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

July 8, Latvian parliament by a certain majority (73 for, 16 against, 8 abstaining) passed the long-discussed State Language Law. In most cases the politicians supported versions of the law’s articles suggested by the responsible committee that correspond the OSCE recommendations but in two cases the recommendations were ignored and the commission’s opinion was rejected. MP s from the People’s Party, FF/LNNK, Social Democrats decided that the state language should be used in all public events. The above three factions and Latvia’s Way supported another provision requiring all signs, billboards, announcements in public places to be in the state language not allowing for usage of another language along with the state language. Head of the responsible commission Dzintars Abikis explained that the two above provisions have been working successfully for several years under the current law and have never been seriously objected.

July 8, Latvian parliament by a certain majority (73 for, 16 against, 8 abstaining) passed the long-discussed State Language Law. In most cases the politicians supported versions of the laws articles suggested by the responsible committee that correspond the OSCE recommendations but in two cases the recommendations were ignored and the commissions opinion was rejected. MP s from the Peoples Party, FF/LNNK, Social Democrats decided that the state language should be used in all public events. The above three factions and Latvias Way supported another provision requiring all signs, billboards, announcements in public places to be in the state language not allowing for usage of another language along with the state language. Head of the responsible commission Dzintars Abikis explained that the two above provisions have been working successfully for several years under the current law and have never been seriously objected.

However, right after being passed the new law received criticism from foreign officials as well as the local human rights specialists.

However, right after being passed the new law received criticism from foreign officials as well as the local human rights specialists. Diena refers to the head of the OSCE mission to Latvia David Johnson saying that the newly passed law is worse than the version prepared by the responsible commission before the third reading. The OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel plans to get acquainted with the law and release his comments in a few days. The conclusions of the EC regarding the law will be included in the Commissions report on Latvia this fall. There is a possibility that Hans van den Brook will submit a separate report on the Language Law. The statement released by the Russian Embassy to Latvia says the newly passed law openly discriminates national minorities in Latvia and does not correspond to the European legal standards. The Russian party adds that the passed law will be taken into account regarding the bilateral relations between Latvia and Russia. In response to the Russian statement the Latvian Foreign Ministrys State Secretary Maris Riekstins noted that the Russian institutions should respect a decision made by a sovereign country and doubted whether the Russian Foreign Ministry has seen the final version of the law. Head of the Latvian Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Center Nils Muiznieks thinks that the law does not correspond to Latvias international commitments and MP s or the Human Rights Office could initiate sending the law to the Constitutional Court to review the laws compliance to the freedom of speech principle provided for by the Constitution. Head of Latvias Foreign Policy Institute Atis Lejins noted that OSCE wants to intervene too much in the countrys domestic affairs and was sure that Latvia will be able to defend its position before the Helsinki summit.

The Russian language papers mostly stress the discriminating nature of the law and the fact that the new law was passed under the pressure of the situation were parties try to get their share of the power.

The Russian language papers mostly stress the discriminating nature of the law and the fact that the new law was passed under the pressure of the situation were parties try to get their share of the power. Diena, Neatkariga, Jauna Avize, BB, CM, Chas, Panorama Latvii

Most papers report on the rally of 300 to 500 people held July 8 by the Parliament building to protest the Language Law. Co-chairman of the Latvian Human Rights Committee Genady Kotov told Jauna Avize his concern was the requirement under the new law to apply to state institutions in the state language while the state is not helping to learn the language. The main placard held by the ralliers read “Linguistic dictatorship leads to Kosovo”. An organizer Tatyana Zhdanoka commented that in case of passing the law people who are not proficient in the state language may come to an aggressive reaction.

Most papers report on the rally of 300 to 500 people held July 8 by the Parliament building to protest the Language Law. Co-chairman of the Latvian Human Rights Committee Genady Kotov told Jauna Avize his concern was the requirement under the new law to apply to state institutions in the state language while the state is not helping to learn the language. The main placard held by the ralliers read Linguistic dictatorship leads to Kosovo. An organizer Tatyana Zhdanoka commented that in case of passing the law people who are not proficient in the state language may come to an aggressive reaction.

July 8, Vaira Vike-Freiberga officially became the President of Latvia.

July 8, Vaira Vike-Freiberga officially became the President of Latvia.

During the July 8 meeting the Saeima supported the draft decision submitted by the Cabinet to send 15 soldiers from Latvia to participate in peace keeping operations in Kosovo.

During the July 8 meeting the Saeima supported the draft decision submitted by the Cabinet to send 15 soldiers from Latvia to participate in peace keeping operations in Kosovo. Neatkariga

Saeima’s commission for implementation of the Citizenship Law ruled July 8 that the centralized tests in state language taken by non-Latvian high-school graduates cannot replace the tests to be taken when applying for Latvian citizenship. Commission members say that currently there is no legal bases for the move, also, after participating in some tests there had been an impression that students in some cases don’t know the language well enough.

Saeimas commission for implementation of the Citizenship Law ruled July 8 that the centralized tests in state language taken by non-Latvian high-school graduates cannot replace the tests to be taken when applying for Latvian citizenship. Commission members say that currently there is no legal bases for the move, also, after participating in some tests there had been an impression that students in some cases dont know the language well enough. Diena

The Foreign Ministry’s State Secretary Maris Riekstins told LETA that several statements made by Ole Espersen, CBSS Commissioner for National Minorities, for instance, the suggestion to grant non-citizens the right to vote in municipal elections, differ from recommendations released by other international organizations. However, the commissioner’s activities concerning Latvia should not be estimated negatively. Riekstins added that Latvia plans to turn attention to overlapping in recommendations released by Espersen and the OSCE High Commissioner. After

The Foreign Ministrys State Secretary Maris Riekstins told LETA that several statements made by Ole Espersen, CBSS Commissioner for National Minorities, for instance, the suggestion to grant non-citizens the right to vote in municipal elections, differ from recommendations released by other international organizations. However, the commissioners activities concerning Latvia should not be estimated negatively. Riekstins added that Latvia plans to turn attention to overlapping in recommendations released by Espersen and the OSCE High Commissioner. After Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Estonia is the only CBSS country that objects prolonging of Espersens mandate. The article is critical about contradictory recommendations coming simultaneously from OSCE, Council of Europe and CBSS. Neatkariga