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.

• President of Latvia believes that there are no obstacles to ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
• Five minority schools have violated the Law on Education
• EU will propose Russia to launch consultations on minority issues in the Baltic States
• Communication with Latvian Parliament Coordinator at the Russia State Council Pavel Pozhigailo talks about Latvian Russian relations
• Article about the recommendations of the Councils of Europe Commissioner for Human RightsAlvaro Gill-Robles concerning minority situation in Latvia
• Diena comments on 8 MPs who posed together with members of a national radical organisation
• Article on a good practice in the field of social integration
• Seventh choir festival of the minority schools will take place in Riga on 26 and 27 November

‘There are no obstacles to ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities,’ stated the Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga. The President believes that ratification of the Convention will not bring any consequences or changes in minority situation. However, the President also noted that the Convention should be ratified with reservations.

‘There are no obstacles to ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, stated the Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga. The President believes that ratification of the Convention will not bring any consequences or changes in minority situation. However, the President also noted that the Convention should be ratified with reservations. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Five out of 58 minority schools, inspected by the Education State Inspection, have violated the Law on Education. These five schools have taught subjects in Russian or bilingually, although in accordance with the approved curriculum they should be taught in Latvian. According to the Deputy Chairman of the Inspection Valda Puise, who was invited to the meeting of the Saeima Subcommittee on Social Integration, only two minority schoolteachers have insufficient Latvian language proficiency. ‘We don’t see any problems concerning the implementation of the education reform,’ stated the official, however, she admitted that there is a serous lack of textbooks at minority schools.  Meanwhile the MP from the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia Vladimirs Buzajevs presents contradicting information about the situation at minority schools. He refers to the information, collected by the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Language Schools. According to Vladimirs Buzajevs, 57% parents state that academic success of their children has got worse. Representatives of the Headquarters have surveyed parents from 30 minority schools.

Five out of 58 minority schools, inspected by the Education State Inspection, have violated the Law on Education. These five schools have taught subjects in Russian or bilingually, although in accordance with the approved curriculum they should be taught in Latvian. According to the Deputy Chairman of the Inspection Valda Puise, who was invited to the meeting of the Saeima Subcommittee on Social Integration, only two minority schoolteachers have insufficient Latvian language proficiency. ‘We dont see any problems concerning the implementation of the education reform, stated the official, however, she admitted that there is a serous lack of textbooks at minority schools. Meanwhile the MP from the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia Vladimirs Buzajevs presents contradicting information about the situation at minority schools. He refers to the information, collected by the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Language Schools. According to Vladimirs Buzajevs, 57% parents state that academic success of their children has got worse. Representatives of the Headquarters have surveyed parents from 30 minority schools. Vesti Segodnya

With the agreement of Latvia, the EU plans to offer Russia to launch consultations on minority issues in Latvia and Estonia on a regular basis. According to the representative of the Foreign Affairs Ministry Dagnija Stukena, regular consultations will show that Russia’s reproaches are of political nature and will provide a possibility to discuss the observation of minority rights in Russia as well.

With the agreement of Latvia, the EU plans to offer Russia to launch consultations on minority issues in Latvia and Estonia on a regular basis. According to the representative of the Foreign Affairs Ministry Dagnija Stukena, regular consultations will show that Russias reproaches are of political nature and will provide a possibility to discuss the observation of minority rights in Russia as well. Diena, Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with the Communication with the Latvian Parliament Coordinator of the Russia State Council Pavel Pozhigailo about relations between Latvia and Russia. Pavel Pozhigailo believes that ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities would be the first step towards the improvement relations between Latvia and Russia.

Chas prints an article by the columnist Anatolijs Kamenevs about the recommendations of the Councils of Europe Commissioner for Human RightsAlvaro Gill-Robles concerning minority situation in Latvia. The Commissioner called Latvia to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The columnist believes that Latvia is afraid to ratify the Convention because among other provisions it stipulates that a state shall ensure the ‘effective participation of persons belonging to national minorities in cultural, social and economic life and in public affairs, in particular those affecting them.

Diena comments on eight right-wing MPs who posed for the next year calendar together with four members of the national radical organisation Latvian National Front (headed by Aivars Garda). The MPs were from the union of the Farmers and Greens, the Peoples Party, the New Era, For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM and the Latvian First Party. MPs explained that they do not share exactly the same views of the National Party concerning decolonisation of Latvia, such as deportation of non-citizens, however they support the idea of Latvias decolonisation. The researcher of the Public Policy Centre PROVIDUS Maija Golubeva and the head of the Human Rights Institute of the University of Latvia Arturs Kucs note that in no way MP should show their support for national radical organisations.

Latvijas Avize writes about a project in the field of social integration at the Jaunogre Secondary School. Students of this minority school in the framework of the project ‘Life stories of politically repressed persons collect life stories of politically repressed persons.

The seventh festival of minority schools ensembles and choirs will take place in Riga on 26 and 27 November. The festival is supported by the Secretariat of the Minister for Special Assignments for Society Integration.

The seventh festival of minority schools ensembles and choirs will take place in Riga on 26 and 27 November. The festival is supported by the Secretariat of the Minister for Special Assignments for Society Integration. Vesti Segodnya