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
of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies

• USA Senator John McCain criticizes Russia about its attempts to exert pressure on Latvian government
• Planned ultimate protest action against the education reform
• Newspapers continue discussion about the latest amendments to the Law on Education
• European Peoples parties congress adopts a resolution condemning the totalitarian regime of communism
• Conflict between Russian and Latvian school pupils
• Council of the party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM condemns the Saeima decision, allowing to stand for the European Parliament electionsfor ex-officials of the State Security Committee

During the security policy conference in Munich, USA Senator John McCain has castigated Russia for attempts to manipulate the Russian minority in Latvia and to impede the import of the energetic recourses to Latvia, therefore exerting a pressure on the democratic government of the country.

During the security policy conference in Munich, USA Senator John McCain has castigated Russia for attempts to manipulate the Russian minority in Latvia and to impede the import of the energetic recourses to Latvia, therefore exerting a pressure on the democratic government of the country. Diena

Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-Language Schools are planning to organize ultimate protest action against the education reform at 11 February, 2004 near the Castle of the President of Latvia. Until the 12 of February President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga is eligible to return the law to the Saeima for repeated screening. For Human Rights in the United Latvia and the Vice speaker of the Russia State Council Dmitry Rogozin have already called for the President of Latvia not to announce these amendments.

Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-Language Schools are planning to organize ultimate protest action against the education reform at 11 February, 2004 near the Castle of the President of Latvia. Until the 12 of February President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga is eligible to return the law to the Saeima for repeated screening. For Human Rights in the United Latvia and the Vice speaker of the Russia State Council Dmitry Rogozin have already called for the President of Latvia not to announce these amendments. Chas features a commentary by Leonyd Fedoseyev, who believes that the latest protest activities of the Latvian Russians indicate not an escalation of ethnic confrontation, but rather a conflict between the state power and the social group whose interests have been rudely ignored. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Vechernaya Riga, Chas, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

Newspapers continue discussion about the latest amendments to the Law on Education, allowing only up to 40% of instruction in minority language at minority schools.

Newspapers continue discussion about the latest amendments to the Law on Education, allowing only up to 40% of instruction in minority language at minority schools. Neatkariga Rita Avize publishes statements of the Minister of Education and Science Karlis Sadurskis. Russian language newspapers feature the statements of the head of the parliamentary group For Human Rights in the United Latvia Jakovs Pliners, which offers two alternatives to the education reform. According to Jakovs Pliners, the state has to grant an opportunity for minority schools council to determinate the level of bilingualism and the subjects to be taught in Latvian, or to provide that only Latvian language, literature, and three subjects by the schools choice shall be taught in Latvian. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Vechernaya Riga, Chas

European People’s parties’ congress, following the initiative of the observer of Latvia to the European Parliament (EP) Liene Liepina, has adopted a resolution which condemns the totalitarian regime of communism. The document will be submitted also to the EP.

European Peoples parties congress, following the initiative of the observer of Latvia to the European Parliament (EP) Liene Liepina, has adopted a resolution which condemns the totalitarian regime of communism. The document will be submitted also to the EP. Diena

Rigas Balss features an article about the conflict between students of Riga Secondary School No. 34 and the Primary School of Agenskalns, who both have Latvian and Russian pupils. According to the students of the Primary School, since the beginning of the campaign against the education reform, its active opponents Russian students from Riga Secondary School No. 34 have frequently bullied Latvian students from the Primary School. In their turn, Russian students say that Latvians provoke them. The head of the Riga City Council Security and Order Committee Andrejs Vilks is being pessimistic about the whole affair and allows that the wave of the reciprocal hate will spread to other schools in Riga.

Council of the party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM has adopted a statement, condemning the decision of the Saeima to cancel the prohibition to stand for the European Parliament elections for ex-officials of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia and those individuals who were members of the Communist Party and related organizations after January 13, 1991.

Council of the party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM has adopted a statement, condemning the decision of the Saeima to cancel the prohibition to stand for the European Parliament electionsfor ex-officials of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia and those individuals who were members of the Communist Party and related organizations after January 13, 1991. Vesti Segodnya