Integration monitor is a daily Latvian press digest on ethnic minority and society integration issues. The Monitor reviews the biggest Latvian dailies: Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga (in Latvian language), Vesti Segodnya (in Russian language). In specific cases other information sources are used. Latvian Centre for Human Rights is not responsible for information published by the media.

Press Report

Press Report

TB/LNNK faction decided to vote against permitting Prosecutor’s Office to start criminal proceedings against the MP from Social Democrats Party J.Adamsons thus giving him a hope to avoid further investigation of the case and remain in the Saeima.

TB/LNNK faction decided to vote against permitting Prosecutors Office to start criminal proceedings against the MP from Social Democrats Party J.Adamsons thus giving him a hope to avoid further investigation of the case and remain in the Saeima. Diena, Neatkariga, Jauna Avize, Lauku Avize , Chas,

Protesting against the State Language Law and the norms of its implementation the Union For Human Rights in United Latvia decided to announce a civic non-violent resistance campaign, calling to boycott the enterprises where customers were refused to be served in the Russian language, not to watch non-Russian TV programs and deliberately violate the language norms that did not satisfy them. The Government forming factions gave a very critical evaluation of this aggressive call. Social scientist N.Muiznieks thinks that the senseless content of this call is an evidence of closeness of election and the solution for this situation should be sought through a court not on the street level.

Protesting against the State Language Law and the norms of its implementation the Union For Human Rights in United Latvia decided to announce a civic non-violent resistance campaign, calling to boycott the enterprises where customers were refused to be served in the Russian language, not to watch non-Russian TV programs and deliberately violate the language norms that did not satisfy them. The Government forming factions gave a very critical evaluation of this aggressive call. Social scientist N.Muiznieks thinks that the senseless content of this call is an evidence of closeness of election and the solution for this situation should be sought through a court not on the street level.

The draft resolution was adopted on Monday at a conference organised by For Human Rights in United Latvia dedicated to the language legislation. The goal of the union is ratifying of the General Convention of National Minorities at the Saeima, therefore it is necessary to achieve it by all means possible let their mother tongue could be used in communicating with state and municipal institutions, to abolish restrictions to use the Russian language and the mandatory nationality record in passport and language restrictions in TV and radio broadcasts.

The draft resolution was adopted on Monday at a conference organised by For Human Rights in United Latvia dedicated to the language legislation. The goal of the union is ratifying of the General Convention of National Minorities at the Saeima, therefore it is necessary to achieve it by all means possible let their mother tongue could be used in communicating with state and municipal institutions, to abolish restrictions to use the Russian language and the mandatory nationality record in passport and language restrictions in TV and radio broadcasts. Diena, Neatkariga,

Lauku Avize writes thatthey received an invitation to this conference and decided to attend it, but when they arrived there that Latvian journalists were not welcomed there.

Lauku Avize writes thatthey received an invitation to this conference and decided to attend it, but when they arrived there that Latvian journalists were not welcomed there.

Respublika

informs about his conference and writes about the immediate reaction of the Prime Minister A.Berzins who had expressed his complete perplexity for such call of the left-wingers. His Press Secretary A.Lapins announced that the Union For Human Rights in United Latvia had opposed themselves to the whole civilised society, but the Chairman of the Saeima Commission on education, culture and science Dz.Abikis decided to ask the prosecutors office to check whether by this resolution the Union had not called to illegal actions. informs about his conference and writes about the immediate reaction of the Prime Minister A.Berzins who had expressed his complete perplexity for such call of the left-wingers. His Press Secretary A.Lapins announced that the Union For Human Rights in United Latvia had opposed themselves to the whole civilised society, but the Chairman of the Saeima Commission on education, culture and science Dz.Abikis decided to ask the prosecutor’s office to check whether by this resolution the Union had not called to illegal actions.

Chas, Panorama Latvii and Vesti Segodnya write that the For Human Rights in United Latvia leaders had stated that parliamentarian methods of opposition did not give the necessary result: the ruling majority did not want to listen to the opinion of the minority. Therefore in order to influence the authorities, the opposition leaders called their electorate to a non-violent resistance. Chas gives also a brief history of non-violent resistance in the world.

D.Fedoruk in

D.Fedoruk in Respublika describes the situation with the state language in EU countries. Some of them, e.g. France and Germany decided not to put up with the increasing influence of the English language and take secret actions against it.

The call of the New Party to recall the former New Party member S.Dreimane from her post in the Saeima Presidium did not get support from the Government forming factions. Also Latvijas Cels was against it, although the party did not have their representative in the Presidium. The Chairman of LC A.Pantelejevs acknowledged that the future co-operation of LC and the New Party could be disturbed by the wish of their partners to make any changes in the Presidium as a precondition for their co-operation.

The call of the New Party to recall the former New Party member S.Dreimane from her post in the Saeima Presidium did not get support from the Government forming factions. Also Latvijas Cels was against it, although the party did not have their representative in the Presidium. The Chairman of LC A.Pantelejevs acknowledged that the future co-operation of LC and the New Party could be disturbed by the wish of their partners to make any changes in the Presidium as a precondition for their co-operation. Diena, Jauna Avize, Lauku Avize ,

Today the New Party and LC plan to sign an intention protocol on their future co-operation.

Today the New Party and LC plan to sign an intention protocol on their future co-operation. Respublika

The new foreign affairs councillor to the Prime Minister A.Sjanitis, former Latvian Ambassador to Lithuania, started to fulfil his duties. The former councillor A.Groza was appointed to the post of Latvian Ambassador to Belgium.

The new foreign affairs councillor to the Prime Minister A.Sjanitis, former Latvian Ambassador to Lithuania, started to fulfil his duties. The former councillor A.Groza was appointed to the post of Latvian Ambassador to Belgium. Respublika

Yesterday in Riga was opened the education and culture centre of the Baltic Russian Institute. The Institute has departments in Davgavpils, Liepaja, Venspils, Tallinn, Klaipeda, Vilnius and now it will have in Riga a club with a real stage and hall with 700 seats.

Yesterday in Riga was opened the education and culture centre of the Baltic Russian Institute. The Institute has departments in Davgavpils, Liepaja, Venspils, Tallinn, Klaipeda, Vilnius and now it will have in Riga a club with a real stage and hall with 700 seats. Vesti Segodnya

The 37th regular conference of creative unions took place in Riga. The topic of discussions was “United and quality education – basis for integration of the society”. Minister of Education K.Greiskals reported on the current situation and about the future plans of the Ministry. Panorama Latvii cites the Chairman of the Riga City Council Commission J.Mikelsons, who stated that the highest value for them was a healthy, educated, honest citizen, and makes a conclusion that non-citizens are left outside integration process. But the most attention in the conference was paid to the problem of teachers’ salaries. The author of the article sarcastically points out that during five hours none of the speakers said a word about abolishing education in the Russian language. What an integration!

The 37th regular conference of creative unions took place in Riga. The topic of discussions was United and quality education – basis for integration of the society. Minister of Education K.Greiskals reported on the current situation and about the future plans of the Ministry. Panorama Latvii cites the Chairman of the Riga City Council Commission J.Mikelsons, who stated that the highest value for them was a healthy, educated, honest citizen, and makes a conclusion that non-citizens are left outside integration process. But the most attention in the conference was paid to the problem of teachers salaries. The author of the article sarcastically points out that during five hours none of the speakers said a word about abolishing education in the Russian language. What an integration! Panorama Latvii