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

Diena reports that the Integration Foundation already for the second time has distributed money to integration projects. This time the Foundation supported 64 projects and total funding for these projects amounts to LVL 96 449. Among 64 projects there are 36 projects aimed at ethnic integration and LVL 37 388 will be allotted for this category of projects. In July the Foundation will announce the next tender. Neatkariga, Chas

The National Radio and TV Council concludes that the Freedom Party’s pre-election clip contains elements of racial discrimination. Thus, the Freedom Party has violated the Law on Radio and Television and a number of international conventions as well. However, this time the NTRC will issue only a warning, as broadcasting the clip went on for only several days and has already been stopped. If such violations are repeated, the broadcasting organisations will receive more severe punishments, such as closing of an organisation for several days.

The National Radio and TV Council concludes that the Freedom Partys pre-election clip contains elements of racial discrimination. Thus, the Freedom Party has violated the Law on Radio and Television and a number of international conventions as well. However, this time the NTRC will issue only a warning, as broadcasting the clip went on for only several days and has already been stopped. If such violations are repeated, the broadcasting organisations will receive more severe punishments, such as closing of an organisation for several days. Diena, Vechernaya Riga, Vesti Segodnja, Telegraf

Chas provides the opinion of economics professor Raita Karnite, who is among the supporters of the Freedom Party. She states that she does not like the clip. However, now in Latvia “two rather similar ethnic groups have difficulties with understanding. Are we ready to live with people who are not like we are?”

Chas provides the opinion of economics professor Raita Karnite, who is among the supporters of the Freedom Party. She states that she does not like the clip. However, now in Latvia two rather similar ethnic groups have difficulties with understanding. Are we ready to live with people who are not like we are?

Yesterday the Union of political parties “Centrs,” which is composed of the Latvian Democratic Party, Labour Party, Union of Latvian Farmers and Freedom to Latvia, presented its programme on education. Regarding Russian schools, the union admits that “the government and the Ministry of Education have not done anything to ensure the qualitative switch of minority secondary schools to the Latvian language as of September 1, 2004, therefore the transfer should be made gradually till 2007.”

Yesterday the Union of political parties Centrs, which is composed of the Latvian Democratic Party, Labour Party, Union of Latvian Farmers and Freedom to Latvia, presented its programme on education. Regarding Russian schools, the union admits that the government and the Ministry of Education have not done anything to ensure the qualitative switch of minority secondary schools to the Latvian language as of September 1, 2004, therefore the transfer should be made gradually till 2007. Vesti Segodnja

In co-operation with the information agency “Novosti” of the Russian Federation,

In co-operation with the information agency Novosti of the Russian Federation, Panorama Latvii launches the weekly supplement Russian Bulletin. The supplement will report on news in culture, the economy and politics in Russia.