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.

• Latvijas Avize reports about a conference Dialogue of Cultures in United Society
• The Central Statistical Bureau developed a draft Classifier of Ethnicities

 

Latvijas Avize reports about a conference Dialogue of Cultures in United Society organised by the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (IUMSILS in its Latvian acronym) within the framework of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue. Participants have discussed the roles of majority and minority cultures in to intercultural dialogue, cultural pluralism and social integration. A representative of the University of Latvia stated that reserving only one particular culture a central role would produce cultural monologue, not dialogue. An MEP and a former Minister of Culture Rihards Piks emphasised that cultural dialogue in Latvia is only permissible when Latvian culture has a central place among other cultures, while the culture and values of the main group should be given greater support.

 A draft “Classifier of Ethnicities” developed by the Central Statistical Bureau envisages granting every group a unique number for the purposes of statistics. The criteria of inclusion of groups into the list are not clear: the “Classifier” includes categories such as “French” and “Breton”, “Libyan Arab” and simply “Tunisian”, yet does not mention “Latgalians”. The draft will be considered by the Cabinet of Ministers next week.

A draft Classifier of Ethnicities developed by the Central Statistical Bureau envisages granting every group a unique number for the purposes of statistics. The criteria of inclusion of groups into the list are not clear: the Classifier includes categories such as French and Breton, Libyan Arab and simply Tunisian, yet does not mention Latgalians. The draft will be considered by the Cabinet of Ministers next week. Vesti Segodnya