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.

• Newspapers discuss exclusion of Aleksandrs Kirsteins from the Peoples Party
• Diena on responses of the international community on ratification of the Framework Convention
• Minister of Interiors states that Latvian society is becoming less tolerant
• Baltic Forum takes place in Latvia
• Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe criticises the status of non-citizen
• Joint European Russian committee aimed at combating discrimination against Russian-speakers in the Baltic States to be established
• Interview with the US Ambassador to Latvia
• Latvijas Avize on the media situation in Latvia

Newspapers discuss the decision of the People’s Party to exclude its member Aleksandrs Kirstiens from the party. As reported a number of human rights experts evaluated the Kirsteins’ statements as not being far from calls to national hatred and on the edge of anti-Semitic expressions.

Newspapers discuss the decision of the Peoples Party to exclude its member Aleksandrs Kirstiens from the party. As reported a number of human rights experts evaluated the Kirsteins statements as not being far from calls to national hatred and on the edge of anti-Semitic expressions. Diena writes that by excluding Aleksandrs Kirstiens the Peoples Party shows willingness to avoid any reproaches about tolerating radicals among its members. The partys decision also demonstrates that Peoples Party tries hard to show that there is no splitting in the party. While Aleksandrs Kirstiens announced that he would not comment on the decision because it was taken behind his back - he did not take part in the meeting when the decision was taken. The Latvian Prime Minister and the Latvian President have given their positive assessment to the decision to exclude Aleksandrs Kirsteins from the Peoples Party. The Peoples Party also proposes to dismiss Aleksandrs Kirsteins from the post of Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee and has nominated another its member - Vaira Paegle - for the post. Latvijas Avize prints a comprehensive two-page interview with Aleksandrs Kirsteins. Diena, NRA, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Diena reports that the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Ralf Ekeus has welcomed ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities by the Latvian government. However, at the movement the HC refrains to give any evaluation on the introduction of reservations and the adopted minority definition. The daily also foresees that Latvia will have a years-long dialogue with the Council of Europe to explain particular circumstances faced by Latvia. The newspaper believes that the Council of Europe will most likely suggest some amendments, however, they will not be binding to Latvia. The only country that commented on ratification of the Convention by Latvia was Russia. She sharply criticised the introduction of reservations to the Convention and the minority definition which according to Russia provides that Latvian non-citizens are not the subjects of the Convention and. Diena, Vesti Segodnya

Chas talks to the Minster of Interior Eriks Jekabsons. When asked to comment on a number of allegedly racial attacks taken place recently, the Minister states that ‘there has always been tolerant attitude towards other cultures in Latvia, however, the recent attacks put this assumption under doubts. The Minister notes that his Ministry is successfully dealing with these incidents.

Vesti Segodnya reports that the Baltic Forum launched its annual session on Friday. The main topic on the Fridays agenda was assessment of the development of post-Soviet countries. According to the newspaper, the overall conclusion of political scientists and sociologists was that democracy in Latvia is far from Western democracies. One of the factors, which influence the state of democracy in Latvia, is a big number of non-citizens in the country. The newspaper refers to the Director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Ilze Brands Kehre who pointed at other particularities in this area: new born babies of parents, who are Latvian non-citizens, do not receive Latvian citizenship completely automatically – their parents still have to submit an application to relevant authorities; naturalisation applicants have to pass not only the language test, but also the examination in the Latvian history which is not the usual practice in other countries.

Vesti Segodnya quotes the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Alvaro Gil-Robles who after the meeting with the Russian President announced that he cannot tolerate the existence of the legal category ‘non-citizen in any country.

A joint European Russian committee aimed at combating discrimination against Russian-speakers in the Baltic States will be established next week.

A joint European Russian committee aimed at combating discrimination against Russian-speakers in the Baltic States will be established next week. Diena

Chas interviews Catherine Todd Bailey, American Ambassador to Latvia. When asked about the statement of the USA President George W.Bush in his speech when visiting Latvia about the inclusive society, the Ambassador says that ‘in our opinion Latvia makes a lot of effort in the field of integration and I think the President wanted to thank Latvia for this work. However, there is always space for improvement.

Latvijas Avize argues that Latvia faces information attacks from Russia. They are conducted both by mass media produced in Russia and the Russian language media produced in Latvia. The author concludes that it is a responsibility of the state that there is a lack of alternative Russian-language media in Latvia.