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.

• Newspapers discuss the statements of the PACE Monitoring Committee Chair György Frunda
• Cabinet of Ministers did not discuss the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law
• Government assigns the director of the State agency for evaluation of the quality of general education
• Saeima Subcommittee on Social Integration discusses the implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
• Articles on the cases of alleged bribery in the Naturalization Board
• Government adopts regulations on the payment of benefits to Russian pensioners leaving Latvia
• Article on Belarussian culture in Latvia

Media discuss the statements of the Monitoring Committee Chair of the Council’s of Europe Parliamentary Assembly György Frunda and the responses of the state officials. During his meetings with the staff of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, György Frunda has stated that Latvia had to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities without any reservations. György Frunda has suggested to abolish these reservations  during the meeting with a Deputy Speaker of the Saeima Vineta Muizniece. György Frunda believes that all children born after 21 August 1991 should be granted automatic Latvian citizenship. He also doubts that the requirement for naturalization applicants to know the national anthem is grounded and has suggested not to include the loyalty criteria in the Citizenship Law. The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Ainars Latkovskis and the Minister of Education and Science Ina Druviete believe that György Frunda has had the opinion on Latvia’s situation before he came to Latvia.

Media discuss the statements of the Monitoring Committee Chair of the Councils of Europe Parliamentary Assembly György Frunda and the responses of the state officials. During his meetings with the staff of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, György Frunda has stated that Latvia had to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities without any reservations. György Frunda has suggested to abolish these reservations during the meeting with a Deputy Speaker of the Saeima Vineta Muizniece. György Frunda believes that all children born after 21 August1991 should be granted automatic Latvian citizenship. He also doubts that the requirement for naturalization applicants to know the national anthem is grounded and has suggested not to include the loyalty criteria in the Citizenship Law. The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Ainars Latkovskis and the Minister of Education and Science Ina Druviete believe that György Frunda has had the opinion on Latvias situation before he came to Latvia. Latvijas Avize, Telegraf, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday the Cabinet of Ministers has excluded from its meeting’s agenda the discussion on the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law stipulating the loyalty principle in acquiring Latvian citizenship. While the official explanation of this decision is the need to clarify the draft law’s annotation, according to Russian language media, this decision has been made alledegly because of the visit of György Frunda to Latvia.

Yesterday the Cabinet of Ministers has excluded from its meetings agenda the discussion on the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law stipulating the loyalty principle in acquiring Latvian citizenship. While the official explanation of this decision is the need to clarify the draft laws annotation, according to Russian language media, this decision has been made alledegly because of the visit of György Frunda to Latvia. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

The government has assigned the head of Integration Department of the Ministry of Education and Science Evija Papule to the post of the director of the State agency for evaluation of the quality of general education.

The government has assigned the head of Integration Department of the Ministry of Education and Science Evija Papule to the post of the director of the State agency for evaluation of the quality of general education. Diena

Yesterday the Saeima Subcommittee on Social Integration has discussed with the head of the Department of Minority Affairs at the the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Irina Vinnik the implementation of the  Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. No requirements for the display of topographical indications in the Russian language have been made to the Secretariat. Aleksandrs Kirsteins from the People’s Party believes that the residents who have moved to Latvia during Soviet occupation should not be considered as national minorities. Janis Stradzins from the Union of the Greens and the Farmers has stated that large minorities are not endangered in Latvia while Dzintars Abikis from the People’s Party has stated that Latvia has implemented the norms of the convention apart from the two reservations already for many years.

Yesterday the Saeima Subcommittee on Social Integration has discussed with the head of the Department of Minority Affairs at the the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Irina Vinnik the implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. No requirements for the display of topographical indications in the Russian language have been made to the Secretariat. Aleksandrs Kirsteins from the Peoples Party believes that the residents who have moved to Latvia during Soviet occupation should not be considered as national minorities. Janis Stradzins from the Union of the Greens and the Farmers has stated that large minorities are not endangered in Latvia while Dzintars Abikis from the Peoples Party has stated that Latvia has implemented the norms of the convention apart from the two reservations already for many years. Vesti Segodnya

Newspapers feature articles on the reported cases of alleged bribery in the Naturalization Board. Yesterday the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau has detained the head of Valmiera branch of the Naturalization Board and the head of the headquaters of Riga Municipality Police who has allegedly been an intermediator in the bribery. According to Chas, the bribery cases could be abused by politicians in the in the period before Saeima’s elections in order to suspend naturalization.

Newspapers feature articles on the reported cases of alleged bribery in the Naturalization Board. Yesterday the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau has detained the head of Valmiera branch of the Naturalization Board and the head of the headquaters of Riga Municipality Police who has allegedly been an intermediator in the bribery. According to Chas, the bribery cases could be abused by politicians in the in the period before Saeimas elections in order to suspend naturalization. Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Yesterday the Cabinet of Ministers has adopted regulations on the payment of benefits to Russian pensioners leaving Latvia for a permanent residence. The decisions on the benefit will be made in each concrete case. There are 17 876 Russian demobilized pensioners and their familiy members in Latvia.

Yesterday the Cabinet of Ministers has adopted regulations on the payment of benefits to Russian pensioners leaving Latvia for a permanent residence. The decisions on the benefit will be made in each concrete case. There are 17876 Russian demobilized pensioners and their familiy members in Latvia. Chas. Vesti Segonya

Chas features an article on Belarussian community and culture in Latvia and on the meeting devoted to 15th anniversary of the Belarussians society „Pramen.