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 discuss the ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
• Article about difficulties to register a child, whose one parent is non-citizen of Latvia, but other – the citizen of Russia
• Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools plans new protest actions
• Latvijas Avize continues the discussion about the statements of the Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins

Latvijas Avize features an interview with the Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks, who is also a member of the working group dealing with preparation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities for ratification. Artis Pabriks believes that it would be good to ratify the Convention till June, however, he has doubts that all coalition partners are ready to ratify the Convention. When asked to comment on the minority definition, the Minister states that the goal of the minority definition is to distinguish soviet immigrants from traditional minorities. While Telegraf criticises the stance of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Ainars Latkovskis who said that only those minorities, which have lived in Latvia for at least 100 years, will be regarded as national minorities. The newspaper also provides the views of the representative of Latvia to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Boris Cilevics, who has stated that the ratification of the Convention with such reservations will intensify the criticism of European institutions towards Latvia.

Latvijas Avize prints an article about difficulties to register the child, whose one parent is non-citizen of Latvia, but other – the citizen of Russia. For the moment there are 5 children, which have been refused to be registered as Latvian citizens or non-citizens by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs. The newspaper features cases of two families. In both cases state institutions suggested these families to register their child as a citizen of a foreign country. The legal officer of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs Janis Pitkovskis suggested solution is that these children are registered as Russian citizens, and then as soon as possible renounce their citizenship, while their mothers should apply for naturalisation and then naturalise together with their children. The parents of children disagree with a complicated and absurd solution offered by OCMA and one family will apply with the European Court of Human Rights.

If Latvia does not ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities till May, the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools in collaboration with the United Congress of the Russian Community in Latvia will organise a mass meeting near the Monument of Freedom on 4 May. May 4 is the day when the anniversary of the Proclamation of Latvia’s Independence Declaration is marked. Representatives of the Headquarters state that the goal of the mass meeting is to show the international community that a part of society does not regard 4 May as a day of celebration because on this day Latvia’s society was divided into citizens and non-citizens, since that day the Russian language was deprived its status, etc. The organisers believe that approximately 3,000 people could participate in the meeting. The Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks and Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Ainars Latkovskis announced that the government will not respond to these categorical demands.

If Latvia does not ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities till May, the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools in collaboration with the United Congress of the Russian Community in Latvia will organise a mass meeting near the Monument of Freedom on 4 May. May 4 is the day when the anniversary of the Proclamation of Latvias Independence Declaration is marked. Representatives of the Headquarters state that the goal of the mass meeting is to show the international community that a part of society does not regard 4 May as a day of celebration because on this day Latvias society was divided into citizens and non-citizens, since that day the Russian language was deprived its status, etc. The organisers believe that approximately 3,000 people could participate in the meeting. The Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks and Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Ainars Latkovskis announced that the government will not respond to these categorical demands.

The Headquarters will also organise other actions. On 4 April there will be a meeting near the building of the Constitutional Court when the claim of left wing MPs challenging the compliance of the minority education reform to the Constitution of Latvia and international standards will be reviewed. On 17 April the second Congress of the Defenders of Russian-language schools will take place.

The Headquarters will also organise other actions. On 4 April there will be a meeting near the building of the Constitutional Court when the claim of left wing MPs challenging the compliance of the minority education reform to the Constitution of Latvia and international standards will be reviewed. On 17 April the second Congress of the Defenders of Russian-language schools will take place. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Vesti segodnya, Telegraf

Latvijas Avize continues a discussion about the statements of the Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins (Peoples Party) and possible sanctions, such as dismissal of Kirsteins from his post. The newspaper features views of the leaders of governing political parties. According to the newspaper, only the Peoples Party perceives the statements of Kirsteins regarding national minorities and integration as a problem.