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.

• Ministry of Justice develops amendments which provide the right to EU citizens who are not Latvian citizens to vote in municipal elections
• MP Ina Druviete about the role of the Russian language in Latvia
• Due to the lack of funding one of the projects aimed at promoting naturalisation to be closed
• Statement of support for the education reform developed by Latvian EP members has two versions
• Social integration issues in sports

According to the draft amendments developed by the Ministry of Justice EU citizens who are registered in the Register of Residents of the Republic of Latvia, but are not Latvian citizens, will be entitled to run for local elections in 2005.

According to the draft amendments developed by the Ministry of Justice EU citizens who are registered in the Register of Residents of the Republic of Latvia, but are not Latvian citizens, will be entitled to run for local elections in 2005. Diena

Latvijas Avize asks comments of the MP and linguist Ina Druviete on the statements by socio linguist Gatis Dilans printed in Vesti Segodnya (July 9). Gatis Dilans stated that in Latvia the state language policy is asymmetric, that is, Latvians have to know only one language, while Russians should speak both Latvian and Russian. Ina Druviete argues that Latvia is the only country where the Latvian language could be protected and developed, therefore there is no justification and need to promote other languages, in particular, the Russian language. The expansion of Russian language’s functions would hinder strengthening of the Latvian language and the unification of society on the basis of one language. She does not think that Russophobia is wide spread in Latviaor that Latvians have negative attitude towards Russians or Russia.

Telegraf reports that most probably the toll free phone line providing information about possibilities to naturalise will be closed as of August 1. For two and a half years the line was funded by the USA embassy, now the funding is not available any more. However, the state does not plan to allocate any money from the state budget, although the project was quite popular. The newspaper stresses that the gradual decrease of funding from the state budget to the Naturalisation Board shows that the state, in fact, is not interested in promoting naturalisation. The Minister for Social Integration Affairs Nils Muiznieks argues that the state has done a lot to foster naturalisation and the toll free information phone line is just one of the projects, which is completed. While MP Boris Tsilevich states that it could be seen as a steptowards national radicalism.

Telegraf notes that there are two versions of the statement of support for the education reform developed by Latvian members of the European Parliament. One version is in Latvian and one - in English. In the Latvian version authors of the statement addresses political opponents of the education reform, in particular, Tatjana Zdanoka, while in the English version she is not mentioned at all and the focus of the statement is on consequences of Soviet occupation and social integration. The authors of the statement do not have one explanation why there are two versions. Valdis Dombrovskis says that the Latvian version was developed for the local press, while the English version for members of the European Parliament from other countries, nevertheless Inese Vaidere states that these, in fact, are two completely different statements.

Latvijas Avize talks to businessman and one of sponsors of Latvia’s football Guntis Indriksons. He states that up till now football has not receive much support, because “Russians played it.” The businessman hopes that recent victories will change the situation because he is convinced that sport is much more effective tool of social integration.