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.

Integration and Minority Information Service

Integration and Minority Information Service
of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies

The New Era nominated Latvian Ambassador to France Sandra Kalniete for the post of the Latvian Foreign Minister. New Era’s allies say Sandra Kalniete is a serious candidacy, taking into account her experience in foreign affairs.

The New Era nominated Latvian Ambassador to France Sandra Kalniete for the post of the Latvian Foreign Minister. New Eras allies say Sandra Kalniete is a serious candidacy, taking into account her experience in foreign affairs. Diena

Lauku Avize

features an article about the round table discussion on societal integration issues which took place in the framework of the conference of Latvian Intelligentsia last week. All parties of the 8th Saeima were invited to the discussion. However, only the representatives of the Latvian First Party (Eriks Jekabsons), FF/LNNK (Inese Vaidere) and the New Era (Karlis Sadurskis) were present. One of the hottest discussion subjects was the suggestion of Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga to call all people residing in the country Latvians. Inese Vaidere believes that naturalisation has not been a successful process and it has not fostered the integration of society. She stresses that any non-Latvian could be called Latvian if s/he knows the Latvian language and loves Latvia. Eriks Jekabsons states that a non-Latvian who knows the language and respects Latvia could be called a Latvian, however, it is a rather futuristic vision. Karlis Sadurskis says that it is too early to talk about a possibility to call all members of Latvian society Latvians. Russian journalist Irina Vinnika comments that a majority of politicians do not understand what integration means. She stresses that the key reason why non-citizens do not naturalise is the lack of the Latvian language. features an article about the round table discussion on societal integration issues which took place in the framework of the conference of Latvian Intelligentsia last week. All parties of the 8th Saeima were invited to the discussion. However, only the representatives of the Latvian First Party (Eriks Jekabsons), FF/LNNK (Inese Vaidere) and the New Era (Karlis Sadurskis) were present. One of the hottest discussion subjects was the suggestion of Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga to call all people residing in the country Latvians. Inese Vaidere believes that naturalisation has not been a successful process and it has not fostered the integration of society. She stresses that any non-Latvian could be called Latvian if s/he knows the Latvian language and loves Latvia. Eriks Jekabsons states that a non-Latvian who knows the language and respects Latvia could be called a Latvian, however, it is a rather futuristic vision. Karlis Sadurskis says that it is too early to talk about a possibility to call all members of Latvian society Latvians. Russian journalist Irina Vinnika comments that a majority of politicians do not understand what integration means. She stresses that the key reason why non-citizens do not naturalise is the lack of the Latvian language.