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.

Press Report

Last Tuesday (October 14) the President's Consultative Council on Nationality Affairs held a discussion of the Draft Law on the State Language. The Council invited several experts on language issues to its meeting. Director of the State Language Center Dzintra Hirsa pointed to a certain decrease in the level of demands for the knowledge and the application of the state language. She supported the provision of Draft Law that required a mandatory use of the Latvian language in private enterprises including verbal communication. Head of the Language Training Program Aija Priedite disagreed with Ms. Hirsa noting that private and public domains should not be confused in the Law. She referred to the similar assessment of the "stricter" version of the Law by the

Last Tuesday (October 14) the President's Consultative Council on Nationality Affairs held a discussion of the Draft Law on the State Language. The Council invited several experts on language issues to its meeting. Director of the State Language Center Dzintra Hirsa pointed to a certain decrease in the level of demands for the knowledge and the application of the state language. She supported the provision of Draft Law that required a mandatory use of the Latvian language in private enterprises including verbal communication. Head of the Language Training Program Aija Priedite disagreed with Ms. Hirsa noting that private and public domains should not be confused in the Law. She referred to the similar assessment of the "stricter" version of the Law by the Saeima Committee on Education and Culture and by the Saeima Human Rights Committee. Member of the Consultative Council Ms. Tatyana Liguta believes further restrictions on the use of languages other than Latvian to be undemocratic. The Language Law should define the role of internationally used languages, such as Russian and English, believes Ms. Liguta. She suggested to let schools to decide whether they will improve their pupils' knowledge of the Latvian language by increasing the number of language classes or by teaching part of the subjects in Latvian. President Ulmanis promised to proceed with the analysis of the Language Law. He said that he was aware of the importance of the Law and warned against thoughtless decisions that might build up confrontation within the society. Diena

Yesterday the State Human Rights Office held a discussion of the social rights situation in Latvia. The agenda included the observance of an individual's right for acceptable living standard, social security and employment. Participants of the discussion admitted that the social rights situation in the country was unsatisfactory. Head of Human Rights Office Olafs Bruveris referred to Latvia's international obligations in the social domain. The Office will analyze the observance of the International Pact on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights by Latvia.

Yesterday the State Human Rights Office held a discussion of the social rights situation in Latvia. The agenda included the observance of an individual's right for acceptable living standard, social security and employment. Participants of the discussion admitted that the social rights situation in the country was unsatisfactory. Head of Human Rights Office Olafs Bruveris referred to Latvia's international obligations in the social domain. The Office will analyze the observance of the International Pact on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights by Latvia. Neatkariga

Today the

Today the Saeima is to vote on the canceling of window mechanism. According to "CHAS", "Tevzemei un Brivibai"/LNNK faction Chairman Janis Straume agreed that the discussion of the issue "was possible". He also reminded about the agreement between the governing factions that did not allow to amend the Citizenship Law. Still, head of the "Saimnieks" Ernests Jurkans believes that the amendments to the law could be adopted by the Saeima. Chas, SM