Integration and Minority Information Service

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

• Conference Education in Social Integration held in Ventspils
• Seminar Education for Integration organised by the Soros Foundation in Riga
• Advisor to the Governmental Committee Tatyana Poloskova
• People resistant to donate money for holding Latvian language courses free of charge

Neatkariga

reports about reports about a conference “Education in Social Integration” held in Ventspilsa conference Education in Social Integration held in Ventspils. Special Task Minister for the Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks, General Consul of the Russian Federation Vyacheslav Semyonov, Counsellor of the Canadian embassy Dominique Rossetti, Venstpils Mayor Aivars Lembergs and a number of education experts participated in the conference. The conference adopted a note to the Saeima, the Cabinet of Ministers, the Integration Foundation and the Ministry of Education stating that the level of the societal integration influences education and its quality and vice verse.. Special Task Minister for the Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks, General Consul of the Russian Federation Vyacheslav Semyonov, Counsellor of the Canadian embassy Dominique Rossetti, Venstpils Mayor Aivars Lembergs and a number of education experts participated in the conference. The conference adopted a note to the Saeima, the Cabinet of Ministers, the Integration Foundation and the Ministry of Education stating that “the level of the societal integration influences education and its quality and vice verse.”

Chas

reports that Ventspils Mayor Aivars Lembergs sharply criticised the current integration policy of the government and stated that the government builds integration through administrative methods and not on free will of persons. Lembergs is against the switch of minority secondary schools to instruction in Latvian in 2004 as it could cause instability in the country. reports that Ventspils Mayor Aivars Lembergs sharply criticised the current integration policy of the government and stated that the government builds integration through administrative methods and not on free will of persons. Lembergs is against the switch of minority secondary schools to instruction in Latvian in 2004 as it could cause instability in the country. Panorama Latvii Panorama Latvii Yesterday representatives of 20 Russian and 17 Latvian schools, 14 pre-schools and 7 universities, as well as experts and officials discussed the future of national minority education in Latvia in a

Yesterday representatives of 20 Russian and 17 Latvian schools, 14 pre-schools and 7 universities, as well as experts and officials discussed the future of national minority education in Latvia in a seminar Education for Integration during which the results of the international working group about the situation concerning bilingual education in Latvia were presented. The seminar was organised by the Soros Foundation in Riga. The international working group concluded that the term bilingual education in Latvia is not very clearly defined. Only the third module (out of 4) of bilingual education developed by the government and the module developed by Association of the Support for the Russian Language Schools in Latvia were admitted as bilingual curricula. Notwithstanding, official of the Education Ministry Guntis Vasilevskis believes that the education reform of 2004 is going on very well and invitations to the EU and NATO are a prove of that. However, director of the project Open School, which is implemented by the Soros Foundation in Latvia, Liesma Ose criticised the work of the Ministry. She believes that after 2004 minority secondary schools should be bilingual. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Panorama Latvii

Advisor to the Governmental Committee of the Support for Russian Compatriots at the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry

Advisor to the Governmental Committee of the Support for Russian Compatriots at the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry Tatyana Poloskova believes that Russians residing in Latvia need economic lobby. She states that Russian community in Latvia is diverse and split and therefore it will not be able to serve as a bridge between Latvia and Russia and that Russia should gradually cease politicisation of its compatriots. Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

The anti-NATO NGO Prata Speks reports that during 2 weeks

The anti-NATO NGO Prata Speks reports that during 2 weeks only 25 persons have called the special phone number which costs one lat and was installed to collect money for the support for Latvian language classes provided to non-Latvians free of charge. Vesti Segodnya

Integration and Minority Information Service

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

• Article about the current situation concerning the implementation of the bilingual education reform in 2004
• FHRUL submits a petition to the Constitutional Court to protest against discriminatory language regulations
• Yesterday Special Task Minister of the Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks participated in the Chas on-line discussion forum
• Societal integration seminar in Germany
• Status of Latvian non-citizens after Latvias accession to the EU
• National TV dismissed anchors of Russian news Regina Locmele and Tatyana Vinnika
• FHRUL MP Aleksandr Golubov has been appointed secretary of the Saeima Committee on the Implementation of the Citizenship Law
• Problems with teaching history in Latvia

Diena

features a long article about the current situation concerning the implementation of the bilingual education reform in 2004 which stipulates the switch of minority secondary schools to instruction in Latvian. Latvian Education Minister Karlis Sadurskis reassures that the reform is not cancelled, however, there is no clear implementation plan for the year of 2003. The Minister also promises individual implementation timeframes for those schools, which experience difficulties with the preparation of the reform, however, he cannot yet exactly define what will be done to ensure the successful implementation of the reform. The Education Ministry official Evija Papule reports that a new curriculum for minority secondary schools was elaborated this year. It provides for three curriculum blocks: block A consists of mandatory subjects and should be taught in the state language; block B are subjects which are selected by each school and one third of these subjects may be taught in a minority language; block C are special subjects which are selected by the school, students and parents, and all C block subjects may be taught in a minority language. In total 25-30% of subjects can be taught in a minority language. Although the Ministry of Education is convinced that the implementation of the reform will proceed, school principles and school boards and still concerned about its implementation.

FHRUL pledges to protect the rights of Russian-speaking viewers and listeners through court proceedings. Today FHRUL will submit a claim to the Constitutional Court to review discriminatory language regulations stipulated by the Law on Radio and Television for commercial radio and TV stations. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Panorama Latvii

Yesterday Special Task Minister of the Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks participated in the Chas on-line discussion forum. He stated that when he accepted the offer to become the Minister, he had a clear vision about his responsibilities and duties and if after three months there will be no support from the government, I will think over, what I am doing here.

Lauku Avize

reports that a seminar about societal integration took place in Germany and was attended by a number of societal integration experts and officials from Latvia, such as Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane, head of the Association for the Support of Russian Language Schools in Latvia Igor Pimenov, head of the Integration Department at the Ministry of Justice Reinis Aboltins, pro-minority NGO member Boris Kolchanov, researchers Svetlana Dyackova and Aija Priedite.

Telegraf

columnist Anna Novickaya discusses the future status of Latvian non-citizens after Latvias accession to the EU. She stresses that neither Latvian nor European officials are able to provide a clear answer about the status of these people. She reproaches them for ignoring hundreds of thousands people.

The administration of the National TV dismissed anchors of the news programme in the Russian language Regina Locmele and Tatyana Vinnika stating that they would be more suited for moderating analytical discussion shows. However, right now the administration could not say when these shows will be produced. The administration also assured that very soon the Russian news aired by the National TV would be more oriented to the specific interests of its audience. Telegraf

FHRUL MP Aleksandr Golubov has been appointed secretary of the Saeima Committee on the Implementation of the Citizenship Law. This is the only Saeima Committee headed by members of the opposition – the chairperson of the Committee is Peoples Party MP Anta Rugate. Diena

Telegraf

discusses the situation concerning teaching of history at schools in Latvia. There is no unified and clear history curriculum at schools in Latvia, which results in a number of shortcomings, such as, many schools skipping the theme of the Holocaust. Another problem is that some Russian schools use the set regulations that one third of the history classes must be devoted to the history of Latvia, but two thirds to any other history, and devotes these two thirds to teaching only the history of Russia.

Integration and Minority Information Service

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

• Article about bilingual education

• LA interviews French Ambassador to Latvia Michel Foucher
• Report on the education reform in Latvia.

Liesma Ose is a project co-ordinator at the Soros Foundation in Latvia. She provides information on the practice and experience of an NGO in implementing the reform. The project “Open School” was launched in 1999 within the Soros Foundation programme framework. The goal of the project was fostering contacts amongst Latvian and Russian and other minority schools and kindergartens. The author accounts for the activities conducted and their effects on students and teachers. Liesma Ose concludes that the project offers the model of an open education policy implementation, which works through communication and listening.

Liesma Ose is a project co-ordinator at the Soros Foundation in Latvia. She provides information on the practice and experience of an NGO in implementing the reform. The project Open School was launched in 1999 within the Soros Foundation programme framework. The goal of the project was fostering contacts amongst Latvian and Russian and other minority schools and kindergartens. The author accounts for the activities conducted and their effects on students and teachers. Liesma Ose concludes that the project offers the model of an open education policy implementation, which works through communication and listening.

Lauku Avize

interviews French Ambassador to Latvia Michel Foucher. When asked about the stance of France regarding the ratification of the Framework Convention, which France has not signed nor ratified, Ambassador Michel Foucher states that France does not consider that there are national minorities in the country and that the Convention contradicts the French Constitution. When asked about the stance of France regarding the ratification of the Framework Convention, which France has not signed nor ratified, Ambassador Michel Foucher states that France does not consider that there are national minorities in the country and that the Convention contradicts the French Constitution. LCHRES publishes

LCHRES publishes a report on the education reform in 2004.

Integration and Minority Information Service

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

• Report of the Open Society Institute Monitoring the EU Accession Process:

Minority Protection

• Interview with Special Task Minister of the Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks
• On-line discussion with Integration Minister tomorrow
• Interview with former ambassador to Russia, politician Janis Peters
• NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson: Latvia has made progress on integration
• Latvian Human Rights Committee celebrates its 10th anniversary
• Discussions about progress report of the European Commission on Latvia
• Telegraf
reports about the visit of journalists from the Russian Federation.

Lauku Avize

comments the report of the Open Society Institute Monitoring the EU Accession Process: Minority Protection Lauku Avizes columnist Maris Antonevics recalls that last year the report about Latvia was written by Boriss Kolchanov from NGO Baltic Insight, which is headed by pro-minority party FHRUL MP Boris Tsilevich, and that last years report reflected only views depicted in the Russian language press on the minority situation in Latvia. Although this year the report is prepared by researcher of the NGO Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Svetlana Dyachkova, according to Lauku Avize the report is tendentious. Antonevics stresses that the researcher mainly provides views about societal integration presented by Russian and minority organisations, but does not reflect opinions and views of organisations which are satisfied and are working successfully with the National Programme for Social Integration.

Lauku Avize

talks to Special Task Minister for the Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks. He believes that the formation of the Advisory Council on National Affairs and closer co-operation among different ministries in the realm of integration will foster a dialogue with national minorities. Muiznieks reports that experts are working together with statistic specialists at the development of an integration-indicator system, which will attempt to measure the level of integration of society. He states that some minorities, such as Poles and Jews, are well-organised in Latvia, therefore it will be easy to have a dialogue with them, while the Russian minority is rather split. According to Muiznieks, the Russian language is not a typical minority language and it does not need the same support as other minority languages, however, the Russian language has its special role in the history of Latvia.

Chas

columnist Leonid Fedoseyev reports that tomorrow Special Task Minister of the Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks will participate in the on-line discussion forum. Fedoseyev also comments on priorities of the societal integration in Latvia. According to him, integration should start with Latvians, that is, Latvians should realise that Russian-speakers and non-citizens are people who are entitled to the same rights as Latvians.

Chas

interviews former Latvian Ambassador to Russia, member of the Latvian First Party Janis Peters. He believes that integration is one of Latvias key tasks, however, he is convinced that people residing in Latvia were not and will not be involved in violent ethnic conflicts. Janis Peters states that Nils Muiznieks is one of the best candidates for the newly established post of the Special Task Minister of the Societal Integration, as Muiznieks is a man of dialogues. He concludes that people in Latvia are still sick with ethnic infantilism which it is time to get rid of.

Vesti Segodnya

reports about the meeting of NATO Secretary General Lord George Robertson with influential businessmen from Russia in Moscow. One Russian businessman, Igor Yurgen, reports that they discussed the situation of national minorities in Latvia as well. Regarding ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, Lord Robertson did not provide any clear position, however, he assured that NATO had and will thoroughly follow the situation of national minorities and integration in Latvia. Lord Robertson also noted that Latvia has achieved progress in this sphere.

The pro-minority NGO Latvian Human Rights Committee celebrates its 10th anniversary today. LHRC member Yuriy Kotov features an article about the activities of the Committee during these 10 years. He states that the influence of the Committee increased after it won a number of court cases against the Department of Citizenship and Migration Affairs concerning the rights of non-Latvians in the period of residents registration in 1991. Kotov stresses that experts of the Committee were successful in hundreds of cases regarding the protection of rights of national minorities. Telegraf

Panorama Latvii

provides some statistics: in 1992 the majority of complaints received were about refusal to register a person in the Residents Register; in 1999 the majority of complaints were regarding expulsion of a person from Latvia; presently, the most topical problem is housing issues.

Yesterday the Cabinet of Ministers did not adopt the plan of activities aimed at the implementation of EU recommendations, mentioned in the progress report of the European Commission on Latvia, such as ratification of the Framework Convention, promoting the speed of naturalisation and others. The Cabinet of Ministers delegated the final elaboration of the plan to the European Integration Bureau. Vesti Segodnya comments that the Latvian Government as usual tries to pretend that there are no recommendations and hopes that the EU itself will forget about these recommendations. Telegraf

Telegraf

reports about the visit of journalists from the Russian Federation. This year it is already the third visit of journalists from Russia in the framework of the project co-organised with the American Foundation Freedom House and the Institute of Latvia. The aim of the project is to provide information about Russian-speakers in Latvia to audiences in Russia directly from primary sources.

Integration and Minority Information Service

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

• Russian political scientist accuses Latvia and Estonia of race discrimination
• Head of the European Commission Delegation to Latvia and Special Task Minister of the Societal Integration participated in the on-line discussion about the influence of Latvias membership to the EU on societal integration in Latvia

Director of Russias Policy Research Institute Sergey Markov accused Latvia and Estonia of race discrimination and announced that membership of the Baltic States to NATO proves the existence of Russophobia among NATO politicians. He states that Latvia and Estonia are not democratic countries and that they should grant Russians all the rights, which citizens of the respective countries have. BNS

Head of the European Commission Delegation to Latvia Andrew Rasbash and Special Task Minister of the Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks participated in the on-line discussion about the influence of Latvias membership to the EU on the societal integration in Latvia. Andrew Rasbash reported that right now the European Commission is working at the expansion of the rights of non-citizens in the sphere of employment after Latvias accession to the EU.