Integration and Minority Information Service

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

• Protest activities against the education reform continue
• Interview with the Russian Ambassador
• Head of the Academy of Culture Peteris Lakis about education issues in Latvia
• Representatives of the Latvian Youth Club meet the Integration Minister

Vechernaya Riga

reports that one more protest activity against the education reform took place in Riga yesterday. About 50 people took part in the meeting. The next protest activity will take place after a week outside the buildings of the Saeima, the Education Ministry and the Delegation of the European Commission. Vesti Segodnya

Chas

talks to the Russian Ambassador Igor Studennikov. Regarding the role of Russia in solving issues of Russians in Latvia, he states that Russia draws attention of European and international organisations to education issues, as well as provides material assistance to Russian schools in Latvia.

Chas

talks to the head of the Academy of Culture Peteris Lakis about education issues in Latvia. Regarding the education reform of minority secondary schools, Peteris Lakis states that strong Latvian language skills will enhance students compatibility and the most negative aspect in this issue is over-politicisation of the issue.

Yesterday members of the Latvian Youth Council held discussions with the Special Task Minister for Social Integration Affairs Nils Muiznieks on integration issues. Young people said that actually there are no problems among young people of different nationalities. Vesti Segodnya

Integration and Minority Information Service

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

• Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga accounts for her activities
• Disciplinary charges brought against the judge who adopted the sentence in the case of policemen who killed the Roma man
• Article about relations between Latvia and Russia
• Professor Kenins-King about the ethnic situation in Latvia
• Co-chairperson of the Union of Citizens and Non-Citizens Vladimir Sokolov provides his arguments why Latvia should be in the EU

The Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga gave a press conference and accounted for her activities during 4 years. When asked what president should do to help to eliminate the two-communities split in Latvia, the President said that the key task of the President in this sphere is the declaration of the Presidents opinion about a modern, democratic and open Latvia. She said that she had tried to do that, first of all, in all her speeches given on Latvian Independence Day and other occasions and when providing her stance about different issues, for instance, education issues, cultural heritage and the role of a native language in persons development. Latvijas Vestnesis (100603)

Judge Lauma Volberga, who released 4 policemen accused of murdering a Roma man without any sentence, said that she is afraid of a possible revenge from Roma therefore ignored the open court principle (the Judge decided to move to a smaller court room to announce the sentence, practically precluding the closest relatives of the killed man from gaining access to this room and listen to the sentence). Disciplinary charges are brought against the judge. The newspaper believes that the judge should be suspended because of her racial prejudices. The Justice Minister Aivars Aksenoks and chairperson of the Supreme Court Andris Gulans did not comment the decision. Rigas Balss

Diena

features an article about relations between Latvia and Russia. Although the Latvian President has announced that unofficial agreement has been reached to activate relations, some Latvian diplomats are sceptical, as lately Russia uses any opportunity to discuss the situation of Latvian non-citizens at any and all international meetings. According to Diena, the official goal of Russia is to improve the situation of non-citizens, although in reality there are economic interests and a wish to preserve its influence on Latvia.

Lauku Avize

interviews professor of Pacific University Gundars Kenins-King. Regarding the education reform he says that Latvians who want to solve education issues in a bureaucratic manner and Russians who do not care about education of their children are to be blamed for protest activities. He is convinced that the two-community situation in Latvia is created in an artificial way and in the future there will be a one-community society with strong culture and traditions.

Vesti Segodnya

features an article by co-chairperson of the Union of Citizens and Non-Citizens Vladimir Sokolov about ethnic democracy in the world and in Latvia. He states that the Latvian state is based on the principles of ethnic democracy. He states that these principles work for the profit of civil servants and not for entrepreneurs, they also hamper any improvements in relations with Russia, as Latvia perceive any Russian attempts to improve the situation of its compatriots in an inadequate manner. Vladimir Sokolov concludes that if the EU is perceived as the union of countries based on principles of consensus, then it is worth to vote for such future.

Integration and Minority Information Service

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

• Newspapers comment on the decision of the Constitutional Court to abolish the norm stipulating language restrictions in the Law on Radio and Television
• Interview with State Secretary of the Education Ministry
• Socialist party wants to form their own Saeima faction
• State President meets with MPs

Lauku Avize

comments on the decision of the Constitutional Court to abolish the norm stipulating language restrictions in the Law on Radio and Television. The columnist concludes that one concession is followed by another and this is the policy realised in many spheres in the country.

Vesti Segodnya

comments that the decision of the CC is more of a moral victory as it will not bring any practical benefit. Head of the National Radio and TV Council Ojars Rubenis proposes a new concept: introduce a ratio among TV channels and radio stations, for instance, 3 in minority languages and 10 in the state language, in particular, in the places densely inhabited by non-Latvians.

Lauku Avize

talks to the State Secretary of the Education Ministry Sarmite Vegere. She states that the reform will be implemented and insofar as it depends on her there will be no yielding.

The announced intention of the Socialist Party to form its own faction in the Saeima will make impossible the further existence of the faction that is second most popular in recent opinion polls. The FHRUL is presently composed of the Socialist Party and Equality. However, both parties lack the required number of MPs (5) to form an independent faction. Diena, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Due to the upcoming presidential elections the Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga met with MPs of ruling parties. The President has four top priorities 1) shape a positive image of Latvia; 2) achieve unity of the people and the government; 3) form an ombudsman institution; 4) raise the self-awareness of the people. When asked about her stance towards the education reform, the President did not give a clear answer, but said that words like fight and yielding should not be used when discussing the education reform. The education reform should viewed in a positive way. Chas, Diena, Vesti Segodnya, Lauku Avize

Integration and Minority Information Service

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

• EU adopts the directive about third country nationals
• Socialist Party leaves FHRUL
• 2,000 signatures against the education reform collected during meeting
• Director of the National Human Rights Office visits Jelgava to talk about the situation of Roma

The Latvian government has agreed to apply to Latvian non-citizens the EU Directive adopted by EU Justice and Interior Ministers on Thursday on the status of permanent residents who are third country nationals. The directive will have no effect on the status of Latvian non-citizens, however, their possibilities and rights could have some improvements in other EU countries. Latvian citizens will have the right to move and work without any restrictions within the EU, while non-citizens will not have these rights.

The Latvian government has agreed to apply to Latvian non-citizens the EU Directive adopted by EU Justice and Interior Ministers on Thursday on the status of permanent residents who are third country nationals. The directive will have no effect on the status of Latvian non-citizens, however, their possibilities and rights could have some improvements in other EU countries. Latvian citizens will have the right to move and work without any restrictions within the EU, while non-citizens will not have these rights. Diena, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

The Socialist Party decided to leave FHRUL. The only party remaining in FHRUL is Equality and it is intending to retain the name of the union.

The Socialist Party decided to leave FHRUL. The only party remaining in FHRUL is Equality and it is intending to retain the name of the union. Vechernaya Riga, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

On Saturday, about 2,000 signatures were collected during a protest meeting against the education reform at the square of the Railway station.

On Saturday, about 2,000 signatures were collected during a protest meeting against the education reform at the square of the Railway station. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Director of the Human Rights Office Olafs Bruvers will visit Jelgava to study the situation of Roma in the city. Olafs Bruvers will have meetings with city officials and Roma NGO leaders.

Director of the Human Rights Office Olafs Bruvers will visit Jelgava to study the situation of Roma in the city. Olafs Bruvers will have meetings with city officials and Roma NGO leaders. BNS

Integration and Minority Information Service

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

• Comments on the decision of the Constitutional Court to abolish the norm stipulating language restrictions in the Law on Radio and Television
• Media experts about the decision of the Constitution Court
• Interview with poet and head of the Presidents Official Language Commission Mara Zalite
• Lauku Avize:
increasing number of Russian parents send their children to Latvian kindergartens
• Teacher from Salaspils who was fired due to her insufficient language skills will be re-fired

Diena

comments on the decision of the Constitutional Court to abolish the norm of the Law on Radio and Television which stipulates language restrictions in private broadcasting. Diena states that the decision was unexpected. It proves that the Constitutional Court is capable of reaching decisions without any international pressure. The columnist believes that the decision of the CC will not bring any changes in programmes of Latvian radio and TV stations, however, he fears that full or even partial re-translation of radio programmes of Russia will start and it would result in distorted market of commercials. Another conclusion is that probably the decision will foster social integration, however, there is a risk that it would have a reverse effect – everything depends on the ability of the Saeima to create a legal situation where the mass media which broadcast in Russian do not turn into a voice of Moscow.

Diena

provides opinions of media experts on the abolition of the norm in the Law on Radio and TV. Head of the National Radio and TV Council (NRTC) Ojars Rubenis states the positions of the Latvian language in some regions are not secure yet, therefore alternative means should be considered to prevent airing programmes in Russian or any other foreign language. Researcher of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Signe Martisune believes that the decision is a serious step forward, as it shows that Latvia is able eliminate violations concerning the freedom of speech with local remedies. Head of the Saeima Human Rights Committee Ina Druviete agrees that the norm had to be abolished, however, there will not be a completely free market. However, commercial stations are not rushing to bring in changes in their programmes – they are waiting for the reaction of the NRTC. Neatkariga, Lauku Avize

Vesti Segodnya

comments that it is the first and hopefully not the last victory of national minorities in Latvia.

Chas

reports that Moscow welcomed the decision by the Constitutional Court.

Neatkariga

interviews poet and head of the Official Language Commission Mara Zalite. Regarding the education reform, Mara Zalite says that the word only in the phrase as of 2004 minority students shall study only in the state language was a mistake by the Saeima and successfully used by political forces to initiate protests in society. She stresses that the state should implement a language policy that would bring closer the two communities existing in Latvia. At the same time minorities should feel that nobody threatens their identity.

Lauku Avize

writes that more and more Russian parents want their children to master state language skills already in kindergarten. The newspaper talks to a number of kindergarten teachers about their experience with this issue.

Biology teacher of a Salaspils School Valentina Demidovec, who was dismissed due to her insufficient language skills and then re-hired on the basis of a Courts ruling, received a note from the school administration that her job contract will be terminated on 13 June 2003, as the teacher has violated work discipline. The teacher said that the administration intentionally gave her the weakest classes and constantly conducted inspections. The principle of the school stated that the quality of her classes is very low and students are dissatisfied. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

The Peoples Party Saeima faction asked for the resignation of the Repses government. The Saeima will vote for this proposal on Thursday. Head of the People Party Atis Slakteris is convinced that the proposal will also be supported by a part of reasonable MPs from other parties. Neatkariga, Lauku Avize, Chas