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.

• An interview with the Special Assignments Minister for Society Integration Ainars Latkovskis
• MP of the European Parliament Tatjana Zdanoka will prepare the report about the human rights situation in the European Union
• Latvijas Avize reports on hearing in the case of Saeima MP Aleksandrs Kirsteins against the Russian-language newspaper Chas
• Neatkariga Rita Avize prints an interview with the 100,000th naturalised person in Latvia
• Opinion poll shows that youth in Russia have positive attitude towards Latvia and Latvians

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Special Assignments Minister for Society Integration Ainars Latkovskis (The New Era) about society integration in Latvia and activities of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools. The minister considers the statements of left-wing politicians and the chair of the party Latvias Way Ivars Godmanis about the existence of the two-community society in Latvia a ‘pure bluff. At the same time the minister confirms the plan of his secretariat to improve the society integration programme. Latkovskis also refutes any possibility to develop a dialogue with the representatives of the Headquarters, the organisation which, according to the minister, is becoming ever more radicalised and plans to involve the National Bolsheviks and other radical organisations in their activities to provoke incidents. The minister also foresees that the party New Era will not support the candidature of Nils Muiznieks for the post of the director of the Latvian National Human Rights Office.

The Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs of the European Parliament has nominated the MP of the European Parliament Tatjana Zdanoka to prepare the report about the human rights situation in the European Union. In interview to

The Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs of the European Parliament has nominated the MP of the European Parliament Tatjana Zdanoka to prepare the report about the human rights situation in the European Union. In interview to Vesti Segodnya Tatjana Zdanoka confirms that she is also planning to continue to struggle for the implementation of a visa-free regime for non-citizens living in the EU as well as for the withdrawal of the in her view unfounded naturalisation restrictions in Latvia. Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize reports on a court hearing in the case of former head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins against the Russian-language newspaper Chas. In the article How the patriot Kirsteins was nearly deprived of Latvian citizenship, published on 16 December 2004, the newspaper allowed for the possibility that Kisteins has received his Latvian citizenship in a suspicious way changing his surname from Russian ‘Slivkins to ‘Kirsteins. According to the MP, during the investigation of the Prosecutors General Office and the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs no violation of law was discovered and hence the information spread by the newspaper should be regarded as slanderous and violating his honour and dignity. Kirsteins demands the newspaper to recall this information.

Neatkariga Rita Avize prints an interview with a 100,000th naturalised person in Latvia, the youth of age 17 Deniss Rostovskis. According to the newspaper, his sister and mother has also naturalised in company with him.

“Youth in Russia have positive attitude towards Latvia and Latvians,” states the activist of the Riga Bureau of the European Students Forum Inga Zalite, referring to an opinion poll recently conducted by this organisation in Moscow. According to Zalite, the views of the older generation differ from the opinion of youth. For example, one part of them believes that Latvia still belongs to the Soviet Union and that Latvians are fascists.

Youth in Russia have positive attitude towards Latvia and Latvians, states the activist of the Riga Bureau of the European Students Forum Inga Zalite, referring to an opinion poll recently conducted by this organisation in Moscow. According to Zalite, the views of the older generation differ from the opinion of youth. For example, one part of them believes that Latvia still belongs to the Soviet Union and that Latvians are fascists. Latvijas Avize