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

Yesterday the Cabinet of Ministers decided that no Minister will participate in the public events of the Commemorations Day of the Latvian Soldiers on 16 March,. The decision is binding on the National Armed Forces military persons. The government calls the society, the mass media, the political and non-governmental organisations to be understanding and tolerant towards the events organised by the veterans, as well as not to succumb to a provocation to destabilise the situation in the country.

Yesterday the Cabinet of Ministers decided that no Minister will participate in the public events of the Commemorations Day of the Latvian Soldiers on 16 March,. The decision is binding on the National Armed Forces military persons. The government calls the society, the mass media, the political and non-governmental organisations to be understanding and tolerant towards the events organised by the veterans, as well as not to succumb to a provocation to destabilise the situation in the country. Diena

Panorama Latvii interviews the MP Janis Urbanovics (For the Human Rights) about the proposed amendments to the Law on Municipal Elections providing the non-citizens with the rights to participate in the elections of the local authorities. According to Mr. Urbanovics, the fraction will do everything to amend the law. He thinks that the European structures which for long time think that these elections should be democratised, will support the fraction. Panorama Latvii

Yesterday the Vice Speaker of the Russian Duma Sergey Baburin met with the representatives of the Russian public organisations in Latvia to discuss the situation of Russian speaking population. “We came to Riga with a hope for significant changes in the Latvian-Russian relations, and in relations of the Latvian authorities with the Russian speaking population. The time goes, but nothing practically changes,” Mr. Baburin said. He told that during the meetings with the Latvian officials the Russian delegation drew their attention to the human rights violations, issues of non-citizens, and the tendency towards elimination of the education in the Russian language. The representatives of the Russian public organisations in Latvia provided the Russian delegation with the specific examples of the human rights violations, including the closing of the Russian schools, the dismissing the teachers who have not passed the Latvian language examination, the restrictions on naturalisation. “The position of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is clear and strict: the Latvian authorities should give up the naive assumption that without solving the problem of education in the Russian language, citizenship issues and others, it will be possible to have successful economic co-operation with Russia,” Mr. Baburin said. The Russian Duma delegates assured the participants of the meeting that the Russian Federation will actively protect its countrymen.

Yesterday the Vice Speaker of the Russian Duma Sergey Baburin met with the representatives of the Russian public organisations in Latvia to discuss the situation of Russian speaking population. We came to Riga with a hope for significant changes in the Latvian-Russian relations, and in relations of the Latvian authorities with the Russian speaking population. The time goes, but nothing practically changes, Mr. Baburin said. He told that during the meetings with the Latvian officials the Russian delegation drew their attention to the human rights violations, issues of non-citizens, and the tendency towards elimination of the education in the Russian language. The representatives of the Russian public organisations in Latvia provided the Russian delegation with the specific examples of the human rights violations, including the closing of the Russian schools, the dismissing the teachers who have not passed the Latvian language examination, the restrictions on naturalisation. The position of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is clear and strict: the Latvian authorities should give up the naive assumption that without solving the problem of education in the Russian language, citizenship issues and others, it will be possible to have successful economic co-operation with Russia, Mr. Baburin said. The Russian Duma delegates assured the participants of the meeting that the Russian Federation will actively protect its countrymen. Panorama Latvii

A while ago the daft law on ratification of the 6th Protocol to the European Human Rights Convention providing the abolition of the death penalty, was adopted by the Latvian parliament in the 1st reading. Some MP’s think that after the tragedy in Gulbene the deputies will be reluctant to support the draft law in the second reading. MP Kristiana Libane thinks that in the context of this tragedy the majority of the parliament might support the position of the MP Dzintars Rasnacs stating that the Protocol should come into force no earlier than within two years.

A while ago the daft law on ratification of the 6th Protocol to the European Human Rights Convention providing the abolition of the death penalty, was adopted by the Latvian parliament in the 1st reading. Some MPs think that after the tragedy in Gulbene the deputies will be reluctant to support the draft law in the second reading. MP Kristiana Libane thinks that in the context of this tragedy the majority of the parliament might support the position of the MP Dzintars Rasnacs stating that the Protocol should come into force no earlier than within two years. SM

Yesterday the Saeima Commission on Education discussed the proposals for the second reading of the Draft Language Law. The majority did not support the proposal of the fraction

Yesterday the Saeima Commission on Education discussed the proposals for the second reading of the Draft Language Law. The majority did not support the proposal of the fraction For Human Rights defining the role of the state in providing the national minorities with the opportunities to learn the Latvian language. The commission also discussed the provisions concerning the use of the language in announcements, bills and posters. B&B