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.

• Latvian Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis and the Head of the Saeima Subcommittee on Social Integration Andris Berzins discuss ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
• Ina Druviete: there will be no radical changes concerning the implementation of the education reform
• Telegraf examines knowledge of the new Society Integration Minister
• Constitutional Court of Latvia: an alien should has a right to appeal in court their inclusion in list of undesirable for Latvia persons
• Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks will meet the Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov in Brussels
• Participants of the conference call to support the democratisation of the Law on Education in accordance with the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
• Representatives of minorities talk about racial discrimination and intolerance in Latvia
• Critical commentary on the recent ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the case of Mihails Farbtuhs v. Latvia

Diena features an interview with the new Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis. When asked about the stance of the Peoples Party towards towards ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, Aigars Kalvitis states that the party promised the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga to ratify the Convention till the next Saeima elections take place in 2006. The Peoples Party believes that only those non-Latvians who were Latvian citizens until 17 June 1940 or their descendants should be the subjects of the Convention. The party also supports adoption of two reservations: 1) street, place, etc names should be only in the state language; 2) communication between residents and municipalities should be only in the state language. Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Head of the Saeima Subcommittee on Social Integration Andris Berzins about the preparation of the Convention for ratification. Andris Berzins believes that the Convention will be ratified with reservations. He also foresees sharp discussions on the definition ‘national minority among society members.

‘No radical changes concerning the implementation of the education reform have been planned,’ stressed the Minister of Education and Science Ina Druviete. The Minister states that the fuss raised by several mass media concerning her refusal to speak Russian is provocation. Ina Druviete notes that she will continue to work at strengthening bilingual education at secondary schools. Tomorrow the Minister is planning to meet representatives of the Advisory Board on Minority Education Issues of the Ministry of Education and Science.

‘No radical changes concerning the implementation of the education reform have been planned, stressed the Minister of Education and Science Ina Druviete. The Minister states that the fuss raised by several mass media concerning her refusal to speak Russian is provocation. Ina Druviete notes that she will continue to work at strengthening bilingual education at secondary schools. Tomorrow the Minister is planning to meet representatives of the Advisory Board on Minority Education Issues of the Ministry of Education and Science. Diena

Telegraf ‘examines knowledge of the new Minister for Social assignments for Society Integration Ainars Latkovskis concerning social integration issues in Latvia. The newspaper stresses that the new Minister was not able to answer to a number of questions and provide accurate numbers concerning the number of children of Latvian non-citizens who were born after 1991, the number of Orthodox believers, duration of naturalisation process in Latvia and the budget of the Society Integration Foundation.

The Constitutional Court of Latvia adopted a decision concerning compliance of the Article 61 of Paragraph 6 of the Immigration Law (persons who have been included in the list of persons who may not enter the territory of Latvia have no right to appeal this decision) with the Article 92 of the Constitution of Latvia (rights to protect person’s rights and legal interests in a fair court). The Constitutional Court ruled that the Article of the Immigration Law does not comply with the Constitution of Latvia and determined that persons have the right to appeal the decision concerning their inclusion in the list of persons who may not enter Latvia. The case was initiated on the basis of the application filed by the citizen of Moldova Elvira Petrjuka with the Administrative District Court. The citizen of Moldova Elvira Petrjuka complained that she had been included in the list illegally.

The Constitutional Court of Latvia adopted a decision concerning compliance of the Article 61 of Paragraph 6 of the Immigration Law (persons who have been included in the list of persons who may not enter the territory of Latvia have no right to appeal this decision) with the Article 92 of the Constitution of Latvia (rights to protect persons rights and legal interests in a fair court). The Constitutional Court ruled that the Article of the Immigration Law does not comply with the Constitution of Latvia and determined that persons have the right to appeal the decision concerning their inclusion in the list of persons who may not enter Latvia. The case was initiated on the basis of the application filed by the citizen of Moldova Elvira Petrjuka with the Administrative District Court. The citizen of Moldova Elvira Petrjuka complained that she had been included in the list illegally. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Telegraf

Russian-language newspapers write about the forthcoming meeting of the Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks and the Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov in Brussels. During the meeting the ministers plan to discuss possibilities to sign several governmental agreements as well as a possible participation of the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga in the celebrations of the anniversary of the victory in World War II to be held in Moscow on 9 May 2005.

Russian-language newspapers write about the forthcoming meeting of the Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks and the Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov in Brussels. During the meeting the ministers plan to discuss possibilities to sign several governmental agreements as well as a possible participation of the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga in the celebrations of the anniversary of the victory in World War II to be held in Moscow on 9 May 2005. Chas, Telegraf

Participants of the conference ‘Russian-speaking community in the enlarged EU’ issued a statement addressed to the Latvian President, the Saeima Speaker and the Prime Minister. The statement calls to provide support for democratisation of the Law on Education in accordance with the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The authors of the statement state that ‘Russian-speaking children should have the right and opportunities to study in their native language at secondary school as well as have qualitative Latvian language classes.’ The authors of the statement are convinced that school boards should have the right to determine the language of the instruction, degree of bilingualism and which subjects should be taught in the Latvian language. The authors of the statement suggest that boards should be composed of senior students, parents, teachers and school administrations.

Participants of the conference ‘Russian-speaking community in the enlarged EU issued a statement addressed to the Latvian President, the Saeima Speaker and the Prime Minister. The statement calls to provide support for democratisation of the Law on Education in accordance with the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The authors of the statement state that ‘Russian-speaking children should have the right and opportunities to study in their native language at secondary school as well as have qualitative Latvian language classes. The authors of the statement are convinced that school boards should have the right to determine the language of the instruction, degree of bilingualism and which subjects should be taught in the Latvian language. The authors of the statement suggest that boards should be composed of senior students, parents, teachers and school administrations. Chas

Latvijas Avize prints statements of the chairman of the Romani non-governmental organisation ‘Ame Roma Vanda Zamicka-Bergendale, Palestinian Haisam Abu Abdu and the Head of the Afro-Latvian Association Christopher Ejugbo about racial discrimination and intolerance in Latvia. Haisam Abu Abdu states that the level of intolerance towards ‘others is increasing in Latvia. Vanda Zamicka-Bergendale says that the Roma are discriminated in the job market not only because of the low level of education among Roma, but also because of their ethnicity.

Latvijas Avize features a critical commentary by Maris Antonevics about the recent ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the case of Mihails Farbtuhs v. Latvia. The ECHR ruled that the living conditions of Mihails Farbtuhs in the prison were not adequate, thus Latvia has violated the Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment). Maris Antonevics stresses that the members of those 31 Latvian families deported to Siberia personally by Mihails Fartbuhs had no possibility to complain and receive compensations for being in conditions harming human dignity.