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.

Press Report

Director of the Human Rights Bureau Olafs Bruvers in an interview for

Director of the Human Rights Bureau Olafs Bruvers in an interview for "NEATKARIGA" singled out two categories of human rights problems encountered in Latvia. Resolving one group of problems would require financing. Those include social benefits for elderly people or improving living conditions in prisons. Still, resolving some of the problems would not require any financing. The rights of individuals are often violated by bureaucrats. Mr. Bruvers believes that officials should be educated and taught to treat each individual with respect. Mr. Bruvers named non-implementation of court decrees the most important problem he had to deal with as a State Minister of Human Rights. Neatkariga

Head of the Naturalization Board Eizenija Aldermane in a TV talk-show explained the low pace of naturalization by frequent changes of "political accents". She believes that many potential applicants expect the law to be "softened". She admitted that people over thirty years of age dominated among applicants for naturalization. Mrs. Aldermane stressed the importance of a program aimed at supporting the forming of civic society in Latvia. The program is supported by the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, the State Human Rights Office, the CID, the OSCE Mission to Latvia and the Soros Foundation. Mrs. Aldermane believes that naturalization tests are not too complicated; the history test has been simplified while text-books to be used by applicants are widely available.

Head of the Naturalization Board Eizenija Aldermane in a TV talk-show explained the low pace of naturalization by frequent changes of "political accents". She believes that many potential applicants expect the law to be "softened". She admitted that people over thirty years of age dominated among applicants for naturalization. Mrs. Aldermane stressed the importance of a program aimed at supporting the forming of civic society in Latvia. The program is supported by the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, the State Human Rights Office, the CID, the OSCE Mission to Latvia and the Soros Foundation. Mrs. Aldermane believes that naturalization tests are not too complicated; the history test has been simplified while text-books to be used by applicants are widely available. SM