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.

• Riga City Council does not authorise a procession against the education reform
• Number of non-Latvians who are interested in learning the Latvian language increases
• Activist of the Headquarters talks about the goals of the Congress of the Russian Community
• Conference for foreign diplomats about current issues in the area of societal integration
• Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks calls Russia to recognise the occupation of the Baltic States
• Vice-mayor of the Riga City Council Sergejs Dolgopolovs expresses his opinion about motivation of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools to protest against the education reform
• Article by the historian Leo Dribins on the formation of Jewish and Ukrainian identities in Latvia during last two years
• Latvijas Avize reports on the visit of state officials to Moscow to explain the necessity of the education reform in Latvia
• Reportage about the hunger strike against the education reform

The Riga City Council has not authorised a procession against the education reform, planned by the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools. The Riga City Council justified their decision with the ‘categorical recommendations of the police.’

The Riga City Council has not authorised a procession against the education reform, planned by the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools. The Riga City Council justified their decision with the ‘categorical recommendations of the police. Diena, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Yesterday numerous non-Latvians waited in a queue as of 6 am to apply for free of charge Latvian language courses. The Societal Integration Foundation has allocated 160,000 lats to offer Latvian language courses free of charge for 2,700 non-Latvians. The director of the Societal Integration Foundation Nils Sakss reported that this year the interest about Latvian language courses has considerably increased. However, the Director also expressed his concern about the future of courses, as it is not clear whether the state will provide funding in the future.

Yesterday numerous non-Latvians waited in a queue as of 6 am to apply for free of charge Latvian language courses. The Societal Integration Foundation has allocated 160,000 lats to offer Latvian language courses free of charge for 2,700 non-Latvians. The director of the Societal Integration Foundation Nils Sakss reported that this year the interest about Latvian language courses has considerably increased. However, the Director also expressed his concern about the future of courses, as it is not clear whether the state will provide funding in the future. Diena, Telegraf

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with Aleksandrs Kazakovs, the activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools and the advisor of the Russia State Councils deputy speaker Dmitry Rogozin. The key discussion subject was goals of the Congress of the Russian Community. Aleksandrs Kazakovs believes that there is a necessity to form an organised Russian as well as Latvian community in Latvia as the specific interests of both communities do not coincide with the states interests. He stresses that a dialogue should be built directly between these two strictly divided communities and the state would be only the third player. When asked about the forthcoming protest actions against the education reform, Aleksandrs Kazakovs states that the Headquarters has asked their young activists to choose whether to attend the protest meeting organised by the Headquarters or the rock concert organised by the Ministry of Education and if they choose the latter they should not have the symbols of the Headquarters on them. He believes that there is no conflict possibility in the protest meeting organised by the Headquarters as it will assemble people with common views and stances, but is very concerned about a conflict possibility in the rock concert.

Yesterday the Foreign Affairs Ministry organised a briefing for foreign diplomats in Latvia on current issues in the area of societal integration, minority education reform and naturalisation.

Yesterday the Foreign Affairs Ministry organised a briefing for foreign diplomats in Latvia on current issues in the area of societal integration, minority education reform and naturalisation. Latvijas Avize

The Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks has called Russia to recognise the occupation of the Baltic States in 1940 in the annual meeting of foreign affair ministers of the Baltic States and Nordic countries.

The Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks has called Russia to recognise the occupation of the Baltic States in 1940 in the annual meeting of foreign affair ministers of the Baltic States and Nordic countries. Rigas Balss, Chas, Telegraf

Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with the vice-mayor of the Riga City Council Sergejs Dolgopolovs about motivation of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools to protest against the education reform. Sergejs Dolgopolovs believes that there is obvious disagreement among members of the Headquarters: a part of activists are idealists, while others use the education reform as a political instrument to satisfy their personal ambitions. The vice-mayor is convinced that the problem of the education reform cannot be solved by protest actions.

Diena features an article by the historian Leo Dribins about the formation of Jewish and Ukrainian identities in Latvia during last two years. According to the author, many Ukrainians recognise that their identity is divided and they have two - Ukrainian and Russian identities. Leo Dribins believes that it is a consequence of Soviet identity, in which the linguistic part had a determining role while ethnic and national line was defeated. Leo Dribins notes that civic identification of Ukrainians in Latvia is slow, because only 20% of Ukrainians are naturalized. Meanwhile Jews of Latvia perceive Latvia as their native country and relate their future to that, while Israel is perceived as the protector of all Jews. 34% Jews are not Latvian citizens.

Latvijas Avize features an interview with the head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane about the visit of a delegation of state officials to Moscow to explain the necessity of the education reform in Latvia. The columnist Maris Antonevics describes the visit as useless because it is impossible to switch the ‘Russia machine of propaganda into a favourable direction by giving few interviews.

Vesti Segodnya prints a large reportage about the hunger strike against the education reform. The newspaper condemns state officials about their disinterest in meeting with participants of the hunger strike. The newspaper states that state officials are more interested in opinions of directors who are easy to manipulate than opinions of parents defending the interests of their children.