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.

• Minister of Education and Science presents a report on the readiness of minority schools to implement the education reform
• Director of the Society Integration Foundation Nils Sakss accounts to the Saeima Subcommittee
• Diena comments on the recent amendments to the Law on radio and Television
• Two French state officials study the role of Latvia in the relations between the EU and Russia
• Latvijas Avize discusses goals of the United Congress of the Russian Community in Latvia (OKROL)
• Russian state officials concerned about the situation of non-citizens

Yesterday the Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics presented a report which according to the Minister ‘does not analyse the implementation of the reform, but concludes whether schools were ready for the reform.’ The Minister was not able to assure that the implementation of the reform is successful, nevertheless the report concludes that schools are ready for the academic year as provided in legislation. According to the officials of the Ministry, first analysis of the reform will be available after the first semester in January. Scrupulous examination of all schools is planned in March and April. Regarding halting activities of the working group dealing with development of the Law on Minority Schools, officials stated that the activities of the group were halted probably because the head of the working group changed his jobs and now ‘we should wait when the new government is formed and then it will appoint a new head of the working group.’ 

Yesterday the Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics presented a report which according to the Minister ‘does not analyse the implementation of the reform, but concludes whether schools were ready for the reform. The Minister was not able to assure that the implementation of the reform is successful, nevertheless the report concludes that schools are ready for the academic year as provided in legislation. According to the officials of the Ministry, first analysis of the reform will be available after the first semester in January. Scrupulous examination of all schools is planned in March and April. Regarding halting activities of the working group dealing with development of the Law on Minority Schools, officials stated that the activities of the group were halted probably because the head of the working group changed his jobs and now ‘we should wait when the new government is formed and then it will appoint a new head of the working group. NRA, Chas

Yesterday the Director of Society Integration Foundation Nils Sakss accounted for the activities of the Foundation to the members of the Integration Subcommittee of Saeima. In three years of operation the budget of the Foundation has significantly increased. The biggest share of money comes from the EU, however Nils Sakss notes that the EU will be interested in ethnic integration issues only till 2007. According to the newspaper foreign donors have acknowledged the Foundation as ‘a very adequate institution’ for administrating money flows.

Yesterday the Director of Society Integration Foundation Nils Sakss accounted for the activities of the Foundation to the members of the Integration Subcommittee of Saeima. In three years of operation the budget of the Foundation has significantly increased. The biggest share of money comes from the EU, however Nils Sakss notes that the EU will be interested in ethnic integration issues only till 2007. According to the newspaper foreign donors have acknowledged the Foundation as ‘a very adequate institution for administrating money flows. Vesti Segodnya

Diena comments on the recent amendments to the Law on Radio and Television which foresee 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. No criteria, according to which threats to the Latvian language could be measured, were adopted. The Head of the Saeima Human Rights Committee Ina Druviete and the Head of the Saeima Legal Office Gunars Kusins do not consider that the recent amendments contradict the ruling of the Constitutional Court which was adopted a half a year ago and abolished 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. While representatives of the mass media, mostly broadcasting in the Russian language, are concerned that new restrictions may result in financial loses.

Two members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the French National Assembly held meetings with a number of Latvian state officials. The French officials are studying the relations between the EU and Russia and the role of Latvia in these relations.

Two members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the French National Assembly held meetings with a number of Latvian state officials. The French officials are studying the relations between the EU and Russia and the role of Latvia in these relations. Latvijas Avize reports that the French officials noted that Latvian legislation corresponds to EU legislation and creates a favourable environment for ethnic minorities. They both have agreed that the Latvias past is a difficult issue. When commenting on the future relations between the EU and Russia, the French officials admitted that the post of the Commissioner for Energy, which will be taken up by the Latvian representative Andris Piebalgs, is very important. Therefore, Piebalgs could strengthen Latvias positions against Russia in the future. Chas

Latvijas Avize discusses one of the key goals of the United Congress of the Russian Community in Latvia (OKROL): to unite and support Russian business people. The newspaper comments the OKROL follows the principles of the pure race set and used by Nazi Germany. The newspaper provides information on business activities of the leaders of the organisation.

‘The situation of non-citizens in Latvia and Estonia does not correspond to the European standards,’ stated the Special Representative of the Russian President in the Relations with the EU Sergei Yastrzembsky yesterday. The booklet ‘The rights of national minorities in Estonia and Latvia’ developed by Russia was also presented at the press conference. The booklet will be sent to the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities and will be distributed to EU countries. According to

‘The situation of non-citizens in Latvia and Estonia does not correspond to the European standards, stated the Special Representative of the Russian President in the Relations with the EU Sergei Yastrzembsky yesterday. The booklet ‘The rights of national minorities in Estonia and Latvia developed by Russia was also presented at the press conference. The booklet will be sent to the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities and will be distributed to EU countries. According to Telegraf , Brussels will play closer attention to the issue of non-citizens in two EU countries – Latvia and Estonia – in the upcoming summit. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Vesti Segodnya reports on the visit of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities to Russia. The newspaper notes that Russian officials stressed that the situation of Russian speakers in Latvia and Estonia has got worse after accession of these countries into the EU.