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.

• Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis talks about societal integration issues
• Interview with the head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane
• Minister of Education and Science meets representatives of the Advisory Board on Minority Education Issues of the Ministry of Education and Science
• NRA columnist writes on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
• Activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools Jurijs Petropavlovskis files the claim with the court to challenge the refusal of the Cabinet of Ministers to grant him Latvian citizenship
• Jurijs Petropavlovskis about possibilities to establish a dialogue with the Minister of Education and Science Ina Druviete
• Commentary on ratification of the European Constitution

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis about minority issues topical in Latvia. The Prime Minister believes that the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities should be ratified as soon as possible, because hesitation with ratification may result in a situation when it will be very problematic to ratify the Convention with reservations. The Prime Minister adds that when Latvia ratifies the Convention there will be no space for Russias accusations that the rights of Russian-speakers are violated in Latvia. Aigars Kalvitis also believes that the Citizenship Law should be amended so disloyal persons would not have a possibility to acquire Latvian citizenship through naturalisation.

Latvijas Vestnesis features an interview with the head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane about naturalisation process in Latvia. The chairperson believes that the number of naturalisation applications, received by the Board till the end of the year, will reach 21,500, but the number of naturalised persons – 15,000. Eizenija Aldermane is convinced that the implementation of the education reform does not have a negative impact on the willingness of young non-citizens to naturalise: according to the data persons at the age of 15 – 30 years are the most active persons who want to naturalise. The chairperson notes that the state should pay more attention to the Old Believers, who received Latvian citizenship through registration in the beginning of the 90ies. The issue is that the majority of them are loyal to Latvia, however they do not speak Latvian. ‘This group needs a particular state programme for education in Latvian, states Eizenija Aldermane. The Chairperson supports ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities with reservations, nevertheless she believes that ratification will not have any impact on naturalisation process.

Russian-language newspapers report on the meeting of the Minister of Education and Science with representatives of the Advisory Board on Minority Education Issues of the Ministry of Education and Science. During the meeting the Minister announced that development of the Law on Minority Education is not urgent.

Russian-language newspapers report on the meeting of the Minister of Education and Science with representatives of the Advisory Board on Minority Education Issues of the Ministry of Education and Science. During the meeting the Minister announced that development of the Law on Minority Education is not urgent. Chas, Telegraf

NRA features the article by its columnist Viktors Avotins on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The author believes that the issue is too politicised therefore pragmatic discussions are not possible. He notes that the main reason of halting with ratification is the big number of Russians in Latvia and inability of Latvian politicians to take a decision on their status. In the conclusion the author warns that unsettled ethnic relations within Latvia will result in the influx of ‘new strangers – Chinese and Turks.

The activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools Jurijs Petropavlovskis has filed a claim with the Administrative Court challenging the refusal of the Cabinet of Ministers to grant him Latvian citizenship. The Cabinet of Ministers refused to grant Jurijs Petropavlovskis Latvian citizenship because of his ‘non-loyalty towards the state.’ In his application with the Court, Jurijs Petropavlovskis stresses that, in accordance with the Citizenship Law, the government can exclude a person from the list of naturalisation applicants only if a person does not meet the criteria provided by the Law.

The activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools Jurijs Petropavlovskis has filed a claim with the Administrative Court challenging the refusal of the Cabinet of Ministers to grant him Latvian citizenship. The Cabinet of Ministers refused to grant Jurijs Petropavlovskis Latvian citizenship because of his ‘non-loyalty towards the state. In his application with the Court, Jurijs Petropavlovskis stresses that, in accordance with the Citizenship Law, the government can exclude a person from the list of naturalisation applicants only if a person does not meet the criteria provided by the Law. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize features an interview with Jurijs Petropavlovskis about possibilities to establish dialogue with the Minister of Education and Science Ina Druviete on the education reform. He doubts that there can be a dialogue between the Headquarters and the new Minister of Education and Science Ina Druviete on education reform, because of the strict and inflexible views of the Minister towards the issue. The newspaper also asked to comment on his decision to file a claim against the refusal of the state to grant him Latvian citizenship through naturalisation. Jurijs Petropavlovskis admits that he filed a claim with the court not because he or his party wants that the court issues a positive ruling, but because they want international scandal. ‘Our [the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia] goal is to monopolise the Russian electorate before the next Saeima elections states Jurijs Petropavlovskis, stressing that the rights of Russian students will be protected if the union FHRUL wins the forthcoming municipal elections and also have sufficient representation in the next Saeima.

Latvijas Avize features a commentary by Aija Calite about the desire of state officials to ratify the European Constitution until the end of the year without broad public discussions. Aija Calite calls MPs to pay particular attention to the Constitutions section ‘Charter of Fundamental Rights, because in the opinion of Aija Calite several paragraphs of the Constitution duplicates provisions of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.