Integration and Minority Information Service
of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies

• Vandalism at Jewish cemetary
• International conference The Israel into the fluid world
• Russian language newspapers continues discussion about education reform
• Criticism of Ministry of Justice web-page information on the legal status of non-citizens
• Polish Culture Days at Pasiene

The New Jewish cemetery was vandalized on the night of September12th.

The New Jewish cemetery was vandalized on the night of September12th. Arkadij Suharenko, the Head of Council of Jewish Community, stresses that this anti-Semitic act of vandalism could be motivated by a desire to frustrate the good relations between the Jewish community and the Latvian government and therefore should be perceived also as an act against the state itself. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Rigas Balss, Telegraf, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Vechernaya Riga

The fifth international conference “Jews in a Changing World” will take place tomorrow at the University of Latvia. The participants of the conference will discuss the issues of the Holocaust ands Jewish culture in the Baltic states, as well as the ties between Baltic Jews and Israel.

The fifth international conference Jews in a Changing World will take place tomorrow at the University of Latvia. The participants of the conference will discuss the issues of the Holocaust ands Jewish culture in the Baltic states, as well as the ties between Baltic Jews and Israel. Neatkariga Rita Avize

Russian-language newspapers continue discussion about the education reform, reporting opinions of Russian experts.

Russian-language newspapers continue discussion about the education reform, reporting opinions of Russian experts. Chas informs about the decision of Cesis local government to not offer Russian-language education for first graders. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Vechernaya Riga

Vesti Segodnya features a critical article about information published on the web-page of the Ministry of Justice regarding the legal status of Latvias non-citizens after EU accession.

Neatkariga Rita Avize features an article about the Days of Polish Culture at Pasiene, the rural municipality in eastern part of Latvia.

Integration and Minority Information Service
of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies

• Lauku Avize about amendments to Law on Education
• Interview with Karlis Sadurskis, Minister of Education and Science
• Chas on Russia and minority rights in Latvia
• Visiting Russian experts on education reform
• Interview with Egils Levits, representative of Latvia at European Court of Human Rights
• Article on Latvian language and minority issues

Lauku Avize reports the decision of the Saeima to abolish the education law provision that stipulates that instruction in all state-funded secondary schools and vocational schools should be only in Latvian starting in 2004. The Cabinet of Ministers will determine the proportion of state language vs other language.

Lauku Avize interviews Karlis Sadurskis, Minister of Education and Science. The minister criticizes opponents of the education reform and mentions that a Latvian delegation recently provided a report to the UN Committee [on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination] in Geneva, and did not receive any negative feedback in the area of education. The minister is not concerned about the ratification of the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, because he believes that Latvia fulfils all requirements in the field of education, and then some. The question of ethnic integration, according to him, is already taken off the agenda.

Russia has intensified discussion of minority rights problems in Latvia and Estonia before these states become members of EU, according to

Russia has intensified discussion of minority rights problems in Latvia and Estonia before these states become members of EU, according to Chas. According to the newspaper, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is concerned about the education reform in Latvia, the politicisation of economical cooperation between the countries and the decision of the Baltic states governments to provide territory for the military infrastructures of NATO.

Vesty Segodnya interviews visiting Russian experts Dmitry Ivaschintsov , the coordinator of International Association of Russian Culture and Igor Udalov, the legal consultant, about education reform in Latvia. The experts agree that the reform is not ready for implementation and may have to be postponed. They also express concern about the future of the Russian minority in Latvia.

Neatkariga Rita Avize interviews Egils Levits, the representative of Latvia at European Court of Human Rights. Levits believes that 256 submissions form residents of Latvia over the last year is an moderate number and does not indicate that there would be a large amount of human rights violations.

Diena prints an article by Aigars Kimenis, independent publicist, on national, Latvian-language and minority issues in connection with Latvias accession to the EU.

Integration and Minority Information Service
of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies

• Deputies of European Parliament about the situation of non-citizens in the EU
• Ministry of Education and Science discussion with Russian experts about minority schools in Latvia
• Commercial broadcasters plan more programs in minority languages
• Boris Tsilevich, MP of Peoples Harmony Party, will report to the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe about the situation of minority languages in Brussels

Two deputies of the European Parliament – Christopher Beazley and Per Stenmark – answer questions the situation of non-citizens and minorities after Latvia joins the EU.  Both deputies are supportive of the law and procedures of naturalization in Latvia, but Beazley expresses the view that some steps should be taken to facilitate naturalization for elderly people.  The deputies also touch on issues of the role of minority languages and the school reform in Latvia.

Two deputies of the European Parliament – Christopher Beazley and Per Stenmark – answer questions the situation of non-citizens and minorities after Latvia joins the EU. Both deputies are supportive of the law and procedures of naturalization in Latvia, but Beazley expresses the view that some steps should be taken to facilitate naturalization for elderly people. The deputies also touch on issues of the role of minority languages and the school reform in Latvia. Chas

Russian-language newspapers write on the discussion on the education reform organized by the Ministry of Education and Science, in which experts from Russia also took part. Today the delegation of Russian experts will continue discussion about education reform with principals of minority schools.

Russian-language newspapers write on the discussion on the education reform organized by the Ministry of Education and Science, in which experts from Russia also took part. Today the delegation of Russian experts will continue discussion about education reform with principals of minority schools. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

As a consequence of the Constitutional Court ruling abolishing the norm in the Law on Radio and Television that no more than 25% of broadcasts in commercial electronic media may be in another language than the state language, nine radio stations and three television stations are planning to broadcast more programs in minority languages. The changes will probably take place in October, when the new National Board of Radio and Television will be confirmed.

As a consequence of the Constitutional Court ruling abolishing the norm in the Law on Radio and Television that no more than 25% of broadcasts in commercial electronic media may be in another language than the state language, nine radio stations and three television stations are planning to broadcast more programs in minority languages. The changes will probably take place in October, when the new National Board of Radio and Television will be confirmed. Chas

Boris Tsilevich, MP of Latvia from the People’s Harmony Party, has been appointed by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to make a report on the situation of minority languages in Brussels, where there have been complaints that the rights of Flemish speakers are not properly observed in the predominantly French-speaking Brussels.

Boris Tsilevich, MP of Latvia from the Peoples Harmony Party, has been appointed by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to make a report on the situation of minority languages in Brussels, where there have been complaints that the rights of Flemish speakers are not properly observed in the predominantly French-speaking Brussels. Vesti Segodnya

Integration and Minority Information Service
of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies

• Interview with Pat Cox, President of the European Parliament
• Eizenija Aldermane, Head of Naturalisation Board, about the status of third country citizens after Latvias accession to EU
• Russian experts will participate in discussion on education reform
• Mock EU referendum among students: overwhelming support overall, but non-citizen students against
• Vesti Segodnya about EU criticism of Latvias failure to elaborate plan against discrimination of Russian-speakers on labour market within Development Plan
• Demand for NGOs free-of-charge Latvian language courses
• Chas continues discussion about education reform
• Court decides that Belorussian citizen born in Latvia may appeal his expulsion to the Supreme Court

Pat Cox, the President of the European Parliament in an interview with

Pat Cox, the President of the European Parliament in an interview with Lauku avize affirms that the issue of naturalisation in Latvia is within the competence of the state itself and not the EU.

Eizenija Aldermane, the Head of Naturalisation Board, in a

Eizenija Aldermane, the Head of Naturalisation Board, in a Lauku Avize interview discusses the status of long-term residents and third country citizens after Latvias accession to EU.

A Russian delegation of six experts will participate in a discussion about the education reform concerning minority schools in Latvia. The experts have invited by the Latvian Ministry of Education and Science.

A Russian delegation of six experts will participate in a discussion about the education reform concerning minority schools in Latvia. The experts have invited by the Latvian Ministry of Education and Science. Vesti Segodnya

In the shadow referendum among students organized in several large universities yesterday, almost 60% of students votes “yes” to Latvia’s accession to the EU. 

In the shadow referendum among students organized in several large universities yesterday, almost 60% of students votes yes to Latvias accession to the EU. Vesti segodnya notes that among the non-citizen students who participated in the mock referendum, a large majority (73%) were against joining the EU. Vesti segodnya, Chas, Rigas Balss, Diena, Telegraf

Vesti Segodnya comments on the talks in Riga between representatives of the EU and the Latvian delegation on Latvias Development Plan within the EU. The newspaper contends that the EU representatives were critical of Latvias failure to heed the recommendation to elaborate a special plan for promoting employment among Russian speakers. Government representatives from Latvia in turn, were critical of the EU representative contention that there may be discrimination against Russian-speakers on the labour market.

Telegraf reports that many readers called in regarding the information that the NGO Prata Speks (Force of Mind) offered Latvian language courses free of charge. According to the newspaper this indicates that there is strong interest among non-Latvian speakers to learn Latvian, but not enough opportunities provided by the state. The NGO, which until now offered courses in Riga, has announced that it will start organizing courses in Liepaja as well.

Chas continues discussion about the education reform and states that Latvian-language newspapers misinform their readers about the issue.

Riga Regional Court has ruled that a Belorussian citizen who is born in Latvia and has been residing in Latvia may submit an appeal to the Supreme Court regarding the Department of Citizenship and Migration Affairs expulsion decision.

Riga Regional Court has ruled that a Belorussian citizen who is born in Latvia and has been residing in Latvia may submit an appeal to the Supreme Court regarding the Department of Citizenship and Migration Affairs expulsion decision. Vechernaya Riga

Integration and Minority Information Service
of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies

• Deputy of European Parliament asks the European Commission to evaluate education reform
• More minority students get education in schools with Latvian language of instruction
• Proposals of the Latvian Association for Support of Schools with Russian Language of Instruction
• Vesti Segodnya reports German newspapers view that Russians, Byelorussians and Ukrainians in Latvia will become the largest Russian-speaking minority in the EU

Nelly Maes, the deputy of the European Parliament from Belgium has sent the request to the European Commission asking to evaluate if the education reform in Latvia conforms to European values of cultural and linguistic diversity and fundamental rights.

Nelly Maes, the deputy of the European Parliament from Belgium has sent the request to the European Commission asking to evaluate if the education reform in Latvia conforms to European values of cultural and linguistic diversity and fundamental rights. Lauku Avize

An increasing number of minority students study in schools with Latvian language of instruction. According to a survey commissioned by the Ministry of Education and Science, about 9% of students have chosen Latvian as the language of instruction. According to

An increasing number of minority students study in schools with Latvian language of instruction. According to a survey commissioned by the Ministry of Education and Science, about 9% of students have chosen Latvian as the language of instruction. According to Lauku Avize, encouraging minority children to study in schools with Latvian language of instruction should not be a priority of the state education policy. Ina Druviete, the Head of theSaeima Human Rights Committee and one of authors of the survey, believes that the number of minority children in a class should not exceed 50%, since that would allegedly endanger the Latvian language environment. Diena, Lauku Avize

Russian-language newspapers publish the new education reform proposals of the Latvian Association for Support of Schools with Russian Language of Instruction.  Another suggestion is that the Ministry of Education and Science establish a department of minority education.

Russian-language newspapers publish the new education reform proposals of the Latvian Association for Support of Schools with Russian Language of Instruction. Another suggestion is that the Ministry of Education and Science establish a department of minority education. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodna refersto an article in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that 677000 Russians and 150000 Byelorussians and Ukrainians will became residents of the EU when Latvia joins the EU, thus becoming the largest Russian-speaking minority in the EU. The German paper also comments on the Latvian education reform.