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

• Minister of Education and Science is planning to visit 20 minority schools until end of May
• Postponement of the Russian Culture days in Latvia
• DaugavpilsCity Council did not authorize organization of the meeting against the education reform
• Peoples Harmony Party warns about the possibility of new strong protest actions against education reform
• Interview with the ambassador of Latvia to Russia Normans Penke about relationship between Latvia and Russia
• Representatives of the national-radical organization Latvijas Nacionala fronte about decolonization of Latvia

Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics is planning to visit 20 minority schools until end of May, in order to clarify opinion of teachers and parents about the preparedness of minority schools to the transition to Latvian as a main language of instruction.

Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics is planning to visit 20 minority schools until end of May, in order to clarify opinion of teachers and parents about the preparedness of minority schools to the transition to Latvian as a main language of instruction. Vesti Segodnya

Latvia Ministry of Culture has notified that the Russian Culture days in Latvia, which were planned to take place in 2004, will be postponed till 2006 due to the lack of money. According to the cooperation program between Russia and Latvia, the Culture days must be financed by the state in which it takes place.

Latvia Ministry of Culture has notified that the Russian Culture days in Latvia, which were planned to take place in 2004, will be postponed till 2006 due to the lack of money. According to the cooperation program between Russia and Latvia, the Culture days must be financed by the state in which it takes place. Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Daugavpils City Council has not authorized organization of the meeting against the education reform in town, planned by the Daugavpils section of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools. There are approximately 50 members of the Headquarters section in Daugavpils.

Daugavpils City Council has not authorized organization of the meeting against the education reform in town, planned by the Daugavpils section of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools. There are approximately 50 members of the Headquarters section in Daugavpils. Vesti Segodnya

People’s Harmony Party (PHP) has spread a statement, voicing support for the first steps made by the government in order to release tension around the education reform’s implementation in the society. At the same time PHP warns that time for the situation analysis in minority schools is almost over, and new strong protest actions against education reform will take place in case problems are not resolved.

Peoples Harmony Party (PHP) has spread a statement, voicing support for the first steps made by the government in order to release tension around the education reforms implementation in the society. At the same time PHP warns that time for the situation analysis in minority schools is almost over, and new strong protest actions against education reform will take place in case problems are not resolved. Diena

Latvijas Avize features an interview with the ambassador of Latvia to Russia Normans Penke about relationship between Latvia and Russia. According to the ambassador, there had been no constructive political dialogue between Russia and Latvia since Latvian regained independence.

Chas features an interview with the representatives of the radical national organization ‘Latvijas Nacionala fronte (National Front of Latvia) Liene Apine and Liga Muzikante, who state that Latvia should be ‘liberated from occupants. According to the representatives of the National Front of Latvia, a Law on Decolonization should be adopted, stipulating attraction of financing for ‘peaceful repatriation of occupants to their ethnic fatherland.

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

• Statements of the rapporteurs of Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (CEPA) Monitoring Committee on minority rights observation in Latvia
• For Human Rights in the United Latvia will request moratorium on the education reform
• Increasing amount of naturalization applications
• Meeting of the Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics with representatives of Saeima Education, Culture and Science Committee
• Opinion poll: part of minority students will not be capable to learn in Latvian
• Patriarch of the Russia Orthodox Church Aleksij II rejects invitation of the state authorities to visit Latvia

Latvia must ratify Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, speed up the naturalization process and implement the education reform, but there is no need for intervention of Russia, because minorities in Latvia are able to protect themselves, – stated the rapporteurs of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (CEPA) Monitoring Committee Erik Jurgens and Kimmo Sasi. According to the rapporteurs, amendments to the Law on Education comply with the Framework Convention and must be implemented, rendering assistance to the minority schools who have problems with the education reform’s implementation. CEPA officials were not able to answer the question about renewal of the monitoring procedure on the observation of minority rights in Latvia. Journalist of

Latvia must ratify Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, speed up the naturalization process and implement the education reform, but there is no need for intervention of Russia, because minorities in Latvia are able to protect themselves, – stated the rapporteurs of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (CEPA) Monitoring Committee Erik Jurgens and Kimmo Sasi. According to the rapporteurs, amendments to the Law on Education comply with the Framework Convention and must be implemented, rendering assistance to the minority schools who have problems with the education reforms implementation. CEPA officials were not able to answer the question about renewal of the monitoring procedure on the observation of minority rights in Latvia. Journalist of Vesti Segodnya Abiks Elkins believes that the rapporteurs will not require renewal of monitoring procedure immediately, but will give Latvia an opportunity to ratify the Framework Convention and to develop a dialogue on education reform till the end of this year. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Chas

Today Saeima For Human Rights in the United Latvia parliamentary group is planning to propose amendments to the Law on Education, stipulating the  moratorium on the education reform until the September 2007, defining  institution, which determines the subjects to be taught in Latvian in minority schools, as previously suggested by the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, and changing the paragraph of the law which allows state and local governments financial support only for those private schools, which provide education in the state language.

Today Saeima For Human Rights in the United Latvia parliamentary group is planning to propose amendments to the Law on Education, stipulating the moratorium on the education reform until the September 2007, defining institution, which determines the subjects to be taught in Latvian in minority schools, as previously suggested by the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, and changing the paragraph of the law which allows state and local governments financial support only for those private schools, which provide education in the state language. Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Naturalization Board foresees that approximately 15,000 – 16,000 non-citizens could naturalize during this year. According to the chairman of the Naturalization Board Eizenija Aldermane, 1900 naturalization applications have been received in March, which is the largest monthly amount of naturalization applications received by the Board since the beginning of the naturalization process. Eizenija Aldermane has also stated that at the present moment Naturalization board does not have sufficient capacity to ensure timely review of all applications.

Naturalization Board foresees that approximately 15,000 – 16,000 non-citizens could naturalize during this year. According to the chairman of the Naturalization Board Eizenija Aldermane, 1900 naturalization applications have been received in March, which is the largest monthly amount of naturalization applications received by the Board since the beginning of the naturalization process. Eizenija Aldermane has also stated that at the present moment Naturalization board does not have sufficient capacity to ensure timely review of all applications. Latvijas Avize, Telegraf

Newspapers feature articles about the meeting of the Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics with representatives of the Saeima Education, Culture and Science Committee. The minister stated that implementation of the education reform will not be postponed, and expressed readiness to meet the opponents of the education reform on condition that protest actions against the reform would be discontinued.

Newspapers feature articles about the meeting of the Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics with representatives of the Saeima Education, Culture and Science Committee. The minister stated that implementation of the education reform will not be postponed, and expressed readiness to meet the opponents of the education reform on condition that protest actions against the reform would be discontinued. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

According to the opinion poll, conducted by the head of Saeima For Human Rights in the United Latvia parliamentary group Jakovs Pliners and teacher Valerijs Buhvalovs,  part of minority students will not be capable to study in Latvian at secondary school, because they do not have sufficient learning skills. These conclusions have been made after the polling of 150 minority students from Grades 9 in ten minority schools.

According to the opinion poll, conducted by the head of Saeima For Human Rights in the United Latvia parliamentary group Jakovs Pliners and teacher Valerijs Buhvalovs, part of minority students will not be capable to study in Latvian at secondary school, because they do not have sufficient learning skills. These conclusions have been made after the polling of 150 minority students from Grades 9 in ten minority schools. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Chas

According to the Russia news agency

According to the Russia news agency Interfax, Patriarch of the Russia Orthodox Church Aleksij II will not accept the invitation of the state authorities to visit Latvia until problems in the area of observation of Russian-speakers rights are resolved. Aleksij II believes that rights of the Russian-speakers to obtain information and get education in their mother tongue are restricted in Latvia. Latvijas Avize, Telegraf, Chas

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

• Rapporteurs of the CEPA Monitoring Committee visit Latvia
• About necessity to involve teachers and specialists in discussion about the education reform
• Latvijas Avize writes about similarities between positions of the Latvias First Party and Peoples Harmony Party on society integration issues
• Arabian TV channel Al-Dzazira plans to prepare a broadcast about the implementation of the education reform in Latvia

Rapporteurs of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Monitoring Committee Erik Jurgens and Kimmo Sasi visit Latvia in order to evaluate minority situation and implementation of the education reform. Yesterday officials discussed implementation of the education reform with the representatives of two Riga minority schools and non-governmental organizations. During the meeting with the PACE rapporteurs, minority schools’ students have stated that they know Latvian language well enough to be competitive at the job market, at the same time insisting that it is impossible to learn chemistry, physics and algebra in Latvian, as they will need translation to Russian in order to understand the exercise. According to the students, they have nothing against acquiring several subjects in English, as this language is applicable in many states.

Rapporteurs of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Monitoring Committee Erik Jurgens and Kimmo Sasi visit Latvia in order to evaluate minority situation and implementation of the education reform. Yesterday officials discussed implementation of the education reform with the representatives of two Riga minority schools and non-governmental organizations. During the meeting with the PACE rapporteurs, minority schools students have stated that they know Latvian language well enough to be competitive at the job market, at the same time insisting that it is impossible to learn chemistry, physics and algebra in Latvian, as they will need translation to Russian in order to understand the exercise. According to the students, they have nothing against acquiring several subjects in English, as this language is applicable in many states. Vesti Segodnya informs about the unapproved picket against education reform, organized by the representatives of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language schools at the time of the rapporteurs visit. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

During the meeting of the representatives from the state institutions, Riga City Council and non-governmental organizations, a necessity to reach a compromise in the area of education reform has been recognized. The member of the board of NGO “Baltic Forum” Abrams Kleckins has pointed to the need of actively involving teachers (especially the Latvian language teachers from minority schools) and specialists, who are able to evaluate impact of the education reform on the level of minority students’ academic achievement.

During the meeting of the representatives from the state institutions, Riga City Council and non-governmental organizations, a necessity to reach a compromise in the area of education reform has been recognized. The member of the board of NGO Baltic Forum Abrams Kleckins has pointed to the need of actively involving teachers (especially the Latvian language teachers from minority schools) and specialists, who are able to evaluate impact of the education reform on the level of minority students academic achievement. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize features an article about surprising similarities between positions of the Latvias First Party and the Peoples Harmony Party on society integration issues. The author of the article Inara Murniece points to the lack of a particular stand on the issues of state language and education reform in the government declaration, stressing that it is possible to interpret it very freely. Comparing programs of Peoples Harmony Party and Latvias First Party and statements of their representatives, Inara Murniece concludes that they differ only in the area of implementation of the education reform, while both agree on necessity of ratifying the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities as soon as possible, and on simplification of the naturalization procedures.

Arabian TV channel

Arabian TV channel Al-Dzazira is planning to prepare a broadcast about implementation of the education reform in Latvia. Chas

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

• Latvia becomes a member of NATO
• Speech of the former Foreign Affairs Minister of Latvia Sandra Kalniete provokes indignant reaction of the Vice President of the German Jewish community Solomon Korn
• Consultations with minority schools on education reform
• Interview with the head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Artis Pabriks
• Interview with the USA ambassador to Latvia Brian E. Carlson
• Conference Ethnic structure, inequality and the Governance of the Public Sector
• Article by the leader of national-extremists organization Visu Latvijai! Raivis Dzintars on national minorities in Latvia

Today Latvia officially becomes a member state of the NATO.

Today Latvia officially becomes a member state of the NATO. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Speech of the former Foreign Affairs Minister of Latvia Sandra Kalniete at the opening of the Leipzig’s Book Fair has provoked indignation of the Vice President of the German Jewish community Solomon Korn. Leader of the German Jewish community demonstratively left the hall responding to the statement of Sandra Kalniete that both totalitarian regimes – Nazism and communism – have been equally criminal. Sandra Kalniete regards the reaction of Solomon Korn as exaggerated, stating that it reflects insufficient comprehension of the Eastern European history.

Speech of the former Foreign Affairs Minister of Latvia Sandra Kalniete at the opening of the Leipzigs Book Fair has provoked indignation of the Vice President of the German Jewish community Solomon Korn. Leader of the German Jewish community demonstratively left the hall responding to the statement of Sandra Kalniete that both totalitarian regimes – Nazism and communism – have been equally criminal. Sandra Kalniete regards the reaction of Solomon Korn as exaggerated, stating that it reflects insufficient comprehension of the Eastern European history. Diena, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics in collaboration with the State Language inspection has started consultations with minority schools on education reform. He had already visited Aizkraukle secondary school.

Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics in collaboration with the State Language inspection has started consultations with minority schools on education reform. He had already visited Aizkraukle secondary school. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Telegraf

Latvijas Avize features an interview with the head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Artis Pabriks about relationship between Latvia and Russia and the education reform. Artis Pabriks blames former Minister of Education and Science Karlis Sadurskis for complications with the education reforms implementation, pointing to the lack of dialogue between the minister and national minorities. At the same time, the head of the committee recognizes that some statements of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools, like, for example, denial of the Latvias occupation therefore questioning the legitimacy of the state, and the fact that the assistant of the Russias State Council deputy speaker Dmitry Rogozin is an activist of the Headquarters, restrict possibilities of the dialogue between this organization and the state.

Latvijas Avize features an interview with the ambassador of USA to Latvia Brian E. Carlson about Latvias accession to the NATO, and about threats of the vice-speaker of the Russia State Council Vladimir Zhirinovsky of the possible terrorist attacks in Latvia. Ambassador believes that it is particularly irresponsible to come out with such statements when the EU discusses how to combat terrorism, and persons who do so put themselves in the same row with Osama bin Laden, ETA, AlQaeda and other extremists.

Chas writes about the conference Ethnic structure, inequality and the Governance of the Public Sector, featuring the statements of foreign experts about society integration and education reform in Latvia. Researcher of the European Centre for Minority Issues in Belgrade Florian Bieber points to the role of language in maintenance of the national identity, stating that looking at the situation in Latvia without prejudice implies that sooner or later it will be necessary to speak about the status of official language for Russian.

Latvijas Avize features an article of the leader of national-extremists organization Visu Latvijai! Raivis Dzintars on national minorities in Latvia. The author believes that it is significant for Latvia to emphasize that those who immigrated to the country during the period of occupation and their descendants cannot be considered as ethnic minorities of Latvia. According to Raivis Dzintars, there are political forces, for example Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language schools, which, concealing themselves behind the notion of minority, are realizing activities hostile to the state.

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

• New ratings of political parties
• President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga on Vladimir Zhirinovskys threats of terrorist attacks in Latvia
• Establishment of Minorities Information and Culture Centre
• Chairman of the State Education inspection Zigfrids Grinpauks: several minority schools deliberately submitted low self-appraisals
• Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics discusses the education reform with teachers and parents of the Aizkraukle minority school
• About preparedness of Ventspils minority schools to the education reform
• Interview with the leader of the recently founded Afro-Latvian Association Christopher Ejugbo

The latest

The latest Latvijas Fakti opinion poll indicates that despite the rating decrease from 28,7% in February to 22,5% in March, New Era is still the most popular party . The rating of Union of Farmers and Greens has almost doubled from 4,2% to 8,2%. Other parties ratings are: Peoples Party - 10,2%, For Human Rights in the United Latvia - 6,8%, For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM - 5,2%, Peoples Harmony Party - 4,0%, and Latvias First Party - 3,1%. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga hopes that threats of the vice-speaker of the Russia State Council Vladimir Zhirinovsky about possible terrorist attacks in Latvia will be correspondingly evaluated by the member states of the European Union. President also believes that possibility of the official response should be carefully evaluated in order not to increase the significance of these statements. Baltic Assembly is also preparing to voice a protest about the expressions of Vladimir Zhirinovsky.

President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga hopes that threats of the vice-speaker of the Russia State Council Vladimir Zhirinovsky about possible terrorist attacks in Latvia will be correspondingly evaluated by the member states of the European Union. President also believes that possibility of the official response should be carefully evaluated in order not to increase the significance of these statements. Baltic Assembly is also preparing to voice a protest about the expressions of Vladimir Zhirinovsky. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Following the initiative of the Special Tasks Minister’s for Society integration Secretariat, Minorities Information and Culture Center was opened yesterday in Riga. The center will provide informative and consultative aid for minority organizations, as well as premises for organization of seminars and cultural activities. The prior task of the centre is organizing trainings for minority non-governmental organizations on attracting funding and implementing projects.

Following the initiative of the Special Tasks Ministers for Society integration Secretariat, Minorities Information and Culture Center was opened yesterday in Riga. The center will provide informative and consultative aid for minority organizations, as well as premises for organization of seminars and cultural activities. The prior task of the centre is organizing trainings for minority non-governmental organizations on attracting funding and implementing projects. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Vesti Segodnya

The chairman of the State Education inspection Zigfrids Grinpauks concedes that several minority schools have deliberately submitted a low self-appraisal to the inspection, claiming inability to provide  the necessary amount of lessons in the Latvian language. Zigfrids Grinpauks motivates his statement by the contradictions between the latest self-appraisals of these schools and the self-appraisals, submitted by the same schools before. Russian-language newspaperspublish an appeal of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools to minority schools’ administrations, calling them not to complete the questionnaires about the schools’ preparedness to the education reform.

The chairman of the State Education inspection Zigfrids Grinpauks concedes that several minority schools have deliberately submitted a low self-appraisal to the inspection, claiming inability to provide the necessary amount of lessons in the Latvian language. Zigfrids Grinpauks motivates his statement by the contradictions between the latest self-appraisals of these schools and the self-appraisals, submitted by the same schools before. Russian-language newspaperspublish an appeal of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools to minority schools administrations, calling them not to complete the questionnaires about the schools preparedness to the education reform. Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Diena writes about the visit of the Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics to the Aizkraukles minority school to discuss the education reform with the teachers and parents. Teachers and parents of minority students have expressed their concern about the possible deterioration of the education quality for minority students, pointing to the teachers insufficient knowledge of the Latvian language.

Latvijas Avize features an article about the meeting of the Ventspils Mayor Aivars Lembergs and directors of the Ventspils minority schools, in order to discuss the preparedness of the towns schools to the education reform. The chairman of the Education department Aldis Slavinskis states that the teachers proficiency is sufficient for teaching 60% of subjects in Latvian, but stresses that successful implementation of the reform depends on the overall atmosphere and motivation.

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with the leader of the recently founded Afro-Latvian Association Christopher Ejugbo about the goals of the organization.