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.

• Newspapers report on recommendations of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Rolf Ekeus
• Eiropean Parliaments member Robers Zile: prospective Commissioner for Freedom, Security and Justice Rocco Buttiglione intervenes into domestic affairs of Latvia
• Meeting of the chairman of the Department of Ethnic Minority Affairs of the Special Tasks Ministers for Societal Integration Secretariat Irina Vinnika and the head of the Riga City Council City Development Committee Andris Ameriks

Newspapers report on the visit of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Rolf Ekeus to Latvia. Commissioner has repeatedly recommended Latvia to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and with fewer reservations as possible. During the Commissioner’s meeting with the Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee a definition of the term ‘minority’ and a possibility to award the status ‘new immigrants’ to persons, who arrived to Latvia after World War II, were also among discussion topics. According to

Newspapers report on the visit of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Rolf Ekeus to Latvia. Commissioner has repeatedly recommended Latvia to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and with fewer reservations as possible. During the Commissioners meeting with the Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee a definition of the term ‘minority and a possibility to award the status ‘new immigrants to persons, who arrived to Latvia after World War II, were also among discussion topics. According to Vesti Segodnya, the Commissioner has stated that Latvia may not unify the status of persons permanently living in Latvia with the status of the persons, arrived in Latvia after its accession to the EU. Regarding the implementation of the education reform, Rolf Ekeus has stated that the particular attention should be paid to the maintenance of the quality of minority education, evaluation of minority schools on individual basis and continuation of a dialogue between all stakeholders. ‘If I need to be critical, the dialogue with all the parts involved has not been fully implemented yet, said the High Commissioner. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

The member of the European Parliament Robers Zile has issued a statement, in response to the concerns of the prospective Commissioner for Freedom, Security and Justice Rocco Buttiglione about violation of non-citizens rights in Latvia. Roberts Zile believes that Buttiglione’s statement is intervention in the domestic affairs of Latvia. Robers Zile noted that Latvia provides rights to participate in municipal elections to all EU citizens.

The member of the European Parliament Robers Zile has issued a statement, in response to the concerns of the prospective Commissioner for Freedom, Security and Justice Rocco Buttiglione about violation of non-citizens rights in Latvia. Roberts Zile believes that Buttigliones statement is intervention in the domestic affairs of Latvia. Robers Zile noted that Latvia provides rights to participate in municipal elections to all EU citizens. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya features an article about the meeting of the chairman of the Department of Ethnic Minority Affairs of the Special Tasks Ministers for Societal Integration Secretariat Irina Vinnika and the head of the Riga City Council City Development Committee Andris Ameriks. Both officials discussed the possible co-operation in the area of social integration. Andris Ameriks believes that the Riga City Council should form a new structure which would be composed of representatives of ethnic minority organisations.