Integration and Minority Information Service

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

• Interview with the head of the Union of Greens and Farmers Saeima faction Augusts Brigmanis
• Russian-language newspapers focus on the statement about minority schools of the head of the New Era Saeima faction Krisjanis Karins

Lauku Avize

interviews the head of the Union of Greens and Farmers Saeima faction Augusts Brigmanis. When asked what should be the top priority of the Latvian President, Augusts Brigmanis says that the President should try to foster social integration in Latvia. He states that Latvia needs those young people who were born and grew up in Latvia but still have not naturalised. Brigmanis notes that his party does not want to be too nationalistic.

Vechernaya Riga, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

quote the statement of the head of the New Era Saeima faction Krishjanis Karins from his interview with Lauku Avize our government has full rights to allot nothing for those schools where classes are not held in the Latvian language. We do not have to provide funding for schools where subjects are not taught in Latvian. Newspapers conclude that it is the stance of the whole government.

Integration and Minority Information Service

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

• Interview with the Head of the New Era Saeima faction Krisjanis Karins
• Interview with First Deputy of the Chairperson of the Russian State Duma Lubova Sliska
• Head of the Saeima Human Rights Committee gave an interview with a nationalistic newspaper
• HIV/AIDS-infected Russian youth in Estonia and Latvia
• FF/LNNK member about activities of Russian-speakers
• Lauku Avize
features a long article about the study initiated by the Naturalisation Board

Lauku Avize

interviews the head of the New Era Saeima faction Krisjanis Karins. In response to newspapers reproaches that the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Affairs Nils Muiznieks is not doing his job as there were no non-Latvians at the Freedom Monument on 14 June -- the mourning day for victims who were deported to Siberia by the Soviet regime -- Krisjanis Karins replies that it is difficult to comment on Nils Muiznieks as he is not a Minister appointed by his party. Regarding citizenship issues, Karins says that international experts may say what they want about the big number of non-citizens, however, Latvia does not have to change anything and even if we decide to harden the Citizenship Law, nobody would be able to object to that. Karins states that the New Era has a different approach to solving ethnic issues than FF/LNNK does.

Chas

interviews the First Deputy of the Chairperson of the Russias State Duma Lubova Sliska. She believes that the time has come to solve non-citizen issues in Latvia and Estonia. Lubov Sliska states that her efforts to establish a dialogue with the Latvian Parliament failed. She believes that Russia should implement more effective policy regarding its compatriots.

Vesti Segodnya

reports that the Head of the Saeima Human Rights Committee Ina Druviete gave an interview to the nationalistic newspaper DDD. Vesti Segodnya writes that Druviete provided her opinion regarding ethnic relations in Latvia.

Chas, Vechernaya Riga

feature an article about a book on HIV/AIDS-infected Russian youth in Estonia and Latvia. The author states that integration programmes of both countries Estonia and Latvia may lead to a serious risk of social exclusion among Russian youth in Estonia and Latvia and that their implementation may foster the growth of infection with HIV/AIDS among the Russian youth.

Lauku Avize

features an article by member of FF/LNNK Vilnis Zarins about the activities of Russian-speakers. He states that protest activities against the education reform are their efforts to dictate their will in Latvia. He says that not all Russian-speakers are hostile towards Latvia. He concludes that all residents of Latvia should observe the law.

Lauku Avize

features a long article about the study initiated by the Naturalisation Board on the reasons which hold back non-citizens from naturalisation.

Integration and Minority Information Service

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

• Vaira Vike-Freiberga re-elected Latvian President
• Judge receives reprimand for violating the principle of the open court
• Interview with Irina Vinnika

Strengthening democratic institutions in Latvia, fostering the welfare of the people, promoting the development of the business sector and being in charge of the interests of Latvia and its good reputation on the international scene are the key tasks Vaira Vike-Freiberga named as her priorities just after her re-election. 88 MPs voted for and 6 against the candidacy of Vaira Vike-Freiberga. Neatkariga, Diena, Lauku Avize, Latvijas Vestnesis, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

The Disciplinary Collegium of Judges issued a reprimand to the judge of the Riga Latgale District Court Lauma Volberga who adopted a ruling in the so-called policemen case (4 policemen beat a Roma man who later died) and read the courts ruling without the presence of the victims relatives, thus violating the principle of the open court. Diena

Vesti Segodnya

interviews Irina Vinnik who just recently was appointed the director of the National Minority Department at the Social Integration Secretariat. Previously Irina Vinnika was a journalist and produced TV programmes in Russian. Irina Vinnika states that she wants that national minorities would feel at home in Latvia.

Integration and Minority Information Service

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

• Government will amend the Education Law in summer
• Russian students at the higher education establishment
• Article about the Armenian Community in Latvia
• 247 projects received by the Integration Foundation
• 80% people choose to indicate their nationality in passports
• Minority youth under bigger risk to get infected with HIV/AIDS
• Newspapers about the President Vaira Vike-Freiberga
• Political party ratings

The Government is planning to amend the Education Law applying Article 81 of the Constitution (right of government to adopt legislation while Parliament is out of session). The new norm will state that as of 1 September 2004 minority secondary schools should have the share of studies in the state language as provided for by legal norms, instead of the existing norm of the Education Law which states that all secondary schools will teach only in the state language as of 2004. Diena

Neatkariga

features an article about the higher education institution – the Baltic Russian Institute -- where students of different nationalities study together. The studies are conducted in two languages – Russian and Latvian. Some of Russians who study at the Institute state that they would prefer to study at Latvian higher education institutions, however, they are afraid that their Latvia language skills would be insufficient.

Neatkariga

talks to the leader of the Armenian Community in Latvia Eduard Sislan. The Community was officially formed in 2000 and its key task is integration of Armenians into Latvian society. Eduard Sislan stresses that the Community has developed very good co-operation ties with Armenian communities in other countries and Latvian political and non-governmental organisations. Armenians live mainly in Riga, where there are about 2,500 Armenians. About 85% of Armenian children go to Latvian schools. According to Eduard Sislan the rate of Latvian citizens among Armenians has grown. He concludes that Armenians do not see any difficulties concerning integration into Latvian society.

The Integration Foundation received 247 project applications for the tender of projects in the field of ethnic integration. Neatkariga

About 80% of people who receive new type of passport prefer to indicate their nationality, although according to the new legal norms this is no longer mandatory. Neatkariga

Yesterday a book presentation on HIV/AIDS infected Russian youth in Estonia and Latvia was made in Riga by the author, who is lecturer of educational psychology and development at St. Patricks College in Dublin. According to the lecturer, integration programmes of both countries Estonia and Latvia may lead to a serious risk of social exclusion among Russian youth in Estonia and Latvia and that their implementation may foster the growth of infection with HIV/AIDS among the Russian youth. However, the lecturer noted that there are some positive aspects in Latvia, such as, cultural and sport events for minority children. Vesti Segodnya

Jauna Avize

interviews the Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga. When asked about the most difficult moment in these 4 years, the President states that the moment when she discussed the necessity to abolish language requirement for persons running for seats in office from the Election Law was not very pleasant. She realised that the norm contradicted the Constitution and international norms, however, none of the parties supported her.

Vesti Segodnya

publishes an article The Mistake of the President. The newspaper stresses that the President has ignored non-Latvians during her 4 presidency years. The author of the article is not convinced whether the President will correct her mistake in case of her re-election.

No major changes have occurred in political party ratings in June – the most popular party is the New Era, the Peoples Party and FHRUL, followed by the Union of Greens and Farmers, FF/LNNK and Peoples Harmony Party. The Latvian First Party would not get the required 5% of ballots if the Saeima elections were to take place in June. Diena, Vesti Segodnya

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

• Interviews with the Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga
  
• Naturalisation Board conducts a study on the motives why people do not naturalise
• Opponents of the education reform: if the education reform is not postponed, people will not vote for the EU
• Conference on integration issues held yesterday
• Saeima faction of FF/LNNK held a sitting with the Education and Justice Ministers
• Law on Radio and TV re-opened
• Interview with the deputy of the Rabbi in Latvia Arje Bekers

Diena

interviews the Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga. When asked what her priorities in foreign policy for the next 4 years will be, the President states that there is still a lot to do regarding Latvias way towards the EU and NATO. She believes that relations with Russia will change after Latvia completes ratification of both agreements with the EU and NATO. After that Russia will not be able to continue the dialogue with Latvia in such a tone it did up till now. Regarding priorities in domestic policy, the President says that her previous priorities – court system, police and customs – will remain her top priorities for the next 4 years as well. The President agrees that Latvia still has many duties to fulfil in the field of social integration, however, Latvia is making progress in the field. She approves the education reform, but is planning to examine whether schools, which have to implement the reform, have sufficient resources and teaching aids. She considers that some schools should be allowed to have more flexible implementation schedule.

According to the study initiated by the Naturalisation Board and funded by the Finnish Embassy reasons why people do not want to naturalise are different in different regions of Latvia, therefore, in the future naturalisation awareness and promotion campaigns should be focused on specific target groups – according to the age groups and location. Out of 7,000 non-citizens a large share believes that they should be awarded Latvian citizenship automatically. This opinion prevails in Riga and Kurzeme, while non-citizens in Zemgale name their poor knowledge of history as the key reason for remaining in the status of non-citizen. Non-citizens in Vidzeme do not naturalise because they want to keep their privileges in obtaining visa to the CIS countries, while non-citizens in Latgale believe that their state language skills are too low. The Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Affairs Nils Muiznieks announced that his Secretariat will focus on promotion Latvian citizenship among young Latvian non-citizens. Diena, Vechernaya Riga, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Yesterday the Headquarter for the support for Russian schools held a rally. Diena reports that a new slogan appeared on the scene: if the education reform is not postponed, the Headquarter will call on people to vote against the EU. About 150-200 took part in the rally. Vechernaya Riga, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Lauku Avize reports that yesterday the conference Integrated Civic Society in Latvia and Latvias Integration into the European Democratic Space was held in Riga. There were almost no representatives of national minorities despite the fact that the lions share of discussed issues concerned integration of non-Latvians. Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Affairs Nils Muiznieks said that his Secretariat will develop a new programme on Social Integration in Latvia. Vesti Segodnya notes that Nils Muiznieks seriously distressed those politicians who believe that there will be no problems in the field of integration in the future. The Integration Minister expressed his deep concern about the vast number of people (110,000) under the age of 27 who have not naturalised. Political scientist Artis Pabriks suggested paying more attention to issues concerning minority children education at kindergartens. Associated Professor of the University of Latvia Peteris Tabuns pointed out the negative influence and role of the Russian printed press. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya

reports that the Saeima faction of FF/LNNK asked the Education Minister Karlis Sadurskis and the Justice Minister Aivars Aksenoks to take part in factions sitting. MPs of the FF/LNNK faction voiced their dissatisfaction with proportion of subjects taught in the state and minority languages at minority schools after implementation of the education reform. They believe that classes taught in the state language should be more than 60% of the curriculum as provided for by present norms, however, the Education Minister Karlis Sadurskis stated that 60% classes held in the state language will ensure sufficient level of state language skills for minority students. Another concern of FF/LNNK was whether after Latvias accession to the EU Latvian citizens will have fewer rights than Latvian non-citizens. Telegraf

As the Constitutional Court ruling annulled the norm in the Law on Radio and TV stipulating that only up to 25% of programmes may be aired in foreign languages, MPs opened the Law on Radio and Television to introduce amendments. The key discussion subjects again were issues concerning language. The head of the National Radio and TV Council Ojars Rubenis suggested to award frequencies on the basis of a competition and one of the pre-requisites would be broadcast in the state language. Ojars Rubenis is not concerned that there will be no applicants as the frequencies can remain unfilled. Peoples Harmony Party MP Boris Tsilevich suggested to ask competent lawyers to develop a completely new law which would comply with all European directives and the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. He suggests that there should be 2 laws: one for commercial TV and radio stations and one for public. Telegraf

Lauku Avize

talks to the deputy of the Rabbi in Latvia Arje Bekers. He reports that there are about 10,000 Jews in Latvia and stresses that relations between the Jewish Community and Latvian society are very good.