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.

• Ratings of political parties in November
• Interview with the Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis
• Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee supports the amendments to the Law on Radio and Television
• Statistics on complaints received by the National Human Rights Office
• Russian language newspapers discuss the necessity of independent expertise of the quality of education in minority schools
• Activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools Aleksandrs Kazakovs criticizes the appointment of Ina Druviete to the post of the Minister of Education and Science
• Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov points to minority problems in Latvia and Estonia
• Director of the Russian Centre for Scientific and Cultural Collaboration Elena Mitrofanov talks about the minority education reform in Latvia
• Russia plans to organise the meeting of national leaders of Russia and NATO member states in Moscow on 9 May 2004
• Russia will allocate RUB300,000,000 (EUR 7,877,610) for its compatriots
• Newspapers discuss ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
• Cabinet of Ministers allocates funding for four Russian military pensioners who want to emigrate from Latvia
• Hanukas celebrations took place in the centre of Riga

The latest opinion poll conducted by the company SKDS shows that the New Era has remained the most popular political party in November – 17.4% citizens would vote for the New Era. Ratings of other parties are the following: For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM – 10%, For Human Rights in the United Latvia – 9.4%, the Union of Farmers and Greens – 8.9%, the People’s Party – 8.2% and Latvia’s Way – 5.3%. The rating of the Latvia’s First Party, which is in the government, is 2.6%. The opinion poll was conducted after the resignation of the Emsis’ government, but before the formation process of the new government.

The latest opinion poll conducted by the company SKDS shows that the New Era has remained the most popular political party in November – 17.4% citizens would vote for the New Era. Ratings of other parties are the following: For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM – 10%, For Human Rights in the United Latvia – 9.4%, the Union of Farmers and Greens – 8.9%, the Peoples Party – 8.2% and Latvias Way – 5.3%. The rating of the Latvias First Party, which is in the government, is 2.6%. The opinion poll was conducted after the resignation of the Emsis government, but before the formation process of the new government. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Chas

Neatkariga Rita Avize features an interview with the Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis. Regarding ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, the Prime Minister states that politicians exaggerate the possible effects of ratification. The Prime Minister believes that most likely the minority definition will be include only those minorities who were Latvian citizens until 17 June 1940 or their descendants.

Despite the President’s decision not to promulgate the amendments to the Law on Radio and Television and return the Law to Saeima, the Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee supported the amendments to the Law which 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.

Despite the Presidents decision not to promulgate the amendments to the Law on Radio and Television and return the Law to Saeima, the Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee supported the amendments to the Law which 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. Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

In 2004 the National Human Rights Office has received seven complaints from individuals who complained about violation of their rights on the grounds of their ethnicity. Another seven persons complained discrimination on the grounds of language, but four – about repressions because of their religious believes. According to the Head of the Analysis Department of the Bureau Liga Bikisiniece, Russians, for example, most frequently complain about municipality offcials who refuse to receive their applications written in Cyrillic.

In 2004 the National Human Rights Office has received seven complaints from individuals who complained about violation of their rights on the grounds of their ethnicity. Another seven persons complained discrimination on the grounds of language, but four – about repressions because of their religious believes. According to the Head of the Analysis Department of the Bureau Liga Bikisiniece, Russians, for example, most frequently complain about municipality offcials who refuse to receive their applications written in Cyrillic. Vesti Segodnya

Russian language newspapers discuss the necessity of independent expertise that would evaluate the quality of education in minority schools after the implementation of the education reform. The inquired human rights experts state that there is a need to conduct an independent expertise, because there is more and more negative information concerning the implementation of the reform and also the number of parents who believe that the academic success of their children is getting worse is increasing.  However, NGO representatives doubt that the state is interested in objective analysis of problems concerning the implementation of the education reform.

Russian language newspapers discuss the necessity of independent expertise that would evaluate the quality of education in minority schools after the implementation of the education reform. The inquired human rights experts state that there is a need to conduct an independent expertise, because there is more and more negative information concerning the implementation of the reform and also the number of parents who believe that the academic success of their children is getting worse is increasing. However, NGO representatives doubt that the state is interested in objective analysis of problems concerning the implementation of the education reform. Vesti Segodnya, Chas

‘The nomination of the member of the New Era Ina Druviete to the post of the Minister of Education and Science is making fun of the Russian community in Latvia,’ believes the activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools Aleksandrs Kazakovs who was recently expelled from Latvia. The activist states that although Ina Druviete stated that she is ready to talk with representatives of the Headquarters, her previous activities reveal her radical views and stances.

‘The nomination of the member of the New Era Ina Druviete to the post of the Minister of Education and Science is making fun of the Russian community in Latvia, believes the activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools Aleksandrs Kazakovs who was recently expelled from Latvia. The activist states that although Ina Druviete stated that she is ready to talk with representatives of the Headquarters, her previous activities reveal her radical views and stances. Latvijas Avize

The Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov has repeatedly drawn the attention of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe to issues of national minorities in Latvia and Estonia.

The Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov has repeatedly drawn the attention of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe to issues of national minorities in Latvia and Estonia. Latvijas Avize

‘There is no doubt that national languages should have a dominant role in national republics in all spheres, including educations,’ stated the director of the Russian Centre for Scientific and Cultural Collaboration Elena Mitrofanov. However, when asked about minority education reform in Latvia, Elena Mitrofanov pointed to several mistakes: lack of discussions in society about the reform and lack of training of minority schools teachers before the implementation of the reform. The official was concerned about the quality of education.

‘There is no doubt that national languages should have a dominant role in national republics in all spheres, including educations, stated the director of the Russian Centre for Scientific and Cultural Collaboration Elena Mitrofanov. However, when asked about minority education reform in Latvia, Elena Mitrofanov pointed to several mistakes: lack of discussions in society about the reform and lack of training of minority schools teachers before the implementation of the reform. The official was concerned about the quality of education. Latvijas Avize, Chas

Diena, referring to anonymous sources of information in Brussels, reports that Russia plans to organise a meeting of state leaders from Russia and NATO member states on 9 May 2004. ‘Therefore the pressure on the leaders of the Baltic States to participate in the celebrations of the anniversary of the victory in World War II could be increased, concludes the newspaper.

Russia is ready to increase funding for its compatriots residing in the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Baltic States, in 2005. Next year Russia plans to allocate RUB 300,000,000 (EUR 7,877,610) for its compatriots.

Russia is ready to increase funding for its compatriots residing in the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Baltic States, in 2005. Next year Russia plans to allocate RUB300,000,000 (EUR 7,877,610) for its compatriots. Telegraf

Latvijas Avize features a critical commentary by Vilnis Zarins on ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The author of the article believes that the standards of the Convention concerning the usage of minority languages should not be applied regarding languages of former occupants of Latvia, that is, Russian and German. Vilnis Zarins states ‘Latvia should categorically reject all attempts made by its former occupants to implement this Convention in seven largest Latvian cities/towns, population of which has changed substantially due to occupation. However, the author believes that Latvia should not ignore this Convention because its ratification would help Latvia to protect other minorities, for instance Belorussians, from russification. The columnist of the Russian-language newspaper Chas Leonids Fedoseyevs criticizes attempts of state officials to divide non-Latvian citizens into two groups.

The Cabinet of Ministers supported the allocation of financial support from the state budget for four Russian military pensioners who want to emigrate from Latvia. Two pensioners will receive LVL 2,160 (EUR 3151), but the other two LVL 1,440 (EUR 2100) and LVL 1,200 (EUR1700).

The Cabinet of Ministers supported the allocation of financial support from the state budget for four Russian military pensioners who want to emigrate from Latvia. Two pensioners will receive LVL2,160 (EUR 3151), but the other two LVL 1,440 (EUR 2100) and LVL1,200 (EUR1700). Chas

Yesterday the Jewish national holiday Hanuka was celebrated in the centre of Riga. Celebrations were organised by the Jewish religious organisation Habad-Lubavich.

Yesterday the Jewish national holiday Hanuka was celebrated in the centre of Riga. Celebrations were organised by the Jewish religious organisation Habad-Lubavich. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize