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

Latvia is the only European country (except for Yugoslavia) which despite the EU recommendations has not declined to have high level contacts with Byelorussia, the Byelorussian Ambassador in Latvia M. Marinich has told in the interview for the Byelorussian newspaper Respublika on Wednesday. Commenting the mentioned information, the State Secretary of the Latvian MFA M. Riekstins told journalists that according to the Latvian foreign affairs conception, relations with Byelorussia are important for Latvia, therefore the dialogue is conducted on various levels. At the same time, Latvia has informed the Byelorussian party about its position concerning the lack of democratic institutes there.

Latvia is the only European country (except for Yugoslavia) which despite the EU recommendations has not declined to have high level contacts with Byelorussia, the Byelorussian Ambassador in Latvia M. Marinich has told in the interview for the Byelorussian newspaper Respublika on Wednesday. Commenting the mentioned information, the State Secretary of the Latvian MFA M. Riekstins told journalists that according to the Latvian foreign affairs conception, relations with Byelorussia are important for Latvia, therefore the dialogue is conducted on various levels. At the same time, Latvia has informed the Byelorussian party about its position concerning the lack of democratic institutes there. Diena

Chas journalist L. Fedoseev comments differences in revealing the visit of the OSCE High Commissioner M. van der Stoel to Latvia by two TV companies: the private LNT company and the public LTV-1. While the LNT stressed that the High Commissioner had insisted on at least three amendments to the State Language law , otherwise Latvia would have serious problems with joining the EU, the public LTV-1 informed that the High Commissioner was satisfied with the law, presenting no special requirements. The journalist concludes that the public television, instead of informing, brain-washes the public. Chas

Polish Primary school is not satisfied with a school reorganisation plan proposed by the Riga City Council, according to pupils of the 1-4 grades will remain in the primary school building while students of 5-9 grade will be transferred to the Polish Secondary School. Due to inappropriate classrooms and unqualitative teaching, this year the accreditation commission refused to issue the accreditation to the Polish Primary School. It, however, does not mean that the school will be closed. It is under the competence of the school’s founder - the Riga City Council to decide the future of the school.

Polish Primary school is not satisfied with a school reorganisation plan proposed by the Riga City Council, according to pupils of the 1-4 grades will remain in the primary school building while students of 5-9 grade will be transferred to the Polish Secondary School. Due to inappropriate classrooms and unqualitative teaching, this year the accreditation commission refused to issue the accreditation to the Polish Primary School. It, however, does not mean that the school will be closed. It is under the competence of the schools founder - the Riga City Council to decide the future of the school. Jauna Avize

Commenting the report on the implementation of the activity plan for the public discussion of the state integration program,

Commenting the report on the implementation of the activity plan for the public discussion of the state integration program, Lauku Avize journalist V. Krustins questions the objective of the concluding conference that will take place on 28-29 May, to summarise the results of the public discussion, if the informative leaflets asking people to give their opinions were distributed so late.
Besides he is against the establishing of one more bureau with furniture, stationary and limousine- the Integration Bureau. Mr. Krustins doubts whether different parties of integration process are aware of what integration should mean for each of them. Lauku Avize

Lauku Avize

publishes opinions of people from different regions concerning the social integration. All of them think that the integration campaign is exaggerated and that other issues (like unemployment) are more important for the countryside. publishes opinions of people from different regions concerning the social integration. All of them think that the integration campaign is exaggerated and that other issues (like unemployment) are more important for the countryside. D. Baltaiskalna, Latvian University Ph.D. student, analyses a role of interpersonal communication and mass media communication in the social integration process. She quotes results of various Baltic Data House surveys. General conclusions are that since 1998 the role of the Latvian language in all sociolinguistic functions has increased and the situation of the language can be promoted by reasonable activities of the mass media.

D. Baltaiskalna, Latvian University Ph.D. student, analyses a role of interpersonal communication and mass media communication in the social integration process. She quotes results of various Baltic Data House surveys. General conclusions are that since 1998 the role of the Latvian language in all sociolinguistic functions has increased and the situation of the language can be promoted by reasonable activities of the mass media. Rigas Balss