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

Latvijas Vestensis publishes the views of two MPs Dzintars Kudums and Risards Labanovskis concerning the abolishment of language requirement for election candidates. Both MPs claim that none of NATO high officials have officially voiced that Latvia should remove language requirement, therefore, they do not see any ground for assumptions that if Latvia does not remove language requirement from its election laws the country is not invited for NATO membership this year. Do you think that NATO is so small and narrow minded that it will say that the way to NATO is closed for Latvia just because of this one tiny detail?, said Labanovskis.

President Vaira Vike-Freiberga held a meeting with U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney Tuesday, and during the meeting she received confirmation of support for Latvia’s move to NATO. She was also promised assistance in enhancing democratic institutions in Latvia. The president told Cheney that the Baltic countries’ inclusion into NATO would create one more safe and stable region. The president was also commended by the American Jewish Committee for her constructive efforts in raising awareness about Latvia’s past and at international forums. None of the newspapers and news agencies mention that the issue about the removal of language requirement form Latvian election laws was discussed.

President Vaira Vike-Freiberga held a meeting with U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney Tuesday, and during the meeting she received confirmation of support for Latvias move to NATO. She was also promised assistance in enhancing democratic institutions in Latvia. The president told Cheney that the Baltic countries inclusion into NATO would create one more safe and stable region. The president was also commended by the American Jewish Committee for her constructive efforts in raising awareness about Latvias past and at international forums. None of the newspapers and news agencies mention that the issue about the removal of language requirement form Latvian election laws was discussed. Diena, Latvijas Vestnesis, Neatkariga

Latvian top national security agency, the Constitution Protection Office (CPO), has found no grounds for initiating a criminal case against Riga City Council member Andris Argalis over his statements in the interview to the magazine Rigas Laiks. The CPO said Argalis' allegedly offensive comments on Russians do not amount to intentional instigation of ethnic hatred. The former Mayor said that “the Russians have genetic disposition towards stealing and laziness”.

Latvian top national security agency, the Constitution Protection Office (CPO), has found no grounds for initiating a criminal case against Riga City Council member Andris Argalis over his statements in the interview to the magazine Rigas Laiks. The CPO said Argalis' allegedly offensive comments on Russians do not amount to intentional instigation of ethnic hatred. The former Mayor said that the Russians have genetic disposition towards stealing and laziness. Diena, Neatkariga

Five years ago People’s Harmony Party was established. Party’s Vice-Chairperson Janis Urbanovics gives brief insight into parties activities and perspectives. Urbanovics believes that his party managed to raise the issue concerning society integration and other issues on high political level and to draw attention of international community to that. He considers that his party should look for co-operation partners in the EU and not in the Latvian Saeima.

Five years ago Peoples Harmony Party was established. Partys Vice-Chairperson Janis Urbanovics gives brief insight into parties activities and perspectives. Urbanovics believes that his party managed to raise the issue concerning society integration and other issues on high political level and to draw attention of international community to that. He considers that his party should look for co-operation partners in the EU and not in the Latvian Saeima. Vecernaya Riga

Chas

publishes the farewell interview with the former Head of the OSCE Mission to Latvia Peter Semneby. He informs about the responsible institutions, which will take over the projects of the former Mission and talks about Latvias perspectives when the country becomes the EU member. Peter Semneby concludes that the Mission has fulfilled its tasks in Latvia. publishes the farewell interview with the former Head of the OSCE Mission to Latvia Peter Semneby. He informs about the responsible institutions, which will take over the projects of the former Mission and talks about Latvia’s perspectives when the country becomes the EU member. Peter Semneby concludes that the Mission has fulfilled its tasks in Latvia.

Chas

talks to newspaper Education and Career editor-in-chief Viktor Guscin about education problems in Latvia. Guscin considers that the graduates of both Latvian and Russian high schools have not been taught their mother tongues on a good level. The Russians are in worse situation as they are not able to enter universities of Russia because of their poor knowledge of mother tongue if they do not undergo additional studies. He believes that the activities of the Association for Support of the Russian Language Schools in Latvia is the last hope for Russian schools. talks to newspaper “Education and Career” editor-in-chief Viktor Guscin about education problems in Latvia. Guscin considers that the graduates of both Latvian and Russian high schools have not been taught their mother tongues on a good level. The Russians are in worse situation as they are not able to enter universities of Russia because of their poor knowledge of mother tongue if they do not undergo additional studies. He believes that the activities of the Association for Support of the Russian Language Schools in Latvia is the last hope for Russian schools.

Vesti Segodnja

informs that yesterday Saeima Citizenship Implementation Committee invited Naturalization Board Head Eizenija Aldermane and two PR experts to justify why Public Awareness and Citizenship Promotion Campaign is run in the Russian language. The invited persons informed about the content of the campaign, as well as about the fact that the campaign is funded by international sponsors and not the Latvian government. They also informed that the number of people who have shown interest in naturalization has increased for 20% since the moment the campaign was launched. informs that yesterday Saeima Citizenship Implementation Committee invited Naturalization Board Head Eizenija Aldermane and two PR experts to justify why Public Awareness and Citizenship Promotion Campaign is run in the Russian language. The invited persons informed about the content of the campaign, as well as about the fact that the campaign is funded by international sponsors and not the Latvian government. They also informed that the number of people who have shown interest in naturalization has increased for 20% since the moment the campaign was launched.

Vesti Segodnja

informs about Saeima Vice-Speaker Ricards Piks visit to Washington D.C. where he had meetings with high USA officials. Pîks confirms that the USA knows about the problem [undemocratic norm in the Election Law pertaining requirement for election candidates to know the state language at the top level] very well. informs about Saeima Vice-Speaker Ricards Piks’ visit to Washington D.C. where he had meetings with high USA officials. Pîks confirms that “the USA knows about the problem [undemocratic norm in the Election Law pertaining requirement for election candidates to know the state language at the top level] very well.” Vesti SegodnjaVesti Segodnja adds in its comments that Latvian politicians should not promise the people that it is the last requirement to be fulfilled as it will be followed by another requirements, such as ratification of the Framework Convention, granting non-citizens rights to participate at municipal election and extension of the transfer period for education reform. adds in its comments that Latvian politicians should not promise the people that it is the last requirement to be fulfilled as it will be followed by another requirements, such as ratification of the Framework Convention, granting non-citizens rights to participate at municipal election and extension of the transfer period for education reform. On Tuesday Saeima Human Rights Committee discussed the reservations to be introduced to the European Convention on Citizenship which Latvia signed last year and is about to ratify. Naturalization Board Head Eizenija Aldermane believes that the document is ready for the first reading in the Saeima. “We have introduced only 6 reservations which refer to particularities of Latvia. However, I am afraid that due to the upcoming elections the Convention is not to be ratified by this Saeima.” FHRUL member Mitrafonov says that with these reservations the Convention is useless, as the Convention provides easements to receive citizenship for the persons born in the country, which the Latvian legislation does not provide for, as well as according to the Convention minors are entitled to automatic naturalization along with their parents, but the Latvian legislation provides such rights to children under the age of 15.

On Tuesday Saeima Human Rights Committee discussed the reservations to be introduced to the European Convention on Citizenship which Latvia signed last year and is about to ratify. Naturalization Board Head Eizenija Aldermane believes that the document is ready for the first reading in the Saeima. We have introduced only 6 reservations which refer to particularities of Latvia. However, I am afraid that due to the upcoming elections the Convention is not to be ratified by this Saeima. FHRUL member Mitrafonov says that with these reservations the Convention is useless, as the Convention provides easements to receive citizenship for the persons born in the country, which the Latvian legislation does not provide for, as well as according to the Convention minors are entitled to automatic naturalization along with their parents, but the Latvian legislation provides such rights to children under the age of 15. Panorama Latvii