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.

• Discussion on the implementation of the education reform
• Amendments to the Law on Municipal Elections
• Vesti Segodnya writes about the draft National Programme against Intolerance
• Articles on the call of the MP Karlis Sadurskis to evaluate the legitimacy of a camp for young people who are against the education reform
• Professor of Russia Foreign Affairs Ministrys Diplomatic Academy Tatyana Poloskova on the situation of the Russian minority in the former USSR countries
• About possibility for non-citizens, who are the members of the citizens families, to receive a visa free of charge for travelling in the European Union

Neatkariga Rita Avize features a discussion about the implementation of the education reform. The professor and director of the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences Brigita Zepa, representative of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka and education official Baiba Petersone, who represented the Ministry of Education and Science in the development of the education reform. Baiba Petersone states that the education reform is not aimed at assimilation of minorities, but focuses on the status of Latvian language and its relation to the educational system. According to Baiba Petersone, the existence of two parallel (i.e., Russian and Latvian) education systems could result in the recognition of Russian as the second state language. While Brigita Zepa stresses the necessity to offer different models of the implementation of the education reform in order to achieve the main goal of the reform – good Latvian language proficiency of minority students. She names bilingual education as one of the models which would help to learn the language well. Another, although not so widespread, but, in her opinion, also effective model is formation of separate classes for Russian students, in which they learn in Latvian. Referring to the findings of several studies, Brigita Zepa states that intensive Latvian language studies during classes of the Latvian language are among available, however, non-effective models. The opponent of the education reform Tatjana Zdanoka is convinced that the reform is the form of forced assimilation.

The Ministry of Justice has submitted to the State Chancellery amendments to the Law on Municipal Elections which, in contradiction to the reading offered in spring, do not grant the right to ex-staff of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia and persons who were members of the Communist Party after January 13, 1991 to stand for elections.

The Ministry of Justice has submitted to the State Chancellery amendments to the Law on Municipal Elections which, in contradiction to the reading offered in spring, do not grant the right to ex-staff of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia and persons who were members of the Communist Party after January 13, 1991 to stand for elections. Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya writes about the draft National Programme against Intolerance. The newspaper criticises authors of the programme because they have paid almost none attention to language, affiliation to minorities and citizenship, however, they are the main areas where people face intolerance.

Newspapers continue to write about the call of the MP Karlis Sadurskis to evaluate the legitimacy of a camp for young people who are against the education reform.

Newspapers continue to write about the call of the MP Karlis Sadurskis to evaluate the legitimacy of a camp for young people who are against the education reform. Latvijas Avize features the statement of the deputy chairperson of the State Security Police Juris Leitietis, who confirms that the State Security Police follows activities of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools, including organisation of camps, and is informed that what was taught there. The Russian-language media features the stance of the organisers. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Chas features an interview with the professor of Russia Foreign Affairs Ministrys Diplomatic Academy Tatyana Poloskova on the situation of the Russian minority in the former USSR countries. The professor is concerned that a significant part of Russians believe that meetings and demonstrations are the only instruments to solve their problems.

Neatkariga Rita Avize reports on a possibility for non-citizens, who are immediate members of an EU citizen family, to receive a visa free of charge for travelling in the European Union according to the Directive of the European Parliament on the right of citizens of the European Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the EU.