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.

• Necessity in the development of the Law on Minority Schools still under discussions
• Amendments to the Immigration Law exempt persons with specific diseases and disabilities from the Latvian language test when receiving a residence permit
• Prime Ministers Adviser on National Security Andrejs Pantelejevs about education reform
• Vesti Segodnya interviews board members of the new organisation United Congress of the Russian Community in Latvia
• Excerpts from an interview with Kazakov, just recently deported from Latvia because of his active involvement in protest activities against the education reform
• National Radio and TV Council will decide whether a historical analytical programme produced by Russia should be aired in Latvia
• OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities will visit Latvia

Yesterday the Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee charged a working group formed with the aim to draft the Law on Minority Schools to come up with sound and accurate arguments whether and why there is a need for the Law on Minority Schools in Latvia within a month time. The Prime Minister Indulis Emsis expressed his incomprehension why the issue whether the Law is necessary at all is still under discussions. While

Yesterday the Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee charged a working group formed with the aim to draft the Law on Minority Schools to come up with sound and accurate arguments whether and why there is a need for the Law on Minority Schools in Latvia within a month time. The Prime Minister Indulis Emsis expressed his incomprehension why the issue whether the Law is necessary at all is still under discussions. While Telegraf interviews the Secretary of the Saeimas Education Committee Dzintars Abikis who believes that there is no need in the development of the Law. NRA, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday amendments to the Law on Immigration were adopted. The new amendments stipulate that persons suffering from certain diseases or having some disabilities will not have to pass the Latvian language examination when receiving a residence permit. The list of diseases is under discussions.

Yesterday amendments to the Law on Immigration were adopted. The new amendments stipulate that persons suffering from certain diseases or having some disabilities will not have to pass the Latvian language examination when receiving a residence permit. The list of diseases is under discussions. Telegraf

Vesti Segodnya interviews the Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security Andrejs Pantelejevs. He believes that, in fact, nobody, even the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Language Schools, was interested in initiating ethnic conflicts on 1 September. Andrejs Pantelejevs argues that the government has done a lot in the last months before 1 September to ensure the implementation of the reform, however, he stresses that there are no winners, including the government, in this situation. He is convinced that the government has learned its lesson and refers to the development of the Law on Minority Schools as a proof of the governments good will. Aleksejs Pantelejevs states that issues and events concerning the implementation of the education reform were last issues on the grounds of ethnicity in Latvia.

Vesti Segodnya interviews board members of the new organisation United Congress of the Russian Community in Latvia. Majority of board members state that they joined the organisation because they want to foster the dialogue between the Latvian and Russian communities in Latvia. However, MP Boris Tsilevich, who was also elected in the Board of the Congress, doubts whether the Congress will achieve its aims.

Latvijas Avize reprints excerpts from the interview with the advisor to the Head of the Russia State Dumas Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandr Kazakov, who has been just recently deported from Latvia because of his active involvement in protest activities against the education reform. In his interview with the newspaper Izvestija, printed in Russia, Kazakov states that very soon Russian-speakers in Latvia will speak exclusively Russian and will refuse to buy goods if they do not contain any labels or instructions in Russian. He believes that in March there will be a two-community society in Latvia.

The National Radio and TV Council will look into a programme ‘Europe Sentenced’ produced by Russia’s TV channel ‘Pervij Baltijskij’ which airs in the Baltic States. The programme ‘Europe Sentenced’ discusses the Molotov - Ribentrop pact and was recommended not to be aired in Lithuania.  

The National Radio and TV Council will look into a programme ‘Europe Sentenced produced by Russias TV channel ‘Pervij Baltijskij which airs in the Baltic States. The programme ‘Europe Sentenced discusses the Molotov - Ribentrop pact and was recommended not to be aired in Lithuania.

Vesti Segodnya reports that the OSCE High Commissioner Ralf Ekeus will visit Latvia.