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.

• MP Janis Adamsons: arrival of large number of refugees from Muslim countries will substantially change the situation in Latvia
• Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte: it is like schizophrenia – we all live within one territory, but a part of the society lives in one country, a part in the other

Chas interviews the MP Janis Adamsons (Concord Centre) asking to comment his recent statement about immigrants: I always believed that we will find a common language with representatives of white race because of common mentality, we might have different views but we have similar scale of values. But if Muslims come here I do not know what will we do. Mr Adamsons asserts that he is not racist but believes that large influx of refugees from Muslim countries will substantially change the situation in Latvia. According to Mr Adamsons, Latvia has unsolved problems with a large number of non-citizens and there is ethnic split of the society. Mr Adamsons believes that the influx of refugees might create the third community with its own values.

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte about integration. According to the Minister the new draft integration program is criticized because large part of the society does not understand that the existing Latvia is not a new state established after fall of the Soviet Union but the continuation of the Republic established in 1918. Mrs Elerte believes that Latvia was established by ethnic Latvians as a national and democratic state and the states task is to strengthen Latvian language and ethnic Latvian cultural environment as foundation for integration. Mrs Elerte believes that Russian-speakers are a mystical community who should not be seen as minority and suggests granting them privileges would imply discrimination against ethnic minorities such as Poles, Jews, Russians and others.