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

• Special Task Minister for Societal Integration about integration
• First study on the situation of Roma in Latvia
• Head of the Constitution Protection Office about NATO and non-citizens
• Competition of caricatures and slogans against the education reform

Diena features an article by Nils Muiznieks, the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration. The Minister reports about the cooperation between the Secretariat of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration and the Ministry of Education and Science regarding the education reform. Nils Muiznieks stresses the development of the dialogue between the government and national minorities through media round tables, creation of the advisory council and through participation at various minority NGOs events. He reports that he is an active participant in the discussions about the tax legislation related to philanthropy and the NGO sector. The Secretariat has elaborated a concept for the development of civil society and is allocating the funding for the activities of the national minority organisations. In order to strengthen anti-discrimination norms and to educate society and officials about the elimination of discrimination the Secretariat organised a conference and published an informative booklet about these issues. Muiznieks provides information about the reorganisation of the programme Livs in Latvia. After visiting Latvian settlements in Siberia the minister concludes that Latvia has to take greater responsibility regarding the development of Latvian culture and language abroad.

Neatkariga features an article about the first study on the situation of Roma in Latvia conducted by the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies. The newspaper informs about the principal conclusion presented in the study: the racism and discrimination against Roma are widespread in Latvian society, more than 40% of Roma have fourth grade or lower education, and many are illiterate, that the number of Roma who are involved in official employment does not exceed 5%. The newspaper informs that Normunds Rudevics, the President of the Cultural Association of Latvian Roma, criticises that money allocated for the study should be used instead for the improvement of Roma living conditions.

Telegraf reports on statements of Janis Kazocins, the Head of the Constitution Protection Office, who points out that NATO officials are concerned about candidate countries security risks. He expresses concern regarding the large number of non-citizens living in Latvia and the potential risk of information leaks to third countries.

The Headquarter of the Opponents against the education reform organised a competition of caricatures and slogans against the education reform. 

The Headquarter of the Opponents against the education reform organised a competition of caricatures and slogans against the education reform. Chas, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

 

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

• Latvian Television editor Ilmars Latkovskis about integration issues
• Neatkarigas supplement Mes about Nils Muiznieks
• Headquarter of the Opponents to the education reform will file a court case against the Riga City Council
• Meetings of Headquarter of the Opponents to education reform with parents of school children in seven Riga districts
• Criticism towards the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration

Diena features an article by Ilmars Latkovskis, the editor of Latvian Television, about integration issues in Latvia. The author believes that the process of integration is not developing because there is no agreement about the goals. He stresses the gap between two concepts of integration: the idea of assimilation of Russian-speaking minority and the belief that the rights of Russian-speakers should be better guaranteed in Latvia.

Neatkarigas supplement Mes features an article about Nils Muiznieks, the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration. Anhelita Kamenska, the programme director of the public policy centre Providus, Eizenija Aldermene, the Head of the Naturalisation Board and the journalist Daina Jankalne provide their positive opinions about the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration.

After the denial to organise a public meeting against the education reform on 4th of September the Headquarter of the Opponents to the education reform has announced plans to file a court case against the Riga City Council. Chas

After the denial to organise a public meeting against the education reform on 4th of September the Headquarter of the Opponents to the education reform has announced plans to file a court case against the Riga City Council. Chas

Vesti Segodnya reports about meetings of representatives of Headquarter of the Opponents to the education reform with parents of school children in seven Riga districts.

Lauku Avizes columnist Maris Antonevics criticises the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration for employing Aleksei Dimitrov, the former executive secretary of the Latvian Human Rights Committee.

 

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

• Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies presents the first study on the situation of Roma in Latvia
• Riga City Council denied a permission to the opponents of the education reform organise the meeting
• Rigas Balss and Telegraf provide their opinion on the situation concerning the dissatisfaction of some MPs with the work of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Affairs
• Jauna Avize interviews the Integration Minister Nils Muiznieks
• Latvijas Vestnesis interviews the Saeima Vice Speaker Eriks Jekabsons about the situation in the government
• Political scientist Marina Golubeva about national identities

Yesterday the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies presented the study on the situation of Roma in Latvia. The study was financed by the Integration Foundation/European Community Phare and the Soros Foundatin and the UNDP. The study concludes that racism and discrimination against Roma are widespread in Latvian society. The study also reveals dramatic data – up to 60% of Latvian Roma education level is 4 classes or lower and only up to 5% of Roma are officially employed. The

Yesterday the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies presented the study on the situation of Roma in Latvia. The study was financed by the Integration Foundation/European Community Phare and the Soros Foundatin and the UNDP. The study concludes that racism and discrimination against Roma are widespread in Latvian society. The study also reveals dramatic data – up to 60% of Latvian Roma education level is 4 classes or lower and only up to 5% of Roma are officially employed. The report in Latvian is available hereDiena, Vesti Segodnya

On Thursday the representative of the Headquarter of the Opponents against the education reform, Riga City Council deputy agitated people to take part in the meeting of opponents scheduled for 4 September. The Riga City Council denied a permission to organise the meeting because the number of people who will take part in this meeting is hard to estimate as it was for a similar meeting on 23 May, 2003.

On Thursday the representative of the Headquarter of the Opponents against the education reform, Riga City Council deputy agitated people to take part in the meeting of opponents scheduled for 4 September. The Riga City Council denied a permission to organise the meeting because the number of people who will take part in this meeting is hard to estimate as it was for a similar meeting on 23 May, 2003. Diena, Neatkariga, Vechernaya Riga, Chas, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

Rigas Balss and Telegraf provide their opinion on the situation concerning the dissatisfaction of some MPs with the work of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Affairs Nils Muiznieks.

Jauna Avize features an interview with the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Affairs Nils Muiznieks. According to Muiznieks integration implies two key principles: co-operation and involvement. He stresses that that his Secretariat deals not only with ethnic integration but also with integration of disabled persons and the poor. Muiznieks notes that Latvia has made a big progress in the field of integration during the last 10 years, however, there is a lot to do – still in some places in Latvia the Latvian language is not in strong positions, as well as the naturalisation tempo is still very slow. Regarding the ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, the Integration Minister states that he approves the ratification although after the EU referendum in Latvia. This is an agreement with some other ministers.

Latvijas Vestnesis interviews the Saeima Vice Speaker Eriks Jekabsons about the situation in the government. Regarding the dissatisfaction of individual MPs with the work of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Affairs Nils Muiznieks and possible liquidation of the post, Eriks Jekabsons says that he would not like to allow that as this ministry is very needed in Latvia. In his opinion accusations devoted to Muiznieks are not constructive recalls denunciation of the Soviet times.

Neatkariga talks to historian and politcal scientist Maria Golubeva who conducted a study about features of nationalism in the Latvian and Russian press. According to her nationalism is when priorities of nation are put above the individual rights. She believes that both the Latvian and Russian press are teaching or trying to teach their audiences to fear about losing their national identities. She admits that the quality of the Russian press in Latvia is lower than the quality of the Latvian press.

 

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

• Criticism towards the Special Task Minster for Societal Integration
• Nils Muiznieks reported the implementation of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
• Interview with the members of the First Party Eriks Jekabsons and Aleksandrs Brandavs

The Prime Minister Einars Repse stated that the Secretariat of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration has to improve its work in the nearest future. The New Era Saeima faction informed that the Secretariat is not acting in accordance with the government’s declaration which provides for that the integration in Latvia should be based on the Latvian language and culture. Nils Muznieks replied that the Secretariat is implementing the State Language Law, promoting the dialogue with national minorities and enforcing the status of Latvian language in the education system. The FF/LNNK Saeima faction criticises the Secretariat for not dealing with the social integration issues. Janis Strazdins, the Head of the Saeima Education, Culture and Science Committee (the Union of Greens and Farmers) stated that his party is not satisfied with Nils Muiznieks’ statements during his visit in Moscow, but that the party will not ask Minister’s demission before the referendum about the Latvia’s EU membership.

The Prime Minister Einars Repse stated that the Secretariat of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration has to improve its work in the nearest future. The New Era Saeima faction informed that the Secretariat is not acting in accordance with the governments declaration which provides for that the integration in Latvia should be based on the Latvian language and culture. Nils Muznieks replied that the Secretariat is implementing the State Language Law, promoting the dialogue with national minorities and enforcing the status of Latvian language in the education system. The FF/LNNK Saeima faction criticises the Secretariat for not dealing with the social integration issues. Janis Strazdins, the Head of the Saeima Education, Culture and Science Committee (the Union of Greens and Farmers) stated that his party is not satisfied with Nils Muiznieks statements during his visit in Moscow, but that the party will not ask Ministers demission before the referendum about the Latvias EU membership. Diena, Neatkariga, Vechernaya Riga, Chas

During the meeting of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in Geneva Nils Muznieks, the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration reported about the implementation of the United Nation’s Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in Latvia. Meanwhile the Committee received a shadow-report elaborated by the NGO Latvian Human Rights Committee informing about the differences between the rights of citizens and non-citizens, the education reform that eliminates the rights of national minorities to receive the education in their mother language.

During the meeting of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in Geneva Nils Muznieks, the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration reported about the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in Latvia. Meanwhile the Committee received a shadow-report elaborated by the NGO Latvian Human Rights Committee informing about the differences between the rights of citizens and non-citizens, the education reform that eliminates the rights of national minorities to receive the education in their mother language. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with the members of the First Party Eriks Jekabsons, the Saeima Vice Speaker and Aleksandrs Brandavs, the advisor of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration. They agree that the critics about the work of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration are oriented to destabilise the First Party and create the situation in which the First Party would not be able to work in the government.

 

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

• Heads of four Saeima Committees complain about the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration
• Government adopted the amendments to the Education Law
• Article by the leader of a Latvian nationalistic organisation about the education reform

Ina Druviete, the Head of the Saeima Human Rights Committee, Janis Strazdins, the Head of the Saeima Education, Culture and Science Committee, Inese Vaidere, the Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee and Anta Rugate, the Head of the Saeima Committee on Citizenship Law consider that Nils Muiznieks, the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration is not fulfilling his obligations. They suggested that the Prime Minister should re-evaluate the necessity to maintain the office of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration.

Ina Druviete, the Head of the Saeima Human Rights Committee, Janis Strazdins, the Head of the Saeima Education, Culture and Science Committee, Inese Vaidere, the Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee and Anta Rugate, the Head of the Saeima Committee on Citizenship Law consider that Nils Muiznieks, the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration is not fulfilling his obligations. They suggested that the Prime Minister should re-evaluate the necessity to maintain the office of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration. Rigas Balss, Telegraf, Vechernaya Riga, Vesti Segonya, Chas, Lauku Avize

The Government adopted the amendments to the Education Law and removed the word “only” from the Law. The previous version of the Law stipulated that as of 2004 minority secondary education will be in ‘only in Latvian’. Nevertheless the opponents of the education reform plan to continue the protest activities.

The Government adopted the amendments to the Education Law and removed the word only from the Law. The previous version of the Law stipulated that as of 2004 minority secondary education will be in ‘only in Latvian. Nevertheless the opponents of the education reform plan to continue the protest activities. Rigas Balss, Telegraf, Vechernaya Riga, Vesti Segonya, Lauku Avize

Lauku Avize prints an article by the leader of a Latvian nationalistic organisation Raivis Dzintars about the education reform. He believes that protest activities against the education reform should not take place near the monument of the Latvian poet Janis Rainis.