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.

• Interview with the Minister for Special Assignments for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks
• Telegraf continues the investigation of the case of the Zaharovs who are refused by the OCMD to register their daughter
• Union of the Christians and Democrats has developed their definition of the term ‘minority
• Comments on the President Vaira Vike-Freibergas decision not to promulgate the amendments to the Law on Radio and Television
• Unknown news agency reports that Russia has radically changed her policy towards Latvia
• Riga City Council is looking for a space to build a mosque
• Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry concerned over the tendency of the diminishing usage of the Russian language in the Baltic States

Vesti Segodnya talks to the Minister for Special Assignments for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks who recently took part in the meeting of EU Integration Ministers which took place in the Netherlands. The Minister says that due to the murder of the movie director Theo van Gog the situation in the Netherlands was rather tense and the key issue in the Netherlands is the co-living of Europeans and Muslims. The Minister notes that Latvia is in a much better position because there are very few extremist organisations and they are rather weak. Nevertheless, the Minister admits that there are quite many extremists among both Latvians and Russians. When asked about the future of the Secretariat, Nils Muiznieks replies that the issues concerning inter-ethnic relations will remain topical in the future and he hopes that representatives of all parties understand that. He adds that he has not heard that any party wants to close the Secretariat.

Telegraf continues the investigation of the case of the Zaharovs who are refused by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Department to register their daughter who was borns in Latvia in July 2004. The mother of the girl is a Latvian non-citizen and the father is a Russian citizen. The officials refuse to register the girl and give her any status, thus depriving her the right to use medical services, receive state allowances, attend kindergarten. The parents have applied with the Administrative Court.

Latvijas Avizes columnist Maris Antonevics comments on the President Vaira Vike-Freibergas decision not to promulgate the amendments to the Law on Radio and Television which foresee that the Cabinet of Ministers has the right to set specific provisions concerning the usage of the language of broadcasting if the usage of the state language is endangered or restricted in the territory of a respective broadcaster. The columnist questions whether the President is under the influence of Zhdanoka and the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia.

The Union of the Christians and Democrats has developed their definition of the term ‘minority, ’ which according to the Union is necessary for ratification of the Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Their definition says that ‘a national minority is a people or an ethnic group residing in the territory of a country and which do not have their own state.’

The Union of the Christians and Democrats has developed their definition of the term ‘minority, which according to the Union is necessary for ratification of the Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Their definition says that ‘a national minority is a people or an ethnic group residing in the territory of a country and which do not have their own state. Vesti Segodnya

Chas reports that according to the information provided by the independent news agency Independent Media Service Russia has radically changed her policy towards Latvia. The news agency states that Russia is ready to remove the issue concerning minority rights from the agenda if Russia has bigger influence on the economy of Latvia. However, the newspaper doubts authenticity of the news and notes that there was no information about such news agency on the internet.

Vesti Segodnya writes that according to unofficial sources the Riga City Council is looking for a space to build a mosque for Muslims living in Riga. The construction of mosque will be partly financed by the Riga City Council.

The Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry has expressed its concern regarding the diminishing usage of the Russian language in the Baltic States in the fields of education, culture and information.

The Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry has expressed its concern regarding the diminishing usage of the Russian language in the Baltic States in the fields of education, culture and information. Vesti Segodnya