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 Report

Press Report

Latvian Social Democratic Workers Party will decide on Thursday whether to submit to the Saeima a draft law on proposing a vote of non-confidence to A.Skele’s government. Social Democrats have already spoken about his draft law for several times but did not submit it because to overthrow the Government they need not only the votes of the opposition. Now the leader of Social Democrats E.Baldzens hopes for “the cool mind of the deputies”. The Union For Human Rights in United Latvia Saeima faction leader J.Jurkans thought that the opposition would not collect the necessary number of votes. TB/LNNK leader M.Grinblats was very reserved forecasting the possible votes of his faction members.

Latvian Social Democratic Workers Party will decide on Thursday whether to submit to the Saeima a draft law on proposing a vote of non-confidence to A.Skeles government. Social Democrats have already spoken about his draft law for several times but did not submit it because to overthrow the Government they need not only the votes of the opposition. Now the leader of Social Democrats E.Baldzens hopes for the cool mind of the deputies. The Union For Human Rights in United Latvia Saeima faction leader J.Jurkans thought that the opposition would not collect the necessary number of votes. TB/LNNK leader M.Grinblats was very reserved forecasting the possible votes of his faction members. Neatkariga Jauna Avize, Respublika, Vesti Segodnya

EU presiding state Portugal voiced her conviction to the Russian Government that there was no threat of nationalism in Latvia. Latvian MFA Press Centre informed that Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs in his letter to the Latvian colleague I.Berzins stated that Portugal relied on Latvian legal system.

EU presiding state Portugal voiced her conviction to the Russian Government that there was no threat of nationalism in Latvia. Latvian MFA Press Centre informed that Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs in his letter to the Latvian colleague I.Berzins stated that Portugal relied on Latvian legal system. Neatkariga

People’s Party Saeima faction, considering that the recent court decree found the Social Democrat J.Adamsons to be a KGB official, submitted to the Parliament a draft law on annulling Adamsons’s mandate. According to the faction Deputy Chairman J.Legzdins on April 13 the draft law will be handed over to commissions and the possible expulsion of Adamsons could take place in May.

Peoples Party Saeima faction, considering that the recent court decree found the Social Democrat J.Adamsons to be a KGB official, submitted to the Parliament a draft law on annulling Adamsonss mandate. According to the faction Deputy Chairman J.Legzdins on April 13 the draft law will be handed over to commissions and the possible expulsion of Adamsons could take place in May. Neatkariga, Diena, Jauna Avize, Respublika

A day before the planned decision on Russian sanctions against Latvia Latvian Ambassador to Russia I.Daudiss met the Chairman of Russian Duma G.Seleznov. Russian official did not forecast the outcome of this vote but pointed out that many deputies consider that they should return to the second reading of this law, not to adopt it in the third reading in order to examine whether those sanctions would not effect their compatriots. The draft law on sanctions in included in Duma’s agenda for today. During the discussion G.Seleznov told Latvian Ambassador that in the new composition of Duma had been established a co-operation group with the Latvian Parliament. On April 13 they would elect the co-ordinator for this group.

A day before the planned decision on Russian sanctions against Latvia Latvian Ambassador to Russia I.Daudiss met the Chairman of Russian Duma G.Seleznov. Russian official did not forecast the outcome of this vote but pointed out that many deputies consider that they should return to the second reading of this law, not to adopt it in the third reading in order to examine whether those sanctions would not effect their compatriots. The draft law on sanctions in included in Dumas agenda for today. During the discussion G.Seleznov told Latvian Ambassador that in the new composition of Duma had been established a co-operation group with the Latvian Parliament. On April 13 they would elect the co-ordinator for this group. Neatkariga, Diena, Respublika, Vesti Segodnya

The TB/LNNK faction at Riga City Council quite unexpectedly expressed their support to Riga Mayor A.Berzins, i.e. announced that they respected the mayor’s opinion on the stability of the present coalition. TB/LNNK leader M.Grinblats did not link this announcement to the situation in the Government but explained it as a wish of TB/LNNK not to provoke a discord in Riga City Council.

The TB/LNNK faction at Riga City Council quite unexpectedly expressed their support to Riga Mayor A.Berzins, i.e. announced that they respected the mayors opinion on the stability of the present coalition. TB/LNNK leader M.Grinblats did not link this announcement to the situation in the Government but explained it as a wish of TB/LNNK not to provoke a discord in Riga City Council. Diena, Respublika

On Tuesday Estonian Parliament adopted amendments to the law softening the transition to the Estonian language as the language of tuition in national minority secondary schools planned for school year 2007 – 2008. Originally it was planned that 100% transition should take place at this time, but the adopted amendments determined that a school or a class with the Estonian language as the language of tuition should be considered the one where at least 60% of all subjects were taught in the Estonian language and 40% might be taught in some other language.

On Tuesday Estonian Parliament adopted amendments to the law softening the transition to the Estonian language as the language of tuition in national minority secondary schools planned for school year 2007 – 2008. Originally it was planned that 100% transition should take place at this time, but the adopted amendments determined that a school or a class with the Estonian language as the language of tuition should be considered the one where at least 60% of all subjects were taught in the Estonian language and 40% might be taught in some other language. Diena