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.

• Ombudsman Juris Jansons sent an open letter to the President of Latvia Andris Berzins drawing attention at problems of education quality in minority schools
• Former State Auditor General Inguna Sudraba: ethnic Latvians and ethnic minorities have similar attitude towards social issues
• Chairman of the Constitutional Court Gunars Kutris: the draft Preamble to the Constitution contains statements which can offend people

The Ombudsman Juris Jansons sent an open letter to the President of Latvia Andris Berzins drawing attention at problems of education quality in minority schools and clarifying his position regarding transfer of education in secondary schools into Latvian language only. The Ombudman says that the results of the monitoring of 49 ethnic minority schools showed that legal regulation of bilingual education is clear and precise but it is incomplete in practice. In order to ensure enforcement of legal acts, it is important to increase state control over usage of state language and education process quality in ethnic minority schools, believes the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman also proposes to ensure secondary education in Latvian language only for minority students who for a certain period (five or six years) have studied in Latvian education system preserving such subjects in minority language as native language, literature, and culture.  Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Former State Auditor General Inguna Sudraba who has announced establishment of a new people’s movement in an interview with Latvijas Avize states that ethnic Latvians and ethnic minorities have similar attitude towards social issues. At the same time, Mrs Sudraba stresses that ethnic Russian residents are much more unconfident and feel tense due to statements of certain politicians, for instance, that they are not welcomed in this country and must go away.  Mrs Sudraba also believes that non-citizens wants dignified attitude towards themselves in a daily life and not to feel tense and threats.

Neatkariga interviews the Chairman of the Constitutional Court Gunars Kutris. According to Mr Kutris, the draft Preamble to the Constitution elaborated by the head of the President’s Commission on Constitutional Rights Egils Levits is a paper written by one author which can be discussed. According to Mr Kutris, the draft Preamble contains national values which are fair for ethnic Latvians and cannot be lost. But at the same time, Mr Kutris believes that it is important to remember that every text put in the Constitution becomes a part of a legal act and, therefore, such document cannot contain legal controversies. According to Mr Kutris, the draft Preamble contains statements which can offend people and he questions whether such issues should be included in the document which is not aimed on the split in the society.