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

Press Review

Dienapublishes an article about prospects of education system in Latvia written by the Minister of Education Janis Gaigals. According to Mr. Gaigals, the main objective in education sphere is the formation of a modern and integrated education system in Latvia. Education should be considered as unified system which provides each resident of Latvia with equal rights and opportunities to obtain education. The State should implement education policy and strategy, education development programme for next four years as it is provided for by the new Education Law adopted by the Saeima. Mr. Gaigals believes that purposefully organised education system can ensure that the learning of the Latvian language becomes one of the main instruments in building integrated civic society. In 1998 the Ministry has prepared almost ten different state programs that provide for solution of issues related with the acquiring of the state language, youth policy, protection of rights of the child, juvenile delinquency, and other. Unfortunately, it will be impossible to start entire implementation of these programs in 1999 due to the lack of financing from the state budget.Diena

Teachers lack information about a bilingual education method which will have to be used in primary schools of national minorities. In the Ministry of Education and Science a journalist was told that there has not been sufficient attention paid to an instruction of teachers about a bilingual method. Tatjana Liguta, Chair of the Association of Teachers of the Russian language and literature, told 

Teachers lack information about a bilingual education method which will have to be used in primary schools of national minorities. In the Ministry of Education and Science a journalist was told that there has not been sufficient attention paid to an instruction of teachers about a bilingual method. Tatjana Liguta, Chair of the Association of Teachers of the Russian language and literature, toldDiena that she learned about the conception of bilingual education prepared by the Ministry of Education only on 3 December. It means that teachers have not reviewed the conception, yet. The method also requires changes in teachers thinking, but that does not occur quickly, Ms. Liguta says. According to Romans Alijevs, Director of the Classical Gymnasium with Russian as the language of instruction, each national minority school has a teacher who is interested and who knows about the bilingual education, and who could provide other teachers with training. However, their work should be co-ordinated and paid. Baiba Kinstlere, a chair of the Integration Department at the Ministry of Education, admitted that there is not enough information about a bilingual education method. It is also unclear how to implement the conception of bilingual education. The Ministry of Education has planned to publish brochures about bilingual education next year. Diena

Boris Tsilevch (

Boris Tsilevch (Peoples Harmony Party) and Tatjana Zhdanok (movement For Equality) returned from an international conference dedicated to the 50th Anniversary of the UN Human Rights Declaration which took place in Paris. The conference in which human rights advocates from 68 countries participated, adopted the Paris Declaration which included proposals of the Latvian representatives, namely, a statement that the discrimination cannot be justified by historical reasons. This, according to Boris Tsilevich, is exactly what the Latvian authorities do in relation to the national minorities in Latvia. Tatjana Zhdanok argues that Latvia continues to violate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Latvia might be accused of racism which is a discrimination on the basis of ethnicity and origin. SM, Chas

BIZNES&BALTIYA; publishes excerpts from a discussion about the role of mass media in the acquiring of the Latvian language which was organised by the State Language Training Program last Monday.

BIZNES&BALTIYA publishes excerpts from a discussion about the role of mass media in the acquiring of the Latvian language which was organised by the State Language Training Program last Monday. B&B

Nikolay Kabanov in article for the SM states that after regaining independence there is “an unprecedented experiment - forced assimilation of considerably large and compactly residing Russian people“ being carried out in Latvia. “A banal Latvianisation takes place.” Mr. Kabanov explains this aggression towards the Russian language as an expression of inferiority complex of the Latvian intelligentsia. “It is apophasis of cultural protectionism policy, “Mr. Kabanov states, and the reason is inability of the Latvian language to compete in the market. “The Latvian state who, first of all, implements interests of bourgeoisie and intelligentsia, has to use all its might to impose on Russians - carriers of thousand years culture - a pleasant but completely local culture of Latvians.”

Nikolay Kabanov in article for the SM states that after regaining independence there is an unprecedented experiment - forced assimilation of considerably large and compactly residing Russian people being carried out in Latvia. A banal Latvianisation takes place. Mr. Kabanov explains this aggression towards the Russian language as an expression of inferiority complex of the Latvian intelligentsia. It is apophasis of cultural protectionism policy, Mr. Kabanov states, and the reason is inability of the Latvian language to compete in the market. The Latvian state who, first of all, implements interests of bourgeoisie and intelligentsia, has to use all its might to impose on Russians - carriers of thousand years culture - a pleasant but completely local culture of Latvians. SM