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

• The situation of Russian-speakers is still under discussion in negotiations between Russia and the European Commission
• The leader of the Peoples Harmony Party Janis Jurkans calls the prime minister to cooperation on solving problems related to the education reform
• The Peoples Harmony Party asks the Interior Minister Eriks Jekabsons to explain his statement concerning partys member Boris Tsilevitch
• Neatkariga Rita Avize on the complaints against Latvia submitted to the European Court for Human Rights
• State Language Agency announces a project tender
• Minority schools teachers and students parents are concerned with the deterioration of students knowledge
• Latvijas Avize reviews foreign press statements about Latvia
• The co-chairman of NGO The Union of Citizens and Non-Citizens Vladimirs Sokolovs points to the Integration Program being out of date
• The deputy chairperson of the Latvian Russian party Vjaceslavs Starostins on importance of the development of Russian minority schools in Latvia

Yesterday the President of the European Commission Romano Prodi has visited Moscow to discuss issues of the EU enlargement with the Russian government. The situation of Russian-speakers in the Baltic states is the only issue where agreement is still not achieved in Russia and the EU negotiations on the treaty on collaboration between Russia and the EU member states, including all new members. Although the EU has not planned to include the issue of the Russian-speakers into the agreement, Russia is insisting on its inclusion in the resolution, in order to promote improvement of the Russian-speakers’ situation in the Baltic States. The agreement should be signed on 27 April.

Yesterday the President of the European Commission Romano Prodi has visited Moscow to discuss issues of the EU enlargement with the Russian government. The situation of Russian-speakers in the Baltic states is the only issue where agreement is still not achieved in Russia and the EU negotiations on the treaty on collaboration between Russia and the EU member states, including all new members. Although the EU has not planned to include the issue of the Russian-speakers into the agreement, Russia is insisting on its inclusion in the resolution, in order to promote improvement of the Russian-speakers situation in the Baltic States. The agreement should be signed on 27 April. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Telegraf, Chas

The leader of the People’s Harmony Party Janis Jurkans has sent an open letter to the Prime Minister Indulis Emsis calling for cooperation in finding solution to the education reform’s problems. The PHP has previously proposed moratorium on the education reform. The meeting of the prime minister with Janis Jurkans is planned on 1 May.

The leader of the Peoples Harmony Party Janis Jurkans has sent an open letter to the Prime Minister Indulis Emsis calling for cooperation in finding solution to the education reforms problems. The PHP has previously proposed moratorium on the education reform. The meeting of the prime minister with Janis Jurkans is planned on 1 May. Diena, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

The People’s Harmony Party has officially requested the Interior minister Eriks Jekabsons to provide explanations for the statement made in his interview to Latvijas Avize on 10 April. In this interview, the minister said that “although Boris Tsilevich is an intelligent and educated man, there is an opinion that his political philosophy is more dangerous for the state than Rubiks’ and Zhdanok’s more primitive political stance”.

The Peoples Harmony Party has officially requested the Interior minister Eriks Jekabsons to provide explanations for the statement made in his interview to Latvijas Avize on 10 April. In this interview, the minister said that although Boris Tsilevich is an intelligent and educated man, there is an opinion that his political philosophy is more dangerous for the state than Rubiks and Zhdanoks more primitive political stance. Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize writes about complaints submitted to the European Court for Human Rights (ECHR) against Latvia. Up to now, the ECHR has dismissed six complaints by the former USSR militaries and their families, who were challenging legitimacy of their expulsion from Latvia. The next judgment to be delivered is in the case of Arkadijs Sisojevss family.

The State Language Agency has announced a project tender “State Language Development”. The aim of the projects is to foster development of Latvian language as the state language, promote its wider use and stimulate public involvement in the language-related issues. The projects’ scope includes research studies, publications, creation of databases, organization of competitions, etc. Each project will receive financing of 5,000 lats.

The State Language Agency has announced a project tender State Language Development. The aim of the projects is to foster development of Latvian language as the state language, promote its wider use and stimulate public involvement in the language-related issues. The projects scope includes research studies, publications, creation of databases, organization of competitions, etc. Each project will receive financing of 5,000 lats. Latvijas Avize

Yesterday a conference of teachers and students’ parents of a Russian-language school was held. School officials are concerned with the decrease of students’ achievements as a result of bilingual education.

Yesterday a conference of teachers and students parents of a Russian-language school was held. School officials are concerned with the decrease of students achievements as a result of bilingual education. Telegraf

Latvijas Avize quotes statements in the foreign press about Latvia. For example, German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung writes that Latvian society will split on language basis after Latvias accession to the EU on 1 May. According to another newspaper, Tageszeitung, Latvia punishes children who do not speak correct language.

The co-chairman of the NGO The Union of Citizens and Non-Citizens Vladimirs Sokolovs points to the outdated information, contained in the National Program for Integration of the Society in Latvia. He notes that the term for most of the projects listed in the Program has ended already in 2003.

The co-chairman of the NGO The Union of Citizens and Non-Citizens Vladimirs Sokolovs points to the outdated information, contained in the National Program for Integration of the Society in Latvia. He notes that the term for most of the projects listed in the Program has ended already in 2003. Vesti Segodnya

Neatkariga Rita Avize features an article of the deputy chairperson of the Latvian Russian party Vjaceslavs Starostins, who believes that the present system of Russian-language schools does not guarantee preservation of Russian ethnic identity and bringing up children ‘with a Russian soul, and points to the importance of development of Russian minority schools along the same lines as Jewish, Polish or Ukrainian minority schools.