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.

• Ombudsman Juris Jansons: differences in rights of Latvian citizens and non-citizens are not discriminatory
• Ethnic Latvians members of the political party Concord Centre criticize nationalism and support the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs
• Latvian Human Development Report 2010/2011 focuses on the indicators of national identity

The Ombudsman Juris Jansons stated that the differences in rights of Latvian citizens and non-citizens are not discriminatory. According to the Ombudsman, the status of non-citizen is not the type of Latvian citizenship, while the large number of persons who still remain Latvian non-citizens testifies that those persons are satisfied with the amount of rights envisaged by such status. The Ombudsman alleges that these persons still believe in the restoration of their former country in its previous borders. Mr Jansons also stated that he does not support granting non-citizens voting rights in local election and believed that the decrease of the number of non-citizens is not an end goal in itself.

The Ombudsman Juris Jansons stated that the differences in rights of Latvian citizens and non-citizens are not discriminatory. According to the Ombudsman, the status of non-citizen is not the type of Latvian citizenship, while the large number of persons who still remain Latvian non-citizens testifies that those persons are satisfied with the amount of rights envisaged by such status. The Ombudsman alleges that these persons still believe in the restoration of their former country in its previous borders. Mr Jansons also stated that he does not support granting non-citizens voting rights in local election and believed that the decrease of the number of non-citizens is not an end goal in itself. Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Ethnic Latvians members of the political party Concord Centre came with a statement criticizing nationalism and supporting the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs. According to the statement, it is obvious “that Latvian language will remain the only state language in Latvia, however, the development of the state is not possible without respectful attitude towards ethnic minorities. The Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs signed for the initiative to grant Russian status of a state language in Latvia as a protest against the actions of the governing coalition.” Vesti

Ethnic Latvians members of the political party Concord Centre came with a statement criticizing nationalism and supporting the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs. According to the statement, it is obvious that Latvian language will remain the only state language in Latvia, however, the development of the state is not possible without respectful attitude towards ethnic minorities. The Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs signed for the initiative to grant Russian status of a state language in Latvia as a protest against the actions of the governing coalition. Vesti Segodnya

Academic Brigita Zepa presented a Latvian Human Development Report 2010/2011 “National Identity, Mobility, Capacity” conducted by the Institute of Social and Political Studies of the University of Latvia.  Opinion polls conducted in the framework of the Report showed that 44% of ethnic Latvians believe that it would be better if only ethnic Latvians would reside in it. 33% of ethnic Russian residents of Latvia associate themselves with Russia and 72% with Latvia. Only 22% of representatives of both ethnic Russian and ethnic Latvian residents associate themselves with Europe. 70,5% of ethnic Latvians are proud of Latvia, while 22% are not proud. Among ethnic Russian respondents 44,4% are proud of Latvia and 43% are not proud. Among persons of other ethnic background 48,2% are proud and 42% are not proud of Latvia.

Academic Brigita Zepa presented a Latvian Human Development Report 2010/2011 National Identity, Mobility, Capacity conducted by the Institute of Social and Political Studies of the University of Latvia. Opinion polls conducted in the framework of the Report showed that 44% of ethnic Latvians believe that it would be better if only ethnic Latvians would reside in it. 33% of ethnic Russian residents of Latvia associate themselves with Russia and 72% with Latvia. Only 22% of representatives of both ethnic Russian and ethnic Latvian residents associate themselves with Europe. 70,5% of ethnic Latvians are proud of Latvia, while 22% are not proud. Among ethnic Russian respondents 44,4% are proud of Latvia and 43% are not proud. Among persons of other ethnic background 48,2% are proud and 42% are not proud of Latvia. Vesti Segodnya