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.

LATVIAN MEDIA REVIEW

LATVIAN MEDIA REVIEW

It is possible that President Vaira Vike-Freiberga will turn to Saeima already next week with an initiative to amend Saeima and municipal election laws, asking that the requirement that candidates for deputy seats have a top-level command of the Latvian language be crossed out. The president plans on submitting her proposal after consulting with deputies from all Saeima factions. The president told reporters today that a task force of experts, which evaluated the above requirement on candidates, said today that the requirement is undemocratic and contradicts the Constitution and international conventions Latvia has signed.

It is possible that President Vaira Vike-Freiberga will turn to Saeima already next week with an initiative to amend Saeima and municipal election laws, asking that the requirement that candidates for deputy seats have a top-level command of the Latvian language be crossed out. The president plans on submitting her proposal after consulting with deputies from all Saeima factions. The president told reporters today that a task force of experts, which evaluated the above requirement on candidates, said today that the requirement is undemocratic and contradicts the Constitution and international conventions Latvia has signed. LETA, Diena, Neatkariga, Latvijas Vestnesis, Telegraf, Chas

The European Commission refuted the assertion that Romano Prodi had demanded for Russian the status of a second official language in Estonia and the other Baltic countries, delegation of the commission in Estonia told BNS. Estonia's news agency ETA reported Thursday citing a material published in Estonia newspaper that President of the European Commission Romano Prodi has demanded establishment of bilingualism in Estonia. "It is the irrefutable right of any independent country, irrespective of whether it is or is not a member of the European Union, to independently decide its official language or languages. Estonia has established Estonian as its official language, and the European Union has never placed this fact in question," the European Commission said.

The European Commission refuted the assertion that Romano Prodi had demanded for Russian the status of a second official language in Estonia and the other Baltic countries, delegation of the commission in Estonia told BNS. Estonia's news agency ETA reported Thursday citing a material published in Estonia newspaper that President of the European Commission Romano Prodi has demanded establishment of bilingualism in Estonia. "It is the irrefutable right of any independent country, irrespective of whether it is or is not a member of the European Union, to independently decide its official language or languages. Estonia has established Estonian as its official language, and the European Union has never placed this fact in question," the European Commission said. BNS, Telegraf

Newspaper

Newspaper Vesti Segodnya writes about the Prodi statement as a sensation, for a week kept in secret by local mass media. Only at the very end of the article they admit that some EU officials refuted it but add that words are not like a bird, if they slip, you can not catch them.

If the requirement is strict that candidates for Saeima and municipal deputies have a top-level command of the state language, the principle of free and democratic elections would be enhanced in Latvia, which is also important for the country's membership in international organisations, believes the National Human Rights Office. The Human Rights Office explains that if the requirement were dropped, it would put an end to classifying parliament and municipal candidates according to language and also education.

If the requirement is strict that candidates for Saeima and municipal deputies have a top-level command of the state language, the principle of free and democratic elections would be enhanced in Latvia, which is also important for the country's membership in international organisations, believes the National Human Rights Office. The Human Rights Office explains that if the requirement were dropped, it would put an end to classifying parliament and municipal candidates according to language and also education. LETA

Last year, 10,637 people received Latvian citizenship through the naturalisation procedure, including 1,618 children. Overall, 49,396 people have been granted Latvian citizenship since 1995. According to data from the Naturalisation Administration, the administration received 8,672 applications last year, of which 6,042 were from women. The most applications - 6,027 - were handed in by Russians, 885 - by Belarussians, 780 - Ukrainians, 360 - Poles, 203 – Lithuanians and Estonians, but 415 - other nationalities. The most active were people between the ages of 18 and 30 – with 2,520 applications handed in, 1,965 people between 31 and 40, 1,920 - between 41 and 50, 1,003 - between 51 and 60, 855 -between 15 and 17, but 409 - those over 61 years of age. Regarding the level of education, 4,261 people of new Latvian citizens have a secondary education, 2,968 - a higher education, 1,392 - a primary education, while 51 have no education certificate.

Last year, 10,637 people received Latvian citizenship through the naturalisation procedure, including 1,618 children. Overall, 49,396 people have been granted Latvian citizenship since 1995. According to data from the Naturalisation Administration, the administration received 8,672 applications last year, of which 6,042 were from women. The most applications - 6,027 - were handed in by Russians, 885 - by Belarussians, 780 - Ukrainians, 360 - Poles, 203 – Lithuanians and Estonians, but 415 - other nationalities. The most active were people between the ages of 18 and 30 – with 2,520 applications handed in, 1,965 people between 31 and 40, 1,920 - between 41 and 50, 1,003 - between 51 and 60, 855 -between 15 and 17, but 409 - those over 61 years of age. Regarding the level of education, 4,261 people of new Latvian citizens have a secondary education, 2,968 - a higher education, 1,392 - a primary education, while 51 have no education certificate. LETA

Neatkariga writes that since 1995, when naturalisation process was started, 49 395 people have received Latvian citizenship, including 6750 underage children. Two thirds of these people are of Russian nationality.

Neatkariga writes that since 1995, when naturalisation process was started, 49 395 people have received Latvian citizenship, including 6750 underage children. Two thirds of these people are of Russian nationality.

Prime Minister Andris Berzins foresees a substantial improvement in Latvia's relations with its neighbours already this year. During a meeting with editors of regional newspapers today, the premier said that he has information that relations with neighbouring countries will improve considerably as bilateral co-operation agreements are to be signed. The premier said that good relations with neighbours were one of key priorities of Latvia's foreign policy. In commenting on tasks that the government plans to have accomplished by Saeima elections this fall, Berzins said that the move to the European Union and NATO would continue.

Prime Minister Andris Berzins foresees a substantial improvement in Latvia's relations with its neighbours already this year. During a meeting with editors of regional newspapers today, the premier said that he has information that relations with neighbouring countries will improve considerably as bilateral co-operation agreements are to be signed. The premier said that good relations with neighbours were one of key priorities of Latvia's foreign policy. In commenting on tasks that the government plans to have accomplished by Saeima elections this fall, Berzins said that the move to the European Union and NATO would continue. LETA

Top Latvian border guards met with their Russian colleagues to discuss border crossing issues and agreed to evaluate possibilities of returning to Russia those illegal immigrants who now stayed in Latvia.

Top Latvian border guards met with their Russian colleagues to discuss border crossing issues and agreed to evaluate possibilities of returning to Russia those illegal immigrants who now stayed in Latvia. Neatkariga

Newspaper

Newspaper Jauna Avize interviewed the head of the new language commission poetess Mara Zalite before she learned that she was appointed the Head of the Commission. M.Zalite thinks that the priority No 1 is survival of the Latvian language and part of it was making the language adjusted to the digital environment. People usually associate language policy with how the Latvian language interacts with national minority languages, what its position is concerning the Russian language. These are important things, but not the only ones. Speaking about the language of education, the poetess said that there for sure should be a sub-commission to research and further introduction of Latvian language in the field of education. And in this sub-commission have be included representatives of national minorities, who would help understanding the bottlenecks and problems, mostly concerning Russian-speaking population. The Latvian language may not compete with the Russian language on a global scale, and here, on the territory of Latvia, we have to achieve a situation that would favour the Latvian language. We have to make the language first of all – necessary and secondly – attractive. The commission has to find means how to stop the situation when a person can live in Latvia without knowing the state language.

From 13 – 29 of January take place the days of Russian culture in Latvia. This festivity is dedicated to the Tatyana Day and is organised for students and teachers by the Association for Support of the Russian Language Schools in Latvia.

From 13 – 29 of January take place the days of Russian culture in Latvia. This festivity is dedicated to the Tatyana Day and is organised for students and teachers by the Association for Support of the Russian Language Schools in Latvia. Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya,