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.

• European Parliament supports an initiative of the MEP from Latvia Tatyana Zdanoka concerning diplomatic and consular protection of the EU residents in non-EU countries
• U.S. Ambassador to Latvia Catherine Todd Bailey: integration of ethnic groups into Latvian society is very important for American government
• The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens blames Latvian mass media for creation of negative stereotypes towards Roma
• Telegraf: about 400 Roma wanted to revenge independently the attackers on two Roma girls

The European Parliament (EP) has supported an initiative of the MEP from Latvia Tatyana Zdanoka concerning diplomatic and consular protection of the EU residents in non-EU countries. Presently, only citizens of the EU are able to request help in the diplomatic representation of any other EU country if representation of his/her own country is not available. The EP agreed that consular protection should be extended also to family members of the EU citizens, refugees and stateless persons who permanently reside in the EU, as well as to Latvian non-citizens. Further the proposal must be supported and adopted by the European Commission.

The European Parliament (EP) has supported an initiative of the MEP from Latvia Tatyana Zdanoka concerning diplomatic and consular protection of the EU residents in non-EU countries. Presently, only citizens of the EU are able to request help in the diplomatic representation of any other EU country if representation of his/her own country is not available. The EP agreed that consular protection should be extended also to family members of the EU citizens, refugees and stateless persons who permanently reside in the EU, as well as to Latvian non-citizens. Further the proposal must be supported and adopted by the European Commission. Chas

Vesti Segodnya prints interview with the U.S. Ambassador to Latvia Catherine Todd Bailey. According to the Ambassador, integration of ethnic groups into Latvian society is very important for American government. Mrs. Todd Bailey considers that Russian speaking minorities in Latvia should not feel alienated from the state and society.

The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens blames Latvian mass media for creation of negative stereotypes towards Roma. Particularly, the Minister criticizes an informative TV program on extraordinary and criminal chronicles which has shown a news story about a criminal case where Roma people were involved. The authors of the news story have advised the TV viewers to avoid contact with Roma who have hypnotic abilities.

The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens blames Latvian mass media for creation of negative stereotypes towards Roma. Particularly, the Minister criticizes an informative TV program on extraordinary and criminal chronicles which has shown a news story about a criminal case where Roma people were involved. The authors of the news story have advised the TV viewers to avoid contact with Roma who have hypnotic abilities. Telegraf

Telegraf reports that after an attack on two young Roma girls, about 400 Roma wanted to revenge the attackers independently because they did not believe that police can help in this case. Yet, the Roma decided not to revenge the attackers, because, according to the head of a Roma NGO Normunds Rudevics, such problems in democratic society must be solved in legal way. As reported, two 13-year-old girls were attacked allegedly by a group of skinheads in Riga in October.