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.

• Parliamentarians compare ethnic situations in Latvia and France
• FFLNIM suggests amendments to the Citizenship Law
• Head of the Saeima Human Rights Committee about tolerance in Latvia

Yesterday the Saeima’s Integration Subcommittee discussed conflicts in France and possibilities of such conflicts in Latvia. The Head of the Saeima’s Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee Ingrida Circene believed that the conflict in France is the result of the unsuccessful integration policy. Dzintars Abikis (The People’s Party) argued that situations in France and in Latvia were not comparable, because in Latvia national minorities belong to the Christian faith besides there are no differences in regard to living standards of Latvians and ethnic minorities. The Head of the Foreign Policy Institute Atis Lejins believed that France should consider Latvia’s experience in  ethnic  integration. The Head of the Anti-discrimination Policy Department of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Denis Hanovs stated that the Latvian government should pay attention to integration issues at practical level.

Yesterday the Saeimas Integration Subcommittee discussed conflicts in France and possibilities of such conflicts in Latvia. The Head of the Saeimas Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee Ingrida Circene believed that the conflict in France is the result of the unsuccessful integration policy. Dzintars Abikis (The Peoples Party) argued that situations in France and in Latvia were not comparable, because in Latvia national minorities belong to the Christian faith besides there are no differences in regard to living standards of Latvians and ethnic minorities. The Head of the Foreign Policy Institute Atis Lejins believed that France should consider Latvias experience in ethnic integration. The Head of the Anti-discrimination Policy Department of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Denis Hanovs stated that the Latvian government should pay attention to integration issues at practical level. Chas, Vesti Segondya

The Saeima’s faction For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM has developed draft amendments to the Citizenship Law. According to the draft amendments persons who arrived in Latvia during the USSR’s regime should not be entitled to naturalisation. The rights to naturalization should be granted to  persons who arrived in Latvia after 1 July, 1992, and former citizens of Lithuania, Estonia, and Poland. The draft amendments stipulate that loyalty of the naturalization applicant should be confirmed by two Latvian citizens.

The Saeimas faction For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM has developed draft amendments to the Citizenship Law. According to the draft amendments persons who arrived in Latvia during the USSRs regime should not be entitled to naturalisation. The rights to naturalization should be granted to persons who arrived in Latvia after 1 July, 1992, and former citizens of Lithuania, Estonia, and Poland. The draft amendments stipulate that loyalty of the naturalization applicant should be confirmed by two Latvian citizens. Latvijas Avize

In

In Diena the Head of the Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee Ingdrida Circene talks about tolerance. Ingrida Circene believes that the specific history of Latvia explains ethnic intolerance in Latvia. She notes, that the growing number of naturalized citizens is a positive tendency, because it shows that the command of the Latvian language is improving.. Ingrida Circene argues that the level of tolerance in Latvia is still higher than in other Eastern European countries.