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

Belarus Foreign Ministry wants to get official explanations from Latvia over remarks by Defence Minister Girts Valdis Kristovskis that Belarus is a possibly unfriendly country to Latvia. Kristovskis allegedly had said in an interview published by Riga's weekly newspaper

Belarus Foreign Ministry wants to get official explanations from Latvia over remarks by Defence Minister Girts Valdis Kristovskis that Belarus is a possibly unfriendly country to Latvia. Kristovskis allegedly had said in an interview published by Riga's weekly newspaper Subbota Friday edition: "Our possible opponent objectively is located in the East. We have 80 kilometres long border with Belarus. Europe objectively believes that there is the last totalitarian regime in Europe". Moreover, Kristovskis had added that this is an official position. The defence minister also said "Russia regards the Baltics as potential arena of warfare". Commenting on these statements by Kristovskis the Belarus Foreign Ministry spokesman Pavel Lotushko told the Interfax agency that "Belarus has never regarded and is not going to regard the Republic of Latvia as a potential military opponent". Belarus Foreign Ministry believes the remarks by Latvian defence minister are in contradiction with the existing political and economic relations between the two countries. Belarus attracts attention of the Latvian government at the fact that such statements are inadmissible and stresses that it hopes to receive official explanations. Diena, Neatkariga, Vesti Segodnja, Chas

On Sunday night unknown vandals had thrown bottles with black paint at Latvian embassy building in Moscow. This is already the second accident during the previous week.

On Sunday night unknown vandals had thrown bottles with black paint at Latvian embassy building in Moscow. This is already the second accident during the previous week. Diena, Neatkariga, Jauna, Vesti Segodnja, Chas, Panorama Latvii