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

Representatives of the Latvian government positively evaluate results of the Vienna summit. Foreign Affairs Minister Valdis Birkavs believes that at the end of the next year during the Helsinki summit Latvia might receive an official invitation to start accession talks if the EU successfully manages its internal reforms. Deputies from the opposition, on contrary, think that the Latvian foreign policy failed in Vienna and the Minister of Foreign Affairs should resign. Janis Jurkans, a leader of People’s Harmony Party, thinks that the Foreign Affairs Minister should resign because there are problems with implementation of Latvian foreign affairs strategy.

Representatives of the Latvian government positively evaluate results of the Vienna summit. Foreign Affairs Minister Valdis Birkavs believes that at the end of the next year during the Helsinki summit Latvia might receive an official invitation to start accession talks if the EU successfully manages its internal reforms. Deputies from the opposition, on contrary, think that the Latvian foreign policy failed in Vienna and the Minister of Foreign Affairs should resign. Janis Jurkans, a leader of Peoples Harmony Party, thinks that the Foreign Affairs Minister should resign because there are problems with implementation of Latvian foreign affairs strategy. Diena

Under auspices of cross border co-operation between Latvia, Estonia and Russia, a Latvian town Aluksne delivered humanitarian aid worth of 1000 Lats to a Russian town Pechori which included sugar, flour, oil, and stationary for schools and kindergartens.

Under auspices of cross border co-operation between Latvia, Estonia and Russia, a Latvian town Aluksne delivered humanitarian aid worth of 1000 Lats to a Russian town Pechori which included sugar, flour, oil, and stationary for schools and kindergartens. Diena

The Prime Minister Vilis Kristopans will ask the

The Prime Minister Vilis Kristopans will ask the Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK to formulate its opinion about the participation of social democrats in the government earlier than 23 January. At a press conference on Monday the Prime Minister denied the statements about a governmental crisis. Diena

Speaker of the Saeima Janis Straume (

Speaker of the Saeima Janis Straume (For Fatherland and Freedom) is convinced that the government will not fall in the near future. According to him, a lot depends on how constructive in opposition the Peoples Party will be and how the relations between the Fatherland and Freedom and social democrats will develop after a survey of party members opinion. Neatkariga

SM journalist A. Elkin analysing the political discussion about a possible government crisis, concludes that, according to pure political logic, there will be no governmental crisis because it is not advantageous for

SM journalist A. Elkin analysing the political discussion about a possible government crisis, concludes that, according to pure political logic, there will be no governmental crisis because it is not advantageous for the Fatherland and Freedom. Mr. Elkin also acknowledges growing role of the Peoples Harmony Party in decision making process in a situation of a certain governmental instability. SM

Analysing results of the Vienna summit and reminding political discussions before the 3rd october referendum in Latvia, Secretary General of

Analysing results of the Vienna summit and reminding political discussions before the 3rd october referendum in Latvia, Secretary General of the Fatherland and Freedom Aigars Kimelis argues that the final document of the summit clearly showed that the enlargement of the EU will be determined by strategic interests of the member countries and not by some nuances in laws of the candidate countries. The Latvian citizens gave green light to the naturalisation without the examination of the language knowledge, receiving in return, only congratulations and unclear promises for better future. At the same time, Mr. Kimelis suggests that Latvia should not fall into Euroscepticism and continue socio-economic development and start activation of foreign policy. For Mr. Kimelis an improtant task is to implement such a policy that would lessen the risk for the Latvian nation which was created by adoption of amendments to the Citizenship Law. The Fatherland and Freedom sees three directions of this policy - consistent implementation of the new Education Law, final adoption of more strict Language Law, and strict control over naturalisation process.Diena

Yesterday State Language Training Program organised a discussion about the role of mass media in promotion of acquiring the state language.

Yesterday State Language Training Program organised a discussion about the role of mass media in promotion of acquiring the state language. Rita Avize commentator Viktors Avotins believes that the task of the state and also mass media is to provide motivation for acquiring of the Latvian language. Nikolay Kabanov, Acting Editor of the SM, thinks that many people of other nationalities are already motivated to learn the Latvian language since it allows them to get into middle class.

Mr. Igor Pimenov, president of the Association for Support of Schools with Russian as the language of instruction, suggested that it would be good that Russian and Latvian press impede expression of national radicals. Mass media would be able to do a lot more if they agreed on integration policy.

Mr. Igor Pimenov, president of the Association for Support of Schools with Russian as the language of instruction, suggested that it would be good that Russian and Latvian press impede expression of national radicals. Mass media would be able to do a lot more if they agreed on integration policy. Diena

CHAS publishes an article by Igor Pimenov, president of the Association for Support of Schools with Russian as the language of instruction as a response to statements by Baiba Petersone published by the CHAS in November. According to Mr. Pimenov, the Ministry of Education understands integration as deprivation of cultural self-sufficiency of non-Latvians. Speaking of the acquiring of the Latvian language, Mr. Pimenov emphasizes that the major problem is lack of qualified teachers of the Latvian language.

CHAS publishes an article by Igor Pimenov, president of the Association for Support of Schools with Russian as the language of instruction as a response to statements by Baiba Petersone published by the CHAS in November. According to Mr. Pimenov, the Ministry of Education understands integration as deprivation of cultural self-sufficiency of non-Latvians. Speaking of the acquiring of the Latvian language, Mr. Pimenov emphasizes that the major problem is lack of qualified teachers of the Latvian language. Chas