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

• Delegation of the European Commission in Latvia: the education policy is in the scope of national legislation

• The opponents of the education reform are preparing different protests activities

Last week the opponents of the education reform issued a statement saying that if the EU does not support protests against the reform they would call on people to vote against Latvia’s EU membership. Members of the Delegation of the European Commission in Latvia replied that education policy is in the scope of national legislation. However they underlined the issues mentioned in the last progress report: the need for further steps to continue the development of education reform, particularly, training of bilingual teachers, the necessity for flexible transition period and the higher involvement of national minorities in the decision making process. The opponents of the education reform hope that the EU will continue the follow-up of the recommendations.

Last week the opponents of the education reform issued a statement saying that if the EU does not support protests against the reform they would call on people to vote against Latvias EU membership. Members of the Delegation of the European Commission in Latvia replied that education policy is in the scope of national legislation. However they underlined the issues mentioned in the last progress report: the need for further steps to continue the development of education reform, particularly, training of bilingual teachers, the necessity for flexible transition period and the higher involvement of national minorities in the decision making process. The opponents of the education reform hope that the EU will continue the follow-up of the recommendations. Vesti Segodnya, Lauku Avize, Telegraf

Lauku Avize reports that the opponents of the education reform are preparing different protests activities: agitation in streets will start in August 15, there will be rock concert in August 30, and in September 10 during the activity Empty schools children will not go to schools. The Education Minister Karlis Sadurskis believes that directors of the schools are responsible for the quality of education and they have to discuss these issues with parents. The Minister is not planning to fight with opponents.

Integration and Minority Information Service

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

• Latvia will receive 1,3 million Lats from the EU for ethnic and social integration

• Lidztiesiba
will continue to participate in activities against the education reform

• Plans to establish information centre on the culture of national minorities

• Latvian Social Democratic Workers Partys intends to increase cooperation with Peoples Harmony Party and Latvian Democratic Party

• The widow of the Roma man in the policemen-case receives telephone threats

Diena

reports that Society Integration Foundation organised a seminar in Rezekne on how to apply for the EU funding for projects. This year Latvia will receive 1,3 million Lats from EU for ethnic and social integration. The funding is divided in two categories: the development of civic society (520 000 lats) and the promotion of society integration (837 000 lats). reports that Society Integration Foundation organised a seminar in Rezekne on how to apply for the EU funding for projects. This year Latvia will receive 1,3 million Lats from EU for ethnic and social integration. The funding is divided in two categories: the development of civic society (520 000 lats) and the promotion of society integration (837 000 lats). Political party

Political party Lidztiesiba is not planning any activities regarding the referendum on Latvias accession to the EU, nevertheless leader of this party Tatjana Zdanoka informed that party will continue to participate in minority school activities against the education reform. Diena

Telegraf

informs that from 1 January 2004 the Secretariat of Special Task Minister for Social Integration Affairs is planning to establish an information centre on the culture of national minorities. The centre will be responsible for finding and distributing funding for the national minority NGOs. According to the Secretariat five employees and 90 000 Lats will be necessary to establish the centre. informs that from 1 January 2004 the Secretariat of Special Task Minister for Social Integration Affairs is planning to establish an information centre on the culture of national minorities. The centre will be responsible for finding and distributing funding for the national minority NGOs. According to the Secretariat five employees and 90 000 Lats will be necessary to establish the centre. Latvian Social Democratic Workers Party’s director general Janis Dinevics informed that the party intends to cooperate more closely with the People’s Harmony Party and the Latvian Democratic Party. All three parties are planning to sign a memorandum asking to defer the education reform to 2007 as it is in Estonia, to provide the opportunities to acquire education not only in the state language and to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

Latvian Social Democratic Workers Partys director general Janis Dinevics informed that the party intends to cooperate more closely with the Peoples Harmony Party and the Latvian Democratic Party. All three parties are planning to sign a memorandum asking to defer the education reform to 2007 as it is in Estonia, to provide the opportunities to acquire education not only in the state language and to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Rigas Balss

Vechernaya Riga

and and ChasChas reports that the widow of the Roma man of the so-called policemen case (4 policemen beat a Roma man who later died) has been receiving anonymous threatening telephone calls after the ruling freeing the policemen, therefore in the appeal she is asking not only for punishment of the responsible policemen but also to find the individuals who are menacing her. reports that the widow of the Roma man of the so-called policemen case (4 policemen beat a Roma man who later died) has been receiving anonymous threatening telephone calls after the ruling freeing the policemen, therefore in the appeal she is asking not only for punishment of the responsible policemen but also to find the individuals who are menacing her.

Integration and Minority Information Service

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

• Transition to professional army could promote naturalisation

• NGO Prata Speks continues providing Latvian language courses

• Head of the Union of the Latvian Citizens and Non-Citizens Vladimir Sokolov about education reform

The decision to introduce a professional army could increase naturalisation among young men, agree both Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks and Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane. There are more than 63,000 male non-citizens younger than 27. Many of them do not apply for citizenship because of obligatory military service for citizens.

The decision to introduce a professional army could increase naturalisation among young men, agree both Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks and Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane. There are more than 63,000 male non-citizens younger than 27. Many of them do not apply for citizenship because of obligatory military service for citizens. Telegraf, 11.07.2003.

Chas

reports that the NGO Prata Speks continues providing Latvian language courses free of charge. About 1,000 people are on the NGOs waitlist.

Vesti Segodnya

prints the opinion of the Head of the Union of the Latvian Citizens and Non-Citizens Vladimir Sokolov regarding the education reform. He believes that the best solution would be if the government and the Headquarter of opponents against the education reform agree on the following comprimise: 50% of classes are taught in Latvian and these classes would include Latvian language and literature, English and 50% of classes are taught in other languages.

Integration and Minority Information Service

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

• Social anthropologist about ethnic relations in Latvia
• Newspapers comments on the first prize essay in the contest The Borders of My Language – Borders of My World
• Teacher from Salaspils asks asylum in Russia
• Israeli Ambassador concerned that Latvian politicians give interviews with the nationalistic newspaper

Jauna Avize

interviews social anthropologist Klavs Sedlinieks about interethnic relations in Latvia. He states that Latvian identity is formed on a negative ground and on the perception of Latvians as people who are not very successful, however, young people are more positive in their thinking. Regarding Russians in Latvia, Klavs Sedlinieks says that Russian-speakers who live in Latvia are not perceived as Latvians, but only as Russians who live outside Russia. He stresses that the State Language Law is one of the most important integration driving force of minorities in Latvia. However, at the same time it is very essential to talk about integration of Latvians in Latvia, that is, Latvians should fully integrate in the existing society and accept it as it is. He does not see that the further existence of the Russian community in Latvia is under threat.

Vechernaya Riga

and Chas looks into the essay written by Maxim Kovalenko who was given one of the first prizes in the essay contest The Borders of My Language – Border of My World organised by the public policy centre Providus, the Embassy of Norway, the public policy portal politika.lv and the Ministry of Education and Science. The Minister of Education Karlis Sadurskis disagreed with the decision of the jury that this essay should be given the first prize as it does not foster social integration. Maxim Kovalenko in his essay analysed the education reform.

The biology teacher from Salaspils who was fired due to her insufficient Latvian language skills and afterwards re-hired on the basis of the courts decision sent a letter to the Russian President Vladimir Putin asking to provide her asylum in Russia as in Latvia she is discriminated. The newspaper predicts that after the education reform is implemented, there will be a huge number of teachers who want be able to work at schools.

Telegraf

reports that the Israeli Ambassador Avraham Benjamin is concerned that some Latvian politicians and well know public persons give interviews with the nationalistic newspaper DDD led by notorious Aivars Garda.

Integration and Minority Information Servicea

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

• Support programme for minority schools developed by the Ministry of Education and Science approved
• Rally against the education reform was held outside the buildings of three embassies
• Security institutions keep continuos surveillance over opponents of the education reform
• Moscows delegation in Riga discusses education issues
• Roma demands dismissal of the President of the Latvian Roma Association

On Tuesday the support programme for minority schools developed by the Ministry of Education and Science was approved. The programme foresees discussions about the education reform with parents, allocation of resources for study literature, teaching aid and education of teachers. A part of funding is found in the this years state budget, a part could be funded by the Integration Foundation. However, the Head of the Association for the Support for Russians Schools in Latvia Igor Pimenov says that these activities will not be very effective if the MoE tries to impose only its views. Diena

Yesterday the protest rally against the education reform was held outside the buildings of three embassies – Italy, Germany and France. About 60 people took part in the meeting. Chas, Vechernaya Riga, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

When meeting MPs of FF/LNNK the Director of the Constitution Protection Office Janis Kazocins admitted that opponents against the education reform are under continuos surveillance of security institutions. Diena, Chas, Telegraf

One of the members of the Moscows delegation voiced incomprehension why the education reform of minority schools will be implemented next year as schools are not ready for the reform. Representative of the Moscows delegation held meetings with Latvian politicians and officials. The decision was taken to organise mutual seminars about minorities in Latvia as the lack of information about the situation of Russian-speakers in Latvia cultivates different myths in Russia. Diena, Chas

Vesti Segodnya

reports that about 30 Roma protested against ex-MP and the President of the Cultural Association of Latvian Roma Normunds Rudevics. Roma expressed their dissatisfaction with the activities of Normunds Rudevics as Rudevics has not presented any financial report about expenditures of funding allotted for the Association during several years (in total LVL 101,000).

Chas reports about the session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. The High Commissioner on National Minorities Rolf Ekeus accounted for his last visit to Latvia and was satisfied with his co-operation with Latvian authorities. While British MP Andrew McKinley expressed his concern about the great number of non-citiezens and announced that he will inspect the situation of Russian speakers in Latvia. The visit will be organised till the end of the year.