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

Along with the state and NGO developed integration programs offering non-Latvians to master the state language, some other integration forms are observed in the society. One of such forms is the tendency of Russian speaking families to send their children to Latvian kindergartens. And some pre-school institutions have started to adjust themselves to the needs of mixed families. For most of the families this choice is connected with a wish to send their children to Latvian schools afterwards. Last year 1107 Russian kids started to study at Latvian schools, joining those 7696 Russian students who already studied at such schools. According to the Ministry of Education and Science data in school year 1998/99 3.4% of all Russian speaking students studied at Latvian schools but in 1999/2000 already 3.8%.

Along with the state and NGO developed integration programs offering non-Latvians to master the state language, some other integration forms are observed in the society. One of such forms is the tendency of Russian speaking families to send their children to Latvian kindergartens. And some pre-school institutions have started to adjust themselves to the needs of mixed families. For most of the families this choice is connected with a wish to send their children to Latvian schools afterwards. Last year 1107 Russian kids started to study at Latvian schools, joining those 7696 Russian students who already studied at such schools. According to the Ministry of Education and Science data in school year 1998/99 3.4% of all Russian speaking students studied at Latvian schools but in 1999/2000 already 3.8%. Diena

On October 19 Latvian President V.Vike-Freiberga is going to Stockholm to the annual Baltic Region Security and Co-operation Conference

On October 19 Latvian President V.Vike-Freiberga is going to Stockholm to the annual Baltic Region Security and Co-operation Conference. Diena, Neatkariga

In order to create more favourable conditions for satisfying needs and necessities for autonomy of the national minorities, residing in the city and region, was established Venspils National Cultural Societies Association. The regulations of the new public organisation envisage that it will serve for improving ethnic relations and furthering of establishing a civic, integrated society in Latvia.

In order to create more favourable conditions for satisfying needs and necessities for autonomy of the national minorities, residing in the city and region, was established Venspils National Cultural Societies Association. The regulations of the new public organisation envisage that it will serve for improving ethnic relations and furthering of establishing a civic, integrated society in Latvia. Diena

Diena interviewed the High Commissioner of the World Romany Government N.Rudevics. He told the journalist about the activities of his government and the situation with Romany people in Latvia. There are more than 15 000 Gypsies in Latvia, and most of them are without any education and job. Therefore the crime rate among this part of population increases. Integration in Latvia for Gypsies is not a problem, 98% off them are citizens, they are integrated in the language –have their own Latvian Romany dialect, also in the religion, culture and traditions.

Diena interviewed the High Commissioner of the World Romany Government N.Rudevics. He told the journalist about the activities of his government and the situation with Romany people in Latvia. There are more than 15 000 Gypsies in Latvia, and most of them are without any education and job. Therefore the crime rate among this part of population increases. Integration in Latvia for Gypsies is not a problem, 98% off them are citizens, they are integrated in the language –have their own Latvian Romany dialect, also in the religion, culture and traditions. Diena

The Ministers of Interior of the Baltic States and Russia decided during their meeting yesterday that it was necessary to start exchanging information on the possible terror acts in these countries. They also discussed drugs trafficking.

The Ministers of Interior of the Baltic States and Russia decided during their meeting yesterday that it was necessary to start exchanging information on the possible terror acts in these countries. They also discussed drugs trafficking. Neatkariga, Respublika, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Panorama Latvii

Latvian attempts to put forward new conditions for signing the sea border agreement with Lithuania has raised incomprehension in Lithuania. Lithuania Prime Minister A.Kubilus said that ratification of this border agreement was exclusively internal affair of Latvia, but establishing borders with neighbouring countries was internationally binding for every state that respected accepted mutual relation norms.

Latvian attempts to put forward new conditions for signing the sea border agreement with Lithuania has raised incomprehension in Lithuania. Lithuania Prime Minister A.Kubilus said that ratification of this border agreement was exclusively internal affair of Latvia, but establishing borders with neighbouring countries was internationally binding for every state that respected accepted mutual relation norms. Neatkariga, Rigas Balss

Neatkariga

published the list of all Latvian NGs. published the list of all Latvian NGs. This year 260 people have changed their nationality in Latvia. Mostly they chose to become Jewish, Latvians or Germans. Latvian nationality chose those who wanted to receive Latvian citizenship, but Jewish – those who wanted to emigrate to Israel. Jauna Avize

This year 260 people have changed their nationality in Latvia. Mostly they chose to become Jewish, Latvians or Germans. Latvian nationality chose those who wanted to receive Latvian citizenship, but Jewish – those who wanted to emigrate to Israel. Jauna Avize

Rezekne City Council Deputy S.Druzhinin addressed the Council with a request to establish a position of Latvian – Russian translator at the Council. The Managing Director of the Council A.Dreimanis told

Rezekne City Council Deputy S.Druzhinin addressed the Council with a request to establish a position of Latvian – Russian translator at the Council. The Managing Director of the Council A.Dreimanis told Jauna Avize that there was a special meeting to discuss this request, and they came to a conclusion that there was enough financing for this but no special need. S.Druzhinin thinks that the translator is necessary because many old age people who come to the Council do not know the state language, and the translator would be necessary to help them to draw up applications, documents and fill in forms. Jauna Avize asked the State Language Centre to explain this situation, and they answered that the City Council might do what they wanted in this respect because the State Language Law stipulated only that starting from September 1 applications might be submitted only in the state language and there were no regulations how to achieve that.

The Saeima Budget and Finances Commission rejected forwarding the draft law on declaration of person’s domicile. As the Head of the Commission A.Poca stated, the draft law should have a different concept – it should be started with issuing residents ID cards. They could be the guarantee for more precise and secure registration of all residents.

The Saeima Budget and Finances Commission rejected forwarding the draft law on declaration of persons domicile. As the Head of the Commission A.Poca stated, the draft law should have a different concept – it should be started with issuing residents ID cards. They could be the guarantee for more precise and secure registration of all residents. Respublika

A new Internet site is established in Russia – www.vaira.boom. ru. This site is dedicated to the Latvian President - V.Vike-Freiberga. Possible that it was established by fans of our President.

A new Internet site is established in Russia – www.vaira.boom. ru. This site is dedicated to the Latvian President - V.Vike-Freiberga. Possible that it was established by fans of our President. Respublika, Panorama Latvii, Chas

Juridical Commission of the Baltic Assembly intends to call the Russian Federation to acknowledge the fact of the Baltic States’ occupation. The Estonian party made the proposal. The document calls Russia to start official negotiations with the representatives of the Baltic States establish amounts of damages made to these countries and seek together for the possible ways of solving this problem.

Juridical Commission of the Baltic Assembly intends to call the Russian Federation to acknowledge the fact of the Baltic States occupation. The Estonian party made the proposal. The document calls Russia to start official negotiations with the representatives of the Baltic States establish amounts of damages made to these countries and seek together for the possible ways of solving this problem. Respublika

Answering to the many complains of the readers of the newspaper

Answering to the many complains of the readers of the newspaper Vesti Segodnya, M.Blumental analysed two Russian language text books for junior high school (class 5 – 9), permitted for usage by the Ministry of Education and Science, and came to a conclusion that these books were too complicated for students of this age group.

L.Fedosejev from the newspaper

L.Fedosejev from the newspaper Chas writes about the record of nationality record in Latvian passport. In many states passports are used only for travelling abroad, for internal use people have just ID cards. It means that passport should contain only the minimal necessary information, the rest (nationality, domicile registration, religion, sexual orientation) is ones personal affair. Those interested to preserve this record are Racists who are afraid that racial cleaning could affect themselves.