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.

Press Report

Neatkarigas editorial on OSCE Mission to Latvia closing. Columnist Balode states that despite of the large number of non-citizens and the increasing number of those, who think that they do need neither the local language nor culture, it is evident that Latvia has done enough to close the OSCE Mission. International reaction on this event was different – the USA expressed its satisfaction, Russia – criticised it. In Washington they stressed that Missions activities were very important for the USA, and the mandate of the Mission to assist in strengthening Latvian authorities, to manage that these institutions would have certain skills and consider needs and requests of local population – had been fulfilled. Russian government was consequent in its policy stating that its task was to protect interests of Russian-speaking population in Latvia. Balode states that with closing the Mission Latvia has as if received an advance payment – there is still a problem with language norms in the election law. It is a home task that Latvia will still have to fulfil.

Chas, Vesti Segodnja, Telegraf

: 27 December the Government adopted the EU Convention on Citizenship. The newspaper writes that the reservations, in particular regarding Article 6 of the Convention, introduced by the Latvian Government makes the Convention senseless. : 27 December the Government adopted the EU Convention on Citizenship. The newspaper writes that the reservations, in particular regarding Article 6 of the Convention, introduced by the Latvian Government makes the Convention “senseless”. This past December President Vaira Vike-Freiberga was again the most popular politician in Latvia. Saeima Chairman Janis Straume was the second most popular politician. The rating of soon-to-be party leader Einars Repse was 2.4 points up from November. According to the poll, Tatjana Zdanoka, co-chairwoman of the left-wing Equal Rights Party was the least popular again. Second from the bottom, Andris Skele, chairman of the People’s Party, but the third least popular - Alfreds Rubiks, the head of the Latvian Socialistic Party. The most popular party this month was again Repse’s to-be-established party leaving behind Social Democrats, People’s Party, Latvia’s Way, FF/LNNK and FHRUL.

This past December President Vaira Vike-Freiberga was again the most popular politician in Latvia. Saeima Chairman Janis Straume was the second most popular politician. The rating of soon-to-be party leader Einars Repse was 2.4 points up from November. According to the poll, Tatjana Zdanoka, co-chairwoman of the left-wing Equal Rights Party was the least popular again. Second from the bottom, Andris Skele, chairman of the Peoples Party, but the third least popular - Alfreds Rubiks, the head of the Latvian Socialistic Party. The most popular party this month was again Repses to-be-established party leaving behind Social Democrats, Peoples Party, Latvias Way, FF/LNNK and FHRUL.