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.

• Diena prints opinions of state officials and experts about the State Language Centre’s decision to forbid the National Health Service to disseminate invitations to women for screening
• President of Latvia Andris Berzins harshly criticizes the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM
• Vesti Segodnya: initiative on demolition of the Monument to Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders is a call for civil war

Diena prints opinions of state officials and experts about the State Language Centre’s (SLC) decision to forbid the National Health Service to disseminate invitations to women for screening for cervical cancer and breast cancer and to men over 50 years old for bowel cancer in Russian language.  The National Health Service believes that the prohibition to distribute such information in Russian language is one of the reasons of low response for such invitation. However, according to a representative of the SLC Antons Kursitis, 23 years passed since the adoption of the State Language Law and all persons who wanted to learn Latvian language did it. Mr Kursitis believes that it is discriminatory towards other ethnic minorities to distribute the invitations in Russian language only. The expert on public health Viktors Jaksons, in his turn, stressed that the reality is that not all the residents are proficient in Latvian language and it should be taken into account as the aim is to reach as wider public as possible otherwise it could cost the state a lot. The Minister of Health Ingrida Circene agrees with the expert’s opinion stressing that the wider public should be reached regardless of residents’ ethnic belonging, place of residence, or level of education. The MP Aija Barca says that restriction to disseminate information about health care in other languages is not the best way how to protect the state language. The head of the Saeima’s Society Consolidation Committee Ainars Latkovskis believes that in such cases exceptions from the literally norms of the State Language Law could be made.

The President of Latvia Andris Berzins harshly criticizes the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM for the proposal to limit the granting of residence permits to foreign investors and for support of demolition of the Monument to Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders. The President said that no one thinks about the topical problems of the country and about the fact that its residents emigrate, - in the meantime the politicians are trying to restrict the granting of residents permits. The President highlighted that the current system helps the state to receive generous financial resources. He agrees that the system of granting residence permits is not perfect and it should be improved; however, the proposed changes are improper. The President believes the statements of the Minister of Justice Janis Bordans about removal of the Monument are an example of populist statements and direct use of administrative resource in the pre-election campaign. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya prints opinions of its readers on what would they do if the Latvian authorities would decide to demolish the Monument to Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders. The majority of persons said that if such situation is permitted they are ready to come to the Monument and to defend it physically. The people believe that such initiative is a call for civil war and incitement of ethnic hatred in the society.