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.

• Saeima forwards draft amendments setting higher state language proficiency requirements for persons running for municipal elections to its committees
• Weekly Republika.lv interviews several persons on tolerance towards representatives of visible minorities in Latvia
• Republika.lv features a series of articles on Roma in Latvia
• Republika.lv prints an interview with Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kalyuzhniy on relations between Latvia and Russia
• Saeima supports granting the rights to the Cabinet of Ministers to sign the border agreement between Latvia and Russia

The Saeima has in principle supported draft amendments, developed by FF/LNIM, setting higher state language proficiency requirements for persons willing to run for municipal elections. The draft amendments have been forwarded to the Saeima’s committees.

The Saeima has in principle supported draft amendments, developed by FF/LNIM, setting higher state language proficiency requirements for persons willing to run for municipal elections. The draft amendments have been forwarded to the Saeimas committees. Telegraf, Latvijas Avize

The weekly

The weekly Republika.lv interviews several persons on tolerance towards representatives of visible minorities in Latvia. Representative of the Afro-Latvian organisation Leonards Nveze states that he has been targeted racist statements in public places. Mr. Nveze believes that the level of tolerance is low due to a small number of visibly different minorities in Latvia and the majority are not used to visually different people. The U.S. Ambassador to Latvia Catherine Todd Bailey stresses that in order to raise the level of tolerance more public discussions and educational activities are necessary. Media expert Sandra Veinberga argues that racism is very common in Latvia and many people believe in race theory.

Republika.lv prints several articles on Roma in Latvia. Head of the Roma NGO Ame Roma Vanda Zamicka-Bergendale in an interview with the magazine states that in Latvia Roma are the least integrated group due to a number of reasons, including a low level of education among Roma and discrimination in the job market. Mrs. Zamicka-Bergendale believes that Roma also have to take responsibility for their place in society and be more active. The weekly also interviews head of Sabile (town in the Northern part of Latvia) Roma Cultural Centre and Roma song group Taboras Romance Kaspars Arhipovs.

Republika.lv prints an interview with the Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kalyuzhniy on relations between Latvia and Russia. The Ambassador states that a large number of non-citizens and official discourse of the Latvian government on historical issues are the main stumbling stones in the relations of the two countries.

Yesterday, the Saeima supported granting the rights to the Cabinet of Ministers to sign the border agreement between Latvia and Russia. During discussion session, a number of members of the right-wing party “All for Latvia!” including their leader Raivis Dzintars, held a protest at the building of the Saeima.

Yesterday, the Saeima supported granting the rights to the Cabinet of Ministers to sign the border agreement between Latvia and Russia. During discussion session, a number of members of the right-wing party All for Latvia! including their leader Raivis Dzintars, held a protest at the building of the Saeima. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Diena, Latvijas Avize, NRA