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.

• Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration does not support a proposal of the Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins to merge the Naturalisation Board with the State Language Centre
• Citizen of Iraq was granted refugee status in Latvia, while a citizen of Belarus was granted an alternative status
• Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens has proposed to celebrate the Day of Citizen on 3 of August

The Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration does not support a proposal of the Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins to merge the Naturalisation Board with the State Language Centre. As reported, the Minister of Justice has proposed to restructure both institutions and merge them into one institution which could be named “Board of State Language and Citizenship Affairs”. The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens has stated that the number of non-citizens in Latvia is still high, therefore, the naturalisation must continue. The governing coalition is planning to discuss the initiative of the Ministry of Justice in September.

The Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration does not support a proposal of the Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins to merge the Naturalisation Board with the State Language Centre. As reported, the Minister of Justice has proposed to restructure both institutions and merge them into one institution which could be named Board of State Language and Citizenship Affairs. The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens has stated that the number of non-citizens in Latvia is still high, therefore, the naturalisation must continue. The governing coalition is planning to discuss the initiative of the Ministry of Justice in September. Vesti Segodnya, Diena

Diena reports that, in 2007, a citizen of Iraq was granted refugee status in Latvia, while a citizen of Belarus was granted an alternative status. According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, Iraqi citizen was granted the status because motives of asylum seeking have complied with criteria of the Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. In total, 19 persons have applied for asylum in Latvia in the first half 2007.

The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens has proposed to celebrate the Day of Citizen on 3 of August – the day when the Cabinet of Ministers approved granting Latvian citizenship to first 103 persons who have gone through naturalisation procedure in 1995. According to the Minister, various events which promote consolidation of the society could be held in the framework of the Day of Citizen, while the most socially active new citizens could be granted diplomas.

The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens has proposed to celebrate the Day of Citizen on 3 of August – the day when the Cabinet of Ministers approved granting Latvian citizenship to first 103 persons who have gone through naturalisation procedure in 1995. According to the Minister, various events which promote consolidation of the society could be held in the framework of the Day of Citizen, while the most socially active new citizens could be granted diplomas. Chas, Telegraf