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 a long article by associated professor, researcher of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Artis Pabriks about parties which unify and parties which split Latvian society. He believes that first of all Latvian society is split by politically incompatible views among the public which partly overlap with ethnic divisions. Pabriks believes that the Russian language media and parties should take primary responsibility for this political disunity. According to Pabriks, rightist Latvian parties have gradually given up their exclusive orientation towards an ethnic voter and slowly begun talking with all members of society, while FHRUL has demonstrated the opposite tendency. FHRUL continues to stir its supporters by placing emphasis on the issues which were topical in the middle of the 1990s, namely, human rights of national minorities and discrimination of Russian-speakers. The switch of secondary minority schools to instruction in Latvian was the key issue in the FHRULs pre-election campaign. Pabriks argues that the arguments of FHRUL against the reform portray it inaccurately. He stresses that even after 2004 the Russian language will be quite extensively used at schools.Just because Latvian will be used as an instruction language, Russians will not lose their identity. The reform does not contradict international human rights standards. He concludes that the further development of FHRUL will be determined by the success or failure regarding the implementation of the reform in 2004 and co-operation among three parties within FHRUL. features a long article by associated professor, researcher of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Artis Pabriks about “parties which unify and parties which split Latvian society.” He believes that first of all Latvian society is split by politically incompatible views among the public which partly overlap with ethnic divisions. Pabriks believes that the Russian language media and parties should take primary responsibility for this political disunity. According to Pabriks, rightist Latvian parties have gradually given up their exclusive orientation towards an ethnic voter and slowly begun talking with all members of society, while FHRUL has demonstrated the opposite tendency. FHRUL continues to stir its supporters by placing emphasis on the issues which were topical in the middle of the 1990s, namely, human rights of national minorities and discrimination of Russian-speakers. The switch of secondary minority schools to instruction in Latvian was the key issue in the FHRUL’s pre-election campaign. Pabriks argues that the arguments of FHRUL against the reform portray it inaccurately. He stresses that even after 2004 the Russian language will be quite extensively used at schools.Just because Latvian will be used as an instruction language, Russians will not lose their identity. The reform does not contradict international human rights standards. He concludes that the further development of FHRUL will be determined by the success or failure regarding the implementation of the reform in 2004 and co-operation among three parties within FHRUL.

Lauku Avize

comments on the decision of the government to re-call the proposed amendments to language regulations which stipulated the expansion of the list of professions in the private sphere subject to state language requirements. The newspaper states that the government did not protect the Latvian language and the rights of residents to receive information in the state language. Director of the State Language Centre Agris Timuska says that the only hope is that the new government will protect the Latvian language. comments on the decision of the government to re-call the proposed amendments to language regulations which stipulated the expansion of the list of professions in the private sphere subject to state language requirements. The newspaper states that the government did not protect the Latvian language and the rights of residents to receive information in the state language. Director of the State Language Centre Agris Timuska says that the only hope is that the new government will protect the Latvian language.

Lauku Avize

interviews Director of the Soros Foundation - Latvia Vita Terauda. Lauku Avize believes that research conducted by the Foundation in the field of national minorities is not quite objective. Terauda responded by noting that the Foundation does not conduct research itself but provides funding.Second, it is not so easy to determine what is objective. She believes that if these studies raise discussions, then the key goal is achieved. Regarding the recent statements of George Soros that the Russian language should be more promoted in Latvia, Terauda says that it was the opinion of George Soros, while the foundation has its own views on the issue. interviews Director of the Soros Foundation - Latvia Vita Terauda. Lauku Avize believes that research conducted by the Foundation in the field of national minorities is not quite “objective.” Terauda responded by noting that the Foundation does not conduct research itself but provides funding.Second, it is not so easy to determine what is “objective.” She believes that if these studies raise discussions, then the key goal is achieved. Regarding the recent statements of George Soros that the Russian language should be more promoted in Latvia, Terauda says that it was the opinion of George Soros, while the foundation has its own views on the issue.

Vesti Segodnya

reports that Leonid Raihman, one of the founders of the Latvian Committee of Human Rights is conducting research on the theme Languages, Media Legislation and the Integration of Minorities: Lessons from the Latvian Perspective. Raihman reports that first, he has learned about the experience of other countries in this field. At the end of November he will present his first conclusions at a seminar held by the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies. reports that Leonid Raihman, one of the founders of the Latvian Committee of Human Rights is conducting research on the theme “Languages, Media Legislation and the Integration of Minorities: Lessons from the Latvian Perspective.” Raihman reports that first, he has learned about the experience of other countries in this field. At the end of November he will present his first conclusions at a seminar held by the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies.