procedure. Saeima Mandate and Submissions Committee has received a request by the police to approve the punishment of Saeima MP Jakovs Pliners who, according to police protocols, has organized and led unapproved picket and procession against the education reform.

Saeima will soon make a decision about lifting the immunity from prosecution for three Saeima MPs, who have been involved in organizing protest actions, so that they can be punished according to administrative procedure. Saeima Mandate and Submissions Committee has received a request by the police to approve the punishment of Saeima MP Jakovs Pliners who, according to police protocols, has organized and led unapproved picket and procession against the education reform. Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize features a critical article by the deputy of the European Parliament from Peoples Party Aleksandrs Kirsteins on expressions of Special Task Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks and claims that Nils Muiznieks must resign. Aleksandrs Kirsteins is dissatisfied with the ministers criticism of the expressions of the National Broadcasting Councils chairman Imants Rakins about decolonization as just. Aleksandrs Kirsteins believes that the main task of the minister of integration is to clarify the number of persons, who want to repatriate themselves to their ethnic homeland to provide an opportunity for the government to prepare international agreements with neighboring countries about the establishment of a repatriation foundation and the attraction of international financing for it. Regarding the protest actions against the education reform, Aleksandrs Kirsteins concludes that ‘apparently it is necessary to announce a moratorium on naturalization in order to draw up and implement changes in the naturalization procedure. According to the deputy, emphasis should not be put on the number of persons who naturalize, but on naturalizing only those who are integrated in Latvian culture. Nils Muiznieks lack of understanding of these issues means that he should resign, claims the deputy.

Vesti Segonya reprints an interview with President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, published in the Russian newspaper Argumenti i Fakti (Arguments and Facts) about social integration and education reform in Latvia.

Russian-language newspapers print articles about the meeting of the Ministry of Education and Science Advisory Council on Issues of Minority Education. During  the meeting the Minister of Education and Science informed about the discussion inside the ministry on possibilities to finance activities such as an additional increase of Latvian language lessons in minority schools for grade 10, dividing of classes in two parts during the lessons of Latvian language, publishing of methodological literature and the establishment of bilingual education centre. Former head of the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools Igors Pimenovs has asked all members of the Council to support their initiative to discuss the issue of the establishment of moratorium on education reform during the next meeting of the Advisory Council.

Russian-language newspapers print articles about the meeting of the Ministry of Education and Science Advisory Council on Issues of Minority Education. During the meeting the Minister of Education and Science informed about the discussion inside the ministry on possibilities to finance activities such as an additional increase of Latvian language lessons in minority schools for grade 10, dividing of classes in two parts during the lessons of Latvian language, publishing of methodological literature and the establishment of bilingual education centre. Former head of the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools Igors Pimenovs has asked all members of the Council to support their initiative to discuss the issue of the establishment of moratorium on education reform during the next meeting of the Advisory Council. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Neatkariga Rita Avize features statements of experts and state officials about necessary activities by police in order to prevent the disorder during protest actions against the education reform. Police General Aloizs Visvaldis Blonskis points to the fact that the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-Language Schools has deliberately or unconsciously lost control over the masses of Russian students, who are becoming incresingly aggressive. Blonskis believes that large-scale disorder can result form the slightest spark. Assistant of the chairman of the State Security Police Kristine Apse-Krumina stated that the police has clarified who is behind these protest actions and says that they are not always the same that are in the public eye. Chas, Telegraf

People’s Harmony Party is planning to demand the resignation of the chairman of the National Broadcasting Council of Latvia Imants Rakins due to his expressions to the national extremist newspaper DDD, stating that Latvia’s decolonization ‘is a just thing”. Imants Rakins stresses that he answered the question of the journalist from a historic viewpoint, as he is historian, and says that his statements are only theoretical.

Peoples Harmony Party is planning to demand the resignation of the chairman of the National Broadcasting Council of Latvia Imants Rakins due to his expressions to the national extremist newspaper DDD, stating that Latvias decolonization ‘is a just thing. Imants Rakins stresses that he answered the question of the journalist from a historic viewpoint, as he is historian, and says that his statements are only theoretical. Chas, Telegraf