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.

Press Report

The agenda of OSCE High Commissioner van der Stoel's visit to Latvia includes meetings with President Ulmanis, Saeima Speaker Alfreds Cepanis, members of the Saeima Human Rights Committee, heads of the Saeima Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of the Interior, the Minister of Education and Science and the Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development. During his previous visit to Latvia last October Mr. van der Stoel said that he saw serious reasons for considering possible ways of reducing the number of non-citizens. 

The agenda of OSCE High Commissioner van der Stoel's visit to Latvia includes meetings with President Ulmanis, Saeima Speaker Alfreds Cepanis, members of the Saeima Human Rights Committee, heads of the Saeima Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of the Interior, the Minister of Education and Science and the Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development. During his previous visit to Latvia last October Mr. van der Stoel said that he saw serious reasons for considering possible ways of reducing the number of non-citizens.Diena

Head of the Human Rights Office Kaija Gertnere in her report delivered at a conference on education for national minorities said that Latvian education system complied with international human rights standards. Minister of Education Juris Celmins explained that the closing of Russian-language schools is caused by decreasing demand for school education in Russian. Head of the General Education Department Baiba Kinstlere said that Latvia's education system complied with the standards set by the Hague Recommendations. Still, she admitted that the draft Law on Education, if adopted, would violate the standards. The draft Law provides for introducing the Latvian language as the only language of instruction in schools after 2005. Her opinion on the draft Education Law is shared by member of the President's Consultative Council on Minorities Boris Tsilevich.

Head of the Human Rights Office Kaija Gertnere in her report delivered at a conference on education for national minorities said that Latvian education system complied with international human rights standards. Minister of Education Juris Celmins explained that the closing of Russian-language schools is caused by decreasing demand for school education in Russian. Head of the General Education Department Baiba Kinstlere said that Latvia's education system complied with the standards set by the Hague Recommendations. Still, she admitted that the draft Law on Education, if adopted, would violate the standards. The draft Law provides for introducing the Latvian language as the only language of instruction in schools after 2005. Her opinion on the draft Education Law is shared by member of the President's Consultative Council on Minorities Boris Tsilevich. Diena, SM, B&B