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.

• Yesterday Saeima ratified the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
• Peoples Party evaluates the statements of its member Aleksandrs Kirsteins
• Researcher of the Public Policy Centre PROVIDUS Marija Golubeva about problems in the Latvian education system
• OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Rolf Ekeus will visit Latvia on 2 - 3 June

Yesterday Saeima ratified the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The Convention was adopted with the previously developed two reservations – regarding the use of minority languages in communication with municipalities and in street signs, while the minority definition was slightly changed.

Yesterday Saeima ratified the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The Convention was adopted with the previously developed two reservations – regarding the use of minority languages in communication with municipalities and in street signs, while the minority definition was slightly changed. Diena notes that the minority definition adopted by Latvia is among the most liberal in Europe because the definition provides that persons who are not citizens of Latvia and any other country may also enjoy the rights provided by the Convention. 64 MPs voted for ratification, while 9 MPs voted against it. The union For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM protested against ratification, while the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia objected the introduction of reservations and the minority definition. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Diena reports that yesterday the Peoples Party convened an extraordinary meeting of the partys board to evaluate its member Aleksandrs Kirsteins statements about Jews and their role in Latvia. As reported a number of human rights experts evaluated these statements not being far from calls to national hatred and anti-Semitic. According to the unofficial information, the board discussed the possibility to exclude Kirsteins from the party. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Chas, Telegraf

Diena prints an article by the researcher of the Public Policy Centre PROVIDUS Marija Golubeva about problems in the Latvian education system. The author of the article refers to ruling of the Constitutional Court on the compliance of the minority education reform with the Constitution of Latvia and points to the conclusions of the court, which say that there is a lack of sustainability in the implementation of the minority education reform as well as the lack of education quality controlling mechanisms. The researcher states that defective education policy mechanisms deny a part of pupils in Latvia an equal access to the Latvian education system. In this respect, Maria Golubeva refers to the discussions, organised by the PROVIDUS, about the future of minority and multicultural education in Latvia. Almost all members of the discussion expressed their concern about grounds and means used in implementing any changes in the Latvian education system. While views about a possibility to have equal access to education differed drastically: representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science argued that all ethnic and linguistic groups in Latvia enjoy equal access to education, however, a representative of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies noted that there is segregation of Roma at almost all school where they are represented. In the conclusion, the researcher calls the broader society to discuss the future of the Latvian education system.

The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Rolf Ekeus will visit Latvia on 2 and 3 June to learn about the situation in the area of social integration and the implementation of the minority education reform.

The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Rolf Ekeus will visit Latvia on 2 and 3 June to learn about the situation in the area of social integration and the implementation of the minority education reform. Diena, Latvijas Avize