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.

• Chas prints an interview with the newly elected Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Nils Muiznieks
• Diena interviews well-known representatives of ethnic minorities on their attitude towards the up-coming referendum
• Discussion on social integration of refugees conducted by the Ombudsmans Office and the NGO Shelter. Safe House.
• Latvian Centre for Human Rights calls upon the Prime Minister to reconsider the appointment of the former Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte as advisor on integration
• President of Latvia Andris Berzins held a round table discussion on integration issues
• MEP from Latvia Krisjanis Karins: existing education system segregates the society
• Latvijas Avize interviews head of the control department of the State Language Centre Antons Kursitis

Chas prints an interview with the newly elected Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Nils Muiznieks. According to Mr Muiznieks it is absurd that 20 years since the restoration of independence, non-citizen children continue to be born in Latvia. Mr Muiznieks also questions the proportionality of the restrictions for non-citizens to occupy several posts and professions and requirements regarding the use of state language (Latvian) in the private sector. Mr Muiznieks also believes that there is no integration policy in Latvia and the political elite is split because ethnic Latvian politicians do not trust ethnic Russians.

Diena interviews well-known representatives of ethnic minorities on their attitude towards the up-coming referendum on the Constitutional amendments granting Russian the status of a state language in Latvia. The majority of the interviewed said the referendum has evoked negative filings. Some state they will not take part in the referendum because debating the issue by way of a referendum is inaappropriate to them. Some state that they most likely will take part in the referendum but did not want to reveal how will vote. Some of the respondents did not want to discuss about their attitude.

Neatkariga reports about a discussion on the social integration of refugees conducted by the Ombudsmans Office and an NGO Shelter. Safe House. According to the Ombudsman Juris Jansons, the state does not provide sufficient support to refugees and persons granted alternative status despite all the international obligations which Latvia has accepted. The head of the Asylum Affairs Department of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs Liga Vijupe highlighted that there is no state institution responsible for further integration of a refugee or a person who has been granted alternative status in Latvia. The integration program elaborated by the Ministry of Culture does not single out the refugees as the separate target group but put places them together with immigrants from third countries. UNHCR representative Andrei Arjupin stated that it is inappropriate to put together persons who have fled their home country, most often without any documents, seeking asylum with the other immigrants. Mr Arjupin highlighted that state funded refugee integration programme is the precondition for the effective state policy.

News agensy BNS and www. diena.lv report about the call of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights upon Prime Minister V.Dombrovskis to reconsider the earlier appointment of Sarmite Elerte, former Minister of Culture, as his advisor on integration issues. LCHR draws attention to Elertes activities as Minister criticising her as having sown ethnic discord and alienated Russian speaking population. LCHR highlights that the Latvian political elite should show their commitment to engage in a long-term dialogue with minority representatives.

The President of Latvia Andris Berzins held a round table discussion on integration issues. Members of the Saeimas Society Unity Committee (ex-Citizenship Implementation Committee), political scientists and representatives of religious communities took part in the discussion. According to the Archbishop of the Latvian Catholic Church Zbignevs Stankevics, granting the status of a bank holiday to Orthodox Christmas (7 January) in Latvia would be a step towards Russian speaking residents of Latvia. Representative of the Lutheran church Juris Rubenis, in his turn, had prepared a memorandum on reconciliation based on moral values between ethnic Latvian and Russian speaking residents. Members of the Parliaments Committee, in their turn, asserted that their readiness to discuss all issues regarding the consolidation of the society. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

MEP from Latvia Krisjanis Karins (the Unity) believes that the existing bilingual education system in Latvia segregates the society. Mr Karins believes that there should be a new uniform school system named state school in which the only language of instruction would be Latvian, which would be a way to consolidate the society. Latvijas Avize

According to the Head of the Control department of the State Language Centre (SLC) Antons Kursitis, there remain no new concrete actions on the strengthening of the Latvian language in Latvia. Despite the fact that on the eve of the national referendum on the status of Russian language, the role of Latvian as the only state language has been discussed on the highest political level, nothing is done in practice to strengthen the position of Latvia. In an interview with Latvijas Avize, Mr Kursitis states that the complaints received by the SLC reflect the increase of ethnic tensions in the country.