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.

• Administrative Court refuses to initiate a case challenging a provision which stipulates transcription of persons names and surnames in accordance with Latvian spelling and grammar rules in Latvian identity documents
• OSCE Chairman Solomon Passy on the observation of minority rights in Latvia
• Commentary about the possible ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
• Newspapers continue to write about the visit of 40 youth representatives and their parents from the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools to the European Parliament
• European culture and art festival Europeade 2004 is taking place in Riga

Human rights expert Leonid Raihman has challenged provisions of the State Language Centre which stipulate that in Latvian ID persons’ first and last names should be written in accordance with Latvian grammar rules. Leonid Raihman believes that this is a violation of human rights. Nevertheless, the Administrative Court refused to initiate the case stating that provisions of the State Language Centre are not administrative norms, therefore, not under the competence of administrative courts. Leonid Raihman is determined to appeal to the Senate of the Supreme Court and to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in order to defend his right to write his name in identification documents ‘Leonid Raihman’ instead of ‘Leonids Raihmans.’ ‘I will also complain to the ECHR about the lack of effective court mechanism in Latvia and their inability to review discrimination cases,’ says Leonid Raihman.

Human rights expert Leonid Raihman has challenged provisions of the State Language Centre which stipulate that in Latvian ID persons first and last names should be written in accordance with Latvian grammar rules. Leonid Raihman believes that this is a violation of human rights. Nevertheless, the Administrative Court refused to initiate the case stating that provisions of the State Language Centre are not administrative norms, therefore, not under the competence of administrative courts. Leonid Raihman is determined to appeal to the Senate of the Supreme Court and to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in order to defend his right to write his name in identification documents ‘Leonid Raihman instead of ‘Leonids Raihmans. ‘I will also complain to the ECHR about the lack of effective court mechanism in Latvia and their inability to review discrimination cases, says Leonid Raihman. Vesti Segodnya

Chas prints an interview with the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Solomon Passy about the observation of minority rights in Latvia. According to the Chairman, the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Rolf Ekeus has developed a project for ensuring more liberal interpretation of the Law on State Language. When asked about the education reform, Solomon Passy stresses the right of the state to implement the education reform in order to strengthen the Latvian language, however, he notes that the state must also ensure opportunities to acquire education in minority languages these languages, which would help to maintain cultural and linguistic identities of national minorities.

Neatkariga Rita Avize features a commentary by Viktors Avotins on the possible ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The author foresees the lack of productive discussions on the issue in the closest future as the main reason for non-ratification of the Convention provided by the majority of society and politicians are the contradicting arguments about the role of Latvian and Russian languages. The author basis his conclusion on the data of the survey on the attitude of Latvian society towards the Convention, conducted in 2002, which shows that the majority of non-Latvians believe there is a strong desire to eliminate the usage of the Russian language in public sphere, while Latvians believe that the lack of Latvian language skills is the main cause of tension in society.

Newspapers continue to write about the visit of 40 youth representatives and their parents from the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools to the European Parliament (EP) to express their stance against the education reform. Eight European Parliament’s MPs from Latvia are planning to issue a joint statement, providing opposite views regarding the reform. The European Parliament’s MP Michael Gahler (Group of the European People’s Party) foresees that the planned picket will not reach the goal set by its organisers, as the European Parliament is not responsible institution for educational policy in Latvia.

Newspapers continue to write about the visit of 40 youth representatives and their parents from the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools to the European Parliament (EP) to express their stance against the education reform. Eight European Parliaments MPs from Latvia are planning to issue a joint statement, providing opposite views regarding the reform. The European Parliaments MP Michael Gahler (Group of the European Peoples Party) foresees that the planned picket will not reach the goal set by its organisers, as the European Parliament is not responsible institution for educational policy in Latvia. Diena, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

The European culture and art festival Europeade 2004 is taking place in Riga from 21 till 25 of July.

The European culture and art festival Europeade 2004 is taking place in Riga from 21 till 25 of July. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Rigas Balss