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.

• 17,000 children of non-citizens have the right to receive Latvian citizenship
• Common examination on state language for students of all schools starting with the next school year
• Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the advisor of the Minister of Culture on integration issues Andrejs Berdnikovs
• Ruling coalition have difficulty finding candidates for the post of the Ombudsman
• Saeimas Human Rights and Social Affairs Committee did not support proposal to proclaim 16 March as the official commemoration day

According the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, there are 17,000 children of non-citizens who have the right to receive Latvian citizenship. Parents of these children for various reasons did not register them as citizens.

According the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, there are 17,000 children of non-citizens who have the right to receive Latvian citizenship. Parents of these children for various reasons did not register them as citizens. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya reports that starting with the next school year there will be a common examination on state language for students of Latvian language schools and minorities schools. According to a representative of the Ministry of Education, Latvian language is not foreign language for ethnic minorities because it is the state language. All studies conducted by the Ministry show that ethnic non-Latvian children show high results in Latvian and the level of language proficiency considerably increased after the reformation 2004.

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the advisor to the Minister of Culture on integration issues Andrejs Berdnikovs. According to Mr. Berdnikovs, the main task of integration is to overcome two-community society and to establish state nation with clear elements of political nation. The foundation for such state nation, in the vision of the Ministry, is Latvian language, ethnic Latvian culture, Latvian citizenship, loyalty towards the state. Mr. Berdnikovs believes that such model of integration policy allows residents to maintain various identities in private sphere.

Diena reports that members of the ruling coalition have difficulty finding candidates for the post of the Ombudsman. According to the newspaper, several persons refused to aspire to the post due to humiliating procedure of approval of the Ombudsman when candidates against their will are brought under political manipulations.

The Saeima’s Human Rights and Social Affairs Committee did not support proposal of the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!/For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM to proclaim 16 March as the official commemoration day of Latvian national warriors. So far, 16 March is known as unofficial day of commemoration of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires.

The Saeimas Human Rights and Social Affairs Committee did not support proposal of the nationalists union All for Latvia!/For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM to proclaim 16 March as the official commemoration day of Latvian national warriors. So far, 16 March is known as unofficial day of commemoration of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize