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 Review

Mr. Juris Lorencs (

Mr. Juris Lorencs ("Latvijas Cels" Secretary General) does not believe that a two-community society has formed in Latvia. He stresses that there are no ethnicity-based political parties in Latvia while 73% of the country's population voted for its independence in 1991. Mr. Lorencs notes that the figure equals the percentage of citizens among Latvia's population. Still, Latvian and Russian-speaking communities are separated with one part of the mass-media being Latvian-oriented and another part focusing entirely on Russian readers, viewers and listeners, stresses Lorencs. He refers to a sociological research showing that Latvians and non-Latvians have very similar values. Mr. Lorencs believes that the idea of Latvia's independence should serve as a main factor for integrating the country's society and criticizes both Latvian and Russian radicals for promoting ideas that may lead to the forming of a two isolated communities. Mr. Lorencs believes that several reasons account for slow naturalization of non-citizens. Among these are a disappointment with the policy of the Government and its poor morals and campaigns launched by political parties that use non-Latvians as a culprit responsible for all problems faced by the country. Mr. Lorencs believes that annual quotas for naturalization of all applicants for citizenship irrespective of their age should be introduce in the Citizenship Law. Another solution, according to Lorencs, could be canceling all quota or "window" mechanisms. He supports naturalization of all Latvia's inhabitants having a command of the Latvian language. Diena

Head of the Latvian UNDP Bureau John Hendra in his interview for "BIZNES & BALTIYA" summarized Latvia's achievements and the UNDP contribution to the country's development during last four years. He believes the assistance provided by the UNDP to Latvia in establishing the Human Rights Office to be the most significant achievement of the organization in the human dimension domain. Mr. Hendra singled out the development of the State Language Training Program as the most difficult assignment. The UNDP Bureau was involved in a heated political discussion that focused on the teaching of the Latvian language in Russian schools. The UNDP Bureau was criticized both by the Russian-language press and by the Latvian side. Still, Mr. Hendra believes that the results achieved are acceptable to both sides. Mastering of the Latvian language by non-Latvians is an essential mechanism for facilitating the integration of the Latvian society, believes Mr. Hendra. He mentioned granting of Latvian citizenship to all children born in Latvia as one of the most important amendments to be introduced in the Latvian legislation stressing that the OSCE Mission to Latvia had a similar opinion on the issue.

Head of the Latvian UNDP Bureau John Hendra in his interview for "BIZNES & BALTIYA" summarized Latvia's achievements and the UNDP contribution to the country's development during last four years. He believes the assistance provided by the UNDP to Latvia in establishing the Human Rights Office to be the most significant achievement of the organization in the human dimension domain. Mr. Hendra singled out the development of the State Language Training Program as the most difficult assignment. The UNDP Bureau was involved in a heated political discussion that focused on the teaching of the Latvian language in Russian schools. The UNDP Bureau was criticized both by the Russian-language press and by the Latvian side. Still, Mr. Hendra believes that the results achieved are acceptable to both sides. Mastering of the Latvian language by non-Latvians is an essential mechanism for facilitating the integration of the Latvian society, believes Mr. Hendra. He mentioned granting of Latvian citizenship to all children born in Latvia as one of the most important amendments to be introduced in the Latvian legislation stressing that the OSCE Mission to Latvia had a similar opinion on the issue. B&B