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.

• Cabinet of Ministers approved Action Plan for the implementation of the National Identity, Civil Society and Integration Policy Guidelines for the time period up to 2016

Latvijas Avize reports that the Cabinet of Ministers approved Action Plan for the implementation of the National Identity, Civil Society and Integration Policy Guidelines 2012 – 2018 for the time period up to 2016. The state budget allocated 2,4 million euros to five different ministries for the implementation of the action plan. In addition, 1,4 million euros will be granted to various activities. Commenting the adoption of the Action Plan, the Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma, says that she does not like the word “integration” as she believes it is a passed stage and now it is important to achieve that people who live inLatvia would have the sense of belonging to the state. The activities foreseen in the Plan are much wider than just integration, says Mrs Straujuma. Those are aimed at sense of belonging toLatvia, creation of opportunities for ethnic minorities to take part in the policy making process, development of ethnic minority cultures, and development of diaspora. Social scientist Dagmara Beitnere-Le Galla, in her turn, believes that it is impossible to hope that “citizens of former empire suddenly would change their mentality and since Putin’s coming to power (inRussia) this mentality has only grown.” She also believes that integration foresees not only the fact that people stay in the country but also tolerance and loyalty of these people. Mrs Beitnere-Le Galla says that currently she explores life stories of Russians and Roma living inLatvia and those show that there are ethnic Russian living in Latvia in the fifth generation and have never overtaken communist ideology and there are others who have inherited from parents and grandparents hate and contempt.