Integration and Minority Information Service

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

• Shabanov about the two community situation in Latvia
• Russian MoFA criticises the minority situation in the Baltic Countries
• Lauku Avize
dissatisfied with the response of the Integration Minister Nils Muiznieks
• Education Minister disagrees with the jury about the first prize winner in the essay contest about language

Diena

features an article by Aleksandr Shabanov about relations between the two communities in Latvia – Russians and Latvians. Herefers to the opinion poll conducted by the company SKDS which indicates that respondents (especially in the age group 18-24) believe that the two communities will remain non-integrated also in the future. He stresses the important role politicians and journalists play in forming peoples stances towards the country and its language. The Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Igor Ivanov repeatedly called the attention of the EU presidency country Greece to the situation of Russian-speakers in Latvia and Estonia, in particular, to the education reform in Latvia

The Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Igor Ivanov repeatedly called the attention of the EU presidency country Greece to the situation of Russian-speakers in Latvia and Estonia, in particular, to the education reform in Latvia. Diena

Lauku Avize

publishes the response of the Special Task Minister for Social Integration Affairs Nils Muiznieks to the reproaches of the newspaper. Lauku Avize reproached Nils Muiznieks for keeping silent and not responding to some publications printed in the Russian language press. The Minister replied that his stance is clearly reflected in his interview with Lauku Avize in January. However, Lauku Avize considers the attitude of the Minister as neglectful and questions whether it is the attitude of the whole government towards integration issues. publishes the response of the Special Task Minister for Social Integration Affairs Nils Muiznieks to the reproaches of the newspaper. Lauku Avize reproached Nils Muiznieks for keeping silent and not responding to some publications printed in the Russian language press. The Minister replied that his stance is clearly reflected in his interview with “Lauku Avize” in January. However, “Lauku Avize” considers the attitude of the Minister as neglectful and questions whether it is the attitude of the whole government towards integration issues.

Vesti Segodnya

reports that the Education Minister Karlis Sadurskis disagreed with other members of the jury that evaluated essays submitted by young people for the contest The Borders of My Language – the Borders of My World organised by the MoE, the public policy centre Providus and the public policy portal politika.lv. The Minister stated that the essay which was highly evaluated by other members of the jury do not foster social integration. reports that the Education Minister Karlis Sadurskis disagreed with other members of the jury that evaluated essays submitted by young people for the contest “The Borders of My Language – the Borders of My World” organised by the MoE, the public policy centre “Providus” and the public policy portal “politika.lv”. The Minister stated that the essay which was highly evaluated by other members of the jury do not foster social integration.

Integration and Minority Information Service

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

• Vechernaya Riga
looks into ineffective Latvian laws
• Interview with the President of the Parex Bank Valery Kargin
• Minority school graduates not very active in using their results of the centralised Latvian language examination when naturalising
• Interview with minority language expert Fernande de Varennes

Vechernaya Riga

features an article about those Latvian laws, which turned out to be ineffective and actually are not needed and do not work in the situation of Latvia. One of such laws is the regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers on issuing financial compensations to persons who leave for their ethnic homelands. The regulations stipulated that a person who returns to his/her ethnic homeland receives a compensation in the amount of LVL 2000 (USD 3521), but s/he has to leave her apartment in the possession of the state. However, the prices in the market are much higher for apartments. The author of the article concludes that actually majority of Latvian laws have a good quality, however, there are problems with their implementation. The author notes that state language inspectors should be treated as an example what concerns conducting control over the implementation of law. features an article about those Latvian laws, which turned out to be ineffective and actually are not needed and do not work in the situation of Latvia. One of such laws is the regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers on issuing financial compensations to persons who leave for their ethnic homelands. The regulations stipulated that a person who returns to his/her ethnic homeland receives a compensation in the amount of LVL 2000 (USD 3521), but s/he has to leave her apartment in the possession of the state. However, the prices in the market are much higher for apartments. The author of the article concludes that actually majority of Latvian laws have a good quality, however, there are problems with their implementation. The author notes that state language inspectors should be treated as an example what concerns conducting control over the implementation of law.

Chas

re-prints an interview with the President of the Parex Bank Valery Kargin given for the ITAR-TASS. According to the magazine Business Week Valery Kargin is the richest person in Latvia. He states that Latvia is a two-community country where two communities – Latvians and Russians – are living together peacefully in two separate environments and that it will not be possible to change the situation with forcible methods. He admits that on the whole the government acts in compliance with European standards under the close supervision of the European Commission. Regarding education issues, Kargin believes that it would be the best that all minorities could study in their native languages. He says that nationalism in the business sphere of Latvia does not work and attempts to establish Latvian or Russian businesses have failed. re-prints an interview with the President of the Parex Bank Valery Kargin given for the ITAR-TASS. According to the magazine “Business Week” Valery Kargin is the richest person in Latvia. He states that Latvia is a two-community country where two communities – Latvians and Russians – are living together peacefully in two separate environments and that it will not be possible to change the situation with forcible methods. He admits that on the whole the government acts in compliance with European standards under the close supervision of the European Commission. Regarding education issues, Kargin believes that it would be the best that all minorities could study in their native languages. He says that nationalism in the business sphere of Latvia does not work and attempts to establish Latvian or Russian businesses have failed.

Chas

reports that since last year secondary school graduates who are non-Latvians are given a possibility to present their results of the centralised examination in the Latvian language instead of taking the Latvian language test when applying for the Latvian citizenship through naturalisation. According to the data of the Naturalisation Board last year only 91 out of 7501 (it should be admitted that not all of 7501 are non-citizens) graduates took this opportunity. The Naturalisation Board believes that the small number of applicants is explained by the lack of information. reports that since last year secondary school graduates who are non-Latvians are given a possibility to present their results of the centralised examination in the Latvian language instead of taking the Latvian language test when applying for the Latvian citizenship through naturalisation. According to the data of the Naturalisation Board last year only 91 out of 7501 (it should be admitted that not all of 7501 are non-citizens) graduates took this opportunity. The Naturalisation Board believes that the small number of applicants is explained by the lack of information.

Vesti Segodnya

interviews Dr.jur. Fernande de Verannes about language rights of minorities. He agrees that the European Union increases the level of minority protection, while Latvia decreases. He believes that children should study in their native languages and foreign languages should study as individual subjects. However, he agrees that the Latvian and Estonian languages are under threat. interviews Dr.jur. Fernande de Verannes about language rights of minorities. He agrees that the European Union increases the level of minority protection, while Latvia decreases. He believes that children should study in their native languages and foreign languages should study as individual subjects. However, he agrees that the Latvian and Estonian languages are under threat.

Integration and Minority Information Service

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

• Head of the Delegation of the European Commission invites the Headquarter of opponents against the education reform to the discussion
• Latvian National TV airs the show about Latvian language learning
• Minority dance and song groups take part in the National Song and Dance Festival
• New regulations of the Riga City Council prohibits fortune-telling on the streets

Head of the Delegation of the European Commission in Latvia Andrew Rasbash responded to the statement of the Headquarter of opponents against the education reform. Andrew Rasbash has expressed a wish to meet with the representatives of the Headquarter to talk about the issues discussed in the statement released by the Headquarter. The Head of the Delegation wants to ensure better understanding of opinions represented by all members of society towards Latvias accession into the EU. Vesti Segodnya

Diena reports about the TV show Open which talks about issues concerning language learning. The show is aired on the national channel and is produced in co-operation with the Soros Foundation Latvia project Open School. The first show discussed experience and problems of Russian-speakers in Latvia when studying Latvian.

Diena

reports that this year minority dance and song groups will participate in the Latvian National Song and Dance Festival. It will be only the second time in the whole 130-years history of the Festival that minority dance and song groups will perform in the Festival. Diena talks to representatives of Tartar and Russian song groups and their emotions and impressions about the Festival. Neatkariga, Chas

The new regulations of the Riga City Council stipulate that fortune-telling in not allowed on the street. Roma women inquired are not planning to stop their business and state that not all Roma are cheaters. Vechernaya Riga

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

• Officials of the State Language Centre about Latvias accession to the EU

• PHP MP Yakov Pliner sent an open letter to the President regarding her role in the education reform
• Interview with the Head of the ASRSL Igor Pimenov
• Interview with chaplain working in the woman prison in Riga

In the column For or Against the EU? Lauku Avize provides opinions of employees of the State Language Centre. A state language inspector states that she is against Latvias accession to the EU because she hates Europe with all its commissioners while there are such persons as Max van der Stoel I am not able to vote for the EU. She believes that Latvia is yielding to all requirements set by Europe and is not able to defend its interests. The Director of the State Language Centre Agris Timuska says that he supports Latvias accession to the EU, however, on some conditions, for example, more attention should be paid to the protection of national interests and additional guarantees for the Latvian language should be ensured.

Peoples Harmony Party MP Yakov Pliner sent an open letter to the Latvian President and asked her to take part in the discussion about the education reform. He decided to send the letter because before the presidential elections in the meeting with MPs of the Peoples Harmony Party the Latvian President admitted that she supported the education reform because the Ministry of Education had told her that the reform was broadly discussed among students, teachers and parents. Yakov Pliner believes that the President was misled. Vechernaya Riga, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Vechernaya Riga interviews the Head of the Association for the Support for Russian Schools in Latvia Igor Pimenov. He states that there is no split in the Headquarter, however, there are different opinions about the necessary strategy. He says that interests of both communities Russian and Latvian should be in balance. He reports about the planned activities of the ASRSL in the future: 1) the Association considers a possibility to organise a boycott of classes; 2) another, even bigger mass protest meeting is under preparation.

Rigas Balss

features an article about the activities of chaplain Rudite Losane in the woman prison in Riga. One of the inmates who attend services is Roma. In the woman prison there are many Roma women that are sentenced for dealing with drugs. Chaplain says, I do not want to say that Roma are bad but they are easy to fool because they are not educated.

Integration and Minority Information Service

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

• Many soldiers do not have sufficient Latvian language skills
• Interview with Latvian language teacher who teaches adults

According to the data provided by sociologist of the National Programme for Latvian Language Training Sintija Smite 25-30% of draftees do not have sufficient Latvian language skills to serve in the Latvian army. Even after language courses the majority of them understand orders only after the third time. 40% of soldiers in the Latvian army are ethnic Russians.

According to the data provided by sociologist of the National Programme for Latvian Language Training Sintija Smite 25-30% of draftees do not have sufficient Latvian language skills to serve in the Latvian army. Even after language courses the majority of them understand orders only after the third time. 40% of soldiers in the Latvian army are ethnic Russians. Diena

Vechernaya Riga

talks to Latvian language teacher of adults Gita Umanovskaya. She states that in the late 80-ies people studied Latvian because they really wanted to learn the language and were ready to pay for the courses themselves, while the period after the adoption of the State Language Law, when people came to study the state language not because they wanted to, but our of fear, was the most unpleasant in her carrier. Gita Umanovskaya believes that it was necessary to adopt the State Language Law as now Latvians themselves speak more correct Latvian and there are many non-Latvians who learned the state language. talks to Latvian language teacher of adults Gita Umanovskaya. She states that in the late 80-ies people studied Latvian because they really wanted to learn the language and were ready to pay for the courses themselves, while the period after the adoption of the State Language Law, when people came to study the state language not because they wanted to, but our of fear, was the most unpleasant in her carrier. Gita Umanovskaya believes that it was necessary to adopt the State Language Law as now Latvians themselves speak more correct Latvian and there are many non-Latvians who learned the state language.