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.

• Ex-leader of the nationalists’ party Janis Straume: ethnic peace is the most important issue for Latvia

Vesti Segodnya interviews ex-leader of the nationalists’ party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM Janis Straume (not active politician at present). According to Mr Straume, ethnic peace is the most important issue for Latvia because if there is ethnic peace there will be economic breakthrough, stability and improvement of demographic situation.  Janis Straume believes that the results of the elections to the Riga City Council when the vast majority voted for the union of the Concord Centre and the Honour to Serve Riga showed the real integration, because ethnically mixed electorate voted for the joint list of ethnic Russians and ethnic Latvians. Mr Straume believes that the Concord Centre has chances to repeat the success in the up-coming parliamentary election and establish coalition with rationally minded ethnic Latvian politicians.