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.

• Article by the member of the Peoples Party Aigars Kimenis on ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
• Russian-language newspapers criticise amendments to the Radio and Television Law
• Problems faced by Romani children in the field of education in Jurmala
• Social educator of the Russian-language Riga Secondary School No.17 Tatjana Jegorova talks about effects of the education reform

Diena prints an article by the member of the Peoples Party Aigars Kimenis about possible pros and cons brought by ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Aigars Kimenis states that there is ‘absolutely no need to ratify the Convention and ratification without reservations would be ‘a catastrophe for our state and nation. According to the author, it would mean coming back to bilingualism in a large territory of Latvia and in some places also russification. He is convinced that in no circumstances the Convention should be ratified and notes that the ‘absolute majority of society but representatives of pro-Moscow wing do not support ratification. Thus, concludes the author, the only choice is ‘to put the Minority Convention on the furthest shelf.

Russian-language newspapers

Russian-language newspapers Vesti Segodnya and Telegraf print critical articles on the proposed amendments to the Radio and Television Law, submitted by the For Fatherland and Freedoms/LNIM parliamentary group. The proposed amendments stipulate that the Cabinet of Ministers has the right to set specific provisions concerning the usage of the language of broadcasting if the usage of the state language is endangered or restricted in the territory of a respective broadcaster. The Programme Director of the private TV Channel TV5 Gunta Lidaka believes that the amendments ignore the decision of the Constitutional Court of 5 June 2003. The Court ruled that the paragraph of the Law on Radio and Television, which provided that time of broadcast in foreign languages may not exceed 25% of total broadcasting time, did not correspond to the Constitution of Latvia and was abandoned.

Rigas Balss features an article about problems in education of Romani children in Jurmala. 28 Romani children of school age do not attend school for long periods of time, 10 have not been enrolled at any school and those 50 who are enrolled at various Jurmalas schools skip classes on regular basis. The Head of Jurmala Childrens Rights Centre Irena Drupa believes that there is a necessity to provide Romani children with alternative educational opportunities: such as, correction classes, where they could acquire writing and calculation skills. Irena Drupa is also convinced that teachers who work with Romani children should speak Romani. According to data of the national Census 2000, the educational level of more than 40% of Romani people in Latvia is 4 or less than 4 grades.

Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with the social educator of the Russian-language Riga Secondary School No.17 Tatjana Jegorova about possible effects of the education reform. Tatjana Jegorova speculates that approximately 30% minority students are not able to learn in Latvian. Referring to information provided by her colleagues, she also states that the quality of education is getting worse because teachers have to simplify study materials so students would be able to understand.