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.

• 123, 199 persons have been granted Latvian citizenship through naturalisation since in 1995
• The Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins has prepared the reply to the Ombudsman's Offices appeal on the of use minority languages in public information
• Concord Centre asked the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga not to proclaim the amendments to the Criminal Law adopted on 17 May
• Candidate for the Presidents of Latvia post Karina Petersone: consolidation of society is one of the Presidents main tasks
• MP Dzintars Rasnacs: legalization of non-citizens status was a mistake

Chas reports that 123, 199 persons have been granted Latvian citizenship through naturalisation since 1995.

The Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins has prepared the reply to the Ombudsman’s Office’s, former Latvian National Human Rights Office’s (LNHRO) appeal made in 2006. As reported, the LNHRO asked the Cabinet of Ministers to permit the state and municipal institutions to provide written public information in minority languages together with the state language. The Cabinet of Ministers issued a protocol decision stipulating that the LNHRO and the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (IUMSILS) had to place information in minority languages in their premises that, following a request, these institutions submit information also in minority languages. According to Gaidis Berzins, the Cabinet of Ministers’ rules concerning language use comply with international standards. The Minister believed that no amendments to the existing legislation should be made since the liberalization of the provisions concerning the use of foreign languages in public information would allegedly threaten the state language’s environment.

The Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins has prepared the reply to the Ombudsmans Offices, former Latvian National Human Rights Offices (LNHRO) appeal made in 2006. As reported, the LNHRO asked the Cabinet of Ministers to permit the state and municipal institutions to provide written public information in minority languages together with the state language. The Cabinet of Ministers issued a protocol decision stipulating that the LNHRO and the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (IUMSILS) had to place information in minority languages in their premises that, following a request, these institutions submit information also in minority languages. According to Gaidis Berzins, the Cabinet of Ministers rules concerning language use comply with international standards. The Minister believed that no amendments to the existing legislation should be made since the liberalization of the provisions concerning the use of foreign languages in public information would allegedly threaten the state languages environment. Vesti Segodnya

The Saeima’s faction “The Concord Centre” has asked the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga not to proclaim the amendments to the Criminal Law adopted by the Saeima on 17 May. According to the head of the faction Boriss Cilevics, the adopted amendments to the Criminal Law stipulating punishments for the differential treatment on the grounds of religion do not address racial and ethnic origin as the grounds of discrimination covered by the Race Directive. Mr.Cilevics has also noted that the word “discrimination” has been deleted from the law.

The Saeimas faction The Concord Centre has asked the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga not to proclaim the amendments to the Criminal Law adopted by the Saeima on 17 May. According to the head of the faction Boriss Cilevics, the adopted amendments to the Criminal Law stipulating punishments for the differential treatment on the grounds of religion do not address racial and ethnic origin as the grounds of discrimination covered by the Race Directive. Mr.Cilevics has also noted that the word discrimination has been deleted from the law. Chas (19.05.)

Latvijas Avize features an interview with a candidate for the post of the President of Latvia Karina Petersone from the political party Latvias Way. Ms. Petersone has stated that consolidation of the society is one of the Presidents main tasks. According to Karina Petersone, the sense of belonging to the state, patriotism and pride of the states achievements are the core grounds of social consolidation.

Weekly

Weekly Nedela features an interview with the Saeimas Secretary, MP from the right-wing political faction For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM Dzintars Rasnacs. According to Mr. Rasnacs, the legalisation of non-citizens status was a mistake. Dzintars Rasnacs believes that residents who have arrived to Latvia during soviet times should be considered as foreigners. Therefore, Mr.Rasnacs says, these people have to choose whether to integrate into the society or to return to their motherland. According to Mr. Rasnacs, various political parties would manipulate non-citizens if they are granted voting rights in municipal elections.