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

• Russia and EU sign protocol on the treaty on collaboration between Russia and the EU, applicable to all new EU member states
• Prime Minister Indulis Emsis makes equivocal statement on possible Peoples Harmony Party membership in government
• The Chairman of the Council for Foreign and Defense Policy of the Russian Federation Sergey Karaganov states that Russia will continue to pressure the EU regarding Russian-speakers situation in Latvia
• Ministers Nils Muiznieks and Ainars Bastiks invite non-citizens to register their children as Latvian citizens
• Prime Minister Indulis Emsis hopes to involve intelligentsia in the discussions over minority education reform
• Press quotes the statements of Prime Minister Indulis Emsis to the German newspaper Spiegel Online
• Meeting with school students parents organized by the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools
• Interview with Ambassador of Israel to Latvia and to Lithuania Gary Koren
• Minority representatives on Latvias accession to the EU
• A representative of the Ventspils Non-Citizens Affairs Council believes that schools are not ready for education reform

Yesterday Russia signed the protocol on the treaty on collaboration with the EU, applicable also to the new EU member states. It states that the EU and the Russian Federation consider membership in the EU as a firm guarantee of human rights and protection of persons belonging to national minorities and that both sides are committed to continue this protection.

Yesterday Russia signed the protocol on the treaty on collaboration with the EU, applicable also to the new EU member states. It states that the EU and the Russian Federation consider membership in the EU as a firm guarantee of human rights and protection of persons belonging to national minorities and that both sides are committed to continue this protection. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya interviews the chairman of the Council for Foreign and Defense Policy of Russian Federation, the advisor of the Presidents assistant on foreign affairs, the Institute of Europe Deputy Director Sergey Karaganov about the relations between Russia and the EU. The Russian official states that the protocol signed by Russia and the EU is not the final conclusion of Russia and the EU on the situation of Russian-speakers rights and that Russia will continue its pressure on the EU regarding Russian-speakers in Latvia.

According to media agency

According to media agency LETA, Prime Minister Indulis Emsis made a statement allowing for Peoples Harmony Party (PHP) participation in the government. The statement was allegedly made in response to MP from PHP Aleksandrs Bartasevics warnings in Lauku Avize on Tuesday that the party may not continue support for the government if there will be no concessions on minority education reform. The representative of the Prime Minister Ilona Lice issued an equivocal statement to the effect that Indulis Emsis has not allowed for, has not denied, has not confirmed such a possibility but has only said that it is not on the present agenda. The head of the Saeima PHP faction Janis Urbanovics has declared that the PHP has not decided to request the governments demission and that MP Bartacevicss statement does not reflect the view of all party members. Diena, Telegraf, Chas, Rigas Balss

The Special Task Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks and the Special Task Minister’s for Children and Family Affairs Ainars Bastiks are planning to send 15,000 letters to eligible non-citizen children’s parents inviting them to register their children born in Latvia after 21 August 1991 as Latvian citizens. On 1 April there were 17,036 children in Latvia who have the right to Latvian citizenship. According to research conducted by the Naturalization Board 35% of parents are not informed about the opportunity to register their children as Latvian citizens.

The Special Task Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks and the Special Task Ministers for Children and Family Affairs Ainars Bastiks are planning to send 15,000 letters to eligible non-citizen childrens parents inviting them to register their children born in Latvia after 21 August 1991 as Latvian citizens. On 1 April there were 17,036 children in Latvia who have the right to Latvian citizenship. According to research conducted by the Naturalization Board 35% of parents are not informed about the opportunity to register their children as Latvian citizens. Latvijs Avize, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Vestnesis, Telegraf

Prime Minister Indulis Emsis has stated that he hopes to involve the intelligentsia in discussions over the minority education reform, while stressing that intense dialogue is taking place presently, but the government will not back off from its stance that all school graduates must be proficient in the state language.

Prime Minister Indulis Emsis has stated that he hopes to involve the intelligentsia in discussions over the minority education reform, while stressing that intense dialogue is taking place presently, but the government will not back off from its stance that all school graduates must be proficient in the state language. Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize and Vesti Segodnya quote statements made by Prime Minister Indulis Emsis to the German newspaper Spiegel Online where he says that he is almost grateful to Russia for its silly policy. According to Emsis, Russia-created obstacles for trade with Latvia would promote Latvias orientation to Europe. Indulis Emsis has also said that many representatives of Russian-speaking minority who came to Latvia during Russian occupation dont want to learn the Latvian language. Therefore Latvia has made the decision that all Latvias residents, primarily students, should learn the language.

On Monday, representatives of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools have distributed leaflets with calls like “this will be the last warning”, “1 May is our decisive struggle!” in the Riga Anninmuiza Cultural Centre, with the participation of about 120 parents whose children study in schools in Riga Kurzeme distict, representatives of ministries and Riga City Council.

On Monday, representatives of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools have distributed leaflets with calls like this will be the last warning, 1 May is our decisive struggle! in the Riga Anninmuiza Cultural Centre, with the participation of about 120 parents whose children study in schools in Riga Kurzeme distict, representatives of ministries and Riga City Council. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Vesti Segodnya interviews the ambassador of Israel to Latvia and to Lithuania Gary Koren on the issues of anti-Semitism, relations between Latvia and Israel and ethno-political situation in Israel. The Ambassador stated that there are some tendencies of anti-Semitism in Latvia, but no anti-Semitism at the official level.

Diena features an article about attitudes of minority representatives towards Latvias accession to the EU. While some of them (for example, the chairman of the Azerbaidjan Society in Latvia Alirza Guseinovs) point to the increased opportunities for Latvias economic development, others (the president of the Russian Community in Latvia Vjaceslavs Altuhovs) mention social tensions and the reduction of the psychological connection to Russia. The head of Minority Affairs Department of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Secretariat Irina Vinnika believes that minority concerns derive from social, not ethnic problems.

Chas prints an article of a representative of the Ventspils Non-Citizens Affairs Council who believes that schools are not ready for the switch to bilingual education and the 2004 education reform. She stresses the education problems of below average achievers.