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.

• Vice-President of the European Commission Neil Kinnock visits Latvia
• Gunter Verheugen about the rights of non-citizens in the enlarged EU
• The conflict between a Latvian language teacher and students was not based on ethnic intolerance
• Russia officially refuses to extradite Vladimir Linderman to Latvia
• Boris Tsilevitch will present a report in Strasburg
• A seminar on patriotism and naturalization among secondary school students
• Leonid Fedoseyev discusses national policy in Latvia
• Two articles at www.politika.lv

During his visit to Latvia, the Vice-President of the European Commission Neil Kinnock has commented on Russia’s accusations to Latvia, saying that Latvia conforms with the criteria of the EU member states and that opinions of non-members of the EU are not binding for the EU. The European Commission has also denied the fact that the Commissioner for Enlargement of the European Commission Gunter Verheugen has compared attitude towards Russian-speakers in the Baltic States with discrimination of Roma in Europe during his visit to Moscow. According to Commissioner’s press secretary, the media has distorted Verheugen’s statements. Commissioner’s representative has also doubted Gunter Verheugen’s intentions to meet with the activists of the Latvian Human Rights Committee and the Latvian Association for the Support for Russian Schools, as was previously announced by Interfax, quoting Dmitry Rogozin.

During his visit to Latvia, the Vice-President of the European Commission Neil Kinnock has commented on Russias accusations to Latvia, saying that Latvia conforms with the criteria of the EU member states and that opinions of non-members of the EU are not binding for the EU. The European Commission has also denied the fact that the Commissioner for Enlargement of the European Commission Gunter Verheugen has compared attitude towards Russian-speakers in the Baltic States with discrimination of Roma in Europe during his visit to Moscow. According to Commissioners press secretary, the media has distorted Verheugens statements. Commissioners representative has also doubted Gunter Verheugens intentions to meet with the activists of the Latvian Human Rights Committee and the Latvian Association for the Support for Russian Schools, as was previously announced by Interfax, quoting Dmitry Rogozin. Diena, Lauku Avize

At the press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, following the EU enlargement conference in Moscow, Gunter Verheugen said that the rights of the EU citizens will not be granted to non-citizens in Estonia and Latvia automatically, but non-citizens will obtain the rights of the EU residents. He has also invited non-citizens to naturalize.

At the press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, following the EU enlargement conference in Moscow, Gunter Verheugen said that the rights of the EU citizens will not be granted to non-citizens in Estonia and Latvia automatically, but non-citizens will obtain the rights of the EU residents. He has also invited non-citizens to naturalize. Chas, Vechernaya Riga

The Latvian National Human Rights Office has concluded that the cause of the conflict between a Latvian language teacher and her students was not ethnic intolerance, but rather pedagogical and psychological problems. The students have apologized to the teacher. Another teacher will be assigned to the class.

The Latvian National Human Rights Office has concluded that the cause of the conflict between a Latvian language teacher and her students was not ethnic intolerance, but rather pedagogical and psychological problems. The students have apologized to the teacher. Another teacher will be assigned to the class. Rigas Balss

Yesterday the Prosecutor General’s Office of Russia has officially refused to extradite the leader of the Russia’s National Bolshevik party Vladimir Linderman to Latvia.

Yesterday the Prosecutor Generals Office of Russia has officially refused to extradite the leader of the Russias National Bolshevik party Vladimir Linderman to Latvia. Chas

An MP from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Boris Tsilevitch will present a report at the conference “Filling the Frame” devoted to five years anniversary of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, which will take place tomorrow in Strasbourg.

An MP from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Boris Tsilevitch will present a report at the conference Filling the Frame devoted to five years anniversary of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, which will take place tomorrow in Strasbourg. Chas

Chas reports on a seminar Strengthening the Civic Consciousness devoted to the issues of patriotism and naturalization among secondary school students. During discussion organized by the Naturalization Board and the Department for Education, Youth and Sports Affairs of the Riga City Council, the participants have concluded that girls naturalize more actively, while boys see the citizens obligation to serve in the army as the main argument against naturalization.

Chas columnist Leonid Fedoseyev reviews the history of national policy in Latvia. According to him, Latvia has been a multicultural state of nations since the establishment of the Latvian state.

Public policy portal

Public policy portal www.politika.lv publishes an article by representative of the Russian Community of Latvia Aleksandr Rzhavin about inevitable assimilation of Russians and other minorities in Latvia and the victory of ethnocracy over democracy. Another article by a journalist from Komersant Baltic Daily Danuta Dombrovska discusses the issue of granting voting rights to non-citizens on municipal elections.