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

• Russian language newspapers elaborate on preparations to the protest actions against the education reform
• Interview with the Saeima Speaker Ingrida Udre
• Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools expresses support to the protest actions against the education reform
• Chairman of the Russia State Councils Committee on International Affairs Konstantin Kosachev about decision of the Latvia Ministry of Culture to postpone the Russian Culture days in Latvia
• Findings of the study Importance of the regional aspects in solution of citizenship issues
• Project Promotion of Society Integration with the help of intercultural education
• Vesti Segodnya about the seminar Roma Culture in Latvia

Russian language newspapers write about the preparations of Riga, Jelgava, Kalnciems and Daugavpils Russian-language schools’ students and their parents to the oncoming protest actions against the education reform.

Russian language newspapers write about the preparations of Riga, Jelgava, Kalnciems and Daugavpils Russian-language schools students and their parents to the oncoming protest actions against the education reform. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Chas

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with the Saeima Speaker Ingrida Udre, who believes that the main cause of the problems in the area of education reform is a lack of constructive dialogue with the minority schools; and that after implementation of the education reform competitiveness of minority students on the employment market will increase.

Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools (LASHOR) has adopted a resolution stipulating support to the protest actions against the education reform, organized by the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools, until moratorium on education reform is established. Position of LASHOR chairman is vacant at the moment, as the stepping-down chairman Igors Pimenovs has refused to candidate repeatedly, and there was no other immediate candidate.

Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools (LASHOR) has adopted a resolution stipulating support to the protest actions against the education reform, organized by the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools, until moratorium on education reform is established. Position of LASHOR chairman is vacant at the moment, as the stepping-down chairman Igors Pimenovs has refused to candidate repeatedly, and there was no other immediate candidate. Chas

Chairman of the Russia State Council’s Committee on International Affairs Konstantin Kosachev has expressed dissatisfaction with the decision of the Latvian Ministry of Culture to postpone the Russian Culture days in Latvia, which were planned to take place in 2004, by two years. Latvian Ministry of Culture has allegedly explained its decision by lack of financing and existing priority of establishing cultural ties with the EU countries. According to Konstantin Kosachev, if Latvian government understands EU integration as alienation from Russia, then the only benefactors of such ‘short-sighted’ policy will be the opponents of cooperation between Latvia and Russia. Konstantin Kosachev believes that the planned event would give an opportunity not only to the ethnic Russians, but also to all other Latvian residents who speak the language, for the unique intellectual enrichment.

Chairman of the Russia State Councils Committee on International Affairs Konstantin Kosachev has expressed dissatisfaction with the decision of the Latvian Ministry of Culture to postpone the Russian Culture days in Latvia, which were planned to take place in 2004, by two years. Latvian Ministry of Culture has allegedly explained its decision by lack of financing and existing priority of establishing cultural ties with the EU countries. According to Konstantin Kosachev, if Latvian government understands EU integration as alienation from Russia, then the only benefactors of such ‘short-sighted policy will be the opponents of cooperation between Latvia and Russia. Konstantin Kosachev believes that the planned event would give an opportunity not only to the ethnic Russians, but also to all other Latvian residents who speak the language, for the unique intellectual enrichment. Latvijas Avize, Telegraf

Vesti Segodnya features an article about findings of the study Importance of the regional aspects in dealing with citizenship issues. According to the study, 42% of the non-citizens living in Riga have stated that they do not want to naturalize because they believe that the state should grant them a citizenship automatically, as they were born in Latvia. 17,9% non-citizens of Latvia regard the process of naturalization as derogatory.

30 teachers, students and representatives of NGOs have participated in the project “Promotion of Society Integration with the help of intercultural education”, organized by the Special Tasks Minister’s for Society Integration Secretariat. The project was financially supported by the British Embassy in Latvia.

30 teachers, students and representatives of NGOs have participated in the project Promotion of Society Integration with the help of intercultural education, organized by the Special Tasks Ministers for Society Integration Secretariat. The project was financially supported by the British Embassy in Latvia. Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya prints an article about the seminar Roma Culture in Latvia, organized by the Special Tasks Ministers for Society Integration Secretariat. According to the director of the Department on Ethnic Minority Affairs Irina Vinnika, although Roma are considered to be the most integrated minority in Latvia ( 92% of Roma have Latvian citizenship and speak Latvian language fluently), they are also the most isolated part of the Latvian society. After dedicating the first seminar to the culture, Secretariat is planning to raise other Roma-related issues in the future, like, for example, Roma genocide during the World War II.