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 Review

On 19 June at the Ministry of Education and Science some 50 teachers from the Russian schools protested against the decree of the former Minister of Education Maris Grinblats, issued in 1996, stating that by 1 September 1998 all teachers of schools with the Russian language as the language of instruction have to take the Latvian language examination at the highest level; otherwise they will be dismissed from their positions. The Minister of Education Janis Gaigals described the picket as the political action of the

On 19 June at the Ministry of Education and Science some 50 teachers from the Russian schools protested against the decree of the former Minister of Education Maris Grinblats, issued in 1996, stating that by 1 September 1998 all teachers of schools with the Russian language as the language of instruction have to take the Latvian language examination at the highest level; otherwise they will be dismissed from their positions. The Minister of Education Janis Gaigals described the picket as the political action of the Equality movement rather than the protest of teachers. Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Education Guntis Tomsons said that the Ministry will not terminate the decree, and both parties have to seek compromise. Tatjana Zdanoka, a deputy of the Riga City Council and the member of Equality, told Lauku Avize that the solution might be to postpone the implementation of the decree until the year of 2005. At the moment, some 3000 teachers of 11,334 have not taken examination, and 2,000 of those 3,000 have submitted the documents for the examination. Mr. Tompsons said that some 461 teachers might have problems with the examination. SM and Panorama Latvii publish the opinions of the participants of the picket.

On 19 June the Prime Minister Guntars Krasts told 

On 19 June the Prime Minister Guntars Krasts toldDiena that Latvia needed to postpone the adoption of the Citizenship Law amendments till the fall like Estonia did. The Prime Minister admitted that it would be a mistake to solve the issue under the pressure without a public discussion. At the same time, he said that he will not disassociate himself from the governmental proposals. At the meeting with the foreign ambassadors accredited in Latvia, the Latvijas Cels faction asked for the support for Latvia, in case the Citizenship Law amendments corresponding with the OSCE recommendations, would not satisfy Russia. Andrejs Pantelejevs, Leader of the Latvijas Cels, toldDiena that such support was promised.

In the column of the Soros Fund Action.

In the column of the Soros Fund Action. Panorama Latvii publishes the article of Sergey Zaletayev about the naturalization requirements. Mr. Zaletayev urges people maximaly use their rights given by the Latvian state, meaning, the rights to naturalization.