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

The latest study on integration issues conducted by the company SKDS shows that the majority of people surveyed believe that society in Latvia is not unified. According to the opinion of the majority of respondents, the key factor, which determines alienation between different groups in society, is the level of economic welfare not ethnic background. Only 13% of respondents indicate language and 7.8% citizenship and naturalisation issues as key factors for building a unified society. Asked which non-governmental programmes should be supported by the state, the majority of respondents mentioned small and medium businesses, while only 17% thought that the state should provide support for integration programmes for ethnic minorities. Respondents believe that even less state support should be provided to programmes for people with mental and physical disabilities. 55.2% of the study’s respondents were Latvians, while 80.6% were citizens.

The latest study on integration issues conducted by the company SKDS shows that the majority of people surveyed believe that society in Latvia is not unified. According to the opinion of the majority of respondents, the key factor, which determines alienation between different groups in society, is the level of economic welfare not ethnic background. Only 13% of respondents indicate language and 7.8% citizenship and naturalisation issues as key factors for building a unified society. Asked which non-governmental programmes should be supported by the state, the majority of respondents mentioned small and medium businesses, while only 17% thought that the state should provide support for integration programmes for ethnic minorities. Respondents believe that even less state support should be provided to programmes for people with mental and physical disabilities. 55.2% of the studys respondents were Latvians, while 80.6% were citizens. Diena, Vechernaya Riga, Chas

The study is available on the website

The study is available on the website www.integracija.gov.lv. The web site is maintained by the Integration Department at the Ministry of Justice, with the financial support of the embassies of France and Norway and UNDP. The presentation of the web site took place yesterday.

Panorama Latvii

publishes its comments on the web site. The newspaper criticises the content of the web site and the fact that it is available only in Latvian. The newspaper believes that the web site will not reach the actual target audience -– non-citizens and non-Latvians -- as responsible officials could not tell when the site will be available in Russian and English and many people do not have computers and internet access. publishes its comments on the web site. The newspaper criticises the content of the web site and the fact that it is available only in Latvian. The newspaper believes that the web site will not reach the actual target audience -– non-citizens and non-Latvians -- as responsible officials could not tell when the site will be available in Russian and English and many people do not have computers and internet access.

Neatkarigas c

olumnist Voldemars Hermanis writes about the non-citizens issue in Latvia. Voldemars Hermanis admits that the majority of Latvian non-citizens (about half a million) are hostages of the old system. However, while the state should motivate and foster naturalisation, but non-citizens themselves should also be more active and willing to become Latvian citizens. The columnist suggests that both politicians and the mass media inform non-citizens about the advantages and losses Latvias EU membership will bring them. olumnist Voldemars Hermanis writes about the non-citizens issue in Latvia. Voldemars Hermanis admits that the majority of Latvian non-citizens (about half a million) are hostages of the old system. However, while the state should motivate and foster naturalisation, but non-citizens themselves should also be more active and willing to become Latvian citizens. The columnist suggests that both politicians and the mass media inform non-citizens about the advantages and losses Latvia’s EU membership will bring them.

Chas

columnist Leonid Fedoseyev writes that after Latvias accession to the EU, Latvian non-citizens will be the only ones who will experience difficulties with travel arrangements and work possibilities within the EU countries. columnist Leonid Fedoseyev writes that after Latvia’s accession to the EU, Latvian non-citizens will be the only ones who will experience difficulties with travel arrangements and work possibilities within the EU countries. Leader of the Union for Equal Rights Tatyana Zdanoka answers the questions of

Leader of the Union for Equal Rights Tatyana Zdanoka answers the questions of Vesti Segodnya about her party pre-election programme. Concerning the provision of the right to non-citizens to participate at municipal elections Tatyana Zdanoka states that non-citizens and all persons who have permanent residence permits for 5 years should have the right to participate at municipal elections. Regarding the school reform in 2004, she says that Russian should remain a language of instruction at all levels of the education system.

One of the participants of the international integration summer camp shares his impressions about the camp. Young people from Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Belorussia, Russia and Ukraine took part in the camp.

One of the participants of the international integration summer camp shares his impressions about the camp. Young people from Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Belorussia, Russia and Ukraine took part in the camp. Vesti Segodnya

BNS

reports that in the framework of the public awareness campaign organised by the Naturalisation Board with the financial support of the embassy of Great Britain, an information booth will open in Ventspils on Friday. Interested people will be able to receive in-depth information about naturalisation procedures at the information booth. reports that in the framework of the public awareness campaign organised by the Naturalisation Board with the financial support of the embassy of Great Britain, an information booth will open in Ventspils on Friday. Interested people will be able to receive in-depth information about naturalisation procedures at the information booth.

Diena

interviews head of the National Programme for Latvian Language Training Aija Priedite. Aija Priedite says that a language is an emotional tie with other people and a key factor in building ones identity. She is convinced that a language is learned through integration and language learning should be an emotionally pleasant process. She says If a person identifies himself with this state in a positive light, the language can be learned without any effort. Aija Priedite states that it would be very important for Latvians to accept that non-Latvians keep their identities. interviews head of the National Programme for Latvian Language Training Aija Priedite. Aija Priedite says that a language is an emotional tie with other people and a key factor in building one’s identity. She is convinced that a language is learned through integration and language learning should be an emotionally pleasant process. She says “If a person identifies himself with this state in a positive light, the language can be learned without any effort.” Aija Priedite states that it would be very important for Latvians to accept that non-Latvians keep their identities.

Chas

publishes the first results of the campaign Study in the Mother Tongue organised by the Association for Support of Russian Language Schools in Latvia and the newspaper. The dominant opinion stated in letters of parents of Russian students is that school reform will only completely reduce the level of general knowledge of Russians. publishes the first results of the campaign “Study in the Mother Tongue” organised by the Association for Support of Russian Language Schools in Latvia and the newspaper. The dominant opinion stated in letters of parents of Russian students is that “school reform will only completely reduce the level of general knowledge of Russians.” The State Language Centre imposed a fine in the amount of LVL 50 on the organisers of the international song festival “The New Wave.” The organisers did not provide a translation of the festival into the Latvian language. The organisers agree that the law was violated, however, they believe that the implementation of the law could be more flexible.

The State Language Centre imposed a fine in the amount of LVL 50 on the organisers of the international song festival The New Wave. The organisers did not provide a translation of the festival into the Latvian language. The organisers agree that the law was violated, however, they believe that the implementation of the law could be more flexible. Diena, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Yesterday the Council of Radio and Television suspended broadcasting of the radio station “Nova.” The radio station breached the norm, which stipulates that only up to 25% of total radio station’s programmes can be aired in non-Latvian.

Yesterday the Council of Radio and Television suspended broadcasting of the radio station Nova. The radio station breached the norm, which stipulates that only up to 25% of total radio stations programmes can be aired in non-Latvian. Vechernaya Riga, Chas