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 features an article about new citizens in Seda, a small town (1775 residents) with the largest share of non-citizens in Latvia. The town is noteworthy for the recent jump in the naturalisation rate. While only 30 people acquired citizenship from 1995 through 2000 and 15 become citizens in 2001, in 2002 already 54 persons have acquired citizenship.

Diena

interviews leader of FHRUL Janis Jurkans. When asked whether giving Latvian citizenship to people who do not speak Latvian would foster integration, Janis Jurkans states that the Latvian language is a key element in granting citizenship and it should not be granted if a person does not speak Latvian. However, the demand for zero option citizenship included in the Unions pre-election programme was a compromise among three parties within the Union. Janis Jurkans states that Moscows positive assessment of social integration in Latvia is a core determinant of Latvias domestic development and international success. interviews leader of FHRUL Janis Jurkans. When asked whether giving Latvian citizenship to people who do not speak Latvian would foster integration, Janis Jurkans states that the Latvian language is a key element in granting citizenship and it should not be granted if a person does not speak Latvian. However, the demand for zero option citizenship included in the Union’s pre-election programme was a compromise among three parties within the Union. Janis Jurkans states that Moscow’s positive assessment of social integration in Latvia is a core determinant of Latvia’s domestic development and international success.

Vechernaya Riga

publishes an article about a reception for Russian language teachers who attended summer courses in Moscow held by Russian ambassador to Latvia Igor Studennikov. Teachers highly appreciate the quality of the courses and share their positive impressions. Russian ambassador Igor Studennikov stressed that the switch of minority secondary schools to Latvian in 2004 is one of the key aspects in relations between Russia and Latvia. He said, We are not interfering in Latvias domestic affairs, Latvia should just observe international norms. publishes an article about a reception for Russian language teachers who attended summer courses in Moscow held by Russian ambassador to Latvia Igor Studennikov. Teachers highly appreciate the quality of the courses and share their positive impressions. Russian ambassador Igor Studennikov stressed that the switch of minority secondary schools to Latvian in 2004 is one of the key aspects in relations between Russia and Latvia. He said, “We are not interfering in Latvia’s domestic affairs, Latvia should just observe international norms.”

Chas

publishes an article by Anatolijs Kamenevs stating that these elections will be the last elections where the ethnic factor will play an important role. He writes that in the upcoming years all national problems and non-citizen issues will be solved if Latvia wants to become a member of the EU or NATO. publishes an article by Anatolijs Kamenevs stating that these elections will be the last elections where the ethnic factor will play an important role. He writes that in the upcoming years all national problems and non-citizen issues will be solved if Latvia wants to become a member of the EU or NATO. The opinion poll conducted by the company “Latvijas fakti” confirms the trend featured by the opinion poll conducted by the company SKDS: in August the rating of Latvia’s Way has dramatically decreased (only 4.5% of Latvian citizens would vote for Latvia’s Way), while the ratings of the People Party and the Union of the Green Party and the farmers’ Union have grown. The New Era is still the most popular party, although its rating has slightly decreased.

The opinion poll conducted by the company Latvijas fakti confirms the trend featured by the opinion poll conducted by the company SKDS: in August the rating of Latvias Way has dramatically decreased (only 4.5% of Latvian citizens would vote for Latvias Way), while the ratings of the People Party and the Union of the Green Party and the farmers Union have grown. The New Era is still the most popular party, although its rating has slightly decreased. Diena, Telegraf, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Panorama Latvii

reports about the OSCE Human Dimension meeting in Warsaw which discusses the implementation of human right standards in member states of the OSCE. Members of the Latvian Human Rights Committee Tatyana Zdanoka and the Russian Association in Latvia are the sole NGO delegates from Latvia in the meeting. reports about the OSCE Human Dimension meeting in Warsaw which discusses the implementation of human right standards in member states of the OSCE. Members of the Latvian Human Rights Committee Tatyana Zdanoka and the Russian Association in Latvia are the sole NGO delegates from Latvia in the meeting.