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

Fatherland and Freedom (FF)/LNNK will ask at the Coalition Council meeting Monday to assess actions by MPs from two other ruling coalition parties -- Latvia's Way and the People's Party -- which in FF/LNNK opinion had voted against the government position concerning national defence financing. After the FF/LNNK party board meeting late Thursday the party's chairman Maris Grinblats told reporters that FF/LNNK was concerned with the attitude of the other two coalition partners towards the national defence budget as demonstrated at the vote in the Parliament on Thursday.

Fatherland and Freedom (FF)/LNNK will ask at the Coalition Council meeting Monday to assess actions by MPs from two other ruling coalition parties -- Latvia's Way and the People's Party -- which in FF/LNNK opinion had voted against the government position concerning national defence financing. After the FF/LNNK party board meeting late Thursday the party's chairman Maris Grinblats told reporters that FF/LNNK was concerned with the attitude of the other two coalition partners towards the national defence budget as demonstrated at the vote in the Parliament on Thursday. BNS

Fatherland and Freedom (FF)/LNNK party board late Thursday resolved not to demand its party members holding chairmanship of two Riga city council committees to step down from their offices. After the FF/LNNK board meeting the party chairman Maris Grinblats told reporters that the current situation was somewhat controversial because committee chairman were still a part of the city council leadership and thus together with the opposition forces, Social Democrats and left-wing alliance For Human Rights, which won in recent local elections in Riga.

Fatherland and Freedom (FF)/LNNK party board late Thursday resolved not to demand its party members holding chairmanship of two Riga city council committees to step down from their offices. After the FF/LNNK board meeting the party chairman Maris Grinblats told reporters that the current situation was somewhat controversial because committee chairman were still a part of the city council leadership and thus together with the opposition forces, Social Democrats and left-wing alliance For Human Rights, which won in recent local elections in Riga. BNS, Neatkariga, Jauna Avize,

A new head was Thursday appointed to the Latvian delegation to Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly to replace the deceased chairman of the delegation. Vaira Paegle from the People's Party was appointed as the successor to Juris Sinka from Fatherland and Freedom (FF)/LNNK, who unexpectedly died from heart attack during visit to China.

A new head was Thursday appointed to the Latvian delegation to Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly to replace the deceased chairman of the delegation. Vaira Paegle from the People's Party was appointed as the successor to Juris Sinka from Fatherland and Freedom (FF)/LNNK, who unexpectedly died from heart attack during visit to China. BNS

Three new Saeima deputies replaced the MPs, elected to the Riga City Council. They are T.Ketlers from Latvian Way, Z.Vasaraudze (People’s Party) and G.Freimanis (Latvian Social Democratic Workers’ Party).

Three new Saeima deputies replaced the MPs, elected to the Riga City Council. They are T.Ketlers from Latvian Way, Z.Vasaraudze (Peoples Party) and G.Freimanis (Latvian Social Democratic Workers Party). Diena, Chas

State Language Centre has planned for Friday to examine the state language proficiency level of the new Mayor of Daugavpils City R.Eigim whether it is on the highest – third level. The test will have both parts – written and oral.

State Language Centre has planned for Friday to examine the state language proficiency level of the new Mayor of Daugavpils City R.Eigim whether it is on the highest – third level. The test will have both parts – written and oral. Diena, Panorama Latvii

Panorama Latvii writes that 16 Russian schools remained without first graders. Parents preferred to send their children to Latvian schools. Disregarding the fact that in many of those families nobody speaks any Latvian. Therefore these children are doomed to be lagging behind the rest of the class. And a way to solve the problem of these half-empty Russian speaking schools the Riga City Council sees to close them.

Panorama Latvii writes that 16 Russian schools remained without first graders. Parents preferred to send their children to Latvian schools. Disregarding the fact that in many of those families nobody speaks any Latvian. Therefore these children are doomed to be lagging behind the rest of the class. And a way to solve the problem of these half-empty Russian speaking schools the Riga City Council sees to close them.

TheAdvocate of war veteran V.Kononov announced that his defendant might not study materials of his case because he underwent an eye surgery. He could not give any date when V.Kononov would recover so much to be able to read.

Panorama Latvii

A low-profile Israeli movement has staged a picket at the Latvian Embassy in Israel, demanding that diplomatic relations with Latvia should be terminated over the trial of former Soviet partisan Vassily Kononov charged with war crimes in Latvia. The demonstrators also ripped in pieces the Latvian national flag. BNS