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.

• NGO Latvian Society of Daugavpils started to provide free-of-charge Latvian language courses
• Experts forum Latvia after referendum: strategies of interethnic cooperation conducted in Riga
• Researcher Iveta Kazoka: Latvian and Russian language media reflect stereotypes
• Group of Latvian residents elaborated 10 proposals for consolidation of the society
• Council of Jewish Communities in Latvia criticizes Neatkariga for giving a platform for expression of anti-Semitic views
• Diena prints an article about Latvian language learning in kindergartens

An NGO Latvian Society of Daugavpils (city in the Eastern part of Latvia) started to provide free-of-charge Latvian language courses for city residents. At present, there are three groups composed of 10-15 people of different ages. But due to a high demand for the courses the NGO appealed to the City Council asking for support funding. Chas

Chas reports about experts forum Latvia after referendum: strategies of interethnic cooperation conducted by the European Progressive Research Foundation and the Freedom and Solidarity Foundation in Riga. Integration expert, politicians and NGOs activists took part in the forum discussing relations of ethnic Latvian and Russian speaking residents of Latvia and establishment of a dialogue between two parties.

According to a researcher of the Centre for Public Policy Providus Iveta Kazoka, Latvian mass media actively reflected existing stereotypes on the threshold of the referendum on the status of Russian language. Thus, Latvian language media portrayed an image of typical ethnic Latvian as a pensioner, who fought for independence and who is very much concerned with the language issue, while Linderman was presented as the typical ethnic Russian. At the same time, Russian language media portrayed typical ethnic Russian as a common person who is facing daily difficulties in Latvia, and who is also discontent with the fact that his favourite political party was left outside the ruling coalition, while Raivis Dzintars was presented as the typical ethnic Latvian. In the meantime, persons with alternative or moderate views got harshly criticized by their respective language streams of the media. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

The Centre for Public Policy Providus conducted debates of citizens about integration. 42 randomly chosen Latvian residents took part in the debates. As a result of the debates, the participants elaborated 10 proposals for consolidation of the society. The proposals include: to ensure free-of-charge Latvian language courses; to popularize education in Latvian language; to establish common informative and cultural space; to ensure Latvian language learning starting with kindergarten; to involve successfully integrated persons in a process of promotion of integration. All the proposals got discussed by the President of Latvia Andris Berzins, experts, politicians and representatives of ministries. The President called the state officials to be more active promoting integration process. Latvijas Avize

In an open letter to Neatkariga, the Council of Jewish Communities in Latvia criticizes the newspaper giving a platform for expression of anti-Semitic views to the well-known lawyer Andris Grutups. As reported, in an interview with Neatkariga, Mr Grutups stated that Vladimirs Lindermans (one of the initiators of the collection of signatures for granting Russian language status of a state language in Latvia) is a Jewish revolutionary who wants to antagonise ethnic Latvian and ethnic Russian residents in Latvia. Mr Grutups and his interviewer also questioned why the Jewish community in Latvia does not criticize the activities of Mr Lindermans. The Council of Jewish Communities stated that it cannot be responsible for political activities of one its possible members, moreover, it believes that any nation as a whole cannot be collectively held responsible for activities of individuals belonging to that nation.

Diena prints an article about Latvian language learning in kindergartens. According the newspaper, in the majority of kindergartens with Russian language of instructions or in two-flow kindergartens children learn Latvian language two times a weeks trough games. Parents interviewed by the newspaper believe that usually it is not enough with such Latvian language learning because in the first grade in schools children have bilingual subjects with materials only in Latvian language.