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

Prime Minister V.Kristopans met with the Head of OSCE Mission to Latvia D.Johnson. During this meeting he acknowledged co-operation of the Mission with Latvian institutions was good and that the information about Latvia circulated by the OSCE was correct. In his turn D.Johnson interested about the national integration program and discussed the language and education laws.

Prime Minister V.Kristopans met with the Head of OSCE Mission to Latvia D.Johnson. During this meeting he acknowledged co-operation of the Mission with Latvian institutions was good and that the information about Latvia circulated by the OSCE was correct. In his turn D.Johnson interested about the national integration program and discussed the language and education laws. Neatkariga

During inspections State Language Inspection has discovered 120 cases when teachers produced illegally acquired certificates on the knowledge of the state language. In Daugavpils there were about 100 such cases. The inspection has to ask for expert’s opinion to state whether these certificates are fake.

During inspections State Language Inspection has discovered 120 cases when teachers produced illegally acquired certificates on the knowledge of the state language. In Daugavpils there were about 100 such cases. The inspection has to ask for experts opinion to state whether these certificates are fake. Neatkariga

On Friday, the 25th Conference of Latvian Intelligence took place in Riga. Its topic was “Latvian language and a unique education system - the basis for public integration”. Writer V.Avotins, commenting on this event, writes that state authorities had to advertise still the draft version of public integration program therefore the floor was given mostly to the “right” people, and the real contradictions were not revealed.

On Friday, the 25th Conference of Latvian Intelligence took place in Riga. Its topic was Latvian language and a unique education system - the basis for public integration. Writer V.Avotins, commenting on this event, writes that state authorities had to advertise still the draft version of public integration program therefore the floor was given mostly to the right people, and the real contradictions were not revealed. Neatkariga

Diena informs that some speakers reproached the Ministry of Education and Science for a low professional level of teaching the state language in minority schools.

SM writes about a statement, made by J.Gaigals, that the situation with mastering the Latvian language in Latvia is very good. He said that the number of children trained in the Latvian language was increasing and added that those were not only Latvian but also non-Latvian children.

SM in its turn interviewed the speaker at this conference the Director of Philosophy Institute M.Kule who stated in her presentation that learning of the Latvian language should not be forced, but she admitted a possible situation when this language could be introduced by force and ousting of subjects taught in the Russian language from the curriculum.

The Chairman of

The Chairman of Latvijas Cels A.Pantelejevs still hopes that they could persuade LC member A.Gorbunovs to run for the presidency. Representatives of Peoples Party, TB/LNNK and Social Democrats informed that the decision taking institutions of these parties would decide about their candidates until spring. But all they agreed that there could be a situation that parties could not agree to support a candidate representing some political party and they would have to agree to support some bright person not connected to any political force. Diena

The Minister of Education and Science J.Gaigals told

The Minister of Education and Science J.Gaigals told Diena that in the draft budget for this year there were 500 000 - 700 000 Ls allocated to increase salaries for those minority schools teachers who teach their subjects in the Latvian language. This amount should be sufficient to raise these salaries for at least 1.5 times. There only 750 teachers of the Latvian language working in minority schools, but to introduce the bilingual education system this number should be at least 5 times more. Diena

Public organisation Union of Citizens and Non-citizens plans to submit to the Parliament with a help of some deputies the draft law on amending the law on municipal elections that would grant the right to elect municipalities also to non-citizen. As pointed out one of the organisers of this Union S.Dolgopolov, that this draft law did not anticipate the right for non-citizens to be elected, just the right to vote.

Public organisation Union of Citizens and Non-citizens plans to submit to the Parliament with a help of some deputies the draft law on amending the law on municipal elections that would grant the right to elect municipalities also to non-citizen. As pointed out one of the organisers of this Union S.Dolgopolov, that this draft law did not anticipate the right for non-citizens to be elected, just the right to vote. Diena

Several well-known persons have signed a letter of protest against publishing the anti-Semitic book, prepared by Nazis during WW II “Dreadful Year”. This letter states that the publisher of this book is L.Inkins - an active member of

Several well-known persons have signed a letter of protest against publishing the anti-Semitic book, prepared by Nazis during WW II Dreadful Year. This letter states that the publisher of this book is L.Inkins - an active member of Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK . Diena, Neatkariga

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Max van der Stoel has announced that the main political task for Estonia is to integrate non-Estonians. He made this announcement to Estonian newspaper “Eesti Paevaleht”. One of the components of the integration process should be teaching the Estonian language to non-Estonians. The High Commissioner pointed out that his criticism about the amendments to strengthen the demands of knowing the Estonian language were not connected to the analogous criticism made by Russia.

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Max van der Stoel has announced that the main political task for Estonia is to integrate non-Estonians. He made this announcement to Estonian newspaper Eesti Paevaleht. One of the components of the integration process should be teaching the Estonian language to non-Estonians. The High Commissioner pointed out that his criticism about the amendments to strengthen the demands of knowing the Estonian language were not connected to the analogous criticism made by Russia. Jauna Avize