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.

• Interview with Janis Smits, Head of the Saeima Human Rights Committee
• Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens supports possibility to have double citizenship
• Head of the State Language Centres Inspection Control Department Antons Kursitis: Russian language endangers Latvian
• FF/LNIM held partys conference on Saturday
• FHRUL has held a discussion on strengthening of the Russian community in Latvia
• Russian Culture Community in Jekabpils Rodnik celebrates its sixth anniversary

NRA prints a comprehensive interview with Janis Smits, Head of the Saeimas Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee. When asked to give the definition of human rights, he states, there are various understandings of human rights - Buddhist, Muslim, Christian human rights, however, all are based on one principle Dont do anything what you do not want to be done to you. He is concerned that there are so-called experts who reproaches the government and the Saeima, however, they lack any education and competence in human rights. .. we dont have independent human right organisations that deal with the rights of the disabled people, religious discrimination and other essential issues. When asked about reproaches of Russia about the situation of minorities in Latvia, Janis Smits says that if a person does not want to acquire citizenship, he has the right to do so, because we cannot force to love this country… in fact, we should go to Europe and give lectures on how to ensure peaceful co-living of various ethnic groups and nationalities.

The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens considers that opportunity to hold double citizenship for Latvian residents would be one of the aspects, which could promote strengthening of relations of emigrated Latvians with Latvia. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

The political party For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) has held a discussion with representatives of Russian NGOs on strengthening of the Russian community in Latvia and role of Russia in this process. Vesti Segodnya

The right-wing party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) held its party conference on Saturday. Partys future was among the main discussion topics. One of party leaders Roberts Zile proposed to unify small nationalistic parties, for instance All for Latvia!, under FF/LNIM and position the party as modern nationalistic party oriented towards having the power. Diena, NRA, Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Head of the State Language Centres Inspection Control Department Antons Kursitis. Antons Kursitis believes that the Russian language still endangers positions and authority of Latvian language, therefore, Latvian legal norms should provide more protection for the Latvian language. Antons Kursitis also believes that the government has to adopt amendments to the Administrative Code, which would provide sanctions for employers who ask their all employees to speak Russian.

On 2 December, the Russian Culture Community in Jekabpils (town in the eastern part of Latvia) Rodnik has celebrated its sixth anniversary. Chas