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

"The right to assess specific countries in the field o minorities is held by such international organisations as the OSCE, the Council of Europe and the UN institutions with such a mandate may do so... We have already previously received positive assessments from international organisations," said the Foreign Ministry's state secretary M.Riekstins, adding that individual countries are not competent in giving such assessments. On Wednesday Russia's Foreign Ministry spread an announcement stating that believes that a conference held in Riga last weekend on education in the Russian language, is "more proof of the poor situation in Latvia in relation to national minority rights." Russia's Foreign Ministry claims that "European institutions, first of all the OSCE and the Council of Europe, still have much serious work to do in LatviaФ. The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that the conference held by Latvia's Russian educational language support association, "sharply criticised the bilingual educational models in schools, which are scientifically and methodically undeveloped, and aimed at the assimilation of non-ethnic Latvian school kidsФ. "On its behalf, Russia is ready to continue promoting the reduction of worry in our peoples on the possibility of acquiring an education in their native tongue, including by signing respective bilateral agreements, such projects being still long since looked into by the Latvian side," said the announcement.

"The right to assess specific countries in the field o minorities is held by such international organisations as the OSCE, the Council of Europe and the UN institutions with such a mandate may do so... We have already previously received positive assessments from international organisations," said the Foreign Ministry's state secretary M.Riekstins, adding that individual countries are not competent in giving such assessments. On Wednesday Russia's Foreign Ministry spread an announcement stating that believes that a conference held in Riga last weekend on education in the Russian language, is "more proof of the poor situation in Latvia in relation to national minority rights." Russia's Foreign Ministry claims that "European institutions, first of all the OSCE and the Council of Europe, still have much serious work to do in LatviaФ. The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that the conference held by Latvia's Russian educational language support association, "sharply criticised the bilingual educational models in schools, which are scientifically and methodically undeveloped, and aimed at the assimilation of non-ethnic Latvian school kidsФ. "On its behalf, Russia is ready to continue promoting the reduction of worry in our peoples on the possibility of acquiring an education in their native tongue, including by signing respective bilateral agreements, such projects being still long since looked into by the Latvian side," said the announcement. Diena, Chas

Panorama Latvii publishes editorial in regard to that.

Panorama Latvii publishes editorial in regard to that.

One day information booth where people could receive information about the possibilities to acquire Latvian citizenship was opened in Kengarags (one of Riga suburbs) yesterday. About 200 people attended the information booth. Information booths are a part of Public Awareness Campaign.

One day information booth where people could receive information about the possibilities to acquire Latvian citizenship was opened in Kengarags (one of Riga suburbs) yesterday. About 200 people attended the information booth. Information booths are a part of Public Awareness Campaign. Diena writes about the venue in a very positive light emphasising the role of the OSCE in the Public Awareness Campaign, as well as its contribution in providing Latvian language courses free of charge. Neatkariga

Political parties are not ready to abolish language requirements for election candidates, writes

Political parties are not ready to abolish language requirements for election candidates, writes Diena. (full coverage of the article)

УSaeima ruling parties are not going to yield to the call of the OSCE Mission to abolish language requirements for election candidates by amending Election Laws, because on contrary to Estonia, Latvia has not given such promise to the OSCE Mission, said the members of the ruling political parties. In their opinion the requirement is not discriminating, but only limiting and that is very effective and ensures that the representatives chosen and elected by people can fulfil their tasks qualitatively.

УSaeima ruling parties are not going to yield to the call of the OSCE Mission to abolish language requirements for election candidates by amending Election Laws, because on contrary to Estonia, Latvia has not given such promise to the OSCE Mission, said the members of the ruling political parties. In their opinion the requirement is not discriminating, but only limiting and that is very effective and ensures that the representatives chosen and elected by people can fulfil their tasks qualitatively.

Referring to the decision of the Estonian Parliament to abolish language requirements for persons running for the office, OSCE Mission to Latvia Head Peter Semneby invites also Latvian politicians to take this difficult step in his article in ThursdayТs

Referring to the decision of the Estonian Parliament to abolish language requirements for persons running for the office, OSCE Mission to Latvia Head Peter Semneby invites also Latvian politicians to take this difficult step in his article in ThursdayТs Diena. The call is based on that voters should have Уthe right to elect whomever they see fit as their representativesФ. As well as it is noted that any limitation on political participation that is based on language is discriminatory and therefore not permissible because such a requirement makes it more difficult for minority candidates to be elected. However, other restrictions have equal effect on all ethnic groups or other categories of candidates.

FF/LNNK chairperson Maris Grinblats emphasised that the Constitution guarantees the status of the state language to the Latvian language. Restrictions are the norms of the transitional period and they will not be needed when everybody speaks Latvian. УFor the time being I do not see the reason for the Saeima to take such inconsiderate stepsФ, says LatviaТs Way faction chairperson Kristiana Libane. Besides this norm is not discriminating but limiting and it applies equally to all citizens who have to know the state language, says PeopleТs Party faction chairperson Vineta Muizniece. In her opinion, in that case the discriminated would be a voter, if s/he is represented by a parliament member who would not be able to fulfil his/her tasks to the full extentФ.

FF/LNNK chairperson Maris Grinblats emphasised that the Constitution guarantees the status of the state language to the Latvian language. Restrictions are the norms of the transitional period and they will not be needed when everybody speaks Latvian. УFor the time being I do not see the reason for the Saeima to take such inconsiderate stepsФ, says LatviaТs Way faction chairperson Kristiana Libane. Besides this norm is not discriminating but limiting and it applies equally to all citizens who have to know the state language, says PeopleТs Party faction chairperson Vineta Muizniece. In her opinion, in that case the discriminated would be a voter, if s/he is represented by a parliament member who would not be able to fulfil his/her tasks to the full extentФ.

The Latvian parliament Thursday in the final reading adopted national budget for the next year envisaging a fiscal deficit to an amount of nearly 140 million lats (USD 221 mln) or 2.45 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

The Latvian parliament Thursday in the final reading adopted national budget for the next year envisaging a fiscal deficit to an amount of nearly 140 million lats (USD 221 mln) or 2.45 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). Diena, Neatkariga, Chas, Vesti Segodnja, Panorama Latvii

A new head of the European Commission Delegation in Latvia will assume his position on January 1, 2002. The present head of the EC Delegation in Latvia, Gunter Weiss will be replaced by Andrew Rasbash.

A new head of the European Commission Delegation in Latvia will assume his position on January 1, 2002. The present head of the EC Delegation in Latvia, Gunter Weiss will be replaced by Andrew Rasbash. Diena

Telegraf

interviews Latvian Minister of Culture K.Petersone about co-operation between Latvia and Russia in the field of culture. interviews Latvian Minister of Culture K.Petersone about co-operation between Latvia and Russia in the field of culture. RussiaТs Public TV channel (PTP) demonstrated the documentary about Latvia.

RussiaТs Public TV channel (PTP) demonstrated the documentary about Latvia.

Panorama Latvii

asks the opinions of Latvian politicians about the film. The members of the ruling parties find the film objective and positive towards Latvia. The member of FHRUL M.Mitrafanovs calls the film Уhack work as it does not give the true picture about the problems of Russians in LatviaФ. asks the opinions of Latvian politicians about the film. The members of the ruling parties find the film objective and positive towards Latvia. The member of FHRUL M.Mitrafanovs calls the film Уhack work as it does not give the true picture about the problems of Russians in LatviaФ. Vesti SegodnjaVesti Segodnja Minister of Foreign Affairs Indulis Berzins met with the new U.S. Ambassador to Latvia Brian Carlson in order to discuss bilateral co-operation. Both officials discussed the course of the implementation of foreign policy priorities in Latvia, the fight against international terrorism and social integration matters. Social integration issues were discussed during the talks, pointing out that the guidelines of the OSCE mission in Latvia have been fulfilled and it should be closed as confirmation of successful co-operation with OSCE.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Indulis Berzins met with the new U.S. Ambassador to Latvia Brian Carlson in order to discuss bilateral co-operation. Both officials discussed the course of the implementation of foreign policy priorities in Latvia, the fight against international terrorism and social integration matters. Social integration issues were discussed during the talks, pointing out that the guidelines of the OSCE mission in Latvia have been fulfilled and it should be closed as confirmation of successful co-operation with OSCE. Vesti Segodnja, LETA

Chas

interviews Naturalisation Board Head Eizenija Aldermane. When asked what is the goal of the Public Awareness and Citizenship Promotion Campaign, she replies Уthe goal is one Ц to make us heardЕ However, it would not be a misfortune if one decides to get naturalised for the sake of practical benefitsФ. Naturalisation Board Head agrees that the lack of state language skills is still one of the main hindrances to acquire Latvian citizenship, as well as lack of information about naturalisation procedure. interviews Naturalisation Board Head Eizenija Aldermane. When asked what is the goal of the Public Awareness and Citizenship Promotion Campaign, she replies Уthe goal is one Ц to make us heardЕ However, it would not be a misfortune if one decides to get naturalised for the sake of practical benefitsФ. Naturalisation Board Head agrees that the lack of state language skills is still one of the main hindrances to acquire Latvian citizenship, as well as lack of information about naturalisation procedure. On Thursday LatviaТs National TV channel interviewed Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister I.Bзrziтр.

On Thursday LatviaТs National TV channel interviewed Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister I.Bзrziтр. Latvijas Vestnesis provides the printed version of the interview. To the journalistТs introductory statement УI will start with a rather strange letter, where the person writes that the President is so brilliant in LatviaТs foreign policy that we do not need the Ministry of Foreign AffairsФ, the Minister replies УI think we have a very good co-operation between the Ministry and the President , as well as Prime Minister. Our great achievements in stateТs foreign policy for the last two years since the President is Vaira Vike-Freiberga and coincidentally I am the Minister of Foreign Affairs is due to this very successful co-operation. Tomorrow at 12 oТclock I am having the meeting with the State President to discuss the most important issue: the closure of the OSCE Mission; the things what our friends, including Havel, have said about NATO enlargementФ. The Minister also answers couple questions regarding Latvia and Russia relations, LatviaТs bid to NATO.