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

The State President, Prime Minister, Ministers of the Interior and Foreign Affairs denounced the act of vandalism on Wednesday night when unknown persons attempted to blow up a Jewish monument in Riga. The State Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry Maris Riekstins said that the policy of the Latvian government and the state regarding the Jewish community and the Jewish minority is well-know, therefore all attempts by the vandals to undermine the image of Latvia would fail.

The State President, Prime Minister, Ministers of the Interior and Foreign Affairs denounced the act of vandalism on Wednesday night when unknown persons attempted to blow up a Jewish monument in Riga. The State Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry Maris Riekstins said that the policy of the Latvian government and the state regarding the Jewish community and the Jewish minority is well-know, therefore all attempts by the vandals to undermine the image of Latvia would fail. Diena, B&B

In order to promote the social integration in the sphere of education, the Minister of Education Janis Gaigals, Director of the Soros Fund Latvia Vita Terauda and the Director of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane signed the joined project yesterday. The objective of the project is to promote the rapprochement of the Latvian and minority schools and the elimination of the information barriers. The project will be implemented during the period of 1999 - 2003. Eight kindergartens, ten schools with other than Latvian language of instruction and ten Latvian schools will be involved in the first stage of the project implementation. Within the framework of this project it is planned to create new teaching materials, to further educate the teachers and to draft new examinations of the social sciences for primary school.

In order to promote the social integration in the sphere of education, the Minister of Education Janis Gaigals, Director of the Soros Fund Latvia Vita Terauda and the Director of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane signed the joined project yesterday. The objective of the project is to promote the rapprochement of the Latvian and minority schools and the elimination of the information barriers. The project will be implemented during the period of 1999 - 2003. Eight kindergartens, ten schools with other than Latvian language of instruction and ten Latvian schools will be involved in the first stage of the project implementation. Within the framework of this project it is planned to create new teaching materials, to further educate the teachers and to draft new examinations of the social sciences for primary school. Jauna Avize

All ruling coalition parties support the nomination of Elmars Vebers to the post of the National Human Rights Office Director. On Monday the Social Democrats that nominated Mr. Vebers will submit to the Presidium of the Saeima the draft decree on dismissal of the present NHRO Director Olafs Bruvers.

All ruling coalition parties support the nomination of Elmars Vebers to the post of the National Human Rights Office Director. On Monday the Social Democrats that nominated Mr. Vebers will submit to the Presidium of the Saeima the draft decree on dismissal of the present NHRO Director Olafs Bruvers. Jauna Avize, Chas

During the visit in Moscow the deputy of the fraction

During the visit in Moscow the deputy of the fraction For Human Rights J. Urbanovich reached an agreement with representatives of the Russian State Duma, Moscow City Council and the Russian Foreign Affairs providing that the Russian side will inform the fraction For Human Rights about the sanctions that are prepared against Latvia and will listen to its opinion. Diena

The New Party will ask the Prime Minister to discuss the changes in the governmental coalition agreement aiming at the formation of the stable majority government. According to Silvija Dreimane, the chair of the

The New Party will ask the Prime Minister to discuss the changes in the governmental coalition agreement aiming at the formation of the stable majority government. According to Silvija Dreimane, the chair of the New Part fraction in the Saeima, the social democrats should sign the agreement with the governmental coalition. Diena

According to the sociological survey done by the Baltic Data House, the majority of the Latvian population does not support the NATO military actions against Yugoslavia. The survey showed that only 18% of the respondents support the NATO actions, 59% are against, and 23% could not give the answer.

According to the sociological survey done by the Baltic Data House, the majority of the Latvian population does not support the NATO military actions against Yugoslavia. The survey showed that only 18% of the respondents support the NATO actions, 59% are against, and 23% could not give the answer. Diena

Diena in Russian publishes a readers letter in which he describes the law on integration as the usual bluff to confuse the West and to ensure the privileges for the local activists.

According to MP M. Mitrofanov (For Human Rights), the Education Law dictates the strategy of survival for the Russian education. One of its directions is towards the Latvian state. Mr. Mitrofanov argues that the conscious mastering of the Latvian language will give the opportunity with the help of the language to protect the rights of the Russians. The other way is to put pressure upon the executive power by protesting against the education policy. Mr. Mitrofanov believes that when Latvians start seeing Russian as fellow-citizens, the psychological grounds for the discrimination will disappear.

According to MP M. Mitrofanov (For Human Rights), the Education Law dictates the strategy of survival for the Russian education. One of its directions is towards the Latvian state. Mr. Mitrofanov argues that the conscious mastering of the Latvian language will give the opportunity with the help of the language to protect the rights of the Russians. The other way is to put pressure upon the executive power by protesting against the education policy. Mr. Mitrofanov believes that when Latvians start seeing Russian as fellow-citizens, the psychological grounds for the discrimination will disappear. Panorama Latvii