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.

• Speakers of the Latvian and Estonian Parliaments on social integration issues
• Newspapers comment on the draft resolution On minorities situation in Latvia and Russia
• Latvijas Avize continues a discussion about the possible ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in Latvia
• Minorities schools show little interest about the possibilities to organise information campaign on education reform
• Latvian Social Democratic Labour Party youth organization condemns the activities of the national – extremist organisation Visu Latvijai!
• Forthcoming protest actions against the education reform

“The minority policies implemented in Estonia and Latvia fully comply with the international requirements,” stated the speakers of Latvian and Estonian parliaments Ingrida Udre and Ene Ergma during their meeting in Tallinn. The Speaker of the Estonian Parliament Ene Ergma voiced that Estonia fully supports the choices of Latvia in the area of minorities’ integration and pointed to the necessity to develop new effective collaboration forms between both states.

The minority policies implemented in Estonia and Latvia fully comply with the international requirements, stated the speakers of Latvian and Estonian parliaments Ingrida Udre and Ene Ergma during their meeting in Tallinn. The Speaker of the Estonian Parliament Ene Ergma voiced that Estonia fully supports the choices of Latvia in the area of minorities integration and pointed to the necessity to develop new effective collaboration forms between both states. Neatkariga Rita Avize

Newspapers continue to write about the draft resolution “On minorities’ situation in Latvia and Russia”, developed by Russia State Council’s speaker Boris Grizlov. The resolution includes a number of requirements for the Latvian and Estonian governments. Among them are the requirements to grant voting rights for non-citizens at municipal elections, to grant the rights to use Russian language officially in regions, where Russian-speakers live in substantial number, to facilitate the naturalisation process and to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

Newspapers continue to write about the draft resolution On minorities situation in Latvia and Russia, developed by Russia State Councils speaker Boris Grizlov. The resolution includes a number of requirements for the Latvian and Estonian governments. Among them are the requirements to grant voting rights for non-citizens at municipal elections, to grant the rights to use Russian language officially in regions, where Russian-speakers live in substantial number, to facilitate the naturalisation process and to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Latvijas Avize prints an article about the possible ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in Latvia. Special Tasks Ministers for Society Integration Secretariat believes that the Convention can be ratified with one reservation regarding Paragraph 3 of Article 11, which stipulates that in areas, traditionally inhabited by substantial numbers of persons belonging to a national minority, the traditional local names, street names and other topographical indications have to be displayed also in minority language when there is a sufficient demand for such indications. According to the Head of the Saeima Subcommittee on Social Integration Andris Berzins, the committee will not take any decision regarding the possible reservation, before the agreement on the definition of the term minority is formulated and adopted. The Secretariat has developed three definitions. One stipulates that certain ethnic groups – Russians, Belorussians, Ukrainians, Poles, Lithuanians, Jews, Roma, Germans, Estonians and Lives - should be recognized as national minorities. The second definition stipulates that the representatives of national minorities are entitled to be called minority if they meet certain requirements: they are the citizens of the Republic of Latvia; live permanently in the territory in Latvia and maintain long-term and sustainable links with Latvia; differ according to the ethnical, cultural, religious or linguistic features and want to preserve their culture, religion and language as the base of their group identity. The third definition stipulates that the national minorities are both citizens and non-citizens, who conform to the other requirements mentioned in the second definition.

Minorities’ schools have showed little interest in the competition, organised by the Social Integration Foundation, to implement information campaign on education reform. The deadline for application has been extended till 15 October, because only three schools have submitted applications. In total 20,000 lats are available for the organisation of the information campaigns this year, however, only Ls 2,904 has been allocated until now. Integration experts explain the small interest due to inordinate politicisation of the education reform and the fact that minorities’ schools are tired from the clamour, set up around the reform.

Minorities schools have showed little interest in the competition, organised by the Social Integration Foundation, to implement information campaign on education reform. The deadline for application has been extended till 15 October, because only three schools have submitted applications. In total 20,000 lats are available for the organisation of the information campaigns this year, however, only Ls2,904 has been allocated until now. Integration experts explain the small interest due to inordinate politicisation of the education reform and the fact that minorities schools are tired from the clamour, set up around the reform. Diena

Latvian Social Democratic Labour Party (LSDLP) youth organization has spread a statement condemning the activities of the national – extremist organisation “Visu Latvijai!”, which organises the pickets near the building of the Russia embassy and calls Russia to recognise the fact of Latvia’s occupation. Leader of the youth organisation Janis Kuzins regards the activities of the Latvian national radicals as the attempt to raise national hatred between Latvians and Russians and deepen tension in society. The leader of the LSDLP Dainis Ivans commented that the statement shows the lack of history knowledge and stressed that the party’s official statement is that Russia must recognise the occupation of Latvia.

Latvian Social Democratic Labour Party (LSDLP) youth organization has spread a statement condemning the activities of the national – extremist organisation Visu Latvijai!, which organises the pickets near the building of the Russia embassy and calls Russia to recognise the fact of Latvias occupation. Leader of the youth organisation Janis Kuzins regards the activities of the Latvian national radicals as the attempt to raise national hatred between Latvians and Russians and deepen tension in society. The leader of the LSDLP Dainis Ivans commented that the statement shows the lack of history knowledge and stressed that the partys official statement is that Russia must recognise the occupation of Latvia. Chas

Newspapers write about the forthcoming protest actions against the education reform, planned by the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools in order to attain the establishment of the moratorium on education reform. According to the representatives of the Headquarters, six parents have already affirmed their participation in the hunger strike against the reform, which will take place at the end of August. Other essential events will be the manifestation on 1 September and the Congress of the Russian community on 12 September.

Newspapers write about the forthcoming protest actions against the education reform, planned by the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools in order to attain the establishment of the moratorium on education reform. According to the representatives of the Headquarters, six parents have already affirmed their participation in the hunger strike against the reform, which will take place at the end of August. Other essential events will be the manifestation on 1 September and the Congress of the Russian community on 12 September. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf