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.

• Ministry of Healthcare justifies why the candidates for the posts of the heads of three medical care institutions are required good Russian language proficiency
• UNHCR Regional Representative for the Baltic and Nordic countries Hans ten Feld meets the MPs
• Discussion of experts and the Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte on the new integration program

Latvijas Avize reports that an ex-MP Vaira Paegle sent a letter to the Ministry of Healthcare asking to explain why the list of job requirements announced by the Ministry for the posts of the heads of three medical care institutions also includes good Russian language proficiency. Replying to the letter, the Ministry explains that such requirement is included because of the specifics of work and structure of patients in these hospitals. The Ministry believes that Russian language cold ease daily communication, while English proficiency could ease international contacts and development. Head of the Latvian Doctors Association agrees to the Ministrys requirements stating that the head of the medical care institution should have good skills in English, German and Russian. Representative of the State language Centre, in his turn, believes that such requirement is discrimination of ethnic Latvians who do not speak Russian.

Latvijas Avize reports about the meeting of the UNHCR Regional Representative for the Baltic and Nordic countries Hans ten Feld with the Latvian MPs. Mr. ten Feld presented the UNHCRs handbook for parliamentarians on nationality and statelessness. Mr. ten Feld stated that the situation of non-citizens in Latvia and Estonia is not unique because also other countries have stateless persons. At the same time, Mr ten Feld noted that the problem of non-citizenship in Latvia has to be solved because the number of non-citizens is high and one of the steps towards it would be registration to all children born in Latvia as citizens automatically.

Telegraf and Latvijas Avize reports about the discussion of experts and the Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte on the new integration program held by the internet portal www.politika.lv and www.liberali.lv. The experts criticize the new program arguing that it too much concentrates on ethnic Latvianism and does not take into account interests of Russian speaking residents. The Minister, in her turn, stated that the program can be specified a little bit but not changed conceptually.