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

• Budget of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration will be reduced in three categories
• Naturalisation Board will have to close seven regional offices
• Two Russian schools will be merged in Jelgava
• Chairperson of the Latvian Association of National Cultural Societies about the conflict with the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration
• Protest activities against the education reform will take place on 4 September
• Lauku Avize interviews New Era MP Ina Druviete about the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration

Diena reports that the Secretariat of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration has to cut next years budget by 35,307 LVL. The budget will be reduced in the following categories: administrative expenses of the Secretariat (13,240 LVL), grants for other organisations (4,414 LVL), and the Society Integration Foundation will reduce the amount of funding for social integration projects (17 653 LVL).

In order to cut next year’s budget the Naturalisation Board will have to close seven regional offices.  In these regions the Naturalization Board’s office hours will be organised twice a month.

In order to cut next years budget the Naturalisation Board will have to close seven regional offices. In these regions the Naturalization Boards office hours will be organised twice a month. Neatkariga

Chas and Vesti Segonya publish information about the decision of the municipality to merge two Russian schools in Jelgava. Activists of the school council plan to file a court case against the municipality.

Nils Muiznieks, the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration, was disappointed that criticism about his work appeared while he was on a visit to Russia. Replying to critics on his statements about the ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, Nils Muiznieks explained that the FCNM will be ratified but not before the referendum about the Latvia’s EU membership.

Nils Muiznieks, the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration, was disappointed that criticism about his work appeared while he was on a visit to Russia. Replying to critics on his statements about the ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, Nils Muiznieks explained that the FCNM will be ratified but not before the referendum about the Latvias EU membership. Chas

Chas prints comments by Rafi Haradzajans, chairperson of the Latvian Association of National Cultural Societies (LANCS), about the conflict situation with the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration. Haradzajans considers that the Secretariat is not interested in the cultural activities of the minority organisations and that the Association should be administered by the Ministry of Culture. In reply to the statements made by Rafi Haradzajans advisor to the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Aleksandrs Brandavs informed that necessary funding for the premises of the Association will be provided, but it is necessary to sign an agreement between the Secretariat and the Association.

The Security Police authorized the organisation of the protest activities against the education reform on 4 September.

The Security Police authorized the organisation of the protest activities against the education reform on 4 September. Vesti Segodnya

Lauku Avize features an interview with New Era MP Ina Druviete, the Head of the Saeima Human Rights Committee. She criticizes the work of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration. She considers that the staff and the budget of the Secretariat of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration are not proportionate to the functions of the institution. Ina Druviete is not satisfied with staff members employed by the Secretariat. She considers that the Secretariat is not promoting the integration of society, therefore the governments coalition should evaluate the work of the Secretariat.

 

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

• Prime minister plans to evaluate the work of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration
• Four possible models of administration for the programme Liv coast
• Chas continues discussion about the education reform
• Association for the support of Russian Schools not against the Latvias EU membership

Prime minister Einars Repse plans to meet with the First party to evaluate the work of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks. MP Janis Strazdins, Union of Greens and Farmers and Ina Druviete, the Head of the Saeima’s Human Rights Committee criticize Nils Muiznieks for employing Aleksei Dimitrov, executive secretary of the Latvian Human Rights Committee. They pointed out close relations of this organisation with the left-wing political party Solidarity. Nils Muiznieks is currently visiting the Latvian settlements in Russia. He replied that Aleksei Dimitrov was appointed the Head of Law Department of the Secretariat as a result of a tender. Chas, Diena

Prime minister Einars Repse plans to meet with the First party to evaluate the work of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks. MP Janis Strazdins, Union of Greens and Farmers and Ina Druviete, the Head of the Saeimas Human Rights Committee criticize Nils Muiznieks for employing Aleksei Dimitrov, executive secretary of the Latvian Human Rights Committee. They pointed out close relations of this organisation with the left-wing political party Solidarity. Nils Muiznieks is currently visiting the Latvian settlements in Russia. He replied that Aleksei Dimitrov was appointed the Head of Law Department of the Secretariat as a result of a tender. Chas, Diena

The Secretariat of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration developed four possible models of administration for the programme “Liv coast”. One of the models foresees establishing of the Liv Department within the Secretariat. The next year budget for the programme (33 000 LVL) will not be reduced. Diena

The Secretariat of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration developed four possible models of administration for the programme Liv coast. One of the models foresees establishing of the Liv Department within the Secretariat. The next year budget for the programme (33 000 LVL) will not be reduced. Diena

Chas prints an article by the MP Valeri Ageshin, People’s Harmony Party about the education reform. He explains the position of the People’s Harmony Party: the decision about the language of education should be made by local municipalities in cooperation with schools directors and parents committees.

Chas prints an article by the MP Valeri Ageshin, Peoples Harmony Party about the education reform. He explains the position of the Peoples Harmony Party: the decision about the language of education should be made by local municipalities in cooperation with schools directors and parents committees.

Genady Kotov, member of the Riga city council, representative of the Association for the support of Russian Schools explained that the Association is not against the Latvia’s EU membership. The Association informed the EU Commission Delegation in Latvia about their position regarding the education reform. Andrew Rasbash, the Head of the EU Commission Delegation in Latvia explained that EU doesn’t have an official position regarding the minority education.

Genady Kotov, member of the Riga city council, representative of the Association for the support of Russian Schools explained that the Association is not against the Latvias EU membership. The Association informed the EU Commission Delegation in Latvia about their position regarding the education reform. Andrew Rasbash, the Head of the EU Commission Delegation in Latvia explained that EU doesnt have an official position regarding the minority education.

 

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

• Director of the Riga Russian secondary school No 95 resigned
• Governments committee will discuss amendments to the Education Law
• YES to the schools, YES to Europe! NO to the schools, NO to Europe! – left-wings parties try to link two issues together

The director of the Riga Russian secondary school No 95 Olita Arkle resigned because of the conflict with the Russian-speaking teachers, which had been intensified by the up-coming education reform.

The director of the Riga Russian secondary school No 95 Olita Arkle resigned because of the conflict with the Russian-speaking teachers, which had been intensified by the up-coming education reform. Rigas Balss

Next week the government’s committee will discuss the amendments to the Education Law to remove the word “only” from the provisions that starting from 2004 secondary education will be in ‘Latvian only’.

Next week the governments committee will discuss the amendments to the Education Law to remove the word only from the provisions that starting from 2004 secondary education will be in ‘Latvian only. Lauku Avize, Telegraf, Vesti Segonya

Diena reports that some of the left-wing political organisations intend to link the protest activities against the education reform with the referendum on Latvias EU membership.YES to the schools, YES to Europe! NO to the schools, NO to Europe!- says their slogan.

 

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

• Association for the Support for Russians Schools: not against Latvias EU membership
• Delegation of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration continue visit in Russia
• Vesti Segodnya: critical comments about the article by Visvaldis Lacis
• Interview with one of the leaders of the Association for the Support for Russians Schools
• Lauku Avize about the protest acitivities against the education reform

The Association for the Support for Russians Schools informed that during the protest activities against the education reform people will not be invited to vote against the Latvia’s EU membership.

The Association for the Support for Russians Schools informed that during the protest activities against the education reform people will not be invited to vote against the Latvias EU membership. Chas

Chas and Telegraf report on the visit of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration in the city of Tara one of the Latvian settlements in Russia.

Vesti Segodnya features critical comments about the article by Visvaldis Lacis in the newspaper Neatkariga.

Vesti Segonya prints an interview with one of the leaders of the Association for the Support for Russians Schools Viktor Gluhov. He informs about different forms or protest activities against the education reform that will take place.

Lauku Avize features critical comments by journalist Maris Caklais about the protest acitivities against the education. He believes that the protest activities should not take place near the monument of Latvian poet Rainis.

 

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

• Article by Visvaldis Lacis about the minority issues
• Plans to merge several branches of the Naturalisation Board
• Article by political scientist Ivars Indans about the song contest New Wave and the integration
• Audit results for the programme Liv coast
• Chas reports about the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration visit in Moscow
• Lauku Avize prints critical comments on the statements of the Russian Ambassador

Neatkariga features an article by Visvaldis Lacis about the EU member states attitude towards the minority issues in Latvia. The author believes that Latvian government should not follow international recommendations in order not to create two-community society in Latvia.

The Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane informed about the plans to merge several branches of the Naturalisation Board in order to cut the budget by 44 000 LVL. Eizenija Aldermane believes that the budget will be reduced even further because of the compensations due to the dismissed employees. The Naturalisation Board is under the supervision of the Ministry of Justice, which have to reduce the next year’s budget by 1,308 million LVL.

The Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane informed about the plans to merge several branches of the Naturalisation Board in order to cut the budget by 44 000 LVL. Eizenija Aldermane believes that the budget will be reduced even further because of the compensations due to the dismissed employees. The Naturalisation Board is under the supervision of the Ministry of Justice, which have to reduce the next years budget by 1,308 million LVL. Neatkariga

Diena features an article by political scientist Ivars Indans about the image of Latvia within the context of the Eurovision song contest and the song contest New Wave organised by the Russian Television in Jurmala. The author believes that transmission of the song contest New Wave on the second channel of Latvian Television is not encouraging the integration.

Diena reports about the audit results for the programme Liv coast. According to the audit, two thirds of the budget were used for the salaries of 13 employees, but the responsibilities of these people are not clear, and this year programme activities are not implemented. The director of the programme Edgars Silis resigned as from the 1st of August. The Secretariat of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration informed that next year budget for the programme (33 000 LVL) will not be changed, but new administration methods will be considered.

Chas reports on the meeting of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration with the deputy of the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Eleonora Mitrofanova, the director of European division of the Ministry Alexandre Udalcov (former Ambassador of Russia to Latvia), and the government official dealing with the human rights issues, Oleg Mitrofanov. During these meetings, the problems of the Russian-speakers in Latvia were discussed. Chas, Vesti Segonya

Lauku Avize prints critical comments on the statements of the Russian Ambassador Igor Studennikov about the education reform and the discrimination of the Russian-speaking minority in Latvia.