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.

Integration and Minority Information Service

Integration and Minority Information Service
of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies

Chas

briefly analyses the speech of President Vaira Vike-Freiberga held yesterday on the occasion of the 3-year anniversary in office. The President stressed that the adoption of the amendments to Latvian election laws was the greatest achievement of this Parliament. However, the President also noted another difficult legislative problem – the switch of minority secondary school to the Latvian language in 2004. According to the President, education reform will be a headache for the next Saeima members. briefly analyses the speech of President Vaira Vike-Freiberga held yesterday on the occasion of the 3-year anniversary in office. The President stressed that the adoption of the amendments to Latvian election laws was the greatest achievement of this Parliament. However, the President also noted another difficult legislative problem – the switch of minority secondary school to the Latvian language in 2004. According to the President, education reform will be a “headache” for the next Saeima members. Vesti Segodnja Vesti Segodnja

Panorama Latvii

publishes comments of FHRUL MP Boris Tsilevich on the speech of the President. He says that the key points of Presidents speech are not the key concerns of Latvian residents, especially of non-citizens. publishes comments of FHRUL MP Boris Tsilevich on the speech of the President. He says that the key points of President’s speech are not the key concerns of Latvian residents, especially of non-citizens.

Latvijas Vestnesis

publishes the full version of the speech of President Vaira Vike-Freiberga. publishes the full version of the speech of President Vaira Vike-Freiberga.

Jauna

interviews speaker of the Saeima Janis Straume. He admits that he was more radical at the beginning of his career, but now realises that all successes are based on compromise. Regarding his patriotic speech held on May 4, Janis Straume says that he had rather difficult feelings about the pressure concerning lifting the language requirement from Latvian election laws, therefore, he wanted to talk openly about some issues, so the diplomatic community also understands them. He notes that several diplomats voiced a positive response to his speech. Janis Straume is rather concerned about the division of political forces in the next Saeima. In his opinion the New Era party could form a coalition with FHRUL regardless of its current statements. interviews speaker of the Saeima Janis Straume. He admits that he was more radical at the beginning of his career, but now realises that all successes are based on compromise. Regarding his patriotic speech held on May 4, Janis Straume says that he had rather difficult feelings about the pressure concerning lifting the language requirement from Latvian election laws, therefore, he wanted to talk openly about some issues, so the diplomatic community also understands them. He notes that several diplomats voiced a positive response to his speech. Janis Straume is rather concerned about the division of political forces in the next Saeima. In his opinion the New Era party could form a coalition with FHRUL regardless of its current statements. According to the data polled by the company “Latvijas fakti”, the New Era party was still the most popular party among Latvian citizens in May, while the rating of its leader Einars Repse has decreased by 10 points and now he comes only in fourth place after President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, speaker of the Saeima Janis Straume and Latvia’s Way Saeima faction chairperson Kristiana Libane. The popularity rating of the left wing union FHRUL has grown (from 9.9% to 12.1%) and the party is in second place, followed by Latvia’s Way, the People’s Party and FF/LNNK. The Latvian Social Democrats Party has experienced a decrease and now has only about 5% support.

According to the data polled by the company Latvijas fakti, the New Era party was still the most popular party among Latvian citizens in May, while the rating of its leader Einars Repse has decreased by 10 points and now he comes only in fourth place after President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, speaker of the Saeima Janis Straume and Latvias Way Saeima faction chairperson Kristiana Libane. The popularity rating of the left wing union FHRUL has grown (from 9.9% to 12.1%) and the party is in second place, followed by Latvias Way, the Peoples Party and FF/LNNK. The Latvian Social Democrats Party has experienced a decrease and now has only about 5% support. Diena, Neatkariga, Panorama Latvii

Diena

publishes an article by Resident Representative of the UNDP Jan Sand Sorensen about the United Nations and Latvia. This week about 100 top officials of the UN have arrived in Riga for a regional meeting of UN representatives in Europe and the CIS countries. The goal of this meeting is to assess the results of the work of the UN in the region. Jan Sand Sorensen writes that the UNDP has assisted Latvia in solving such complicated issues as the promotion of social integration, development of state language teaching system for ethnic minorities, implementation of human rights mechanisms and others. He stresses that Latvia has achieved a lot, in particular, he praises, integration policy implemented by Latvia. Sorensen met with President Vaira Vike-Freiberga and discussed Latvias readiness to become a donor country. publishes an article by Resident Representative of the UNDP Jan Sand Sorensen about the United Nations and Latvia. This week about 100 top officials of the UN have arrived in Riga for a regional meeting of UN representatives in Europe and the CIS countries. The goal of this meeting is to assess the results of the work of the UN in the region. Jan Sand Sorensen writes that the UNDP has assisted Latvia in solving such complicated issues as the promotion of social integration, development of state language teaching system for ethnic minorities, implementation of human rights mechanisms and others. He stresses that Latvia has achieved a lot, in particular, he praises, integration policy implemented by Latvia. Sorensen met with President Vaira Vike-Freiberga and discussed Latvia’s readiness to become a donor country.  The Latvian nationalist youth organisation “Klubs 415” has turned to the Security Police, the Constitution Protection Office and the General Prosecutor’s Office requesting an evaluation of the legality of measures implemented by the Latvian President and government aimed at achieving Latvia’s membership in the EU.

The Latvian nationalist youth organisation Klubs 415 has turned to the Security Police, the Constitution Protection Office and the General Prosecutors Office requesting an evaluation of the legality of measures implemented by the Latvian President and government aimed at achieving Latvias membership in the EU. Vesti Segodnja, Chas