MINELRES: Minority issues in Latvia, No. 71

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Original sender: Tatyana Bogushevitch <minissues@delfi.lv>


Minority issues in Latvia, No. 71
Prepared by the Latvian Human Rights Committee (F.I.D.H.)
August 16, 2003


Content
- "Education reform 2004": law amended, problem not solved
- Attacks on the Secretariat of the Minister for Integration
- Does education in minority languages exist in Europe?
- Naturalisation becomes slower and slower
- Switch to professional army could foster naturalisation
- The Society Integration Foundation allocates financial support within
the Phare framework
- Non-citizens on Latvia's membership in the EU
- Nationalism and anti-Semitism: good and bad racism?
- The education reform as the state�s help in developing Russian
identity?
- Essay contest: minister does not accept other viewpoints
- Roma in Latvia: victims of discrimination
- Minister comments on criticism


"Education reform 2004": law amended, problem not solved
 --------------------------------------------------------

Protest actions against the education reform 2004 (switch to instruction
mainly in Latvian in minority secondary schools) will be continued
actively in September. Minority activists from different organizations
have
announced that the next meeting against the reform will take place on
September 4 in the centre of Riga. The national security services have
already
declared that there are no obstacles for holding a meeting then ("Vesti
Segodnya" ("The News Today"), August 9,
http://rus.delfi.lv/temp/vesti/vs_03_1228.pdf). However, executive
irector of the Riga City Council Maris Tralmaks has refused to approve
the application for the meeting, because, in his view, it could disturb
traffic in the centre of the city. The organisers are going to appeal
the decision in court; in any case, they are ready to hold the event as
a meeting with pro-minority parliamentary and municipal deputies (this
kind of meeting does not require prior approval by authorities).

Some members of the Headquarter for the support of Russian schools have
suggested linking the problems of education in minority languages with
the referendum on joining the European Union to be hold on September 20.
In their view, the voters belonging to ethnic minorities should vote in
favour only if the EU institutions will pay attention to the issue and
help to solve it. Other members Headquarter do not support this idea. In
the meantime, head of the delegation of European Commission in Latvia
Andrew Rasbash believes that the education policy is in the scope of
national legislation; however, it is necessary to follow recommendations
expressed in the 2002 Regular Report on Latvia�s progress towards
accession, e.g. to involve minority representatives in any relevant
decision-making process (Minority issues in Latvia, No. 57,
http://lists.delfi.lv/pipermail/minelres/2002-October/002356.html)
("Telegraf" ("The Telegraph"), July 15,
http://rus.delfi.lv/temp/telegraf/T422-01.pdf).

The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia amended the Education
Law on August 12 (according to Article 81 of the Constitution, the
government is entitled to amend the law in cases of urgent necessity
between parliamentary sessions; such amendments are to be accepted by
the Parliament later). The law (para. 9 sub-para. 3 of the Transitional
Provisions) stipulated that from September 1, 2004 all state-supported
secondary education must be "in the state language only". The amended
wprding goes that from September 1, 2004 all state-supported secondary
education must be in the state language in accordance with the standards
of the state secondary education. After the standards were amended in
May 2003, it has been stipulated that after the end of the transition
period (2004-2006), not less than 5 subjects in minority secondary
schools (besides the Latvian language and literature) are to be taught
in Latvian. Another provision stipulates that up to 40% of the curricula
could be taught in minority languages, therefore, not less than 60% is
to be taught in Latvian. The school can determine the subjects to be
taught in Latvian itself. Since the year 2007 all the state examinations
and tests are to be passed in Latvian.

In the meantime, the Ministry of Education and Science has approved the
support programme for minority schools, which includes informing parents
of schoolchildren about the education reform with parents, allocation of
resources for study literature, teaching aid and education of teachers.
The programme will be supported by the state budget and, possibly, the
Society Integration Foundation ("Diena" ("The Day"), July 10). 

In the meantime, the Yelgava City Council (Yelgava is the fourth biggest
city in Latvia, where more than 40% of residents are non-Latvians) has
decided to merge two Russian-language schools. Activists of the schools'
councils strongly object the decision and are ready to bring a case
against the municipality before the court ("Chas" ("The Hour", August
9).

Our commentary

In our view, minority activists do not have any reason for stopping the
protests. As earlier, the government does not even try to start a
dialogue about the reform. One more evidence for it is the support
programme: the Ministry of Education and Science is not going to discuss
the reform, it is going to inform about it. Activities of the Yelgava
City Council clearly demonstrate that the opinion of minorities will not
be taken into account in the field of education.

As regards the amendment to the Education Law, a lot depends on its
further implementation. On one hand, of course, auhtorization for the
Cabinet to determine language proportions in minority secondary
education within the framework of education standards could help to
avoid nationalistic passions in the Saeima. On the other hand,
minorities are not represented in the government. It reduces even
theoretical possibilities to be heard, when the reform is discussed.


Attacks on the Secretariat of the Minister for Integration
----------------------------------------------------------

On August 7, two parliamentary factions of ruling parties ("For
Fatherland and Freedom"/LNNK and Union of Greens and Farmers) suggested
to abolish the position of the Minister for the Special Task in he Field
of Integration Affairs and his Secretariat for the economy of budget
resources. The position was created last autumn after the parliamentary
elections in order to promote social integration, protect ethnic
minorities and eliminate racial discrimination in Latvia. Nils
Muiznieks, prominent human rights activist and former director of the
Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies, was appointed the
minister.

The Prime Minister Einars Repse (the New Era party) agreed to discuss
the idea. He stated that activities of the Secretariat should be
analysed carefully. His party colleague, head of the Parliamentary
Committee on Human Rights and Public Affairs Ina Druviete claimed many
matters of concern in the Secretariat's work. In particular, Irina
Vinnik was appointed as the head of the Minority Affairs Department,
despite she conducted repetitions of the minority cultural festival
"Latvian Wreath" in Russian only some time ago. Alexei Dimitrov (former
editor of our newsletter � T.B.) was appointed as the lawyer of the
Secretariat, despite he was executive secretary of the Latvian Human
Rights Committee, non-governmental organisation collaborating actively
with pro-minority political forces. Igor Pimenov, leader of the NGO
LASHOR (Association for Support of Russian-Language Schools in Latvia)
is a member of the Advisory Council created by the Minister. In Mrs
Druviete's opinion, such persons cannot promote social integration
("Lauku Avize" ("The Rural Newspaper"), August 9,
http://www.laukuavize.lv/index.php?la=286&li=AC0000lg64m_6gX2KYixTsQIgK).

At the moment when the discussion began, Mr Muiznieks was on visit in
Siberia to meet ethnic Latvians residing in Russia. He commented that
liquidation of the Secretariat cannot create a big economy of budget
resources, as financial help from abroad and its administration costs
constitute the biggest part of the secretariat's budget (approximately
70%). Besides, the Secretariat plans to reduce its budget for the next
year ("Diena" ("The Day"), August 9). As regards officials of the
Secretariat, all of them are professionals appointed after an open
competition, and no discrimination on the basis of their ethnic origin
or political convictions could be acceptable ("Chas" ("The Hour"),
August 8).

On August 11, Mr Muiznieks met the Prime Minister, and they decided that
the Secretariat will continue its work. During his press conference the
minister mentioned that Mrs Druviete would like to be the minister
herself, and this was the main reason for her disappointment. After Mr
Muiznieks had left for Geneva to participate in the session of the UN
Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination as the head of the
Latvian delegation, another press conference was held on August 12. Four
heads of different parliamentary committees (Ina Druviete, the New Era
party � on human rights and public affairs, Janis Strazdins, the Union
of Greens and Farmers � on education, culture and science, Inese
Vaidere, "For Fatherland and Freedom"/LNNK � on foreign affairs and Anta
Rugate, the People's Party � on the implementation of the Citizenship
Law) declared that they are not satisfied with the Secretariat's work.
The main accusations were the following: the persons working there speak
in Russian to visitors; the Secretariat conflicts with the Association
of Ethnic Cultural Associations regarding the state support. This
Association receives annual grant from the state budget apart from other
minority  cultural NGOs; the Secretariat plans to stipulate that from
the year 2004 all minority cultural NGOs will have the equal status in
respect of the state support. Once again it was mentioned that some of
staff members are "disloyal" towards the state ethnic policy. MPs
pointed out that the minister does not have the right to raise the issue
of ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of
National Minorities, as it is the prerogative of the Saeima. Heads of
parliamentary committees asked the Prime Minister to reconsider his
position in respect of the Secretariat ("Chas" ("The Hour"), August 13).

Our commentary

We hoped that the creation of the Secretariat for Integration would
become the first step towards starting effective dialogue with ethnic
minorities. We are sorry to watch the initially declared idea turning to
be another piece of "democracy on export". 

The ruling politicians, claiming that the institution responsible for
the integration policy is not allowed to have say about education in
minority languages or ratification of the Framework Convention for the
Protection of National Minorities, demonstrate that the role of the
Secretariat was intended as purely decorative. If so, we can agree with
Mrs Druviete that there is no need to keep it.

Still, we are shocked by the methods used by MPs to cut the integration
attempts by Mr Muiznieks. Their actions monitoring the language of the
rehearsals, questioning the loyalty of the staff, keeping dossiers on
their past etc. makes us think that the political culture of the
right-wing political elite would be more pertinent in the year 1937 and
not in a modern European state claiming to be democratic.
  
As regards the attacks on the former editor of the "Minority Issues in
Latvia" Alexei Dimitrov, doubting his right to work for a ministry due
to his past of a human rights activist, than this demonstrates that the
very principles of political liberalism in Latvia are still perceived as
somewhat unacceptable and bizarre.


Does education in minority languages exist in Europe?
-----------------------------------------------------

The Russian-language newspaper "Chas" ("The Hour") published an article
on July 8, devoted to the issue of education in minority languages in
the European countries.

As "Chas" pointed out, Minister for the Special Task in the Field of
Integration Affairs Nils Muiznieks, Minister for Education and Science
Karlis Sadurskis and chairman of the ruling New Era party's
parliamentary faction Arturs Krisjanis Karins permanently stress that
there is no experience of state maintaining schools of ethnic minorities
in Europe and so it can not be justified  in Latvia. "Chas" proved them
wrong and offered a short review of the European states' experience
supporting financially schools with minority language of instruction. 

The newspaper describes the example of Finland: it is possible there to
study not only in Finnish, but also in Swedish. In Norway, ethnic
minorities � the Finns and the Saams � can study in their native
language. In Spain, there is a number of regions where the law allows to
choose the appropriate model of education. In the Netherlands, ethnic
minorities (Arabs and Turks) may use the system of "doubling": the
subjects are studied in two languages � Dutch and Arabic or Turkish. In
Romania, Hungarians, Germans and Serbs are allowed to study in their
native language at all levels of education, including colleges and
universities.

As Boris Tsilevich, MP representing the pro-minority People's Harmony
Party, commented, there are no strict legal norms in Europe, but there
is so called "soft law", general standards and good practices. Many
European countries offer the possibility of education in minority
languages even where the share of minorities is much lower than in
Latvia. Mr Tsilevich noted, that the elimination of the existing and
well-functioning education system in minority languages is a phenomenon:
the only recent examples of such practice is the closing of Albanian
schools during the regime of Miloshevitch and of Kurdish schools in Iraq
during the regime of Saddam. 

The newspaper published also the answer of Minister for Special Task in
the Field of Integration Affairs Nils Muiznieks on July 17. He pointed
out that he still believes that the reform is in compliance with
international law, but declared that the dialogue regarding the essence
of the reform should be conducted involving teachers and minority
activists.


Naturalisation becomes slower and slower
----------------------------------------

According to data of the Naturalisation Board, in January-June 2003 the
citizenship of Latvia through naturalisation procedures has been granted
to 3535 persons, in 2002 � to 9844 persons. In 1999 the citizenship was
granted to 12,427 persons, in 2000 - to 14,900 persons, in 2001 - to
10,637 persons (see http://www.np.gov.lv/en/faili_en/stat_angl.xls).
Thus, the rate of naturalisation becomes slower and slower.

Since last year, secondary school graduates are offered a possibility to
present their results of the centralised examination in the Latvian
language instead of taking the Latvian language test when applying for
the Latvian citizenship through naturalisation. According to the data of
the Naturalisation Board, last year only 91 out of 7,501 graduates made
use of this opportunity (it should be kept in mind, however, that only
part of these 7,501 graduates were non-citizens). The Naturalisation
Board believes that the small number of applicants could be explained
with the lack of information ("Chas" ("The Hour"), July 4; Integration
Monitor, August 4,
http://www.policy.lv/monitor/?id=101734&date=04082003).

On July 10, the Ministry of Justice suggested to reduce the state fee
for naturalisation for pensioners, disabled persons of the 2nd and 3rd
category, schoolchildren and full-time students from previous LVL 10
(approx. EUR 15.4) to LVL 3 (approx. EUR 4.6). The amendments are to be
adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers to come into force. We welcome such
decision, but it is hard to believe that it will make situation better
significantly. Moreover, the Naturalisation Board is going to merge some
regional branches for the economy of budget resources next year
("Neatkariga Rita Avize" ("The Independent Morning Newspaper"), August
5).


Switch to professional army could foster naturalisation
-------------------------------------------------------

Latvian army moves from obligatory conscription to professional one.
While this can create some temporary transitional problems (possible
lack of finances and insufficient number of recruits in the first
years), it should have an overall positive impact on Latvian military
sphere. 

Latvian army is one of the acknowledged obstacles for naturalisation of
young non-citizens, until their recruiting age (27) is reached.
According to the Ministry of Defence, reforms in Latvian army will
foster naturalization. Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija
Aldermane and Minister for Special Task in the Field of Integration
Affairs Nils Muiznieks voice their support for this opinion. As
Aldermane put it, "...It means, that they will be able not to interrupt
their studies or career being Latvian citizens too". According to
statistics, there are 63 thousand non-citizens in Latvia under the age
of 27. This means, that the rate of naturalisation could double
(approximately 60,000 persons received citizenship by naturalisation).

Still, while discussing the project at the government meeting,
representatives of the Ministry of Defence noted the positive role of
mandatory military service as many recruits belonging to minorities
learn Latvian in the army ("Telegraf" ("The Telegraph"), July 9,
http://rus.delfi.lv/archive/article.php?id=5775976&ndate=1057698000&categoryID=2078302).
Research of the National Programme for Latvian Language Training shows
that some 25-30% of new conscripts have problems with the Latvian
language. Normunds Stafeckis from the Adazhi Training Centre says,
"we've 40% Russophones now. Majority of them have insufficient knowledge
of Latvian". Most of such persons had bad teaching at school or had no
Latvian environment for practice. Girts Sviklis, representative of the
National Programme for Latvian Language Training in the Aluksne
battalion, notes that the situation has changed positively from 1/3
conscripts with bad knowledge of the state language to 1/4 ("Diena"
("The Day"), June 30).

Our commentary

However, the data about state language proficiency of conscripts should
be handled with care. In no way should these data be extrapolated to all
non-Latvian youngsters. The matter is that only a small part of
youngsters in conscription age are indeed recruited. In particular,
students of accredited universities are exempted. Thus, the real
composition of conscripts reflect "stratification in poverty" and
regional disparities. As a rule, those who cannot or do not wish to
avoid conscription come from poorer and socially more vulnerable
families. Thus, the Russian-speaking youngsters - particularly from
Latgale, the eastern region of Latvia with the highest share of minority
population, as well as the lowest level of economic development and the
highest unemployment - are overrepresented among the conscripts. In many
cases, they see military service  as the only possibility to receive
free dentist's treatment or even to have enough food. In the meantime,
the Russian-speaking youngsters who speak fluent Latvian and come from
better-of families (e.g. in Riga), similarly to ethnic Latvian
youngsters, enter university or use other legal ways to avoid
conscription.


The Society Integration Foundation allocates financial support within 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
the Phare framework
-------------------

The Society Integration Foundation organised seminars on distribution of
EU Phare money (2 million Euro: 800,000 for the development of civil
society and 1,283,850 for the society integration). According to Sols
Bukingolts, head of the Foundation's Council, projects to be submitted
untill September 1 should cover such fields as linguistic, social and
ethnic integration ("Vesti Segodnya" ("The News Today"), July 16,
http://rus.delfi.lv/temp/vesti/vs_03_1207.pdf). Still, language teaching
programms are not supported, because the state-supported programmes for
those wishing to learn Latvian already exist. Igor Kuzmuk,
vice-president of the NGO "Prata Speks" ("The Power of Mind") asks, if
this position means that Latvia will abandon it's nation-state concept
and will become multinational. "If a person does not know language or
knows it poorly, none can speak of integration... Still, possibly,
Latvia moves towards creation of a multinational state, being afraid to
tell it clearly before joining the EU". He reminded, that his
organization had been providing Latvian language courses, and intended
to consult Minister for Special Task in the Field of Integration Affairs
Nils Muiznieks for help, if the Foundation does not want to support
their activities. 


Non-citizens on Latvia's membership in the EU
---------------------------------------------

Sociologist Brigita Zepa and lecturer of the University of Latvia Abram
Kletskin have presented views on Latvia's possible membership in the EU,
"Motivation and expectation of Latvia's residents about Latvia's
accession to the EU". The poll was conducted in cooperation with  the
Secretariat of the Minister for Special Task in the Field of Integration
Affairs. According to them, Latvian non-citizens are very sceptical
about their possibilities in the EU (although there are euro-optimists
among them too), foreseeing no changes in their status. Only a tiny
group thinks that the EU will make Latvia to give citizenship to all
residents. Having no possibility to participate in the referendum,
non-citizens are not interested in information about the EU ("Telegraf"
("The Telegraph"), July 17,
http://rus.delfi.lv/archive/article.php?id=5829485&ndate=1058389200&categoryID=2078302).
Non-citizens are afraid of negative changes in wages and pensions, as
well as of engagement of Latvian soldiers in international conflicts, as
well as growth of the number of immigrants ("Neatkariga Rita Avize"
("The Independent Morning Newspaper", July 17). 

In the view of Abram Kletskin, the government's programme is not
designed to make people know more about the EU, it is not directed to
public opinion makers and society does not take part in it. Agitation by
information about the EU funds to make people come to the referendum is
not the best one, as it does not allow to think about Latvia's own
possibilities. For a small country, whose main capital should become
intellect, this can result in becoming a big museum under open-air,
representing life in the XIX century. 


Nationalism and anti-Semitism: good and bad racism?
---------------------------------------------------

The Latvian-language newspaper "Diena" ("The Day") published an article
by Dr. hist. Leo Dribins, concerning publication of "The Zion Wise Men
Protocols" (see Minority issues in Latvia, No. 70,
http://lists.delfi.lv/pipermail/minelres/2003-June/002804.html) on July
2. 

The author points out that the activities of "DDD", regularly publishing
this anti-Semitic material would not be very important, if the newspaper
would not publish other anti-Semitic articles and if there wasn't the
anniversary of "The Zion Wise Men Protocols". 

Mr Dribins also declares that there is "an insurmountable contradiction
between nationalism and anti-Semitism, especially when anti-Semitism
overweights". 

Our commentary

In our view, it seems somewhat peculiar, that Dr Dribins, condemning
anti-Semitism, finds it possible to praise nationalism. Attempts to
distinguish between "good" and "bad" racism might be perceived as the
support for racism as such. 


The education reform as the state's help in developing Russian 
--------------------------------------------------------------
identity?
---------

On June 28, the leading Latvian-language daily "Diena" ("The Day")
published an article by Aldis Rozentals, concerning the problem of
Russian identity in Latvia. 

According to the author, one's ethnic identity depends on two aspects:
how s/he identifies him/herself with his/her own ethnic group and with
other ethnic group. The author singles out four types of identity that
can be shared in a two-dimensional model. First, there is monoethnic
identitification with the ethnic group an individual belongs to. Such
identity is typical for people who live in their "ethnic homeland".
Russians in Russia and ethnic Latvians in Latvia could be mentioned as
the example. 

Second, there is the monoethnic identitification with the core ethnic
group of the state, where one lives, if s/he doesn't belong to that
group. The author points out, that such identity is favorable for
individual and society. He notes that individual may become a part of
the core nation; accept their traditions, language and values.

Third, there is the bioethnic identity. It means that individual has
reached a high level of self-identification with his own ethnic group
and with the other ethnic group. As Mr Rozentals points out, it is
useful for children of minority origin who study in Latvian or bilingual
schools. 

Forth, there is the marginal identity, which means that individual has
very low level of self-identification with both ethnic groups. As the
author stresses, in Latvia, the main problem for Russians is the
language. It creates the complex of incompleteness, which, according to
him, may lead to the development of Nazism.  

The author of the article claims that the state must try to help the
individual to develop his identity and finally reach the comfort. As it
is put in "Diena", the education reform is "small, but necessary step to
the right direction. All demonstrations against it are useless, because
participants will only become more alienated and "unwanted" persons in
Latvia. This will not help to solve their identity problem". 
  
Later "Diena" (July 7) published an article, written by Yuri Zubkov, in
which he disagrees with Aldis Rozentals. The author states that Mr
Rozentals have not explained what he means by "monoethnic" �
mononational state or political nation.

Mr Zubkov notes that mononational state was typical for XVIII-XIX
centuries and nowadays the ignoring of inhabitants' ethnicity is the
source of many problems. Concerning the concept of political nation, Mr
Zubkov states that there must be political parties that do not
distinguish between the "core ethnic group" and ethnic minorities, but
try to solve economic and social problems first.

Mr Zubkovs asks why we have to identify ourselves again and again in the
way that Mr Rozentals offers to do this. The identification is a process
that cannot be simply qualified and put in some frames. 
  
Our commentary
        
In our view, identity is the individual choice. The state can only offer
circumstances for this, but the individual him/herself must make the
decision. And the government should not force it. 


Essay contest: minister does not accept other viewpoints
--------------------------------------------------------

The essay contest "The Borders of My Language � Borders of My World"
organised by the public policy centre "Providus", the Embassy of Norway,
the public policy portal "politika.lv" and the Ministry of Education and
Science took place recently. Unfortunately, Minister for Education and
Science Karlis Sadurskis and the President's advisor on ethnic affairs
Olgerts Tipans have left the jury, because they disagreed with the
majority regarding one of the essays. In their view, one of the essays
"does not foster social integration" and runs contrary to the state
programme "Society integration in Latvia". According to media, it could
be the essay written in Russian by Maxim Kovalenko (see at
http://www.politika.lv/index.php?id=106418&lang=lv), where the author
analyses the minority education reform ("Chas" ("The Hour"), July 11).


Roma in Latvia � victims of discrimination
------------------------------------------

On August 14, the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies
presented the study on the situation of Roma in Latvia. The study was
financed by the Integration Foundation/European Community Phare, the
Soros Foundation, and UNDP. The study concludes that racism and
discrimination against Roma are widespread in Latvian society. The study
also reveals dramatic data � up to 60% of Latvian Roma education level
is 4 classes or lower, and only up to 5% of Roma are officially employed
("Diena", August 15; Integration Monitor, August 15,
http://www.policy.lv/monitor/?id=101734&date=15082003). The report in
Latvian is available at
http://www.politika.lv/polit_real/files/lv/ciganu_stav.pdf.


Minister comments on criticism
------------------------------

Minister for Special Task in the Field of Integration Affairs Nils
Muiznieks has commented the article "Human Rights and Integration: New
Times, Old Problems" written by Alexei Dimitrov (see Minority issues in
Latvia, No. 70,
http://lists.delfi.lv/pipermail/minelres/2003-June/002804.html). He
agrees that the action plan presented by his Secretariat might seem
general, but there are a lot of items not included into it, as well as
subsumed under general priorities. The minister does not refuse to start
active discussions about ratification of the Framework Convention for
the Protection of National Minorities or elaborate the Law on Minority
Affairs, but, according to him, integration is not only laws,
regulations and directives, but also education, information and
collaboration. The comments by the minister are available in Latvian at
http://www.politika.lv/index.php?id=106459&lang=lv.


---------------
Compiled by:

Tatyana Bogushevitch
Yuri Dubrovsky
Gennady Kotov
Alyona Babitch
Milada Fomina
Milana Fomina

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