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 at the closed session the Saeima Standing Committee and the OSCE experts discussed the draft language law adopted in the 2nd reading and the amendments proposed by the OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel. According to

Yesterday at the closed session the Saeima Standing Committee and the OSCE experts discussed the draft language law adopted in the 2nd reading and the amendments proposed by the OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel. According to Diena, it is difficult to tell whether the Committee will support the OSCE attempts to achieve the compliance of the draft language law with the Latvias international obligations in the human rights sphere. As the Chair of the Committee Dz. Abikis told Diena, during the meeting the OSCE experts emphasised the need for bringing the draft law into the agreement with the Latvias international obligations. Therefore, the regulation of the language in the private sphere should be justified only for protection of consumer rights and the rights of employees, as well as for the safety purposes. The Saeima deputies explained to the experts the situation of the endangered Latvian language as the legacy of the occupation. Therefore, in order to improve the situation, it is necessary to adopt the law that would strengthen the position of the state language. Mr. Abikis pointed out that after the restoration of the independence the language policy has ensured the stability and has been right. Therefore, the state should not give up the requirements and norms, which have been included in the existing language law, for example, concerning the use of the Latvian language at open events and announcements.

Mr. Abikis said that the provisions of the language law are “loose concept”, therefore it is difficult to predict how the meetings of the Saeima deputies and experts end. The experts refrained from commenting the meeting.

Mr. Abikis said that the provisions of the language law are loose concept, therefore it is difficult to predict how the meetings of the Saeima deputies and experts end. The experts refrained from commenting the meeting. Diena

According to the information provided by

According to the information provided by Neatkariga, the experts and the committee members agreed that the consumer rights and the rights of employees should be protected. And Mr. Abikis has noted that an agreement about the flexible approach has been reached, since the interests of employees are a loose concept

The main requirement by the OSCE representatives was that the law should comply with the international documents. The Latvian experts, on contrary, believe that the existing draft law does comply with the Latvia’s international obligations. Mr. Abikis acknowledged that one can talk about some nuances, but no big amendments of the draft law conceptually will be done.

The main requirement by the OSCE representatives was that the law should comply with the international documents. The Latvian experts, on contrary, believe that the existing draft law does comply with the Latvias international obligations. Mr. Abikis acknowledged that one can talk about some nuances, but no big amendments of the draft law conceptually will be done.

At the meeting with the OSCE representatives the Latvian language experts Dz. Hirsa and I. Druviete were present. I. Druviete had stressed that no provisions that might undermine the national interests of the Latvian state should be adopted.

At the meeting with the OSCE representatives the Latvian language experts Dz. Hirsa and I. Druviete were present. I. Druviete had stressed that no provisions that might undermine the national interests of the Latvian state should be adopted.

Druviete told NEATKARIGA that a separate meeting of the OSCE experts with the Latvian specialists took place, and that it was the most constructive one so far. She expressed the hope that an agreement concerning the problematic issues, for instance the use of the language in the record keeping of the private enterprises, will be reached during the following meetings.

Druviete told NEATKARIGA that a separate meeting of the OSCE experts with the Latvian specialists took place, and that it was the most constructive one so far. She expressed the hope that an agreement concerning the problematic issues, for instance the use of the language in the record keeping of the private enterprises, will be reached during the following meetings. Neatkariga

B&B; states that all attempts by the OSCE experts to mitigate some provisions of the draft language law encountered the opposition of the Saeima Committee on Education.

B&B states that all attempts by the OSCE experts to mitigate some provisions of the draft language law encountered the opposition of the Saeima Committee on Education.

One of the experts John Packer stressed that the in recent years in the international practice the interests of private business prevail over the language, race and other issues. Mr. Packer expressed the hope that the Latvian legislators will take into account that the interference into the private sphere should be justified by the public interests.

One of the experts John Packer stressed that the in recent years in the international practice the interests of private business prevail over the language, race and other issues. Mr. Packer expressed the hope that the Latvian legislators will take into account that the interference into the private sphere should be justified by the public interests.

The MP A. Bartashevich told B&B; that if the law on state language will differ a lot from the draft law recommended by the OSCE, it is possible that the law’s compliance with the international law and various conventions on the rights of national minorities, will be considered by the European court.

The MP A. Bartashevich told B&B that if the law on state language will differ a lot from the draft law recommended by the OSCE, it is possible that the laws compliance with the international law and various conventions on the rights of national minorities, will be considered by the European court. B&B

Sergey Zaletaev,

Sergey Zaletaev, Panorama Latvii journalists, expresses dissatisfaction with the fact that the meeting of the Saeima Standing Committee on Education with the OSCE experts took place behind the closed doors for journalists.

Mr. P.Lakis, the head of the Latvian Academy of Culture, argues that there is a relative peace in the interethnic relations in Latvia, and any attempts to change the attitude of the particular groups towards the state’s course create the negative emotions. The Latvians and people of other nationalities, in most cases, are content with the existing interethnic situation, and are not ready for the real integration.

Mr. P.Lakis, the head of the Latvian Academy of Culture, argues that there is a relative peace in the interethnic relations in Latvia, and any attempts to change the attitude of the particular groups towards the states course create the negative emotions. The Latvians and people of other nationalities, in most cases, are content with the existing interethnic situation, and are not ready for the real integration. Jauna Avize