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.

• About the possible government crisis
• Latvian Russian Party condemns activities of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools
• Prime Ministers advisor on national security issues Andrejs Pantelejevs about protest actions against the education reform
• State Security Police do not supply information about activities on preventing escalation of the aggression of the education reforms opponents
• About the conference on society integration policy
• Border agreement between Latvia and Russia will be discussed during the summit of the European Union and Russia
• Discussion about calls for resignation of the Special Task Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks
• Plans of the Russian delegation to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly
• New internet portal for non-citizens and ethnic minorities to be opened
• Latvian Business Advisory Service Program director and representative of the party Latvias Way Rolands Repsa about implementation of the education reform
• Interview with the representative of the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools Igors Pimenovs

People’s Harmony Party (PHP) yesterday postponed its decision to call for the vote of confidence to the government of Indulis Emsis till the party’s conference on 19 June. The party New Era has evaluated this delay as an indication of a secret agreement between the government and left-wing parties, and has called the government to resign in order to establish a stable right-wing coalition, but would not initiate a vote of confidence to the government yet. The New Era is planning to ask for resignation of the Special Tasks Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks, allegedly because of the growing ethnic tensions related to the education reform, within the nearest future. Nils Muiznieks denies accusations, stressing that tension in the area of education reform developed during the previous government, when both the Prime Minister and the Minister for Education and Science were the New Era representatives.

Peoples Harmony Party (PHP) yesterday postponed its decision to call for the vote of confidence to the government of Indulis Emsis till the partys conference on 19 June. The party New Era has evaluated this delay as an indication of a secret agreement between the government and left-wing parties, and has called the government to resign in order to establish a stable right-wing coalition, but would not initiate a vote of confidence to the government yet. The New Era is planning to ask for resignation of the Special Tasks Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks, allegedly because of the growing ethnic tensions related to the education reform, within the nearest future. Nils Muiznieks denies accusations, stressing that tension in the area of education reform developed during the previous government, when both the Prime Minister and the Minister for Education and Science were the New Era representatives. Vesti Segodnya features an opinion of the deputy Prime Minister Ainars Slesers who believes that there is no serious threat to the government stability, and that statements of the left and right wings opposition parties should be looked at rather as a PR campaign for the upcoming election to the European Parliament than a specific intention to achieve Emsiss cabinets demission. Chas reflects the point of view of the PHP leader Janis Jurkans, who states that his party supported the government of Indulis Emsis in exchange for the promise to resolve the schools issue. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Rigas Balss, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Latvian Russian Party has announced that the Russian-speaking leadership of the party For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) and its supported Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools has deliberately “failed the defense of Russian-language schools, as they promote not a process of discussion, but a process of confrontation, leaving Russians without any perspectives in the future”.  According to the Russian Party, FHRUL should dismiss the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools, and to accept responsibility for all consequences of its activities.

Latvian Russian Party has announced that the Russian-speaking leadership of the party For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) and its supported Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools has deliberately failed the defense of Russian-language schools, as they promote not a process of discussion, but a process of confrontation, leaving Russians without any perspectives in the future. According to the Russian Party, FHRUL should dismiss the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools, and to accept responsibility for all consequences of its activities. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Telegraf

Latvijas Avize features an interview with the Prime Ministers advisor on national security issues Andrejs Pantelejevs about protest actions against the education reform. Andrejs Pantelejevs believes that from the point of view of the state security it would be dangerous to yield to pressure now. According to the advisor, insufficient preparedness of the education reforms implementation has created psychological climate for the mass political movement. Andrejs Pantelejevs believes that the main task of the moment is not to allow political consolidation of the Russian community on the basis of the education reform. According to his knowledge, a certain conflict has developed between one of the leaders of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka and the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools.

Neatkariga Rita Avize writes about unwillingness of the State Security Police to supply information about its activities in order to prevent escalation of aggression of the opponents of the education reform. Newspaper also features opinions of experts who point to the lack of political will to solve the problem. The State Security Police, mostly likely, possesses all necessary information about organizers of the protest actions; its just that they have not received government instructions to start active operations. It is possible that governing politicians have decided to deal with the Russian students problem by means of discussion, stated the former state secretary of the Ministry of Interior Andris Staris.

Latvijas Avize prints an article about the conference on society integration policy, which was held last week. During the conference it was pointed to the necessity of drawing up a new state society integration program. According to the information of the Special Tasks Ministers for Society Integration Secretariat, out of 299 projects, supported within the framework of the existent program Society integration in Latvia, 66 have been implemented fully or partly, 32 - have not been implemented, as for the implementation of the rest of the programs, Secretariat has got no information. Evaluating the situation in the area of society integration, the head of the Naturalization Board Eizenija Aldermane stated that present situation in the country with regards to the dividing lines within the society, is similar to the situation in 1990-91.

The border agreement between Latvia and Russia will be discussed during the summit of the European Union and Russia, which takes place in Moscow this Friday.

The border agreement between Latvia and Russia will be discussed during the summit of the European Union and Russia, which takes place in Moscow this Friday. Neatkariga Rita Avize

Latvijas Avize continues discussion on last-week statement of the deputy of the European Parliament from Peoples Party Aleksandrs Kirsteins, in which he calls for the Special Task Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks resignation. According to the head of the Saeima Peoples Party parliamentary group Aigars Kalvitis, party has not discussed Nils Muiznieks eligibility for his post. Nils Muiznieks stresses he is not planning to resign.

Delegation of Russia is planning to initiate discussion on the issue of the situation of Russian minority in Latvia during the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly’s session in June.

Delegation of Russia is planning to initiate discussion on the issue of the situation of Russian minority in Latvia during the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assemblys session in June. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Ventspils City Council is planning to create a special internet portal for non-Latvian speakers, non-citizens and ethnic minorities, in order to enhance their comprehension of the impact of Latvia’s accession to the European Union. Alongside information about new possibilities available for these persons after Latvia’s accession to the EU, the portal will feature announcements of cultural and educational events, supported by the EU, and will explain possibilities of obtaining financial support from both Latvian state and the EU for the activities aimed at integration of ethnic minorities and non-citizens, as well as at development of the open society.

Ventspils City Council is planning to create a special internet portal for non-Latvian speakers, non-citizens and ethnic minorities, in order to enhance their comprehension of the impact of Latvias accession to the European Union. Alongside information about new possibilities available for these persons after Latvias accession to the EU, the portal will feature announcements of cultural and educational events, supported by the EU, and will explain possibilities of obtaining financial support from both Latvian state and the EU for the activities aimed at integration of ethnic minorities and non-citizens, as well as at development of the open society. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize features an article by the director of the Latvian Business Advisory Service Program and representative of Latvias Way Rolands Repsa, who suggests that the education reform should be implemented in accordance with the desires of minority students and their parents, and individually in each minority school depending on its degree of readiness. Rolands Repsa believes that its necessary to acknowledge that the integration process will be long and that its not possible to speed up it by compulsory measures in the area of education reform.

Vesti Segodnya and Chas feature interviews with the representative of the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools Igors Pimenovs about causes of the protest actions against the education reform, and his future planes in case he gets elected to the European Parliament.