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

Press Review

On Monday the State President Guntis Ulmanis told DIENA that he would respect the choice of the

On Monday the State President Guntis Ulmanis told DIENA that he would respect the choice of the Latvian Way to have Vilis Kristopans as a candidate for the post of Prime Minister. Therefore, the Latvian Way continues work on formation of a government under leadership of Vilis Kristopans, and is convinced that the government will be supported by the majority of the Saeima. However, neither Peoples Party, nor For Fatherland and Freedom, nor social democrats have clearly expressed their support to Kristopans government. After a meeting of the Board of the Latvian Way, Andrejs Pantelejevs said that now a priority is to discuss positions in the Saeima since the presidium of the Saeima will be elected first. Diena

Dienapublishes an article about the Sumpetera primary school with Russian as the language of instruction in Riga which four years ago started implementation of bilingual educational method - starting with the 1st grade a group of pupils had all subjects taught in the Latvian language. As one of the teachers told Diena, the first grade is the most difficult, but in the 2nd and the 3rd grades knowledge of all pupils equalises. According to Baiba Kinstlere, head of Educational Development Department at the Ministry of Education, this radical method of bilingual education is difficult for both students and teachers, but results are good. Besides, here the result completely depends on teachers, their willingness to work and attitude towards children. Director of the school Maruta Simanska said that in Latvia there is a lack of text books which would help pupils acquire knowledge in two languages - in Latvian and Russian. Still, the fact that a half of parents choose bilingual education of their children, shows that there is public demand for the Latvian language. Diena

Several Russian military persons who in accordance with the Latvian-Russian Treaty serve at the Skrunda Radar Station, have turned to the Latvian National Human Rights Office with complaint about the unsatisfactory living conditions offered by the Russian government after their return to the Russian Federation. Press Secretary of the NHRO Andris Petersons told that the military persons lacked basic knowledge about their status and rights, as well as social guarantees therefore they were acquainted with the text of the Treaty. Although officers serving in the Skrunda Radar Station have expressed a possibility of asking Latvian authorities to grant political asylum, it is unlikely that it will be done. For it is not under the competence of the National Human Rights Office to deal with social guarantees for Russian military persons, the NHRO advised them to turn to the Russian Embassy. The Press Secretary of the Russian Embassy Vladimir Ivanov told that on 11 October representatives of the Russian Defence Ministry visited the Skrunda Radar Station to discuss the housing issue of military persons upon their return to Russia. Mr. Ivanov stressed that these issues “undoubtedly will be solved.”

Several Russian military persons who in accordance with the Latvian-Russian Treaty serve at the Skrunda Radar Station, have turned to the Latvian National Human Rights Office with complaint about the unsatisfactory living conditions offered by the Russian government after their return to the Russian Federation. Press Secretary of the NHRO Andris Petersons told that the military persons lacked basic knowledge about their status and rights, as well as social guarantees therefore they were acquainted with the text of the Treaty. Although officers serving in the Skrunda Radar Station have expressed a possibility of asking Latvian authorities to grant political asylum, it is unlikely that it will be done. For it is not under the competence of the National Human Rights Office to deal with social guarantees for Russian military persons, the NHRO advised them to turn to the Russian Embassy. The Press Secretary of the Russian Embassy Vladimir Ivanov told that on 11 October representatives of the Russian Defence Ministry visited the Skrunda Radar Station to discuss the housing issue of military persons upon their return to Russia. Mr. Ivanov stressed that these issues undoubtedly will be solved. Jauna Avize

Yesterday at a meeting with the Belgium Prime Minister Mr. Dehani, the Latvian State President Guntis Ulmanis told that Latvia is ready to join the NATO, it has increased the defence budget, and established an NATO integration bureau.

Yesterday at a meeting with the Belgium Prime Minister Mr. Dehani, the Latvian State President Guntis Ulmanis told that Latvia is ready to join the NATO, it has increased the defence budget, and established an NATO integration bureau. Chas

Panorama Latvii publishes an interview with a deputy director of Examination Center of the Naturalization Board Inare Ermansone in which she explains, in detail, process of taking naturalization exams. Besides, she informs readers with changes in language and history exams after the amendments to the Citizenship Law come into force. First of all, applicants will be asked to write a short essay on everyday subjects, instead of a reproduction. Secondly, people who have reached age of 65 years, will be exempt from written part of the language exam. Concerning the history exam, Ms. Ermansone said that they are working on reducing of number of questions from 300 to 100, and she expressed hope that these changes would come into effect still in this year. When asked about possibility of mass application for naturalization after opening of naturalization windows, Ms. Ermansone told that a lot will depend on information in mass media. More interviews with people who have passed the examinations, should be published. Panorama Latvii

SM summarizes presentations by Russian guest speakers at the conference National ethnopolitics towards the civic society. A professor Mark Djatckov had argued that Latvian authorities have assisted to a slow pace of integration processes in Latvia by declaring the Russian language an international language. The other Russian scientist Konstantin Habibulin had urged Latvian authorities not force an artificial transition to the State language in spheres of daily communication and education. SM

Anna Stroj in her article “Referendum of parents” calls to support an idea of the Association for Support of schools with Russian as the language of instruction to organize a conference in which parents whose children go to non-Latvian schools would be able to express their opinion of education of their children, and state authorities, in turn, will have a chance to explain their position. As an example of such a dialogue between interested parties, Ms. Stroj mentions Estonia where last year a national survey of teachers, student, parents of non-Estonian Schools was organized to find out which of 12 models of secondary education they would prefer. The results of the survey showed that parents and students are ready to more radical changes in education system than teachers.

Anna Stroj in her article Referendum of parents calls to support an idea of the Association for Support of schools with Russian as the language of instruction to organize a conference in which parents whose children go to non-Latvian schools would be able to express their opinion of education of their children, and state authorities, in turn, will have a chance to explain their position. As an example of such a dialogue between interested parties, Ms. Stroj mentions Estonia where last year a national survey of teachers, student, parents of non-Estonian Schools was organized to find out which of 12 models of secondary education they would prefer. The results of the survey showed that parents and students are ready to more radical changes in education system than teachers. Diena