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.

• Cabinet of Ministers adopts regulations on the usage of foreign languages in information for public
• Minorities will be informed on possibilities to participate in decision-making processes in the Russian language
• PR expert comments on parties pre-election programmes
• Russian Ambassador visits another Latvian city – Jelgava
• Interview with member of the Peoples Harmony Party about partys goals and electorate

According to new amendments adopted yesterday by the Cabinet of Ministers to the regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers On the Usage of Languages in Information, in specific cases foreign languages may be used along the state language in public information. Foreign languages in public information may be used if this information concerns international tourism, international events, if this information is provided due to security concerns, in cases of epidemics, diseases and in prisons if information concerns rights or obligations of inmates of foreign origin. The only restriction is that the text in foreign languages may not be bigger than a text in Latvian. The Russian-language press stress that the amendments were adopted under the pressure of the European Union.

According to new amendments adopted yesterday by the Cabinet of Ministers to the regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers On the Usage of Languages in Information, in specific cases foreign languages may be used along the state language in public information. Foreign languages in public information may be used if this information concerns international tourism, international events, if this information is provided due to security concerns, in cases of epidemics, diseases and in prisons if information concerns rights or obligations of inmates of foreign origin. The only restriction is that the text in foreign languages may not be bigger than a text in Latvian. The Russian-language press stress that the amendments were adopted under the pressure of the European Union. Latvijas Avize, Chas, Telegraf

Chas reports that as of now the web page of the Cabinet of Ministers www.mk.gov.lv will provide information on possibilities to take part in decision-making processesin the Russian language. The aim of this action is to increase involvement of minorities in states decision-making processes. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segednya talks to PR expert Vsevolods Kacans about the forthcoming municipal elections and parties pre-election programs. Vsevolods Kacans agrees with the journalist that in these municipal elections all parties, including the ones, which are considered nationalistic, try to address the Russian electorate. He argues that ‘the demand for nationalistic ideas among Latvians is decreasing, while the Russian electorate is getting bigger and bigger. However, this group [Russians] has specific interests, therefore parties have to change their programs and pre-election campaigns.

The Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kaluznij visited Jelgava. The Ambassador met representatives of Jelgava’s municipality and visited a school, which provides bilingual education. In his meeting with students and teachers the Ambassador admitted that all residents should speak the state language, however, he expressed his incomprehension about the reduction of lessons in minority languages at primary school. The official of the Ministry of Education and Science Evija Papule comments that the number of lessons of native languages at primary school will be reduced at both Latvian and minority schools due to the inclusion of 3 extra subjects in the curriculum.

The Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kaluznij visited Jelgava. The Ambassador met representatives of Jelgavas municipality and visited a school, which provides bilingual education. In his meeting with students and teachers the Ambassador admitted that all residents should speak the state language, however, he expressed his incomprehension about the reduction of lessons in minority languages at primary school. The official of the Ministry of Education and Science Evija Papule comments that the number of lessons of native languages at primary school will be reduced at both Latvian and minority schools due to the inclusion of 3 extra subjects in the curriculum. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Chas talks to a candidate from the list of the Peoples Harmony Party writer Vladlens Dozorcevs. He states that the key issue for the party is mass non-citizenship issue in the country. When asked to describe partys electorate, he says that it is composed of people who are ‘fed up with national radicals of any party and that many of them come from mixed families or have acquired Latvian citizenship recently. He also notes that there are many Latvians among the members of the party.