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.

• Russian language mass media united in an action No to ethnic discrimination! as a protest against non inclusion of the Concord Centre into the governing coalition
• NGO Native Tongue promises mass manifestations against ignoring and discrimination of Russian speaking citizens
• Cabinet of Ministers approved the National Identity, Civil Society and Integration Policy Guidelines for 2012-2018

Today, the three major Russian language daily newspapers

Today, the three major Russian language daily newspapers Telegraf, Chas and Vesti Segodnya came with a big title on the front page No to ethnic discrimination! In such a way the Russian language media (including the First Baltic Channel, Radio Baltcom, Radio MixFM and internet portal mixnews.lv) express their protest against non inclusion of the Concord Centre (CC) into the governing coalition. The mass media believe that the fact that the radical nationalists union got invited in the coalition instead of the CC is discrimination of Russian speaking residents who in majority supported the CC. The mass media appeals to the President of Latvia Andris Berzins asking either to stop the ethnic discrimination and show that all citizens have equal rights, or to be honest and say that Russian speakers do not have place in the government and politics.

An NGO “Native Tongue” appeals to all persons who voted for the Concord Centre to sign for the initiative to grant Russian the status of official language in Latvia as a protest against non inclusion of the CC into the government. “Native Tongue” also states about the beginning of a mass manifestation calling to stop discrimination of Russian speaking residents in Latvia.

An NGO Native Tongue appeals to all persons who voted for the Concord Centre to sign for the initiative to grant Russian the status of official language in Latvia as a protest against non inclusion of the CC into the government. Native Tongue also states about the beginning of a mass manifestation calling to stop discrimination of Russian speaking residents in Latvia. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the National Identity, Civil Society and Integration Policy Guidelines for 2012-2018 elaborated by the Ministry of Culture. The Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte believes that respect towards diversity presumes that there should be a foundation which unites the society. According to the approved Guidelines such foundation is Latvian language, ethnic Latvian culture and common social memory.  The Guidelines defines that ethnic Latvians are the “state nation” (Staatsvolk – notion introduced in Germany in XIX century) in Latvia and that together with ethnic minorities they compose Latvian nation. Non-citizens are defined as long-term immigrants. The action plan  of the Guidelines stipulates development of the civil society and integration; strengthening national identity and positions of Latvian language; and consolidation of the social memory. Representatives of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights who took part in the yesterday’s meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers criticized the Guidelines arguing that those are too ethnocentric, ignore issue of non-citizens’ children and during its elaboration opinion of ethnic minorities organisations was not taken into account. 

Yesterday, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the National Identity, Civil Society and Integration Policy Guidelines for 2012-2018 elaborated by the Ministry of Culture. The Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte believes that respect towards diversity presumes that there should be a foundation which unites the society. According to the approved Guidelines such foundation is Latvian language, ethnic Latvian culture and common social memory. The Guidelines defines that ethnic Latvians are the state nation (Staatsvolk – notion introduced in Germany in XIX century) in Latvia and that together with ethnic minorities they compose Latvian nation. Non-citizens are defined as long-term immigrants. The action plan of the Guidelines stipulates development of the civil society and integration; strengthening national identity and positions of Latvian language; and consolidation of the social memory. Representatives of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights who took part in the yesterdays meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers criticized the Guidelines arguing that those are too ethnocentric, ignore issue of non-citizens children and during its elaboration opinion of ethnic minorities organisations was not taken into account. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya