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.

24 December

24 December

• Latvian state officials comment on the Russian President Putins statements
• Explanation of the Latvian history in the context of minority issues will be among the next years priorities in the Latvian foreign policy
• Politicians do not support introduction of changes in the Citizenship Law

The Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks believes that statements made by the Russian President Vladirmirs Putins hampers development of pragmatic bilateral relations between the two countries. On 23 December the Russian President announced that the number of Russian-speakers working at Latvian state authorities should be proportional their number in the country. The Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga notes that state officials in Latvia are appointed on the basis of their qualifications and skills and not their ethnicity or gender.

The Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks believes that statements made by the Russian President Vladirmirs Putins hampers development of pragmatic bilateral relations between the two countries. On 23 December the Russian President announced that the number of Russian-speakers working at Latvian state authorities should be proportional their number in the country. The Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga notes that state officials in Latvia are appointed on the basis of their qualifications and skills and not their ethnicity or gender. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

The top priorities of the next year’s Latvian foreign policy will be explanation of the Latvian history in the context of minority issues to the international community and development of economic co-operation with foreign countries.

The top priorities of the next years Latvian foreign policy will be explanation of the Latvian history in the context of minority issues to the international community and development of economic co-operation with foreign countries. Vesti Segodnya

Telegraf reports that members of the ruling parties – the Latvian First Party, the Union of the Greens and Farmers and the New Era – do not support the proposal of the Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane to introduce more rigid restrictions in the Citizenship Law which would broaden the circle of persons who should not be granted Latvian citizenship.

27 December

27 December

• Administrative District Court issues a ruling in the Sivenkos case
• Prime Minister about integration issues
• Riga City Council did not have the right to prohibit the organisation of the open lesson of the Russian language

The Administrative District Court ruled that the decision of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs Office to annul the personal codes of Tatiana and Karina Slivenko, the spouse and the daughter of a former Russian army officer, was illegitimate. However, the court notes that its ruling does not give any new rights to the Slivenkos: they both are Russian citizens and therefore cannot apply for the status of Latvian non-citizens.

The Administrative District Court ruled that the decision of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs Office to annul the personal codes of Tatiana and Karina Slivenko, the spouse and the daughter of a former Russian army officer, was illegitimate. However, the court notes that its ruling does not give any new rights to the Slivenkos: they both are Russian citizens and therefore cannot apply for the status of Latvian non-citizens.
As reported, the Slivenkos challenged several decisions of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs Office that ordered removal of their names from the Registry of Residents and deportation from Latvia. Tatiana Slivenko applied with the European Court of Human Rights, which said that their right to respect for private and family life had been violated. Diena, NRA, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Chas re-prints excerpts of the Latvian Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis interview with the Russias newspaper Russian Newspaper. The Prime Minister argues that Latvia and Russia can live without each other; however, if they want to build relations the countries should stand on equal footing. The Prime Minister stated that the minority education reform is completed and there was no room for discussions regarding postponing or abolishing the reform. Regarding non-citizens, Aigars Kalvitis says that Latvia needs these people and if these people want to become Latvian citizens and have the right to do so, all necessary provisions are in place.

The Administrative District Court ruled that the Riga City Council did not have the right to prohibit the organisation of the open lesson of the Russian language. The union For Human Rights in the United Latvia asked the Riga City Council to issue a permission to organise the open lesson of the Russian language at the Congress House on 16 April, 2004.

The Administrative District Court ruled that the Riga City Council did not have the right to prohibit the organisation of the open lesson of the Russian language. The union For Human Rights in the United Latvia asked the Riga City Council to issue a permission to organise the open lesson of the Russian language at the Congress House on 16 April, 2004. Vesti Segodnya

28 December

28 December

• Interview with political consultant Andrej Voroncov
• Interview with the official of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs Office about norms and procedures of registration of children whose parents are neither Latvian citizens or non-citizens
• Analysis of integration in Latvia
• Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga will wish the happy New Year in Russian
• New Era calls state officials to condemn recent statements made by Russias officials about the situation of Russian-speakers in Latvia
• Ratings of political parties

Chas talks to the director of the company ‘Epicentr Andrej Voroncov. He believes that in the forthcoming municipal elections, which will take place in March, the national factor will continue to play a very important role. He argues that the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia will be elected to the Riga City Council, however, if the elections had taken place in August [culmination of the crisis concerning the implementation of the education reform] there would be more people who had voted for FHRUL. Andrej Voroncov states that FHRUL promised ‘empty schools, hunger strikes till the victory, but did not keep their promise and therefore several their previous supporters may not vote for them. He also notes that the future for Russian-speakers in Riga will not be ‘worse as it was and believes that Russians in Latvia should find one unifying idea to fight for. Andrej Voroncov concludes that the situation will change for the next Saeima elections when ‘our children who speak several languages and have no problems with integration will start forming their parties.

Vesti Segodnya talks to the representative of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs Office Laila Rieksta-Riekstina about norms and procedures concerning registration of children who are born in a family where one parent is a citizen of a foreign country and the other is a permanent resident of Latvia. Right now Latvian legislation provides that a child should be registered as a citizen of a country of his/her parent.

Latvijas Avize prints an article about integration by Juris Cibuls. The author criticises integration policy implemented in Latvia and concludes that the effective policy is only a ‘dream vision and is doomed to fail. The main issue in Latvia is ‘who will assimilate who.

NRA reports that the Channel 7 of the National Television on 30 December will broadcast the interview with the Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga and at the end of the interview the President will give a short New Years speech in the Russian language. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

In the response to the recent statements made by Russia’s officials concerning the situation of Russian-speakers in Latvia the New Era issued a statement. It says that Latvian officials should not ignore such statements and calls on Saeima to condemn them.

In the response to the recent statements made by Russias officials concerning the situation of Russian-speakers in Latvia the New Era issued a statement. It says that Latvian officials should not ignore such statements and calls on Saeima to condemn them. Chas

According to the opinion poll conducted by the company ‘Latvijas Fakti’ the New Era remains the most popular party also in December – 14 per cent Latvian citizens support the party. The New Era is followed by the People’s Party (8.5 per cent), the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia (9 per cent), FF/LNIM (8.8 per cent) and the Union of the Greens and Farmers (6 per cent).

According to the opinion poll conducted by the company ‘Latvijas Fakti the New Era remains the most popular party also in December – 14 per cent Latvian citizens support the party. The New Era is followed by the Peoples Party (8.5 per cent), the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia (9 per cent), FF/LNIM (8.8 per cent) and the Union of the Greens and Farmers (6 per cent). Diena, Chas