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.

• Picket for humane attitude towards asylum seekers held in Riga
• Representatives of the NGOs and state institutions took part in a public discussion “Role of NGOs in Integration of Refugees in Latvia”
• Neatkariga interviews theformer European Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs about the influx of asylum seekers to Europe

Yesterday, a group of mainly young people, held a picket in support of asylum seekers in Latvia. The organisers wanted to show that Latvian residents do care and welcome persons from conflict zones irrespective of their ethnic or religious affiliation. According to one of the organizers of the picket, the reception of 250 persons is too small and 2,500 asylum seekers would be a more adequate number for Latvia. Several persons protested against the picket. The picket was held in front of the Ministry of Culture which is the responsible institution for integration issues. An official of the Ministry invited the representatives of both parties to meet the Minister of Culture. Latvijas Avize, Diena

Newspapers report about a public discussion “The Role of NGOs in the Integration of Refugees in Latvia” organised by the head of the Arabic Culture Centre, MP Hosam Abu Meri in cooperation with an NGO “Shelter. Safe House.” Representatives of ministries and NGOs working with asylum seekers and refugees, as well as, two asylum seekers from Syria took part in the discussion. The asylum seekers spoke about the situation in their homeland and reasons why they decided to seek asylum in Europe. Hosam Abu Meri criticized the fact that refugees from Muslim countries are often perceived as terrorists. There are about 200 people of Arabic origin living in Latvia and they are well integrated, proficient in Latvian, and employed in different professions, said Mr Abu Meri. According to the head of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights (LCHR) A.Kamenska, integration of refugees in Latvia will be a long-term process. She stressed that the existing capacity of NGOs is too small to provide assistance to a larger number of asylum seekers. In recent years around 400 asylum seekers turned to the LCHR for assistance, and over 200 asylum seekers received legal aid, while and 60 were granted either refugee and subsidiary status in Latvia. Neatkariga, Diena

Neatkariga interviews theformer European Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs about the influx of asylum seekers toEurope. According to Mr Piebalgs, accommodation of 250 asylum seekers in Latvia does not solve the problem of influx of asylum seekers to Europe and is only a gesture of solidarity with Italy, Malta and Greece. Mr Piebalgs considers that the main criteria in selecting asylum seekers to be accommodated in Latvia is their desire to become Latvian citizens, learn Latvian language, and pay taxis. Asylum seekers have to attach their lives withLatvia until the moment it is safe to return to their country of origin.