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

Germany's Bundestag president Wolfgang Tierse will visit Latvia from May 23 to 26 to meet with top Latvian officials. During his visit to Latvia the Bundestag president is scheduled to meet with Latvian president Vaira Vike-Freiberga, parliament speaker Janis Straume, prime minister Andris Berzins and welfare minister Andrejs Pozarnovs. The German guest will also visit the Occupation Museum in Riga and the

Germany's Bundestag president Wolfgang Tierse will visit Latvia from May 23 to 26 to meet with top Latvian officials. During his visit to Latvia the Bundestag president is scheduled to meet with Latvian president Vaira Vike-Freiberga, parliament speaker Janis Straume, prime minister Andris Berzins and welfare minister Andrejs Pozarnovs. The German guest will also visit the Occupation Museum in Riga and the

memorial to Jews killed during World War Two in Bikernieki on the outskirts of the Latvian capital. Tierse's agenda for his visit to Latvia also includes meetings with religious leaders and students studying German at the Latvia University.

memorial to Jews killed during World War Two in Bikernieki on the outskirts of the Latvian capital. Tierse's agenda for his visit to Latvia also includes meetings with religious leaders and students studying German at the Latvia University. Lauku Avize

On Monday the Coalition Board of the Saeima ruling parties decided to approve the candidature of O.Bruvers to the post of the director of National Human Rights Office. Although till now no other official candidatures were named, the possibility that O.Bruvers could be named for the post was doubted in the lobby discussions.

On Monday the Coalition Board of the Saeima ruling parties decided to approve the candidature of O.Bruvers to the post of the director of National Human Rights Office. Although till now no other official candidatures were named, the possibility that O.Bruvers could be named for the post was doubted in the lobby discussions. Diena, Respublika

Bruvers' term in the office expires May 28 and the government will have to decide who will head the office for the coming four years. Although it was predicted previously it will be difficult for Bruvers who is not a member of the influential parties to retain the post and, a variety of candidates were mentioned in the lobby talks, the ruling coalition council nevertheless accepted Bruvers candidacy without much objection. Bruvers told BNS he would gladly undertake heading the NHRO for the second term because he likes the job and chances to help people a lot. Bruvers was elected as director of NHRO in 1997. At that time the office was prospering and cited as exemplary at an international level but soon after a crisis at the NHRO set in, triggered by a conflict between the office staff and management. Devastating processes at the NHRO were then sharply criticised by UN experts who said Bruvers' actions were not promoting NHRO development but rather a gradual collapse of the office because Bruvers had strongly superficial understanding about human rights and international co-operation. Numerous gifted staff then either quit the job at the NHRO or were dismissed and in 1998 Bruvers, violating the right to inviolability of private correspondence, distributed to ruling coalition factions co-operation council private e-mail correspondence of the NHRO former staffers to provide grounds for their dismissal. The parliament then voted on removing Bruvers from the post but majority of the parliament rejected the motion.

Bruvers' term in the office expires May 28 and the government will have to decide who will head the office for the coming four years. Although it was predicted previously it will be difficult for Bruvers who is not a member of the influential parties to retain the post and, a variety of candidates were mentioned in the lobby talks, the ruling coalition council nevertheless accepted Bruvers candidacy without much objection. Bruvers told BNS he would gladly undertake heading the NHRO for the second term because he likes the job and chances to help people a lot. Bruvers was elected as director of NHRO in 1997. At that time the office was prospering and cited as exemplary at an international level but soon after a crisis at the NHRO set in, triggered by a conflict between the office staff and management. Devastating processes at the NHRO were then sharply criticised by UN experts who said Bruvers' actions were not promoting NHRO development but rather a gradual collapse of the office because Bruvers had strongly superficial understanding about human rights and international co-operation. Numerous gifted staff then either quit the job at the NHRO or were dismissed and in 1998 Bruvers, violating the right to inviolability of private correspondence, distributed to ruling coalition factions co-operation council private e-mail correspondence of the NHRO former staffers to provide grounds for their dismissal. The parliament then voted on removing Bruvers from the post but majority of the parliament rejected the motion. BNS

Riga City Council 6 left-wing deputies are not going to meet with State Language Centre inspectors, as the faction considers that there is no legal base to examine the language proficiency of the elected deputies. FHRUL vice mayor S.Dolgopolovs said that “the faction will provide to the Language Centre a polite response that the legislation does not envisage such procedure”. S.Dolgopolovs said that the deputies are examined before elections and they cannot run for elections if their language proficiency is not adequate. He said “The State Language Centre admits that has done not a good job and now tries to fix the situation”. If deputies language proficiency does not match the requirements provided by the law, the Centre will submit the documents to the Central Electorate, which will take decision on the future of the deputies.

Riga City Council 6 left-wing deputies are not going to meet with State Language Centre inspectors, as the faction considers that there is no legal base to examine the language proficiency of the elected deputies. FHRUL vice mayor S.Dolgopolovs said that the faction will provide to the Language Centre a polite response that the legislation does not envisage such procedure. S.Dolgopolovs said that the deputies are examined before elections and they cannot run for elections if their language proficiency is not adequate. He said The State Language Centre admits that has done not a good job and now tries to fix the situation. If deputies language proficiency does not match the requirements provided by the law, the Centre will submit the documents to the Central Electorate, which will take decision on the future of the deputies. Neatkariga

The staff of Jelgava City Primary School No 1 have sent a letter to the Russian embassy to Latvia with the request to provide its stance towards possible closing of the school. On 24 May Jelgava City Council has to decide either to switch the buildings of two schools (this option is preferred by the administration of the school) or locate first 6 grades at the premises of the kindergarten.

The staff of Jelgava City Primary School No 1 have sent a letter to the Russian embassy to Latvia with the request to provide its stance towards possible closing of the school. On 24 May Jelgava City Council has to decide either to switch the buildings of two schools (this option is preferred by the administration of the school) or locate first 6 grades at the premises of the kindergarten. Neatkariga

Vesti Segodnja publishes the announcement of Latvian Association Supporting Schools with Russian as the Tuition Language in support of Jelgava Primary School No 1.

Vesti Segodnja publishes the announcement of Latvian Association Supporting Schools with Russian as the Tuition Language in support of Jelgava Primary School No 1. Panorama Latvii

On May 22 the Latvian president is scheduled to meet Greek President Constantine Stephanopoulos. Rozenberga said that a state visit of the Latvian president in Greece is planned for this fall. She said the relations between the two countries are very active and the aim of the visits is to promote bilateral relations between the two countries.

On May 22 the Latvian president is scheduled to meet Greek President Constantine Stephanopoulos. Rozenberga said that a state visit of the Latvian president in Greece is planned for this fall. She said the relations between the two countries are very active and the aim of the visits is to promote bilateral relations between the two countries. Lauku Avize, Jauna

Yesterday the National Programme of Latvian Language Learning organised an open door day. The Prime Minister also participated at the presentation of new learning aids and methods. The Programme offers not only study books but also possibility to learn Latvian free of charge.

Yesterday the National Programme of Latvian Language Learning organised an open door day. The Prime Minister also participated at the presentation of new learning aids and methods. The Programme offers not only study books but also possibility to learn Latvian free of charge. Chas

Vesti Segodnja

comments on the article by demographer I.Mezs published in comments on the article by demographer I.Mezs published in DienaDiena where he called Latvians not to pay so much attention to learning Russian. The newspaper emphasises the importance of the Russian language and regrets the fact that already many young Latvians do not speak Russian so well. where he called Latvians not to pay so much attention to learning Russian. The newspaper emphasises the importance of the Russian language and regrets the fact that already many young Latvians do not speak Russian so well. The group of Saeima deputies visited Byelorussia. The deputies were provided with the information about Byelorussia from the sources of the “official Byelorussia”, as well as the UN, OSCE and EU. “Official Minsk” did not impose any restrictions for Latvian deputies to learn about the situation in the country.

The group of Saeima deputies visited Byelorussia. The deputies were provided with the information about Byelorussia from the sources of the official Byelorussia, as well as the UN, OSCE and EU. Official Minsk did not impose any restrictions for Latvian deputies to learn about the situation in the country. Vesti Segodnja

Russia’s Parliament has developed the draft on the Russian People targeted to provide assistance to Russian compatriots residing in CIS and Baltic countries. The draft will be reviewed by Russian Duma on Friday.

Russias Parliament has developed the draft on the Russian People targeted to provide assistance to Russian compatriots residing in CIS and Baltic countries. The draft will be reviewed by Russian Duma on Friday. Panorama Latvii, Respublika

Respublika

re-publishes the article about Latvia from the New York Times. 28-29 May Naturalisation Board organises a conference “Towards a Civic Society”. Representatives from Latvia and Estonia will share with their experiences in the implementation of society integration programme

28-29 May Naturalisation Board organises a conference Towards a Civic Society. Representatives from Latvia and Estonia will share with their experiences in the implementation of society integration programme. Respublika