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.

• MPs about possible ethnic conflicts
• Rock concert with Latvian and Russian rock musicians to take place as counter activity against the protest actions against education reform
• Diena discusses the impact of the financial supporters to the content of the new morning show in the Russian language in national TV
• MP Janis Lagzdins on official stance of the Peoples Party concerning granting to non-citizens the right to vote in municipal elections
• Latvia Socialist Party leader Alfreds Rubiks talks about the implementation of the education reform
• Interview with the editor-in-chief of the new weekly internet media www.dialogi.lv Anna Stroja

Vesti Segodnya features statements of MPs concerning possible ethnic conflicts on the grounds of disagreement regarding the education reform. MP of Peoples Harmony Party Valerijs Agesins believes that such a possibility exists, however, it could be eliminated if the state recognises that the education reform is unjustified, incompetent and unprofessional. Nevertheless, opponents of the reform should be ready for a comprise. While Dainis Turlais (Latvias First Party), Karlis Sadurskis (the New Era) and the Parliamentary Secretary of the Special Tasks Ministers Secretariat for Societal Integration Aleksandrs Brandavs believe that the ethnic conflict has been stirred by artificial methods.

The Ministry of Education and Science and Riga City Council plan to organise a rock concert with the participation of Latvian and Russian musicians. The concert is planned to take place on September 1 as a counter action to the protest actions against the education reform, planned by the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools. The Head of the union’s For Human Rights in the United Latvia parliamentary group Jakovs Pliners states that the initiative of the Ministry and the Riga City Council is making fun of Russian children. The advisor on minority issues of the Minister of Education and Science Sergejs Ancupovs argues that the goal of the concert is not to suppress the protest actions but celebrate the beginning of the academic year.

The Ministry of Education and Science and Riga City Council plan to organise a rock concert with the participation of Latvian and Russian musicians. The concert is planned to take place on September 1 as a counter action to the protest actions against the education reform, planned by the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools. The Head of the unions For Human Rights in the United Latvia parliamentary group Jakovs Pliners states that the initiative of the Ministry and the Riga City Council is making fun of Russian children. The advisor on minority issues of the Minister of Education and Science Sergejs Ancupovs argues that the goal of the concert is not to suppress the protest actions but celebrate the beginning of the academic year. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Diena debates on possible impacts on the content of a new morning show in the Russian language by its financial sponsors. The businessman and the member of the Conservative Partys board Valerijs Belokons, who is also one of the owners of the Russian-language newspaper Telegraf, is among the key sponsors of the new morning show. This raises concern of the Deputy Chairperson of the National TV and Radio Council Aivars Berkis, who believes that the Conservative Party could use the show for its propaganda. Valerijs Belokons denies such possibility. The show will be aired on the 7th channel of the national TV.

Chas features an interview with the MP Janis Lagzdins (Peoples Party), who expresses an official stance of the Peoples Party towards the granting of voting rights to non-citizens in municipal elections. According to Janis Lagzdins, non-citizens should not be granted the right to vote in municipal elections because it would diminish their motivation to naturalise.

Telegraf prints an interview with the Latvia Socialist Party leader Alfreds Rubiks, who believes that the formally declarative compromise on individual approach to the each minority school in the area of the education reform will be achieved. He also regards the statements about possible conflicts between the police and participants of the protest actions against the reform irresponsible.

Diena features an interview with the editor-in-chief of the new weekly internet media Dialogi.lv Anna Stroja. Commenting the goals of the new media, Anna Stroja states that it is important to create an alternative to all overtly xenophobic expressions in internet, which is a relatively new media environment, provided mainly for young people. ‘It is important to show the youth that there is no place for hate, detachment and segregation, states the editor-in-chief.