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.

• Latvia will develop a new law on the status of EU permanent citizen to transpose the EU Directive 2003/109/EC
• Relations between Russians and Latvians – what both parties should understand
• Vandalism in the Jewish cemetery in Liepaja

Telegraf reports that Latvia has started to work at the transposing of the EU Directive 2003/109/EC. A new law on the status of EU permanent citizen and amendments to the Law on Immigration will be elaborated in order to transpose the Directive. According to the EU Directive as of 2006 Latvian non-citizens will acquire a new status – permanent resident of the EU. The status will not be automatically granted, the applicant will have to submit a written application. While MEP Tatyana Zdanok states that anyway in the closest future Latvian non-citizens will have the same rights as Latvian citizens do, for instance, also non-citizens will be able to travel to the EU without visa.

Chas prints an article about the relations between Russians and Latvians. The author of the article provides two lists of expectations towards Russians and Latvians. The author of the article believes that Russians, first of all, should realise that Latvia is an independent state and that Latvians is a small nation that ‘is entitled to certain specific forms of protection. While Latvians should understand that Latvia has and will never be a country only for Latvians and that also non-Latvians are paying taxes and that entitles them to receive support for the preservation and maintenance of their culture, language and education.

Diena reports about vandalism in the Jewish cemetery in Liepaja. Perpetrators have not been identified yet.