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

The Leader of the Latvian Way A. Pantelejevs told journalists that the stability of the Kristopans’ government mainly depends on the pace of the privatisation of big enterprises, and on whether the Union of Social Democrats will become full-pledged member of the coalition. The political analysts state that internal political struggle and economic decline have revealed the breaches within the ruling minority coalition. Some analysts even predict that the new coalition government might appear already by June.

The Leader of the Latvian Way A. Pantelejevs told journalists that the stability of the Kristopans government mainly depends on the pace of the privatisation of big enterprises, and on whether the Union of Social Democrats will become full-pledged member of the coalition. The political analysts state that internal political struggle and economic decline have revealed the breaches within the ruling minority coalition. Some analysts even predict that the new coalition government might appear already by June. Neatkariga, Diena

Due to the lack of time, last Friday the Russian Duma did not consider the draft laws concerning the economic sanctions against Latvia and the protection of the Russian speaking population in case of such sanctions. Now the consideration of these documents is scheduled for the first week of May.

Due to the lack of time, last Friday the Russian Duma did not consider the draft laws concerning the economic sanctions against Latvia and the protection of the Russian speaking population in case of such sanctions. Now the consideration of these documents is scheduled for the first week of May. Neatkariga

The conference about the necessity to establish the Ombudsman institution in Latvia took place last week in Riga. The participants did not reject the need of such an institution. Still, the discussion was about whether the instituion should be similar to the Scandinavian ombudsman, or the mandate of the already existing National Human Rights Office should be broadened.

The conference about the necessity to establish the Ombudsman institution in Latvia took place last week in Riga. The participants did not reject the need of such an institution. Still, the discussion was about whether the instituion should be similar to the Scandinavian ombudsman, or the mandate of the already existing National Human Rights Office should be broadened. Neatkariga

7176 residents of the Daugavpils have signed the petition to the State President and the Saeima calling to grant the status of the state language to the Russian language. The initiator of the petition is the Daugavpils Division of the Russian Society in Latvia. As the chair of the division Y. Krjukovs told

7176 residents of the Daugavpils have signed the petition to the State President and the Saeima calling to grant the status of the state language to the Russian language. The initiator of the petition is the Daugavpils Division of the Russian Society in Latvia. As the chair of the division Y. Krjukovs told Diena, not only Russians, but also Poles, Ukrainians, Belorussians, and even Latvians have signed the petition. The Daugavpils division of the Russian Society suggests to draft the law on the language and cultures of the national minorities in accordance with the framework convention on the protection of national minorities. This week Mr. Krjukov will submit the petition signed by the Daugavpils residents to the Saeima. The Daugavpils Latvian Society, the Association of the Politically Repressed Persons and the Daugavpils branch of the party For Fatherland and Freedom, on contrary, believe that the status of the state language should be strengthened in Daugavpils and that the model of the two -community state is unacceptable for Latvia. The head of the Daugavpils branch of For Fatherland and Freedom J. Zviedris thinks that the draft language law could be even more strict. According to him, the calling for the granting of the official status to the Russian language shows the tendency of formation the autonomous regions in Latvia and the division of the Latvian state. Diena, Panorama Latvii, Neatkariga

Dienajournalist Nellija Locmele argues that the previous voting on the draft language law shows that the majority of the deputies support the strict language law that strengthens the position of the Latvian language as the only state language and does not provide an opportunity for the Russian language to receive the official status. The major discussion is expected to be on the issues of the language use in the private sphere.Diena

On Saturday six MPs

On Saturday six MPs (The Latvian Way and For Human Rights) visited Daugavpils to get acquainted with the situation there due to the activities of the Daugavpils division of the Russian Society in Latvia. The MP Janis Lacplesis (The Latvian Way) believes that the politicians are the ones staring up emotions concerning the language law. The ordinary people already know how much knowledge of the state language they will need. According to MPs, the lack of the Latvian language teachers in Daugavpils is more important problem. The MPs acknowledged that the requirements of the Russian Society have to be respected. However, when voting on the draft language law, they will take into consideration the proposals of the Prime Minister, the recommendations of the OSCE High Commissioner and the international standards. Diena

On Friday the Head of the OSCE Mission D. Johnson informed the Minister of Education J. Gaigals that the OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel plans to visit Latvia at the beginning of May to get acquainted with the draft language law prepared for the third reading.

On Friday the Head of the OSCE Mission D. Johnson informed the Minister of Education J. Gaigals that the OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel plans to visit Latvia at the beginning of May to get acquainted with the draft language law prepared for the third reading. Panorama Latvii

At the conference “The Baltic States on the Road to the EU” organized by the K. Adenauer Fund in Berlin last week, the representative of the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry A. Trofimov reproached Latvia for its Education and Language laws, as well as for the long queues for the naturalisation applicants. At the same time, Mr. Trofimov said that Russia would like to deepen the political dialogue with Latvia in order to avoid the Kosovo situation.

At the conference The Baltic States on the Road to the EU organized by the K. Adenauer Fund in Berlin last week, the representative of the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry A. Trofimov reproached Latvia for its Education and Language laws, as well as for the long queues for the naturalisation applicants. At the same time, Mr. Trofimov said that Russia would like to deepen the political dialogue with Latvia in order to avoid the Kosovo situation. Diena

Members of the Saeima Standing Committee on the Implementation of the Citizenship Law who got acquainted with the pace of the naturalisation examination in Liepaja and Jelgava, are satisfied with the knowledge level of the applicants for the naturalisation. The worst situation is in Daugavpils where only 70% of applicants pass the language and history exams from the first try.

Members of the Saeima Standing Committee on the Implementation of the Citizenship Law who got acquainted with the pace of the naturalisation examination in Liepaja and Jelgava, are satisfied with the knowledge level of the applicants for the naturalisation. The worst situation is in Daugavpils where only 70% of applicants pass the language and history exams from the first try. Diena

In order to decrease the number of the applicants waiting for the submitting of the necessary documents, the Naturalisation Board have hired 5 more staff members for the Riga offices and formed the additional examination commission consisting of three examinators. Besides, the NB offices in Aluksne, Balvi and Preili will work full time from now on. According to the NB Press Secretary A. Smiltnieks, the most critical situation is in Riga where in Vidzemes and Latgales District offices the persons are put on the waiting list for the submitting necessary documents at the end of October, in Pardaugava offices - at the end of July, and in Centre office- end of June. The persons who have submitted the applications, have to wait two more months for the naturalisation examinations.

In order to decrease the number of the applicants waiting for the submitting of the necessary documents, the Naturalisation Board have hired 5 more staff members for the Riga offices and formed the additional examination commission consisting of three examinators. Besides, the NB offices in Aluksne, Balvi and Preili will work full time from now on. According to the NB Press Secretary A. Smiltnieks, the most critical situation is in Riga where in Vidzemes and Latgales District offices the persons are put on the waiting list for the submitting necessary documents at the end of October, in Pardaugava offices - at the end of July, and in Centre office- end of June. The persons who have submitted the applications, have to wait two more months for the naturalisation examinations. Diena

During the discussion of the chapter on education of the National Program on the Social integration in Latvia it was argued that in the formation of the integrated society little attention so far has been paid to the creation of the common value system and preparation of teachers, so, that they would be able to teach their subject in both Latvian and the native language. The Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Education A. Tomasuns concluded that after the adoption of the Education Law the Latvian education system has changed, therefore, the chapter on education of the National Program should be re-written. Baiba Petersone, the author of the chapter, agreed with the critics expressed during the discussion. According to her, the teaching of the disciplines of the social studies might promote the formation of the unified values system. The Director of the National Program For Latvian Language Training A. Priedite believes that there are not enough teachers in the national minority schools who would be able to teach their subjects in two languages. She disagreed with the proposal of the Chair of the Saeima Standing Committee on Education Dz. Abikis, to invite the teachers of the Latvian origin for teaching the bilingual subjects in the national minority schools.

During the discussion of the chapter on education of the National Program on the Social integration in Latvia it was argued that in the formation of the integrated society little attention so far has been paid to the creation of the common value system and preparation of teachers, so, that they would be able to teach their subject in both Latvian and the native language. The Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Education A. Tomasuns concluded that after the adoption of the Education Law the Latvian education system has changed, therefore, the chapter on education of the National Program should be re-written. Baiba Petersone, the author of the chapter, agreed with the critics expressed during the discussion. According to her, the teaching of the disciplines of the social studies might promote the formation of the unified values system. The Director of the National Program For Latvian Language Training A. Priedite believes that there are not enough teachers in the national minority schools who would be able to teach their subjects in two languages. She disagreed with the proposal of the Chair of the Saeima Standing Committee on Education Dz. Abikis, to invite the teachers of the Latvian origin for teaching the bilingual subjects in the national minority schools. Diena

Panorama Latvii (24 April) and SM (26 April) publish the articles commenting the discussion of integration issues organised by the National Program for the Latvian Language Training last week. Mr. Sergey Zaletayev (PANORAMA LATVII) and Alexander Gilman (SM) question the efficiency of such discussions, since parties holding different positions on the integration and assimilation do not change their opinion about these issues.