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.

• Latvijas avize: Integration Minister promises to promote the Russian language in Latvia
• State Language Centre inspects state language proficiency of school principles and teachers
• Interview with the new Riga Mayor Janis Birks
• New book on the observance of national minority rights in Europe
• Neatkariga comments on a possible consolidation of Latvias Way and Latvias First Party

On Friday, the Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kaluznij presented a programme The Year of the Russian Language developed and funded by Russia to foreign diplomats, Latvian politicians and representatives of the local Russian community. Within the presentation a round table discussions “Russian Mass Media in Latvia: Priorities, Problems and Support” were hold.

On Friday, the Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kaluznij presented a programme The Year of the Russian Language developed and funded by Russia to foreign diplomats, Latvian politicians and representatives of the local Russian community. Within the presentation a round table discussions Russian Mass Media in Latvia: Priorities, Problems and Support were hold. Chas reports on a number of other events foreseen in the programme. While Latvijas avize reports that in the presentation the Integration Minister Oskars Kastens has stated that the Russian community has to preserve its language and we will provide our support for the programme.

In February and March, the State Language Centre will examine state language proficiency of public school principles and teachers at 20 schools across Latvia. Inspectors will examine whether staff’s state language proficiency levels indicated in their state language proficiency certificates correspond to their actual state language skills. The Head of the General Education Quality Assessment State Agency under auspices of the Ministry of Education and Science Evija Papule has voiced dissatisfaction with the activities of the State Language Centre. The Agency believes that inspections at schools should be co-ordinated with the respective units of the Education Ministry. Mrs.Papule also notes that the State Language Centre has been “too harsh towards minority schools.” 

In February and March, the State Language Centre will examine state language proficiency of public school principles and teachers at 20 schools across Latvia. Inspectors will examine whether staffs state language proficiency levels indicated in their state language proficiency certificates correspond to their actual state language skills. The Head of the General Education Quality Assessment State Agency under auspices of the Ministry of Education and Science Evija Papule has voiced dissatisfaction with the activities of the State Language Centre. The Agency believes that inspections at schools should be co-ordinated with the respective units of the Education Ministry. Mrs.Papule also notes that the State Language Centre has been too harsh towards minority schools.

Latvijas Avize interviews the new Riga Mayor Janis Birks. When asked about granting Latvian non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections, the Mayor states that if a person is not able or does not want to learn the Latvian language, s/he is not loyal to Latvia and therefore should not be given rights to participate in municipal elections.

Chas reports on a publication of a report on the observance of national minority rights in Europe. According to a number of criteria, researchers Christoph Pan and Beate Sibylle Pfeil ranked Latvia at the 28th place among European countries in observance the rights of national minorities, arguing that Latvia had fulfilled its commitments to the extent of 42%.

Neatkariga features an article on difficulties the two parties – Latvias Way and Latvias First Party – might face in their consolidation process. Though the leader of the Latvias Way Ainars Slesers has stated that the main aim of the consolidation of the two parties is the consolidation of both Latvian and Russian communities, the newspaper lists a number of aspects which might hamper the consolidation of the two parties, including an invitation to the Concord Centre to join the new party and parties attitudes towards sexual minorities.