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.

• Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Chairperson Artis Pabriks explains the reasons for rejection to ratify Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
• Today state security institution inform Saeima MPs about protest actions against the education reform
• Interview with journalist and writer Marina Kostenecka about the latest protest action against the education reform and incitement to hatred
• Political scientist Viktors Makarovs on futility of language ratios in education reform
• Article of the Riga City Councils deputy of Olegs Sipcovs about education reform and its real goals
• Friendship event for students of several ethnic backgrounds from five Latvian and minority schools

Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Artis Pabriks has sent an official letter to all embassies of the EU member states in Latvia, explaining the decision of the Saeima to reject the opposition party proposal to ratify the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The parlaimentarian believes that premature ratification of the convention would split rather than unite society.

Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Artis Pabriks has sent an official letter to all embassies of the EU member states in Latvia, explaining the decision of the Saeima to reject the opposition party proposal to ratify the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The parlaimentarian believes that premature ratification of the convention would split rather than unite society. Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Today Saeima Defense and Internal Affairs Committee and National Security Committee is planning to hear the security institutions’ information about the protest actions against the education reform and to make a decision about the maintenance of order during any future protest actions.

Today Saeima Defense and Internal Affairs Committee and National Security Committee is planning to hear the security institutions information about the protest actions against the education reform and to make a decision about the maintenance of order during any future protest actions. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the well-known journalist and writer Marina Kostenecka about the latest protest action against the education reform on 1 May. The writer believes that during this protest action there were attempts to incite hatred. As an example the interviewee points to the terminology used by Equality leader Tatjana Zdanok when speaking to the students, saying that she sees a battalion before her. Marina Kostenecka also points to the violence against a Latvian youth on the street as confirmation of hatred in everyday life aroused by the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools.

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with political scientist Viktors Makarovs about the education reform in Latvia. Viktors Makarovs believes that ‘the ratio of languages included in law is fiction because minority schools are not ready to teach specific subjects in Latvian and hence the implementation of law in real life is impossible.

Vesti Segodnya prints an article by the deputy of Riga City Council Olegs Sipcovs on education reform. The deputy regards the education reform as gradual and purposeful elimination of the existing education system in the language of the largest national minority in Latvia, i.e. Russians. He mentions the interrupted training of necessary staff, the lack of a department of Russian-language schools in the Ministry of Education and Science, the removal of higher state education in the Russian and the application of bilingual education only to minority schools as examples supporting his statement.

Latvijas Avize writes about the friendship event for students of several nationalities from five Latvian and minority schools, organized by the Adazi free Waldorf School. During the event students painted, participated at sport activities and made music. The main objective of the event, financed by the Society Integration Foundation, was to promote the collaboration between children of various ethnic backgrounds.