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.

• Vladimir Chizov: situation of Russian speakers in Latvia and Estonia has worsened after the closing of the OSCE missions
• Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Ainars Latkovskis talks about the plans of his Secretariat
• Article about the planned activities in the framework of the National Action Plan for the Promotion of Tolerance
• Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee discusses a candidacy for the post of Latvian ambassador to Russia
• Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry issues a statement regarding the book ‘Latvian history. XX Century
• Newspapers feature articles about the recently naturalised persons

‘The situation of Russian speakers in Latvia and Estonia has worsened after the closure of the missions of the Organisation’s For Security and Cooperation in Europe in these countries,’ stated the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Russia Vladimir Chizov. The Russian official also pointed to the decision of the Latvian authorities to prohibit the usage of the Russian language during the pre-election campaign. Vladimir Chizov believes that it does not promote democracy.

‘The situation of Russian speakers in Latvia and Estonia has worsened after the closure of the missions of the Organisations For Security and Cooperation in Europe in these countries, stated the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Russia Vladimir Chizov. The Russian official also pointed to the decision of the Latvian authorities to prohibit the usage of the Russian language during the pre-election campaign. Vladimir Chizov believes that it does not promote democracy. Diena, Telegraf

Latvijas Avize reports on a meeting of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Ainars Latkovskis with representatives of the Saeima Citizenship Implementation Committee. During the meeting the Minister noted that the National television should be more involved in societal integration. Ainars Latkovskis reported that his Secretariat in collaboration with the National Television work at the development of a framework for producing programmes addressed at the minority audience. According to the Minister, the main goal of these programmes is to promote the interest of minorities to integrate into the Latvian informative space. The Minister added that the Secretariat also plans to develop an integration programme for Roma and inform minority organisations about possibilities to attract funding for their activities.

The official newspaper

The official newspaper Latvijas Vestnesis features the statements of the Deputy Director of the Minority Affairs Department of the Secretariat for Special Assignments Ministers for Social Integration Deniss Hanovs about the National Action Plan for the Promotion of Tolerance. According to Deniss Hanovs, the Secretariat is planning to educate society about causes of racism and discrimination, study the most telling manifestations of intolerance in public space and organise public awareness campaigns about religious diversity. This year LVL30,000 (EUR42,918) are allotted for these activities. The Secretariat also plans to apply for funding in the European Commissions project tender for promotion of tolerance and prevention of discrimination.

Yesterday the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee nominated the Deputy State Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Latvia Andris Teikmanis to the post of the Latvian Ambassador to Russia.

Yesterday the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee nominated the Deputy State Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Latvia Andris Teikmanis to the post of the Latvian Ambassador to Russia. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

The Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry has issued a statement regarding the book ‘Latvian history. XX Century.’ In its statement the Ministry blames the authors of the book for focusing on discrediting the role of Russians in the Latvian history.

The Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry has issued a statement regarding the book ‘Latvian history. XX Century. In its statement the Ministry blames the authors of the book for focusing on discrediting the role of Russians in the Latvian history. Latvijas Avize, Chas, Telegraf

Neatkariga Rita Avize features an article about naturalisation of the 5,000th person in Liepaja. The 5,000thnaturalised person is Olga Rogoveca, the nurse at the Liepaja Central Hospital. She has been in Latvia for 29 years. Olga Rogoveca believes that if a person wants to live in Latvia, s/he has to be a Latvian citizen. Official celebration of granting Latvian citizenship was held in Riga as well – yesterday Riga Mayor Gundars Bojars welcomed 60 naturalised inhabitants of Riga. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize