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 Human Rights Committee discusses amendments to the Law on radio and Television which would strengthen the protection of the state language in electronic media
• State officials inspects the implementation of education reform at minority schools
• Members of the Latvian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe plan to meet with representatives of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Language Schools
• Article about national radical organisations in Latvia
• Vesti Segodnya re-prints the interview with the Chairperson of the Latvian Association of National Cultural Organisations Raffi Haradzanjan
• Interview with the representative of the Latvian NGO ‘Working Youth Janis Kuzins, the leader of the group of young people who went to Strasbourg to protest against the implementation of education reform
• Vesti Segodnya interviews the Head of the Parliamentary group of the Union of the Greens and Farmers Augusts Brigmanis
• Attitudes of Russian-speakers towards the Latvian language

Latvijas Avize reports that today the Saeima Human Rights and Public Affair Committer will discuss amendments to the Law on Radio and Television. The amendments would provide new procedures for the protection of the state language in electronic mass media.

Rigas Balss prints an article about inspections conducted by officials of the State Education Inspection at minority schools. State officials conclude that after two weeks of inspection they have not discovered any serious violations. Officials have inspected about 20 schools in Riga, which according to official and non-official sources of information experienced any difficulties: had not licensed their educational programmes, lacked text books, had problems concerning Latvian language skills of teachers. If there were problems schools are asked to solve these problems. Inspectors did not want to reveal what kind of violations were registered not to make fuss in public, however, they noted it was too early to talk about lay off of teachers whose Latvian language skills were not sufficient. The representative of the Ministry of Education and Science Sergejs Ancupovs reports that the Ministry will organise a round table discussion for minority school principals in November.

Members of the Latvian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe plan to meet with representatives of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Language Schools and learn their views on the implementation of education reform if only the meeting takes place in Riga and not in Strasbourg and only Russian pupils and not their parents or any other adults take part in the meeting.

Members of the Latvian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe plan to meet with representatives of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Language Schools and learn their views on the implementation of education reform if only the meeting takes place in Riga and not in Strasbourg and only Russian pupils and not their parents or any other adults take part in the meeting. Chas

Telegraf prints an article about young radicals in Latvia and interviews representatives of three national radical organisations: ‘Visu Latvijai! (All for Latvia) Raivis Dzintars, Club 415 Guntis Dilevs and the Union of National Strength Aigars Prusis about their activities and future plans. The newspaper also interviews the Head of the Security Police Janis Reiniks. He states that in Latvia there are maximum 2,000 – 3,000 people who support these organisations. He also believes that these organisations are more national radical than extreme.

Vesti Segodnya re-prints the interview with the Chairperson of the Latvian Association of National Cultural Organisations Raffi Haradzanjan published in the news agency BNS. Raffi Haradzanjan believes that there is no need for the Integration Ministry, and definitely if it is formed on the basis of the Secretariat of Minister of Special Assignments in Society Integration Affairs led by Nils Muiznieks. He reproaches the Secretariat for organising seminars and for not providing support to minority organisations. He stresses that his organisation is loyal to the state because they supported the implementation of education reform. Raffi Haradzanjan is also convinced that the Framework Convention for the Protection of Minorities will be ratified if an explanatory activities are conducted among members of a Latvian part of society.  

Vesti Segodnya re-prints the interview with the Chairperson of the Latvian Association of National Cultural Organisations Raffi Haradzanjan published in the news agency BNS. Raffi Haradzanjan believes that there is no need for the Integration Ministry, and definitely if it is formed on the basis of the Secretariat of Minister of Special Assignments in Society Integration Affairs led by Nils Muiznieks. He reproaches the Secretariat for organising seminars and for not providing support to minority organisations. He stresses that his organisation is loyal to the state because they supported the implementation of education reform. Raffi Haradzanjan is also convinced that the Framework Convention for the Protection of Minorities will be ratified if an explanatory activities are conducted among members of a Latvian part of society.

Latvijas Avize interviews the representative of the Latvian NGO ‘Working Youth Janis Kuzins. Janis Kuzins was also the leader of the group of young people who went to Strasbourg to protest against the implementation of education reform. He believes that thanks to the development of the Law on Minorities the issues concerning education reform have been solved and no moratorium should be established. He assures that his organisation will not co-operate with the ‘Russian community any more.

Vesti Segodnya interviews the Head of the Parliamentary group of the Union of the Greens and Farmers Augusts Brigmanis. When asked whether tension in society concerning the implementation of education reform has reduced since 1 September, Augusts Brigmanis says ‘it was clear that there was a problem concerning education reform, therefore our party was for a dialogue.

Chas columnist prints an article where she categorizes Russian-speaking people in Latvia in accordance with their Latvian language skills and attitude towards the Latvian language. According to her there are five categories of people. People who belong to the first category have no problems to speak Latvian, however, because of the attitude of the state towards Russian-speakers, refuses to speak in Latvian in principle. The second category are people who have given up their Russian identity and the Russian language and ‘try to Latvians. People classified as the third category do not know Latvian very well and are not very interested in learning the language. Another category are people who actively defend their rights to speak Russian and insists on speaking Russian everywhere. The last category are people whose Latvian is rather poor but they are not afraid to speak and mix it with Russian.