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.

• Formation of a new government
• Debates on use of the state language
• State Language Examination commission examines state language proficiency of high officials
• Member of the Riga City Council about situation regarding Russian schools
• Funding allotted for new projects aimed at providing Latvian language training
• Newspapers follow the lives of the seven Somalis in Latvia
• Latvijas Avize features an article about migration in Europe and Latvia
• Interview with the director of the documentary on Jews in Latvia
• MP about non-citizens law

The People’s Party, the Union of Farmers and Greens and the Latvian First Party are discussing a possibility to continue work in a ruling coalition in the next Saeima without the fourth partner. The possibility to work with the right-wing party  FF/LNIM did not acquire a big support because of FF/LNIM’s wish to adopt a new, stricter Citizenship Law. Newspapers broadly discuss a possibility that the left-wing party Concord Centre will be involved in the government.

The Peoples Party, the Union of Farmers and Greens and the Latvian First Party are discussing a possibility to continue work in a ruling coalition in the next Saeima without the fourth partner. The possibility to work with the right-wing party FF/LNIM did not acquire a big support because of FF/LNIMs wish to adopt a new, stricter Citizenship Law. Newspapers broadly discuss a possibility that the left-wing party Concord Centre will be involved in the government. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Neatkariga writes that the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers on use of minority languages by the Latvian National Human Rights Office and the Secretariat of Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration in information intended for public use has stirred hot debates among state language inspectors who believe that it might result in acceptance of use of the Russian language in public sphere. The Ministry of Justice has formed a working group that has to report whether there are grounds to amend regulations on use of language intended for public use also regarding other institutions. The LNHRO and IUMSILS believe that regulations should be amended so that institutions dealing with ethnic integration issues might provide information in minority languages. However, state language inspectors disagree with the proposal.

Vesti Segodnya reports that Chief of the Information Centres Arms Inventory Department of the Ministry of Interiors Olegs Buraks has been unexpectedly summoned to the state language examination commission to examine his state language proficiency. Olegs Buraks state language proficiency did not comply with the required highest level of state language proficiency and was fined with LVL 30 (about EUR 50).

Chas features an interview with member of the Riga City Council Viktors Gluhovs about issues regarding Russian schools. He notes to that there is a lack of teachers who can teach in Russian and other minority languages. The member of the Riga City Council also points out that due to a low fertility rate over the last years in Latvia, many schools could not collect a sufficient number of students to open a first grade.

The Society Integration Foundation has approved seven projects aimed at providing Latvian language courses for adults. It is planned to fund more Latvian language teaching projects from outstanding funding from other projects.

The Society Integration Foundation has approved seven projects aimed at providing Latvian language courses for adults. It is planned to fund more Latvian language teaching projects from outstanding funding from other projects. Diena, Vesti Segodnya

Newspapers feature an article about the seven Somalis who were granted the alternative status in summer 2006. The three juveniles are attending a school with Latvian as an instruction language in a rural district, while adults are under training in a hotel in the capital.

Newspapers feature an article about the seven Somalis who were granted the alternative status in summer 2006. The three juveniles are attending a school with Latvian as an instruction language in a rural district, while adults are under training in a hotel in the capital. Diena, Chas

Latvijas Avize features an article on undocumented migration. An official of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs argues that a massive influx of undocumented immigrants might distort Latvias economy, impose strange traditions on Latvian inhabitants and provoke ethnic and racial hatred. The newspaper notes that some relief in this situation is the statement of the outgoing Prime Minister that Latvia supports strict immigration policy.

Rigas Balss features an interview with Andris Gauja, director of a documentary 3000 kilometres from the promised land about Jews in Latvia. The director of the documentary states that the main aim of the documentary was to find out whether traditions of Judaism are strong among Jews who live in Latvia. He argues that the majority of Latvian Jews are far from traditions. He admits that local Jews perceived the documentary with shared feelings and one of their main criticism was that the documentary does not show a typical, normal, todays Jew.

Vesti Segodnya prints an article by MP Vladimirs Buzajevs (FHRUL) on the Law On the Restoration of the Rights of Citizens of the Republic of Latvia and the Basic Regulation for Naturalization which was adopted 15 years ago. The MP criticizes the law because it has divided Latvian society into citizens and non-citizens.