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

Yesterday Estonian Prime Minister M.Laar confirmed that the OSCE Mission would leave Estonia for sure but only after the Parliament adopted the amendments to the election law. It will be done in the nearest future. In Latvia the government is still waiting for the decision of the European Human Rights Court. But state authorities continue repeating that the Mission would leave even if the law were not amended.

Yesterday Estonian Prime Minister M.Laar confirmed that the OSCE Mission would leave Estonia for sure but only after the Parliament adopted the amendments to the election law. It will be done in the nearest future. In Latvia the government is still waiting for the decision of the European Human Rights Court. But state authorities continue repeating that the Mission would leave even if the law were not amended. Telegraf

Latvia supports Russia's admission to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), as it would promote both bilateral economic relations and co-operation in entire North Europe, said the Latvian ambassador to Russia. "We believe it would be great if Russia could join the WTO as soon as possible," Normans Penke, the Latvian ambassador to Russia, told

Latvia supports Russia's admission to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), as it would promote both bilateral economic relations and co-operation in entire North Europe, said the Latvian ambassador to Russia. "We believe it would be great if Russia could join the WTO as soon as possible," Normans Penke, the Latvian ambassador to Russia, told BNS.

The admission of Baltic States to the European Union (EU) and NATO will strengthen security in the region and improve Baltic-Russian relations, said a Latvian diplomat. "Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian membership in the EU and NATO will not only stabilise the situation in these states but also bolster our co-operation with Russia and other countries in the region," said Normans Penke, the Latvian ambassador to Russia. He told BNS that Russia was also interested in strengthening security in the Baltic region and greater certainty in the Baltic States' situation will be to the benefit of Balts themselves and their eastern neighbour as well.

The admission of Baltic States to the European Union (EU) and NATO will strengthen security in the region and improve Baltic-Russian relations, said a Latvian diplomat. "Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian membership in the EU and NATO will not only stabilise the situation in these states but also bolster our co-operation with Russia and other countries in the region," said Normans Penke, the Latvian ambassador to Russia. He told BNS that Russia was also interested in strengthening security in the Baltic region and greater certainty in the Baltic States' situation will be to the benefit of Balts themselves and their eastern neighbour as well. BNS

Today the Constitutional Court begins review of the first case opened following an individual petition reports Diena. The petition has been filed by Juta Mencena, married to a German citizen; she categorically disagrees to Latvianization of her husband’s name in the passport. Mencena has also turned to the Human Rights Court in Strasbourg, which accepted her petition and has already demanded explanations form the Latvian government.

Today the Constitutional Court begins review of the first case opened following an individual petition reports Diena. The petition has been filed by Juta Mencena, married to a German citizen; she categorically disagrees to Latvianization of her husbands name in the passport. Mencena has also turned to the Human Rights Court in Strasbourg, which accepted her petition and has already demanded explanations form the Latvian government. Diena, Telegraf

Only 243 out of polled 1,919 Latvia’s residents back Latvia’s accession to NATO, according to a poll that Latvia’s non-governmental organization “Prata speks” (Power of Reason) conducted in August. The organisation’s chairman Aleksandrs Sakovskis tells VS that the poll’s data clearly indicates a need to hold a referendum on Latvia’s accession to NATO. The organisation also plans on staging a picket at the Cabinet of Ministers on November 22.

Only 243 out of polled 1,919 Latvias residents back Latvias accession to NATO, according to a poll that Latvias non-governmental organization Prata speks (Power of Reason) conducted in August. The organisations chairman Aleksandrs Sakovskis tells VS that the polls data clearly indicates a need to hold a referendum on Latvias accession to NATO. The organisation also plans on staging a picket at the Cabinet of Ministers on November 22. Vesti Segodnya, Panorama Latvii

On Tuesday the deputies of Estonian Parliament adopted amendments to the law stipulating that the Estonian language was the language of office work in the Parliament. It means that the work in plenary sessions and commissions has to be in the Estonian language. All speeches must be in this language and there is no right to use an interpreter.

On Tuesday the deputies of Estonian Parliament adopted amendments to the law stipulating that the Estonian language was the language of office work in the Parliament. It means that the work in plenary sessions and commissions has to be in the Estonian language. All speeches must be in this language and there is no right to use an interpreter. Diena, Neatkariga

Riga City Council Property and Privatisation Commission supported a draft resolution in the regulations of the State and Municipal Residential Buildings Privatisation Commission that in reality open a possibility for the scandalous leader of the movement Equality T.Zhdanok to receive a good post in this institution.

Riga City Council Property and Privatisation Commission supported a draft resolution in the regulations of the State and Municipal Residential Buildings Privatisation Commission that in reality open a possibility for the scandalous leader of the movement Equality T.Zhdanok to receive a good post in this institution. Neatkariga

Newspaper

Newspaper Chas interviewed the Saeima Vice-Speaker R.Piks. He acknowledged that they still did not manage to establish good relations with their Russian colleagues and complained that deputies in Moscow welcomed only one faction thus receiving only one-sided information. R.Piks would like raise the level of mutual co-operation at least for one step, and there are many people in Russia that would like the same, but the position of Russian MFA does not allow it. When asked about the demand of Russia to ratify the Framework Convention on National Minorities, Vice-Speaker answered that Latvian legislation complied with international standards; when Russia demanded Latvia to solve the border problem and it did, amend the language law – Latvia did, amend the citizenship law – Latvia did. And now it is turn for Russia to understand that it has to deal with its own problems, not about the policy of Latvia, and then everything would normalise.

Yesterday Russian Ambassador to Latvia I.Studennikov visited the Publishing House Petit and the editor’s office of the newspaper

Yesterday Russian Ambassador to Latvia I.Studennikov visited the Publishing House Petit and the editors office of the newspaper Chas. He said that he received objective and true information from this newspaper and was of high opinion about the support the newspaper provided to the Association for Support of the Russian Language Schools in Latvia. Chas

Newspaper

Newspaper Chas organised a meeting of parents of Russian students with the Head of the Naturalisation Board E.Aldermane and the Head of the Saeima Education Commission Dz.Abikis. Mr.Abikis said that according to the education law from 2004 all tuition in national minority schools starting from grade 10 would be in the Latvian language but there would still be a discussion on deadlines because this one had been fixed for the Ministry of Education officials to pay more attention to the bilingual education. E.Aldermane thinks that it is not reasonable to postpone the transition but only those schools may transfer to the Latvian language where 100% of teachers are able to teach their subjects in the Latvian language.

Recently in the Latvian press was published information that the leaders of For Human Rights in United Latvia, influenced by Russia, on purpose include in their lists candidates with poor knowledge of the Latvian language. Those, of course, are crossed out from these lists, and Latvia is accused for mass human rights violations. MP from For Human Rights in United Latvia J.Urbanovics calls this a slander in order in order to provoke the faction and make wrong steps before the next Saeima election.

Recently in the Latvian press was published information that the leaders of For Human Rights in United Latvia, influenced by Russia, on purpose include in their lists candidates with poor knowledge of the Latvian language. Those, of course, are crossed out from these lists, and Latvia is accused for mass human rights violations. MP from For Human Rights in United Latvia J.Urbanovics calls this a slander in order in order to provoke the faction and make wrong steps before the next Saeima election. Vesti Segodnya

Newspaper

Newspaper Vesti Segodnya published an open letter written by the teaching staff of the Magnitogorsk University to the Latvian intellectuals with a request not to keep silent when Russian children were deprived of a possibility to study their language, literature and history in their mother tongue.

Newspaper

Newspaper Telegraf interviewed the leader of the Association for Support of Russian language Schools in Latvia I.Pimenov about the plans on the Ministry of Education and Science to transfer national minority schools to the tuition in the Latvian language.

Telegraf

published information about the situation with Russian-speaking schools in CIS countries, stating that only three of them managed to abstain from mass closure of those schools. published information about the situation with Russian-speaking schools in CIS countries, stating that only three of them managed to abstain from mass closure of those schools.