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
of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies

• Society Integration Foundation received 90 project proposals
• Saeima faction of the Latvian Socialist Party is not planning to nominate another candidate to the post of observer at the European Parliament
• Boris Tsilevich on the ratification of the Framework convention for the Protection of National Minorities
• French Senator Serge Lagauche on social integration in Latvia
• Latvian MP criticizes the statements of Reuven Rivlin, Speaker of the Israeli Knesset
• Russian school students meet Sergey Jastrzembsky, the assistant to the president of Russia
• Alvaro Gil-Robles, the First Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, plans to visit Latvia

The Society Integration Foundation has received 90 project proposals for two project tenders with state funding: Latvian language training for adults, and information activities about 2004 education reform.

The Society Integration Foundation has received 90 project proposals for two project tenders with state funding: Latvian language training for adults, and information activities about 2004 education reform. Diena

Aleksandr Golubov, the chairperson of the Saeima faction of the Latvian Socialist Party, continues discussion about the decision of Saeima Mandate and Submissions Committee to ask the Latvian Socialist Party to nominate another candidate to the post of observer at the European Parliament instead of the present observer M.Bekasov. According to Golubov, the party considers this proposal of the faction For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK as directed against political opponents, and is not planning to change the present observer.

Aleksandr Golubov, the chairperson of the Saeima faction of the Latvian Socialist Party, continues discussion about the decision of Saeima Mandate and Submissions Committee to ask the Latvian Socialist Party to nominate another candidate to the post of observer at the European Parliament instead of the present observer M.Bekasov. According to Golubov, the party considers this proposal of the faction For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK as directed against political opponents, and is not planning to change the present observer. Vesti Segodnya

Newspaperscontinue discussion about the resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).  According to Boris Tsilevich, Latvian delegate to PACE, PACE considered the ratification of the Framework convention for the Protection of National Minorities as obligatory to all the EU member states. He also stated that minority situation can be changed after ratification, primarily the official use of minority languages in areas inhabited by persons belonging to minorities in substantial numbers, and possibility for national minorities to participate in decision making on issues directly affecting them.

Newspaperscontinue discussion about the resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). According to Boris Tsilevich, Latvian delegate to PACE, PACE considered the ratification of the Framework convention for the Protection of National Minorities as obligatory to all the EU member states. He also stated that minority situation can be changed after ratification, primarily the official use of minority languages in areas inhabited by persons belonging to minorities in substantial numbers, and possibility for national minorities to participate in decision making on issues directly affecting them. Lauku Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Lauku Avize features an interview with Serge Lagauche, a Senator from France, stating that Latvia has achieved a notable progress in the area of society integration and solution of the non-citizens problems. However, the Senator considers the requirements of naturalization exam being too high for aged non-citizens. He also points to the long procedure of granting citizenship to non-citizens children.

Lauku Avize publishes a letter of Leopolds Ozolins, Latvian MP,, who criticizes the statements of Reuven Rivlin, Speaker of the Israeli Knesset, in Saeima during his visit to Latvia. Leopols Ozolins believes that is not correct to blame all the nation for the crimes committed against Jews by concrete individuals.

Chas features an article about the meeting of Russian school students with Sergey Jastrzembsky, the assistant to the president of Russia, stating that the relationship between Latvia and Russia could be improved only after solving the problem of discrimination of Russian speaking population.

Chas writes about the planned visit of Alvaro Gil-Robles, the First Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, whose goal is to evaluate human rights situation in Latvia.