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.

• Government will review the draft amendments to the regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers on naturalisation procedure proposed by the Ministry of Justice
• The Concord Centre asks the Prime Minister of Latvia Aigars Kalvitis to sign social agreement between Latvia and Russia

This week the government will review the draft amendments to the regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers on naturalisation procedure proposed by the Ministry of Justice. According to the draft project the graduates of minority secondary schools will be released from the naturalisation test of the Latvian language if s/he passes the Latvian language exam with one of the three grades – A, B, C. Currently graduates, who have D are also released from the test. The draft amendments also stipulate that if an applicant does not pass the tests third time, the Naturalisation Board stops revision of his/her application for naturalisation. Revision will be also stopped if the applicant does not attend the test in Latvian language and within two months fails to provide evidence justifying his/her absence.

This week the government will review the draft amendments to the regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers on naturalisation procedure proposed by the Ministry of Justice. According to the draft project the graduates of minority secondary schools will be released from the naturalisation test of the Latvian language if s/he passes the Latvian language exam with one of the three grades – A, B, C. Currently graduates, who have D are also released from the test. The draft amendments also stipulate that if an applicant does not pass the tests third time, the Naturalisation Board stops revision of his/her application for naturalisation. Revision will be also stopped if the applicant does not attend the test in Latvian language and within two months fails to provide evidence justifying his/her absence. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Political party “The Concord Centre” has sent an open letter to the Prime Minister of Latvia Aigars Kalvitis asking to sign a social agreement between Latvia and Russia, which would stipulate that the number of employment years, which the non-citizen served not on the territory of Latvia during the Soviet period, would be included in the total number of employment years. As reported, according effective legal norms, the length of service of non-citizens retired after 1 January 1996 includes only time period spent on Latvian territory. “The Concord Centre” believes that the social agreement between two countries would help to improve the financial situation of a part of Latvian residents.

Political party The Concord Centre has sent an open letter to the Prime Minister of Latvia Aigars Kalvitis asking to sign a social agreement between Latvia and Russia, which would stipulate that the number of employment years, which the non-citizen served not on the territory of Latvia during the Soviet period, would be included in the total number of employment years. As reported, according effective legal norms, the length of service of non-citizens retired after 1 January 1996 includes only time period spent on Latvian territory. The Concord Centre believes that the social agreement between two countries would help to improve the financial situation of a part of Latvian residents. Chas