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.

• Parties can not agree on which party should be responsible for the Secretariat of the Minister for Special Assignments for Society Integration
• European Court of Human Rights accepts the case of Tatjana Zdanoka
• Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee discusses the impact of Russia on Latvias informative space
• Neatkariga Rita Avize discusses political choices of new citizens of Latvia in the forthcoming municipal elections
• Chas writes about the attitude of Europe towards minority problems in Latvia
• Vesti Segodnya comments on the border agreement between Latvia and Russia
• Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools calls parents of minority students take part in the meeting
• Commentary on ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities

The President’s choice Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis and the party New Era were not able to come at an agreements regarding the post of the Special Tasks Minister for Social Integration: the New Era continues to refuse the post.

The Presidents choice Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis and the party New Era were not able to come at an agreements regarding the post of the Special Tasks Minister for Social Integration: the New Era continues to refuse the post. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Chas

On the request of the Latvian Government the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has accepted for its revision the case of Tatjana Zdanoka. In June the Small Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the state of Latvia has violated the right of Zdanoka to free elections. Tatjana Zdanoka applied with the ECHR in 2000 challenging Latvian legislation, which provided prohibition for persons who were the members of the Communist Party and other movements working against interests of independent Latvia, after 1991.

On the request of the Latvian Government the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has accepted for its revision the case of Tatjana Zdanoka. In June the Small Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the state of Latvia has violated the right of Zdanoka to free elections. Tatjana Zdanoka applied with the ECHR in 2000 challenging Latvian legislation, which provided prohibition for persons who were the members of the Communist Party and other movements working against interests of independent Latvia, after 1991. Diena, Latvijas Avize

The Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee discussed the impact of Russia on Latvia’s informative space. The discussion focused on programmes broadcasted by the First Baltic Channel. The head of the committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins noted that only 20% of channel’s broadcasting time is taken by the First Baltic Channel, while the remaining 80% programmes produced by the Russia’s channel ORT are showed. Aleksandrs Kirsteins believes that the ORT is the channel of the Kremlin. ‘Taking into account that the First Baltic Channel is not and, according to financial circumstances, can not be independent from Russia’s political influence, and that it was formed with the aim to maintain the control over Russian-speaking part of the society, Latvia should annul channel’s broadcasting license,’ believes Aleksandrs Kirsteins. While the Head of Latvia’s First Party parliamentary group Oskars Kastens argued that the audience of Russia’s TV channels in Latvia would be decreased by increasing the number of programmes in the Russian language on the public television channel

The Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee discussed the impact of Russia on Latvias informative space. The discussion focused on programmes broadcasted by the First Baltic Channel. The head of the committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins noted that only 20% of channels broadcasting time is taken by the First Baltic Channel, while the remaining 80% programmes produced by the Russias channel ORT are showed. Aleksandrs Kirsteins believes that the ORT is the channel of the Kremlin. ‘Taking into account that the First Baltic Channel is not and, according to financial circumstances, can not be independent from Russias political influence, and that it was formed with the aim to maintain the control over Russian-speaking part of the society, Latvia should annul channels broadcasting license, believes Aleksandrs Kirsteins. While the Head of Latvias First Party parliamentary group Oskars Kastens argued that the audience of Russias TV channels in Latvia would be decreased by increasing the number of programmes in the Russian language on the public television channel Latvijas Televizija. Latvijas Avize

Neatkariga Rita Avize discusses political choices of new citizens of Latvia in the forthcoming municipal elections. Referring to the survey, conducted by the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences in 2001, the journalist states that political choices of new citizens embrace all spectrums of political parties, although the majority stated that they would support ethnic left parties and social democrats. When asked on the impact of the implementation of the education reform on political choices of new-citizens, the sociologist and director of Latvijas Fakti Aigars Freimanis states that the education reform has been both a consolidating and dividing factor for non-Latvians, because not all non-Latvians support radical views. The Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane believes that protest actions against the education reform have failed and therefore cannot influence political choices of new citizens. While applicants for naturalisation and new citizens, interviewed by the newspaper, name the language of instruction at school as one of the factors, which influence their political choices. The number of new citizens has increased by more than 40,000 in comparison to the municipal elections in 2001.

Chas writes about the attitude of Europe towards minority problems in Latvia. The newspaper notes that recommendations of Europe become more persistent. The member of the European Parliament Jaromir Kohlicek (Czech Republic), interviewed by the newspaper, believes that education in Russian-language schools should be provided in Russian.

Vesti Segodnya writes about the Latvian Russian border agreement. The newspaper points to statements of several right-wing politicians that Latvia should demand compensation from Russia for the losses of property and land in the Abrene region. The Deputy Chairman of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Leopolds Ozolins is ready to raise the issue concerning the compensation for the region of Abrene. The newspaper believes that in this case ratification of the boarder agreement could be frozen for unsettled period.

The Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools has issued a call to minority students’ parents. The Headquarters calls parents to participate in parents’ meeting on 4 December 2004. According to the Headquarters, the Ministry of Education and Science continues to ignore the real situation at minority schools-  studies in the Latvian language at minority schools hamper students’ academic progress. 

The Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools has issued a call to minority students parents. The Headquarters calls parents to participate in parents meeting on 4 December 2004. According to the Headquarters, the Ministry of Education and Science continues to ignore the real situation at minority schools- studies in the Latvian language at minority schools hamper students academic progress. Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize features a commentary about ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The columnist Voldemars Krustins criticises state officials for obeying EU pressure.