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.

• Member of the Peoples Party Aigars Kalvitis is nominated to the post of the Prime Minister of Latvia
• President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga: I hope the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities will be ratified in a year
• BISS presents the study ‘Social Integration and Business Activities: Ethnic Aspects
• Newspapers report on the EU-Russia summit which takes place in Hague
• Interview with the Russian language teacher and member of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools Vladislavs Rafalskovs about the minority education reform
• Two Russian tourists, detained under suspect of hanging out the posters ‘Latvia, stop fascism! with symbols of SS, are expelled from Latvia

The President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga has nominated Aigars Kalvitis (the People’s Party) to the post of the Prime Minister of Latvia.

The President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga has nominated Aigars Kalvitis (the Peoples Party) to the post of the Prime Minister of Latvia. Latvijas Vestnesis, Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Rigas Balss, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

The President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga believes that the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities could be ratified by Latvia in a year. When asked whether ratification of the Convention will be included in the government’s declaration, the President said that the issue has not been discussed yet and that the decision will be taken by the new government.

The President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga believes that the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities could be ratified by Latvia in a year. When asked whether ratification of the Convention will be included in the governments declaration, the President said that the issue has not been discussed yet and that the decision will be taken by the new government. Vesti Segodnya writes that the Presidents statements concerning the Convention are results EU pressure. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

‘Positive tendencies regarding social integration in national economy have been observed: the number of ethnically mixed companies is increasing, while the number of ‘pure’ Russian and Latvian companies is dropping,’ indicates the study ‘Social Integration and Business: Ethnic Aspects,’ conducted by the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences and the Institute of Economics of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. According to the director of the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences Brigita Zepa, the concept segregated ‘Latvian’ and ‘Russian’ businesses was true in the 90-ties, however now economic interests are placed higher than ethnic factors and more attention is paid to professionalism of employees and not their ethnicity. The study says that big companies are mainly multinational, while small companies prefer mono-national staff. 49% Latvian, 20% Russian and 47% mixed companies prefer to use the Latvian language in business activities, however, in celebrations and festivities the Latvian language is used in 95% Latvian, 6% Russian and 25% mixed companies. When communicating with Latvians, usually Russian employees speak Latvian with clients of Latvian origin. The survey also indicates that non-Latvians see the state administration as too exclusive and mono-national.

‘Positive tendencies regarding social integration in national economy have been observed: the number of ethnically mixed companies is increasing, while the number of ‘pure Russian and Latvian companies is dropping, indicates the study ‘Social Integration and Business: Ethnic Aspects, conducted by the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences and the Institute of Economics of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. According to the director of the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences Brigita Zepa, the concept segregated ‘Latvian and ‘Russian businesses was true in the 90-ties, however now economic interests are placed higher than ethnic factors and more attention is paid to professionalism of employees and not their ethnicity. The study says that big companies are mainly multinational, while small companies prefer mono-national staff. 49% Latvian, 20% Russian and 47% mixed companies prefer to use the Latvian language in business activities, however, in celebrations and festivities the Latvian language is used in 95% Latvian, 6% Russian and 25% mixed companies. When communicating with Latvians, usually Russian employees speak Latvian with clients of Latvian origin. The survey also indicates that non-Latvians see the state administration as too exclusive and mono-national. Latvijas Vetnesis, Vesti Segodnya

Newspapers report on the EU-Russia summit, which takes place in Hague today. The Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins believes hat the recent statements of the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga about the necessity to speed up ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities is related to the planned discussion on minority situation in Latvia at the summit. The journalist of

Newspapers report on the EU-Russia summit, which takes place in Hague today. The Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins believes hat the recent statements of the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga about the necessity to speed up ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities is related to the planned discussion on minority situation in Latvia at the summit. The journalist of Chas Anatolijs Kamenevs believes that discussions on minority situation in Latvia will not be favourable for Latvia. Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with the Russian language teacher of the Riga Secondary School Nr. 40 and activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools Vladislavs Rafalskovs about possible consequences of the education reform. The teacher believes that the implementation of the education reform will dramatically worsen Russian language proficiency of Russian students and has a negative influence on the attitude of minority students towards studies in general. According to Vladislavs Rafalskovs, the Headquarters is planning to continue protest actions against the education reform.

Two Russian tourists, detained under suspect of hanging out the posters ‘Latvia, stop fascism!’ with symbols of SS in one of the windows of the Reval Hotel Latvia, have been expelled from Latvia.

Two Russian tourists, detained under suspect of hanging out the posters ‘Latvia, stop fascism! with symbols of SS in one of the windows of the Reval Hotel Latvia, have been expelled from Latvia. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize