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.

• Diena features couple article about the Holocaust in Latvia
• Civil Society Council has launched its activities
• Chas columnist comments on the discussion among the Integration Minister and press journalists
• Telegraf interviews Saeima Speaker Ingrida Udre

Diena features an article by Daiga Zvaigznite, Head of the NGO Friends of Jews, about the Holocaust in Latvia in the II World War and the role of Latvians in it. She admits that unfortunately there were Latvians who participated in the Holocaust, however, she notes that there were also people who helped and saved Jews. She concludes with the call to teach children to respect and love members of other nations. The daily also features an article about two Latvian women who saved Jews in the Holocaust.

Latvijas Avize reports that Friday the Social Integration Minister Ainars Latkovskis opened the first session of the Civil Society Council. The Head of the Council is the State Secretary of the Integration Minister Kristine Vagnere and the key task of the Council is to provide consultations to the Secretariat on issues regarding the formation of civil society. The Council consists of 20 members: state officials, representatives of municipalities and NGOs, however, none of the members, named by the newspaper, are representatives of minority NGOs.

Chas columnist Leonids Fedoseyevs writes about a discussion held by the National Radio. The participants of the discussion were the Social Integration Minister Ainars Latkovskis and journalists of Russian and Latvian press. The columnist stresses that the Integration Minister was not able to answer to a number of questions and stresses that by the term ‘integration of Latvian society the Minister understands only integration of non-Latvians into the Latvian society. Leonids Fedoseyevs concludes that there is no interest in integration issues at the highest political level.

Telegraf talks to the Speaker of Saiema Ingrida Udre. When asked about the shortage of employees in a number of spheres in Latvia, Ingrida Udre admits that there is shortage of qualified specialists in some areas, for instance, IT, construction and that working force could be find in the Ukraine and Belorussia. Discussions have been hold about possible strategies towards this working force: whether it is better that these people come to Latvia, earn money and go home or stay and integrate into the Russian society.