• Claim against the education reform submitted to the Constitutional Court
• Split of the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-language Schools
• Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks and Russian Ambassador to Latvia Igor Studennikov discuss social integration issues

Twenty MPs representing the People’s Harmony Party, Latvia Socialist Party and union For Human Rights in the United Latvia submitted a claim to the Constitutional Court challenging some norms set by the Law on Education, which deal with the transfer of secondary minority schools to studies in the Latvian language. MPs believe that the norms do not comply with the Constitution of Latvia, international standards and interests of minority students. 

Twenty MPs representing the Peoples Harmony Party, Latvia Socialist Party and union For Human Rights in the United Latvia submitted a claim to the Constitutional Court challenging some norms set by the Law on Education, which deal with the transfer of secondary minority schools to studies in the Latvian language. MPs believe that the norms do not comply with the Constitution of Latvia, international standards and interests of minority students. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Due to an inability to reach an agreement on future goals of the Latvian Association’s for the Support of Russian-language Schools, a part of its members decided to form a new organisation ‘For Russian Schools, Culture and Language.’ One of the founders of the new organisation Igors Vatolins believes that the new organisation should become a mass organisation, which would support Russian language parents and schools. Members of the new organisation also plan to take part in protest actions against the education reform, organised by the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools.

Due to an inability to reach an agreement on future goals of the Latvian Associations for the Support of Russian-language Schools, a part of its members decided to form a new organisation ‘For Russian Schools, Culture and Language. One of the founders of the new organisation Igors Vatolins believes that the new organisation should become a mass organisation, which would support Russian language parents and schools. Members of the new organisation also plan to take part in protest actions against the education reform, organised by the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools. Diena, Latvijas Avize

Russian-language newspapers write about the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks and the Russian Ambassador to Latvia

Russian-language newspapers write about the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks and the Russian Ambassador to Latvia Igor Studennikov. During the meeting the Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that it would be possible to reach a new level in relations between two countries if the most difficult pages of the common history of both countries would be reviewed. Artis Pabriks also noted that the successful implementation of the education reform will be an ‘essential component of integration of ethnic minorities in Latvia While Igor Studennikov in the interview with Vesti Segodnya stressed the necessity to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities for the development of good relations between Latvia and Russia. Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Minister of Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks meets with Russias ambassador to Latvia Igor Studennikov

Ambassador of the Netherlands to Latvia promises to invite European states to support Latvias stance on minority issues

Latvijas Avize on Nils Muizniekss article in the Brusselss newspaper European Voice

The draft regulations on granting of the non-citizens status

Chas discusses judgement of the European Court for Human Rights on prohibitions for the former KGB staff in Lithuania

Interview with the advisor to the Minister for Education and Science on minority education issues Sergejs Ancupovs

Swiss ambassador to Latvia on minority issues

Board of the Latvian Social Democratic Party is planning to expel the head of the partys youth organization for his activities against the education reform

Russian-language newspapers write about the conflict inside LASHOR

TV programme We are different , but we are together

During the meeting with Russia’s ambassador to Latvia Igor Studennikov, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks has stressed the role of the education reform in the social integration process. The minister has also pointed to the need for objective evaluation of the historical events.

During the meeting with Russias ambassador to Latvia Igor Studennikov, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks has stressed the role of the education reform in the social integration process. The minister has also pointed to the need for objective evaluation of the historical events. Latvijas Avize

Ambassador of the Netherlands to Latvia Robert Schuddeboom, during his meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks, has stated that the Netherlands will invite all the EU member states to support Latvia’s stance on minority issues.

Ambassador of the Netherlands to Latvia Robert Schuddeboom, during his meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks, has stated that the Netherlands will invite all the EU member states to support Latvias stance on minority issues. Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize quotes the article by the Minister for Special Assignments for Society Integration Affairs Nils Muiznieks published in the newspaper European Voice in Brussels. Nils Muiznieks writes that Latvias accession the EU has reinforced position of the Latvian language and promoted its knowledge. He also believes that moratorium on the education reform would mean prolonging the state of segregation inherited from the Soviet times, and would hinder minority childrens competitiveness on the labour market.

The draft regulations on the procedure of granting the status of the non-citizen of Latvia have been submitted to the government by the Interior Ministry. According to the draft, the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs is responsible for acceptance and review of all relevant documents.

The draft regulations on the procedure of granting the status of the non-citizen of Latvia have been submitted to the government by the Interior Ministry. According to the draft, the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs is responsible for acceptance and review of all relevant documents. Latvijas Avize

Chas reports on the reaction of Latvian lawyers and politicians to the judgement of the European Court for Human Rights (ECHR) concerning Lithuania. The ECHR has ruled that Lithuania has violated human rights by prohibiting the former KGB staff to work in military service, police and state institutions. Inga Reine, Representative of the Cabinet of Ministers before international human rights institutions, believes that Latvia should take this decision into account. There a complaint lodged with the ECHR by Janis Adamsons, who was prohibited to candidate to the Saeima because of his former employment record with the KGB.

Neatkariga Rita Avize prints an interview with the advisor to the Minister for Education and Science on minority education issues Sergejs Ancupovs. He believes that implementation of the education reform should be continued while achieving a compromise on certain issues. Ancupovs thinks that there is a need to raise quality of Latvian language teaching in minority schools.

The Swiss ambassador to Latvia Ann Boti believes that minority problems will stop being topical for Latvia in a few years. She stresses the role of the public consensus on Latvia’s place in Europe as of a binding factor for the Latvian society.

The Swiss ambassador to Latvia Ann Boti believes that minority problems will stop being topical for Latvia in a few years. She stresses the role of the public consensus on Latvias place in Europe as of a binding factor for the Latvian society. Telegraf

The board of the Latvian Social Democratic Party has prepared a draft decision on expulsion of the head of the party’s youth organization Janis Kuzins because of his involvement in the activities of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Schools against the education reform.

The board of the Latvian Social Democratic Party has prepared a draft decision on expulsion of the head of the partys youth organization Janis Kuzins because of his involvement in the activities of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Schools against the education reform. Latvijas Avize

Russian-language newspapers report on the conflict inside LASHOR caused by different political stances of its members.

Russian-language newspapers report on the conflict inside LASHOR caused by different political stances of its members. Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Neatkariga Rita Avize writes about the TV programmes series We are different, but we are together, supported by the Latvian Society Integration Foundation. The aim of the project is to promote social integration and tolerance towards different social groups. The programme has been broadcasted in several Latvian regions.

 

 

• Member of the LASHOR accounts for its activities
• Latvian youth organisation protests against the education reform
• Asylum seekers are not interested in Latvia
• Interview with an official from the Secretariat of Social Integration

Chas prints an article by the member of the LASHOR board Igors Pimenovs. He accounts for the activities and programmes developed by the organisation.

Chas writes about the youth organisation of 'Working Youth' (Darba jaunatne) whose members are Latvians whobelieve in social democratic ideas. The activists support the idea of establishing the moratorium on the education reform and therefore took part in protest actions against the education reform in Strasbourg. They believe that the education reform is no longer about education and in fact has a very big potential to grow into ethnic conflict.

According to the agency ‘Regnum’ speculations on the increased influx of asylum seekers after Latvia’s accession to the EU have not come true. According to the data of the Ministry of Inferior Affairs only five persons applied for asylum in Latvia last year.

According to the agency ‘Regnum’ speculationson theincreased influx of asylum seekersafter Latvia’s accession to the EU have not come true. According to the data of the Ministry of Inferior Affairs only five persons applied for asylum in Latvia last year. Telegraf

Latvijas Vestnesis interviews the Head of the Secretariat of the Minister for Special Asignments for Social Integration Affairs Kristine Vagnere. The main discussion subject is the situation of Latvians residing outside Latvia.

 

 

• Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Schools organises special camps to train activists
• Views on the education reform
• Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane about the education reform
• Music festival Jurmala could promote a more positive image of Latvia

Diena reports that the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Schools organises special summer camps where new activists undergo “psychological informative training.” Training covers development of skills of communicating with huge people masses, being persuasive and others. According to one of organisers of the camp these skills will be very useful for protest actions against the education reform which will take place at the end of August and beginning of September.

Telegraf prints an article about the education reform. The representative of the Ministry of Education and Science, Advisor to the Education Minister Sergejs Ancupovs states that the Ministry is working at improving dialogue with minorities, however, he did not reveal the plans of the Ministry concerning those schools, which are not ready for the reform. The activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Schools Jurijs Petropavlovskis assures that Russians will not accept any compromises but the abolishment of the education reform. While the Prime Minister Indulis Emsis believes that the situation is under control.

Latvijas Avize interviews the Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane. She believes that there will be no protest actions against the education reform in October any more. Eizenija Aldermane states that students perceive protest actions as possibility to be and do things together and not to go to school and that adults simply use them in their political.

Diena writes about the international music festival “Jurmala” which takes place in the Latvian sea resort Jurmala. The festival is well known in Russia as it is partly organised and hosted by Russia’s companies and artists. The Minister for Social Integration Affairs Nils Muiznieks comments that the festival does not play an important role in the field of social integration in Latvia, however, it could bring some positive image to Latvia which lately has been rather negative due to social tensions concerning the education reform.

 

• Ministry of Justice develops amendments which provide the right to EU citizens who are not Latvian citizens to vote in municipal elections
• MP Ina Druviete about the role of the Russian language in Latvia
• Due to the lack of funding one of the projects aimed at promoting naturalisation to be closed
• Statement of support for the education reform developed by Latvian EP members has two versions
• Social integration issues in sports

According to the draft amendments developed by the Ministry of Justice EU citizens who are registered in the Register of Residents of the Republic of Latvia, but are not Latvian citizens, will be entitled to run for local elections in 2005.

According to the draft amendments developed by the Ministry of Justice EU citizens who are registered in the Register of Residents of the Republic of Latvia, but are not Latvian citizens, will be entitled to run for local elections in 2005. Diena

Latvijas Avize asks comments of the MP and linguist Ina Druviete on the statements by socio linguist Gatis Dilans printed in Vesti Segodnya (July 9). Gatis Dilans stated that in Latvia the state language policy is asymmetric, that is, Latvians have to know only one language, while Russians should speak both Latvian and Russian. Ina Druviete argues that Latvia is the only country where the Latvian language could be protected and developed, therefore there is no justification and need to promote other languages, in particular, the Russian language. The expansion of Russian language’s functions would hinder strengthening of the Latvian language and the unification of society on the basis of one language. She does not think that Russophobia is wide spread in Latviaor that Latvians have negative attitude towards Russians or Russia.

Telegraf reports that most probably the toll free phone line providing information about possibilities to naturalise will be closed as of August 1. For two and a half years the line was funded by the USA embassy, now the funding is not available any more. However, the state does not plan to allocate any money from the state budget, although the project was quite popular. The newspaper stresses that the gradual decrease of funding from the state budget to the Naturalisation Board shows that the state, in fact, is not interested in promoting naturalisation. The Minister for Social Integration Affairs Nils Muiznieks argues that the state has done a lot to foster naturalisation and the toll free information phone line is just one of the projects, which is completed. While MP Boris Tsilevich states that it could be seen as a steptowards national radicalism.

Telegraf notes that there are two versions of the statement of support for the education reform developed by Latvian members of the European Parliament. One version is in Latvian and one - in English. In the Latvian version authors of the statement addresses political opponents of the education reform, in particular, Tatjana Zdanoka, while in the English version she is not mentioned at all and the focus of the statement is on consequences of Soviet occupation and social integration. The authors of the statement do not have one explanation why there are two versions. Valdis Dombrovskis says that the Latvian version was developed for the local press, while the English version for members of the European Parliament from other countries, nevertheless Inese Vaidere states that these, in fact, are two completely different statements.

Latvijas Avize talks to businessman and one of sponsors of Latvia’s football Guntis Indriksons. He states that up till now football has not receive much support, because “Russians played it.” The businessman hopes that recent victories will change the situation because he is convinced that sport is much more effective tool of social integration.