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

Rigas Balss interviews the Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane about the current situation in the NB offices. According to Ms. Aldermane the wish to naturalise is big, but the possibilities of the Naturalisation Board are limited, therefore, there are already long queues of persons waiting to submit the documents for naturalisation. In Riga City the situation is the most critical. For example, in the Vidzeme and the Latgale districts of Riga, persons who wish to naturalise is put on the waiting list for submitting the documents only in September. After the opening of the naturalisation windows, these NB offices have received 3960 applications. Ms. Aldermane hopes that the government will allocate additional means, so, that the NB will be able to hire new staff and to fasten the application consideration process. Rigas Balss

The Latvian Ambassador in the UN in Geneva Romans Baumanis is elected to UN Human Rights Commission’s Bureau. The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledges that it will help to strengthen the Latvia’s reputation in the human rights sphere.

The Latvian Ambassador in the UN in Geneva Romans Baumanis is elected to UN Human Rights Commissions Bureau. The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledges that it will help to strengthen the Latvias reputation in the human rights sphere. Diena, Neatkariga

The sample of primary education program for national minorities including four models of the bilingual education were distributed by the Ministry of Education to the teachers for the consideration. As the Director of the Education Strategy Department Baiba Petersone told

The sample of primary education program for national minorities including four models of the bilingual education were distributed by the Ministry of Education to the teachers for the consideration. As the Director of the Education Strategy Department Baiba Petersone told Diena, all models of the bilingual education are drafted to give a pupil an opportunity to acquire the Latvian language to the point when he/she would not experience difficulties in obtaining the secondary education in the state language.

Dienapublishes the summarised version of all four models. The first model provides for the gradual transition from the education in the native language to the education in the Latvian language. In the first grade 25-50% of subjects are taught in the Latvian language, in the 2nd and 3rd grades - 50 to 80%, in the 4th grade all subjects, except for the native language and literature, are taught in the Latvian language, and in the 5th and the 6th grades - 50 - 80%, in the remaining grades of the primary education level - almost all subjects are taught in the state language. This model is suggested to the pupils from the mixed families who have good knowledge of the Latvian language. This bilingual education model has been successfully implemented in the Riga Secondary School No 33 for already 5 years. The second model is meant for children whose family does not speak Latvian, but whose parents support the integration of their children into the Latvian society. This model provides for 5 to 50% of subjects taught in Latvian in the elementary school, while in the primary school the percentage of subjects taught in the state language would be from 40 to 40%. It is planned that in the last grades of the elementary school the geography, history and the civic studies would be taught in the Latvian language while the music and the exact sciences would be presented in the native language. The third model provides for one subject being taught in the Latvian language in the first grade. The number of the subjects in Latvian is gradually increased until in the 9th grade almost all subjects would be taught in the Latvian language. The fourth model which has not gained the popularity among the teachers of the minority schools, provide for approximately 50% subjects being taught in the Latvian language. According to the Director of the Riga Secondary School No 33 M. Kovalcuka the only thing that might create problems in the implementation of these models is the lack of professionally trained teachers. The state budget for this year provides 600, 000 Lats for the implementation of the education program for the national minorities. Diena

New Consul General of the Russian Federation Nikolay Bondarenko arrived to Daugavpils to replace the previous Consul General Gennady Kaznacheev.

New Consul General of the Russian Federation Nikolay Bondarenko arrived to Daugavpils to replace the previous Consul General Gennady Kaznacheev. Diena

The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs will give the assessment of the compliance of the draft state language law with international law standards within a couple of weeks, the Press Secretary of the Latvian MFA Toms Baumanis informs. In preparing of the assessment, the Ministry will consult with international experts, including the OSCE experts.

The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs will give the assessment of the compliance of the draft state language law with international law standards within a couple of weeks, the Press Secretary of the Latvian MFA Toms Baumanis informs. In preparing of the assessment, the Ministry will consult with international experts, including the OSCE experts. Jauna Avize

Panorama Latvii publishes the questions and the correct answers for the naturalisation exam on the Latvian history and constitution.

According to the SM journalist A. Elkin, the Russian Federation draft law on measures undertaken by the Russia to prevent the violation of the human rights of the RF countrymen in the Republic of Latvia which was prepared a year ago and whose consideration was suspended, will be soon reviewed by the Russian Duma in the first reading. The reason for “reanimation of this law” is marching of the legionnaires and rejecting by the Saeima of the draft law on the status of veterans of anti-Hitler coalition prepared by the fraction

According to the SM journalist A. Elkin, the Russian Federation draft law on measures undertaken by the Russia to prevent the violation of the human rights of the RF countrymen in the Republic of Latvia which was prepared a year ago and whose consideration was suspended, will be soon reviewed by the Russian Duma in the first reading. The reason for reanimation of this law is marching of the legionnaires and rejecting by the Saeima of the draft law on the status of veterans of anti-Hitler coalition prepared by the fraction For Human Rights. SM

SM publishes the opinions of several MP about the report of the European Commission arguing that there are cases of aggressive nationalism and anti-Semitism being observed in Latvia.

SM publishes an article by G. Evdakimov who expresses his opinion about the draft framework document on the state integration program. According to him, the integration á la Latvian means that everybody should know his/her place and be satisfied and not lay claim to somebody elses place. Latvians, according to Mr. Evdakimov, knows that this country belongs to them, and that they do not need to get integrated into anything, but for Russians it is different. If the Russians do not become satisfied with their place, there are laws that regulate the Russian life, including the Citizenship Law, Education Law, and Language Law. Mr. Evdakimov does not believe in integration, since the society is ill with the nationalism.