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 continue discussions on the minority definition developed by the government
• President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barosso talks about observation of minority rights in the Baltic States
• Telegraf reports on the decision of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to form a new Subcommittee on Minority Rights
• Head of Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins talks about the necessity to revise naturalisation procedure
• Minority representatives about their meeting with the USA President George W.Bush

Newspapers continue to hold discussions on the minority definition developed by the government for the purposes of the Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities. As reported, the national minority definition will include only Latvian citizens who reside in Latvia permanently, have long-term relations with the country, differ from the core nation on the grounds of ethnicity, language, culture and religion and want to maintain their culture and identity.

Newspapers continue to hold discussions on the minority definition developed by the government for the purposes of the Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities. As reported, the national minority definition will include only Latvian citizens who reside in Latvia permanently, have long-term relations with the country, differ from the core nation on the grounds of ethnicity, language, culture and religion and want to maintain their culture and identity. Diena features comments of several minority and international law experts. The lecturer of the Riga Graduate School of Law Kristine Kruma states that the UN Human Rights Committee and the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination are against linking of minorities with citizenship. According to the lecturer, the Constitution of Latvia also does not restrict minority rights on the basis of citizenship. The director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Ilze Brands Kehre believes that the inclusion of citizenship criteria in the definition actually means the restriction of the term ‘national minority, which is not desirable. The former Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Nils Muiznieks states that the proposed definition is a compromise. He believes Russia and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will criticise Latvia if the proposed definition will be adopted. The MP Boris Tsilevich in an interview with a Russian-language newspaper states that the proposed definition of national minorities is discriminatory against non-citizens. Diena, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

‘All European Union member states, including the Baltics, should observe minority rights,’ stated the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barosso in his interview with the Russian radio station ‘Eho Moskvi’ yesterday. According to

‘All European Union member states, including the Baltics, should observe minority rights, stated the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barosso in his interview with the Russian radio station ‘Eho Moskvi yesterday. According to Chas, Mr. Barosso stated that all residents of these countries should be granted the possibility to acquire citizenship of the country of their residence and be granted equal rights. Chas

Telegraf reports on the decision of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to form a new Subcommittee on Minority Rights. The chairman of the Subcommittee could be the Saeima MP Boris Tsilevich (Peoples Harmony Party).

Neatkariga Rita Avize prints an article by the Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins about the necessity to revise naturalisation procedure. The MP believes that amendments which would prevent the acquisition of Latvian citizenship by persons who are far from the Latvian society and culture should be adopted.

Latvijas Avize prints comments of several minority representatives about their meeting with the USA President George W.Bush. Representative of the Romani community Vanda Zamicka-Bergendale stated that she talked about discrimination against Roma in the job market and low integration level of Roma into Latvian society. Zamicka-Bergendale also expressed the hope that more effective cooperation between the government and the Romani community will be developed in the future. While the chairperson of the medical equipment company ‘Lesmed Olga Cibe pointed that Latvian and minorities have equal possibilities in doing business. Teacher of the Belorussian language at the Riga Belorussian Elementary School stressed that Belorussians should be integrated into Latvian society through its educational system.