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.

• Artis Pabriks: boarder agreement with Russia could be signed during the first half of the year
• Approximately 100 people participate in a protest action against the education reform
• Latvijas Avize criticises Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks for speaking Russian during the radio broadcast

Foreign Affairs Minister of Latvia Artis Pabriks concedes that the boarder agreement with Russia could be signed during the first half of this year. According to Pabriks, during his telephone conversation with the Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov last Friday, the latter confirmed readiness to separate issue of signing the border agreement from the issue of signing the political declaration. Representative of the For Human Rights in the United Latvia Miroslavs Mitrofanovs, interviewed by

Foreign Affairs Minister of Latvia Artis Pabriks concedes that the boarder agreement with Russia could be signed during the first half of this year. According to Pabriks, during his telephone conversation with the Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov last Friday, the latter confirmed readiness to separate issue of signing the border agreement from the issue of signing the political declaration. Representative of the For Human Rights in the United Latvia Miroslavs Mitrofanovs, interviewed by Vesti Segodnya, comments that Latvian Russian-speakers would gain more if Moscow did not agree to sign the border agreement so quickly and continued to express concern about minority rights situation in Latvia. He adds that nevertheless there is no reason to worry about Russia suddenly changing priorities and abandoning Russian-speakers. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Approximately 100 people, mainly teenagers and pensioners, participated in a protest action against the education reform ‘About Reform with a Smile’ which took place last Saturday. According to

Approximately 100 people, mainly teenagers and pensioners, participated in a protest action against the education reform ‘About Reform with a Smile which took place last Saturday. According to Diena, participants were also called to vote for the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia in the forthcoming municipal elections. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Latvijas Avize prints an article by the columnist Aija Calite in which she reproaches Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks for using Russian language during the discussion broadcasted by the Latvian Radio programme ‘Doma laukums (‘Dome Square), which usually broadcasts in Russian. Aija Calite believes that the state official should use only Latvian language in such situations.