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.

• Discussions on the term ‘national minority
• Approximately 400 participated in the meeting of parents of minority students
• Latvijas Avize prints the full version of the governments declaration
• For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM explains why it refused to take part in the coalition
• MP Boris Tsilevitch (Peoples Harmony Party) comments on the formation of the new government
• Formation of the European Russian Party discussed during the conference ‘Russian-speaking community in the enlarged EU
• Practice of the Valmiera Secondary School Nr.2 in the implementation of the minority education reform
• Seminar ‘Russian world and Latvia: the past, present and future took place
• Conference ‘Latvia-Belorussia: the dialogue of cultures took place in Riga this Saturday
• Telegraf prints an interview with the recently naturalised Palestinian Haisam Abu Abda

Newspapers continue to discuss ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, paying particular attention to the definition of the term ‘national minority.’

Newspapers continue to discuss ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, paying particular attention to the definition of the term ‘national minority. Diena provides views of a number of integration experts and officials. The Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks believes that only those non-Latvians who were Latvian citizens until 17 June 1940 or their descendants should be subjects of the Convention. While the Director of the Integration Department of the Secretariat of the Minister for Special Assignments for Society Integration Reinis Aboltins rejects the division of ethnic groups in citizens and non-citizens and believes that both citizens and non-citizens permanently living in Latvia should be the subjects of the Convention. The former Minister for Special Assignments for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks believes that the definition should include only Latvian citizens. While the MP Boris Tsilevitch in the interview with Vesti Segodnya notes that division of citizens into two groups – ones who were citizens before 1940 and citizens who acquired Latvian citizenship through naturalisation after 1992 contradicts the Constitution of Latvia, which stipulates that all the citizens of Latvia are equal. According to Boris Tsilevitch ratification of the Convention without any reservations would show governments intentions to promote societal integration. Diena, Vesti Segodnya

Approximately 400 participated in the meeting of parents of minority students meeting organised by the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Language Schools last Saturday. Participants analysed the situation in minority schools and effects of the education reform. During the meeting the survey of parents was conducted – parents of students from about 30 schools were polled. 18% of parents state that subjects which according to the curriculum should be taught in Russian are taught in Latvian.  56% said that the academic success of their children is getting worse. The Headquarters also announced about its plans to organise new protest actions against the education reform on January 2005, and the second Congress of the Defenders of Russian Language Schools on February 2005.

Approximately 400 participated in the meeting of parents of minority students meeting organised by the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Language Schools last Saturday. Participants analysed the situation in minority schools and effects of the education reform. During the meeting the survey of parents was conducted – parents of students from about 30 schools were polled. 18% of parents state that subjects which according to the curriculum should be taught in Russian are taught in Latvian. 56% said that the academic success of their children is getting worse. The Headquarters also announced about its plans to organise new protest actions against the education reform on January 2005, and the second Congress of the Defenders of Russian Language Schools on February 2005. Latvijas Avize, referring to the leader of the Headquarters Jurijs Petropavlovskis, reports that now the Headquarters has decided to implement a slightly different approach: it advises parents to get involved in the activities of school boards, so they can participate in negotiations between school boards and municipalities and have a bigger possibility to make pressure on school administrations. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Latvijas Avize prints a full version of the new governments declaration. In the section on education it provides ‘strengthening of bilingual education in minority primary schools, paying particular attention to the quality of the Latvian language and providing financial support. In the section on societal integration it stipulates: ‘implement ethnic policy principles that take into account interests of all members of society – both Latvians and other ethnic groups, ‘improve legal norms concerning ethnic policy, ‘raise the prestige of Latvian citizenship by creating more positive attitude towards the acquisition of citizenship, ‘educate society on issues concerning ethnic policy to reduce stereotypes and prejudices. [we will] reduce isolation of the two communication spaces, ‘provide support for national associations and communities.

Newspapers report on the eighth congress of the party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM. The party’s decision to stay out of the government was discussed during the congress. Members concluded that the refusal of FF/LNIM to join the new government was natural because the new government wants to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and that is not supported by people who vote for FF/LNIM.

Newspapers report on the eighth congress of the party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM. The partys decision to stay out of the government was discussed during the congress. Members concluded that the refusal of FF/LNIM to join the new government was natural because the new government wants to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and that is not supported by people who vote for FF/LNIM. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Chas features an article by the MP Boris Tsilevitch (Peoples Harmony Party) on the formation of the new government. Boris Tsilevitch doubts that this government would take very radical decisions, however, he admits that this government is ‘the most right-wing government. Instead he forecasts that due to calls to ratify the Convention ‘symbolic liberalisation may be observed

The conference ‘Russian-speaking community in the enlarged EU’ took place in Brussels on weekend. The participants of the conference discussed the formation of European Russians Party. The formation of a new party could take place next year summer.

The conference ‘Russian-speaking community in the enlarged EU took place in Brussels on weekend. The participants of the conference discussed the formation of European Russians Party. The formation of a new party could take place next year summer. Diena, Telegraf

Latvijas Avize reports on the practice of the Valmiera Secondary School Nr.2 in the implementation of the minority education reform. The specialist of bilingual teaching methodology Nila Zaiceva states that the implementation of bilingual education in this school was launched in 1995. Therefore teachers, as well as students were ready for the implementation of the reform. The director of the school Laila Pavulina believes that there is no negative impact of bilingual education on the quality of education. She assures that Latvian language skills of her students who now are in 9th grade are sufficient to continue studies in Latvian-language schools.

Russian-language newspapers write about the seminar ‘Russian world and Latvia: the past, present and future,’ which took place in the Centre of National Minorities in Riga.

Russian-language newspapers write about the seminar ‘Russian world and Latvia: the past, present and future, which took place in the Centre of National Minorities in Riga. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

The conference ‘Latvia-Belorussia: the dialogue of cultures’ took place in Riga last Saturday. The main goals of the conference were to show that the cultures of both countries belong to the European culture, as well as to introduce each other to the Latvian and Belorussian cultures.

The conference ‘Latvia-Belorussia: the dialogue of cultures took place in Riga last Saturday. The main goals of the conference were to show that the cultures of both countries belong to the European culture, as well as to introduce each other to the Latvian and Belorussian cultures. Chas

Telegraf prints an interview with the recently naturalised Haisam Abu Abda. Palestinian Haisam Abu Abda came to Latvia as a refugee and has been living in Latvia for 13 years.