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.

• Councils of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Alvaro Gill-Robles visits Latvia
• Latvia celebrates the Day of Tolerance today
• Russian language press reports on the examination of minority schools
• Vesti Segodnya comments on statements of the Foreign Affairs Minister in his interview with the commercial television channel LNT
• FHRUL has developed draft amendments to the Law on Education
• Vesti Segodnya: state authorities support activities of national radicals
• Security Police concludes that the activist of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia Jurijs Petropavlovskis may naturalise
• NRA: parties continue demonstrate their ethnic belonging even running for municipal elections
• Polish community in Latgale celebrates the Day of Polands Independence

After a one-day visit to Latvia the Council’s of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights  Alvaro Gill-Robles stated that the issues related to the big number of non-citizens in the country and ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities are most topical issues and advises Latvia to solve them. The Commissioner met with a number of state officials and minority representatives. After his meeting with representatives of minority schools, the Commissioner did not say that he had noticed any problems in the implementation of the education reform. He stated that minority rights to education and culture should be respected, however, all citizens should speak the state language. Regarding Commissioner’s call to ratify the Framework Convention, the Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks assured that Latvia wants to ratify the Convention. However, the Minister stressed that it is more important to motivate non-citizens to naturalise than give them the right to participate in municipal elections.

After a one-day visit to Latvia the Councils of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Alvaro Gill-Robles stated that the issues related to the big number of non-citizens in the country and ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities are most topical issues and advises Latvia to solve them. The Commissioner met with a number of state officials and minority representatives. After his meeting with representatives of minority schools, the Commissioner did not say that he had noticed any problems in the implementation of the education reform. He stated that minority rights to education and culture should be respected, however, all citizens should speak the state language. Regarding Commissioners call to ratify the Framework Convention, the Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks assured that Latvia wants to ratify the Convention. However, the Minister stressed that it is more important to motivate non-citizens to naturalise than give them the right to participate in municipal elections.

The Russian language press comments that Latvian officials ‘again did not listen to the Commissioner’s calls.’

The Russian language press comments that Latvian officials ‘again did not listen to the Commissioners calls. Diena, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Today Latvia celebrates the Day of Tolerance.

Today Latvia celebrates the Day of Tolerance. Rigas Balss reports that people interviewed by the newspaper are convinced that in Riga members of a Latvian multi-ethnic society are getting along very well irrespectively of their skin colour and language. Conflicts are caused by misunderstandings and ignorance. The newspaper writes that according to surveys the tolerance level in Latvia is rather high and there are no such conflicts as for instance in the Netherlands. While Chas columnist Fedoseyev states that there was a lack of information about the events organised in the framework of this event and accuses the Secretariat of the Minister for Special Assignments for Society Integration in being inactive.

Chas reports that in October inspectors of the Ministry of Education and Science have examined 78 minority schools. Inspectors have not registered any serious violations, but have noted some problematic issues, such as: activists of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Language Schools are active at minority schools; there is a lack of the textbooks etc. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Vesti Segodnya comments on the interview of the Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks with the commercial television channel Latvian Independent Television. When asked about ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities the Foreign Affairs Minister said that there are immigrants and minorities in Latvia and the Convention will not apply towards immigrants (people who arrived to Latvia from the USSR from 1944-1991). The newspaper concludes that the Minister wants to solve minority issues by ignoring them.

The union For Human Rights in the United Latvia has developed draft amendments to the Law on Education. The draft amendments stipulate that schools have a free choice of subjects to be studied in the Latvian language.

The union For Human Rights in the United Latvia has developed draft amendments to the Law on Education. The draft amendments stipulate that schools have a free choice of subjects to be studied in the Latvian language. Chas

Chas claims that activities of the member of the National Front Aivars Garda who fights for de-occupation of Latvia receive increasing support of state authorities, for instance, the national television broadcasted interview with two member of the National Front about de-occupation of Latvia, there is poster with a common photo of a group of MPs, including the former Education Minister Karlis Sadurskis, and members of the National Party. The newspaper continues with asking the views of a number of MPs, such as Juris Dalbins, Peteris Simsons, Leopolds Ozolins and others on decolonisation. The surveyed MPs support decolonisation, however, have different opinions on the ways and methods how to achieve it. The Minister for Special Assignments for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks says ‘people like Garda talk about decolonisation because they do not believe that diverse people can live together in this country. My task is to promote consolidation of society and show that it is possible.

After a long investigation the Security Police has admitted that the opponent to the education reform and activist of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia Jurijs Petropavlovskis corresponds to the criteria set in the Law on Citizenship for the acquisition of Latvian citizenship through naturalisation.

After a long investigation the Security Police has admitted that the opponent to the education reform and activist of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia Jurijs Petropavlovskis corresponds to the criteria set in the Law on Citizenship for the acquisition of Latvian citizenship through naturalisation. Diena

While

While Chas reports that Jurijs Petropavlovskis received a letter from the State Revenue Service. He is asked to fill in declaration on his sources of incomes for the last three years.

NRA briefly comments on parties strategies for the upcoming municipal elections. The columnist concludes that it is idiotic that parties demonstrate their ethnic belonging even when running for municipal elections.

The Polish community in Kraslava celebrated its National Independence Day together with the member of Polish diplomats.

The Polish community in Kraslava celebrated its National Independence Day together with the member of Polish diplomats. Chas