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.

Press Report

On Friday the major Russian newspapers had enclosed a brochure explaining the naturalization process in Latvia. The Director of Human Rights and Ethnic Harmony Program Nils Muiznieks said that this brochure was a part of the Project on Integration of Non-citizens in Latvia in 1998 with the aim to inform people about the naturalization and convince them that this process is not humiliating.

On Friday the major Russian newspapers had enclosed a brochure explaining the naturalization process in Latvia. The Director of Human Rights and Ethnic Harmony Program Nils Muiznieks said that this brochure was a part of the Project on Integration of Non-citizens in Latvia in 1998 with the aim to inform people about the naturalization and convince them that this process is not humiliating. Diena

Referring to the referendum on the Citizenship Law amendments, Janis Straume argues that the referendum will only strengthen the democratic traditions in Latvia.

Referring to the referendum on the Citizenship Law amendments, Janis Straume argues that the referendum will only strengthen the democratic traditions in Latvia. Diena

On Saturday at the press conference the Mayor of Moscow Jury Luzhkov once more called for more attention to the situation in Latvia and Estonia, the information agency BNS and INTEFAX inform.

On Saturday at the press conference the Mayor of Moscow Jury Luzhkov once more called for more attention to the situation in Latvia and Estonia, the information agency BNS and INTEFAX inform. Diena

SMSubbota publishes an interview with the Advisor of the Mayor of Moscow, Alexander Pereligin in which he argues the Russian policy towards Latvia will remain the same, since nothing shows that the political conflict between Latvia and Russia has ended. Subbota

On Saturday at the Latvian Embassy in Moscow some 500 people participated in a picket protesting against the fact that starting 1 July holders of the former USSR internal passports cannot return to Latvia.

On Saturday at the Latvian Embassy in Moscow some 500 people participated in a picket protesting against the fact that starting 1 July holders of the former USSR internal passports cannot return to Latvia. B&B

Irina Vinnik, a member of the Commission on Ethnic Harmony of the Soros Fund in Latvia, publishes a letter in 

Irina Vinnik, a member of the Commission on Ethnic Harmony of the Soros Fund in Latvia, publishes a letter inChas in which she argues that integration is two-way process, since non-citizens is a value for the country while Latvia provides its residents with opportunities. Chas

Leonid Fedoseev, a journalist of CHAS, states that by implementing the existing education policy, the ruling politicians "put the bomb under the Russian schools." According to Mr. Fedoseev, the quality of teaching will drop when teachers of the Russian schools will be forced to teach their subjects in the poor Latvian language. Parents will start sending their children to the Latvian schools, and that eventually will lead to the closing of Russian schools.

Leonid Fedoseev, a journalist of CHAS, states that by implementing the existing education policy, the ruling politicians "put the bomb under the Russian schools." According to Mr. Fedoseev, the quality of teaching will drop when teachers of the Russian schools will be forced to teach their subjects in the poor Latvian language. Parents will start sending their children to the Latvian schools, and that eventually will lead to the closing of Russian schools. Chas