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.

• Prime Minister Indulis Emsis meets with minority schools directors
• President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga comments on the implementation of the education reform and possible conflicts during the protest actions
• State Security Police evaluate a possibility to initiate a criminal case for distributing warnings about possible ‘mass affray between Latvian and Russian students
• Head of For Human Rights in the United Latvia parliamentary group Jakovs Pliners about the education reform and possible ethnic conflicts
• Increase in the number of naturalisation applications
• Aleksandrs Kazakovs talks about goals of the Congress of the Russian Community
• Vesti Segodnya reports on the results of the research ‘Ethnic Tolerance and Societal Integrationin Latvia

‘Two languages of instruction in minority schools do not worsen the quality of education. That is already proved by good grades received by minority school students in centralised exams,’ stated directors of minority schools from Bauska, Daugavpils, Liepaja, Riga and Ventspils during the meeting with the Prime Minister Indulis Emsis. However, directors stressed that some measures should be continued or introduced, for instance, ensure Latvian language training for minority school teachers, form special classes for those students whose Latvian language proficiency is insufficient, and establish positions of methodologists of bilingual education in each minority school.

‘Two languages of instruction in minority schools do not worsen the quality of education. That is already proved by good grades received by minority school students in centralised exams, stated directors of minority schools from Bauska, Daugavpils, Liepaja, Riga and Ventspils during the meeting with the Prime Minister Indulis Emsis. However, directors stressed that some measures should be continued or introduced, for instance, ensure Latvian language training for minority school teachers, form special classes for those students whose Latvian language proficiency is insufficient, and establish positions of methodologists of bilingual education in each minority school. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Yesterday the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga met the Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics, the Executive Director of Riga City Council Maris Tralmaks and representatives of state security institutions. The officials discussed the readiness of minority schools to implement the education reform and possible conflicts which could take place during the protest actions on September 1. Vaira Vike-Freiberga believes that warnings issued by opponents of the education reform about possible conflicts during the protest actions are ungrounded. According to the Chairman of the Sate Security Police Janis Reiniks, the State Police pay particular attention to the forthcoming protest actions. The Chairman is convinced that the Riga City Council should not authorise the protest meeting on 1 September, because Headquarters for the Defence of Russian –language Schools is not capable of ensuring public order.

Yesterday the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga met the Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics, the Executive Director of Riga City Council Maris Tralmaks and representatives of state security institutions. The officials discussed the readiness of minority schools to implement the education reform and possible conflicts which could take place during the protest actions on September 1. Vaira Vike-Freiberga believes that warnings issued by opponents of the education reform about possible conflicts during the protest actions are ungrounded. According to the Chairman of the Sate Security Police Janis Reiniks, the State Police pay particular attention to the forthcoming protest actions. The Chairman is convinced that the Riga City Council should not authorise the protest meeting on 1 September, because Headquarters for the Defence of Russian –language Schools is not capable of ensuring public order. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss, Vetsi Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

State Security Police evaluate a possibility to initiate a criminal case against the statement of the Executive Committee of the Congress of the Russian Community, which says that the rock concert organised by the Ministry of Education and Science on 1 September may cause ‘mass affray between Latvian and Russian students.’ When discussing whether the Riga City Council should authorise protest actions, members of the Riga City Council Security and Order Committee regarded the statement as a call to ethnic conflict.

State Security Police evaluate a possibility to initiate a criminal case against the statement of the Executive Committee of the Congress of the Russian Community, which says that the rock concert organised by the Ministry of Education and Science on 1 September may cause ‘mass affray between Latvian and Russian students. When discussing whether the Riga City Council should authorise protest actions, members of the Riga City Council Security and Order Committee regarded the statement as a call to ethnic conflict. Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss

Vesti Segodnya prints statements by the Head of parliamentary group of For Human Rights in the United Latvia Jakovs Pliners about the necessity of the education reform and possible ethnic conflicts. Jakovs Pliners believes that if there are any ethnic conflicts after September 1, the Prime Minister Indulis Emsis should take the responsibility for that. According to Pliners, the Prime Minister should have either democratised the education reform, established a moratorium on it or developed a dialogue with a discussion group formed by the Congress of the Defenders of Russian-language schools.

The Naturalisation Board has received 9501 naturalisation applications during the first six months of this year, while 6224 non-citizens are naturalised during this period.  The number of applications, received by the Board during the same period last year, was two times smaller – 4710.

The Naturalisation Board has received 9501 naturalisation applications during the first six months of this year, while 6224 non-citizens are naturalised during this period. The number of applications, received by the Board during the same period last year, was two times smaller – 4710. Telegraf

Vesti Segdonya features an opinion of the activist of the Executive Committee of the Congress of the Russian Community (CRC) Aleksandrs Kazakovs about goals of the Congress, which will take place on 11 September. According to Aleksandrs Kazakovs, the Congress supports the two-community society because it is Latvias reality. Aleksandrs Kazakovs hopes that about 980,000 people – ethnic Russians, Russian-speakers and Russian-speaking Latvians – will become members of the CRC.

Vesti Segodnya reports on the results of the research ‘Ethnic Tolerance and Societal Integrationin Latvia conducted by the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences.