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.

• Newspapers reports about annual parliamentary foreign policy debates
• Number of non-citizens decreased from 13% to 12,1% during 2014
• Vesti Segodnya interviews the head of the Islam Cultural Centre in Latvia Imrans Olegs Petrovs
• French Ambassador to Latvia Stephane Visconti: it is wrong to link the huge Muslim community with few terrorists
• The MP Boriss Cilevics: cooperation agreement between the Concord and the United Russia is difficult to implement

Newspapers reports about annual parliamentary foreign policy debates conducted yesterday. The report by the Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed the security challenges the EU faces, such as conflict in Ukraine, relations with Russia, and terrorist attack in Paris. The MP, the Parliamentary Secretary of the Prime Minister Rihards Kols representing the opinion of the National Union criticized the Minister Rinkevics for too soft position regarding Russia. He also said that Latvia should have definite position on immigration issues. But commenting the possible introduction of quotas for admission of immigrants by the EU member states, Mr Kols said that “Latvia already fully complied with its quota by 260,000 non-citizens residing in Latvia.” Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga, Diena

According to the Naturalisation Board of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, there are 262,000 non-citizens currently residing in Latvia. During 2014, the number of non-citizens decreased from 13% to 12,1% of the total Latvia’s population. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya interviews the head of the Islam Cultural Centre in Latvia Imrans Olegs Petrovs. He condemned the terrorist attack in Paris, but, at the same time, he also condemned the cartoons insulting feeling of many people. Mr Petrovs believes that it is a task of law enforcement bodies to protect feelings of people. Mr Petrovs also says that the interest towards the local Muslim community from the security services and journalists has increased after the attack. According to him, there are about 400 practising Muslims in Latvia out of 5-10,000 Muslims living in the country.

Neatkariga prints an interview with the French Ambassador to Latvia Stephane Visconti. The Ambassador does not agree to an assertion that the terrorist attack in an evidence that integration policy in France has failed. Mr Visconti stresses that it is wrong to link the huge Muslim community with few terrorists who commit crimes in the name of Islam.

The MP, member of the political party Concord Boriss Cilevics, stated that it is difficult to implement the cooperation agreement between the Concord and Russia’s governing party United Russia at present. According the Mr Cilevics the party supports the territorial integrity of Ukraine and, therefore, it is difficult to hold conversations with Russia. He also does not see it necessary to terminate the agreement because the Concord wants to preserve all the options for dialogue. He stressed that the agreement is not about subordination or friendship with Russia but only about mutual consultations. Latvijas Avize