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.

• Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics: minority schools are ready for the education reform
• Interview with the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga about the implementation of the education reform
• Administrative Court refuses to accept the claim of Tatjana and Karina Slivenko
• Janis Jurkans comments on the support for the Emsis government
• Newspapers continue to discuss the statement of the Russian Party
• Newspapers write about the visit of state officials to Moscow to explain the necessity of education reform to Russian journalists
• Interview with the Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks
• Number of Latvian language native speakers decreases by 5,000 every year
• Latvijas Avize discusses naturalisation of non-citizens disloyal to Latvia
• Planned procession against the education reform will take place despite the refusal to authorise it
• Discussion about the role of mass media in the formation of the public opinion on education reform
• Open letter to the Russia Minister of Interior Rashid Nurgaliyev expressing support to the leader of the national bolsheviks Vladimirs Lindermans

Newspapers repeatedly stress the statement of the Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics that ‘all minority schools have licensed their curicula and are ready to implement the education reform.’

Newspapers repeatedly stress the statement of the Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics that ‘all minority schools have licensed their curicula and are ready to implement the education reform. Diena, Chas

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga about the implementation of the education reform. The President stresses that the reform does not imply the violation of the rights of minority students, but will improve their Latvian language proficiency to a very great extent.

The Administrative Court refused to abolish the decision on the deportation of Tatjana and Karina Slivenko from Latvia in 1996. The women appealed the decision with Latvian courts and also with the European Court of Human Rights, which ruled that by expulsion Latvia had violated women’s right to personal life.  However, the representative of the Court stated it would not be logic to abolish the decision as it has been already implemented.

The Administrative Court refused to abolish the decision on the deportation of Tatjana and Karina Slivenko from Latvia in 1996. The women appealed the decision with Latvian courts and also with the European Court of Human Rights, which ruled that by expulsion Latvia had violated womens right to personal life. However, the representative of the Court stated it would not be logic to abolish the decision as it has been already implemented. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

The People’s Harmony Party (PHP) should not continue to support the Emsis’ government, believes the leader of the party Janis Jurkans. According to Janis Jurkans, the government has not managed to eliminate tension in society caused by  the implementation of the education reform and thus the PHP has no arguments to support this government. The decision about the future support for the government may be adopted by the PHP on 6 September.

The Peoples Harmony Party (PHP) should not continue to support the Emsis government, believes the leader of the party Janis Jurkans. According to Janis Jurkans, the government has not managed to eliminate tension in society caused by the implementation of the education reform and thus the PHP has no arguments to support this government. The decision about the future support for the government may be adopted by the PHP on 6 September. Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Newspapers continue to report on the statement of the Russian Party which says that,  methods of leaders of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia and the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools to fight against the implementation of the education reform, in fact, stir tension in society, which can grow into an ethnic conflict.

Newspapers continue to report on the statement of the Russian Party which says that, methods of leaders of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia and the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools to fight against the implementation of the education reform, in fact, stir tension in society, which can grow into an ethnic conflict. Rigas Balss features an opinion of the mass media expert Abrams Kleckins. He believes that the problem of the education reform could be solved if the forthcoming protest actions do not result in conflicts and bring no victims. ‘The reform divides the Russian-speaking community, because there are people who want to politicise the issue, says Abrams Kleckins. The historian Karlis Dauksts is convinced that politically the Russian community is already divided, however, psychologically it still may form one community. Rigas Balss, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Newspapers feature articles about the visit of state officials to Moscow with the goal to explain the education reform to Russian journalists. According to the members of delegation, there are many stereotypes about the situation of Russians in Latvia, for instance, many Russian journalists did not want to believe that a person with Russian surname, namely the Advisor of the Minister of Education and Science Sergejs Ancupovs, holds an office in the state institution. The members of the Latvian delegation also noted that in many cases Russian journalists were not very interested in listening to views and stances contradicting the official stance of Russia.

Newspapers feature articles about the visit of state officials to Moscow with the goal to explain the education reform to Russian journalists. According to the members of delegation, there are many stereotypes about the situation of Russians in Latvia, for instance, many Russian journalists did not want to believe that a person with Russian surname, namely the Advisor of the Minister of Education and Science Sergejs Ancupovs, holds an office in the state institution. The members of the Latvian delegation also noted that in many cases Russian journalists were not very interested in listening to views and stances contradicting the official stance of Russia. Latvijas Avize, Chas

Latvijas Avize features an interview with the Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks, who believes that relations between Russia and Latvia depend on Russia. The Minister is convinced that Latvia should not naturalise non-citizens only to improve statistics of naturalisation. ‘I believe that the naturalisation process should ensure that these persons are able to integrate, states Artis Pabriks.

The number of Latvian language native speakers is sinking by 5,000 or 0.3 % every year. The Latvian language is a mother tongue of at least 1,5 millions of the world population, while half a million names Latvian their second language.

The number of Latvian language native speakers is sinking by 5,000 or 0.3 % every year. The Latvian language is a mother tongue of at least 1,5 millions of the world population, while half a million names Latvian their second language. Latvijas Avize, Telegraf

Latvijas Avize reports that the Citizenship ABC has been published in Latvia. The book includes information about various citizenship terms, possibilities to acquire Latvian citizenship, etc. The newspaper, however, stresses that recently there have been many cases which show that citizenship is a cheap commodity in Latvia. The newspaper enumerates cases when in its opinion people who are disloyal to Latvia, for instance are against the education reform, have received Latvian citizenship. The deputy chairman of the Naturalisation Board Janis Kahanovics explains that in accordance with the Law on Citizenship Latvian citizenship may not be deprived for incitement of national hatred, calls to violence and open disrespect towards the country.

The procession against the education reform, planned by the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools on 1 September, will take place although the executive director of the Riga City Council Maris Tralmaks has not authorised it. The decision of the executive director has been already appealed with the Administrative Court.

The procession against the education reform, planned by the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools on 1 September, will take place although the executive director of the Riga City Council Maris Tralmaks has not authorised it. The decision of the executive director has been already appealed with the Administrative Court. Neatkariga Rita Avize

Neatkariga Rita Avize features a discussion with Russian and Latvian mass media journalists about the role of mass media in the formation of public opinion on the education reform.

Several representatives of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia have drafted an open letter addressed to the Russia Minister of Interior Rashid Nurgaliyev. In the letter MPS express their support for the leader of the national bolsheviks Vladimirs Lindermans, who has been accused in an attempt to overthrow the state power and change political system in Latvia. According to the information provided by the Russia news agency ‘Regnum,’ the authors of the letter regard the criminal case, initiated against the Vladimirs Lindermans in Latvia, absurd and express their incomprehension concerning the Russia’s refusal to grant asylum and Russian citizenship to the leader of national bolsheviks.

Several representatives of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia have drafted an open letter addressed to the Russia Minister of Interior Rashid Nurgaliyev. In the letter MPS express their support for the leader of the national bolsheviks Vladimirs Lindermans, who has been accused in an attempt to overthrow the state power and change political system in Latvia. According to the information provided by the Russia news agency ‘Regnum, the authors of the letter regard the criminal case, initiated against the Vladimirs Lindermans in Latvia, absurd and express their incomprehension concerning the Russias refusal to grant asylum and Russian citizenship to the leader of national bolsheviks. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya