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

• Prime Minister meets with the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration
• Representatives of the nationalistic newspaper DDD disturb the press conference organised by the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration
• New exposition about the Jews History in Latvia
• Free Latvian language training will be organised by the Naturalisation Board
• Left-wing political parties organise meetings to discuss the education reform

During the meeting of Prime Minister Einars Repse and the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muizinieks discussed how to prevent misunderstandings in future, and not the possible abolition of the Special Task Minister’s office suggested by the political parties For Fatherland and Freedom/Latvian National Independence Movement and the Union of Green and Farmers. Nils Muiznieks informed the Prime Minister about his recent visit to Russia and the work of the Secretariat in general. They agreed to exchange the information more frequently and to improve communication among the coalition.

During the meeting of Prime Minister Einars Repse and the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muizinieks discussed how to prevent misunderstandings in future, and not the possible abolition of the Special Task Ministers office suggested by the political parties For Fatherland and Freedom/Latvian National Independence Movement and the Union of Green and Farmers. Nils Muiznieks informed the Prime Minister about his recent visit to Russia and the work of the Secretariat in general. They agreed to exchange the information more frequently and to improve communication among the coalition. Diena, Neatkariga, Lauku Avize, Telegraf, Chas

During the press conference organised by the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration after the meeting with the Prime Minister, two representatives of the nationalistic newspaper DDD led by Aigars Garda were disturbing the press conference with provocative questions asking “when Russia will take away the occupants”. Nils Muiznieks announced that he would not reply to the questions of the extremist newspaper.

During the press conference organised by the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration after the meeting with the Prime Minister, two representatives of the nationalistic newspaper DDD led by Aigars Garda were disturbing the press conference with provocative questions asking when Russia will take away the occupants. Nils Muiznieks announced that he would not reply to the questions of the extremist newspaper. Vesti Segonya, Telegraf

New exposition about the History of Jews in Latvia between 1918 and 1940 was opened in the museum “Jews in Latvia”.

New exposition about the History of Jews in Latvia between 1918 and 1940 was opened in the museum Jews in Latvia. Lauku Avize

Vesti Segonya features an article by Viktor Guscin about the referendum on Latvias EU membership. He believes that the results of referendum would not be legitimate, as the non-citizens will not have the right to participate in the referendum. The author invites to organise the protest activities against the status of non-citizens the day before the referendum.

The Naturalisation Board is starting the session of free of charge Latvian language training for 1350 people willing to acquire the citizenship. For the first time the training session will be financed from the state budget (50 000 LVL). So far the funding was provided by the international organisations and foreign embassies, and approximately 3,5 thousand people learned Latvian within the framework of this programme.

The Naturalisation Board is starting the session of free of charge Latvian language training for 1350 people willing to acquire the citizenship. For the first time the training session will be financed from the state budget (50 000 LVL). So far the funding was provided by the international organisations and foreign embassies, and approximately 3,5 thousand people learned Latvian within the framework of this programme. Telegraf

The MPs and Riga City Council  members belonging to the left-wing political parties will organise meetings in different regions of Riga to discuss the education reform and inform about the protest activities planned in September.

The MPs and Riga City Council members belonging to the left-wing political parties will organise meetings in different regions of Riga to discuss the education reform and inform about the protest activities planned in September. Chas

 

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

• Special Task Minister for Societal Integration will meet with the Prime Minister
• Socialist party against Latvias EU membership and the education reform

Vesti Segodya reports about the meetings of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks with members of the Russian Parliament. The newspaper informs that after his arrival from Russia Nils Muiznieks will meet with the Prime Minister to discuss and evaluate the work of the Secretariat of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration.

Chas reports that the Socialist party led by Alfreds Rubiks is against Latvias EU membership and the education reform. Currently the Socialist party is the only party represented in Parliament that has officially declared a stance against EU membership for Latvia.

 

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

• Budget of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration will be reduced in three categories
• Naturalisation Board will have to close seven regional offices
• Two Russian schools will be merged in Jelgava
• Chairperson of the Latvian Association of National Cultural Societies about the conflict with the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration
• Protest activities against the education reform will take place on 4 September
• Lauku Avize interviews New Era MP Ina Druviete about the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration

Diena reports that the Secretariat of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration has to cut next years budget by 35,307 LVL. The budget will be reduced in the following categories: administrative expenses of the Secretariat (13,240 LVL), grants for other organisations (4,414 LVL), and the Society Integration Foundation will reduce the amount of funding for social integration projects (17 653 LVL).

In order to cut next year’s budget the Naturalisation Board will have to close seven regional offices.  In these regions the Naturalization Board’s office hours will be organised twice a month.

In order to cut next years budget the Naturalisation Board will have to close seven regional offices. In these regions the Naturalization Boards office hours will be organised twice a month. Neatkariga

Chas and Vesti Segonya publish information about the decision of the municipality to merge two Russian schools in Jelgava. Activists of the school council plan to file a court case against the municipality.

Nils Muiznieks, the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration, was disappointed that criticism about his work appeared while he was on a visit to Russia. Replying to critics on his statements about the ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, Nils Muiznieks explained that the FCNM will be ratified but not before the referendum about the Latvia’s EU membership.

Nils Muiznieks, the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration, was disappointed that criticism about his work appeared while he was on a visit to Russia. Replying to critics on his statements about the ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, Nils Muiznieks explained that the FCNM will be ratified but not before the referendum about the Latvias EU membership. Chas

Chas prints comments by Rafi Haradzajans, chairperson of the Latvian Association of National Cultural Societies (LANCS), about the conflict situation with the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration. Haradzajans considers that the Secretariat is not interested in the cultural activities of the minority organisations and that the Association should be administered by the Ministry of Culture. In reply to the statements made by Rafi Haradzajans advisor to the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Aleksandrs Brandavs informed that necessary funding for the premises of the Association will be provided, but it is necessary to sign an agreement between the Secretariat and the Association.

The Security Police authorized the organisation of the protest activities against the education reform on 4 September.

The Security Police authorized the organisation of the protest activities against the education reform on 4 September. Vesti Segodnya

Lauku Avize features an interview with New Era MP Ina Druviete, the Head of the Saeima Human Rights Committee. She criticizes the work of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration. She considers that the staff and the budget of the Secretariat of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration are not proportionate to the functions of the institution. Ina Druviete is not satisfied with staff members employed by the Secretariat. She considers that the Secretariat is not promoting the integration of society, therefore the governments coalition should evaluate the work of the Secretariat.

 

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

• Prime minister plans to evaluate the work of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration
• Four possible models of administration for the programme Liv coast
• Chas continues discussion about the education reform
• Association for the support of Russian Schools not against the Latvias EU membership

Prime minister Einars Repse plans to meet with the First party to evaluate the work of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks. MP Janis Strazdins, Union of Greens and Farmers and Ina Druviete, the Head of the Saeima’s Human Rights Committee criticize Nils Muiznieks for employing Aleksei Dimitrov, executive secretary of the Latvian Human Rights Committee. They pointed out close relations of this organisation with the left-wing political party Solidarity. Nils Muiznieks is currently visiting the Latvian settlements in Russia. He replied that Aleksei Dimitrov was appointed the Head of Law Department of the Secretariat as a result of a tender. Chas, Diena

Prime minister Einars Repse plans to meet with the First party to evaluate the work of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks. MP Janis Strazdins, Union of Greens and Farmers and Ina Druviete, the Head of the Saeimas Human Rights Committee criticize Nils Muiznieks for employing Aleksei Dimitrov, executive secretary of the Latvian Human Rights Committee. They pointed out close relations of this organisation with the left-wing political party Solidarity. Nils Muiznieks is currently visiting the Latvian settlements in Russia. He replied that Aleksei Dimitrov was appointed the Head of Law Department of the Secretariat as a result of a tender. Chas, Diena

The Secretariat of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration developed four possible models of administration for the programme “Liv coast”. One of the models foresees establishing of the Liv Department within the Secretariat. The next year budget for the programme (33 000 LVL) will not be reduced. Diena

The Secretariat of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration developed four possible models of administration for the programme Liv coast. One of the models foresees establishing of the Liv Department within the Secretariat. The next year budget for the programme (33 000 LVL) will not be reduced. Diena

Chas prints an article by the MP Valeri Ageshin, People’s Harmony Party about the education reform. He explains the position of the People’s Harmony Party: the decision about the language of education should be made by local municipalities in cooperation with schools directors and parents committees.

Chas prints an article by the MP Valeri Ageshin, Peoples Harmony Party about the education reform. He explains the position of the Peoples Harmony Party: the decision about the language of education should be made by local municipalities in cooperation with schools directors and parents committees.

Genady Kotov, member of the Riga city council, representative of the Association for the support of Russian Schools explained that the Association is not against the Latvia’s EU membership. The Association informed the EU Commission Delegation in Latvia about their position regarding the education reform. Andrew Rasbash, the Head of the EU Commission Delegation in Latvia explained that EU doesn’t have an official position regarding the minority education.

Genady Kotov, member of the Riga city council, representative of the Association for the support of Russian Schools explained that the Association is not against the Latvias EU membership. The Association informed the EU Commission Delegation in Latvia about their position regarding the education reform. Andrew Rasbash, the Head of the EU Commission Delegation in Latvia explained that EU doesnt have an official position regarding the minority education.

 

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

• Director of the Riga Russian secondary school No 95 resigned
• Governments committee will discuss amendments to the Education Law
• YES to the schools, YES to Europe! NO to the schools, NO to Europe! – left-wings parties try to link two issues together

The director of the Riga Russian secondary school No 95 Olita Arkle resigned because of the conflict with the Russian-speaking teachers, which had been intensified by the up-coming education reform.

The director of the Riga Russian secondary school No 95 Olita Arkle resigned because of the conflict with the Russian-speaking teachers, which had been intensified by the up-coming education reform. Rigas Balss

Next week the government’s committee will discuss the amendments to the Education Law to remove the word “only” from the provisions that starting from 2004 secondary education will be in ‘Latvian only’.

Next week the governments committee will discuss the amendments to the Education Law to remove the word only from the provisions that starting from 2004 secondary education will be in ‘Latvian only. Lauku Avize, Telegraf, Vesti Segonya

Diena reports that some of the left-wing political organisations intend to link the protest activities against the education reform with the referendum on Latvias EU membership.YES to the schools, YES to Europe! NO to the schools, NO to Europe!- says their slogan.