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.

• Union’s For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) parliamentary grouphas developedamendments to the Law on Education stipulating the establishment of a moratorium on the education reform
• Riga City Council plans toissue a permission to organise the protest actions against the education reform
• President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga talks about a possibility of conflictbetween opponents to the education reform and the police
• Baltic Institute of Social Sciences presents the study ‘Ethnic Tolerance and Societal Integrationin Latvia’
• Baltic States plan to co-operate in the area of societal integration
• Prime Minister Indulis Emsis will meet directors of minority schools
• Member of the Afro-Latvian Association Christopher Ejugbo talks about the African culture and integration of persons of African origin in the Latvian society

The Union’s For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) parliamentary group has developed amendments to the Law on Education. The amendments stipulate the establishment of a moratorium on the education reform and keeping the previous ratio betwee the languages of instruction. The FHRUL hopes that the Saeima will adopt the amendments in its extraordinary session on 26 August.

The Union’s For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) parliamentary group has developed amendments to the Law on Education. The amendments stipulate the establishment of a moratorium on the education reform and keeping the previous ratio betwee the languages of instruction. The FHRUL hopes that the Saeima will adopt the amendments in its extraordinary session on 26 August. Chas, Telegraf

After all the Riga City Council most likely will authorise the protest actions against the education reform, planned by the Headquarters for the Defence for Russian-language Schools. The State Security Police announced that they do not see that the protest actions could cause any threats of public disorder. However, the executive committee of the Congress of the Russian Community has issued a statement where they state that the rock concert organised by the Ministry of Education and Science on 1 September may cause ‘mass affray between Latvian and Russian students’ and call on Russian and Latvian musicians not to take part in it.

After all the Riga City Council most likely will authorise the protest actions against the education reform, planned by the Headquarters for the Defence for Russian-language Schools. The State Security Police announced that they do not see that the protest actions couldcause anythreats of public disorder. However, the executive committee of the Congress of the Russian Community has issued a statement where they state that the rock concert organised by the Ministry of Education and Science on 1 September may cause ‘mass affray between Latvian and Russian students’ and call on Russian and Latvian musicians not totake part in it. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Rigas Balss, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Neatkariga Rita Avize features an interview with the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga.the President is convinced that there isa number of political powers which want to see confrontation between participants of protest actions against the education reform and the police. The President, however, doubts whether confrontations are what parents want.

Newspapers report on the results of the research

Newspapers report on the results of the research ‘Ethnic Tolerance and Societal Integrationin Latvia’ conducted by the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences. One of the conclusions of the study is that Latvians do not feel as a majority, therefore they feel under threat, which results in intolerance towards other groups. At the same time the Russian-speaking part of society can not be considereda typical minority because they consitute a comparatively large part of society (37%).Besides the Russian language is self-sufficient in many areas of life, although the status of the Russian language has changed. The research also shows that 77% Latvians do not support Russian to be a second state language and76% Latvians support the implementation of the education reform. While 84% non-Latvians support granting the Russian language the status of the second state language and 68% non-Latviansdo not support the implementation of the education reform. Vesti Segodnya features a critical comment on the results of the research,which stressthat the study does not contain any valuable information about the racial and ethnic intolerance in Latvia and solutions to it. Rigas Balss, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

The Estonian Minister for Population and Ethnic Affairs Paul-Eerik Rummo has revealed intentions of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania to co-operate in the area of societal integration. The declaration about the co-operation will be signed in September or October this year.

The Estonian Minister for Population and Ethnic Affairs Paul-Eerik Rummo has revealed intentions of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania to co-operate in the area of societal integration. The declaration about the co-operation will be signed in September or October this year. Telegraf

Chas, referring to unofficial sources of information, reports that the Prime Minister Indulis Emsis will meet directors of minority schools on 19 August.

Rigas Balss prints an interview with the leader of the Afro-Latvian Association Christopher Ejugbo about the African culture and integration of persons of African origin in the Latvian society. Christopher Ejugbo believes that in Latvia there are strong stereotypes about Africa and people of African origin.