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.

• Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration presents a brief analysis of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities to the Latvian President
• Latvijas Avize investigates a case of a teacher who calls students to protest against the education reform
• New Era calls the Russian President to sign a border agreement before 9 May
• Overview of projects funded by the Secretariat of Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration
• Residents of Riga change their ethnicity for Latvians, Jews and Germans
• Russians in Liepaja celebrate Orthodox Christmas and formation of the Russian Community

Yesterday the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Ainars Latkovskis presented a brief analysis of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities to the Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga. The analysis includes the compilation of practices of the implementation of the Convention in other countries and analysis of articles of the Convention. The Minister stated that a detailed analysis of all articles of the Convention will be conducted in a month and a half.

Yesterday the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Ainars Latkovskis presented a brief analysis of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities to the Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga. The analysis includes the compilation of practices of the implementation of the Convention in other countries and analysis of articles of the Convention. The Minister stated that a detailed analysis of all articles of the Convention will be conducted in a month and a half. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

In its section ‘Minority Education,’ which is funded by the Society Integration Foundation, the newspaper

In its section ‘Minority Education, which is funded by the Society Integration Foundation, the newspaper Latvijas Avize prints an article about teacher Zanna Kupcika who was fined for not using the state language at the level required by the State Language Law. The newspaper also stresses that she is trying to mobilise students and their parents to protest against the minority education reform. The newspaper believes that such teachers should not work at school and Zanna Kupcika should be fired.

The New Era parliamentary group released a statement urging the Russian President Vladimir Putin sign the Latvian-Russian border agreement before 9 May. The New Era argues that Russia's intention to link the signing of the Latvian-Russian agreement with the Victory Day celebration on 9 May is unacceptable and improper and places Latvia, as well as the President Vaira Vike-Freiberga in a humiliating situation. The New Era notes that the recent statement made by the Russian President about the situation with the Russian-speaking population in Latvia, and the rhetoric of the new Russian Ambassador Viktor Kalyuzhny can be regarded as provocative, and should be condemned by Saeima.

The New Era parliamentary group released a statement urging the Russian President Vladimir Putin sign the Latvian-Russian border agreement before 9 May. The New Era argues that Russia's intention to link the signing of the Latvian-Russian agreement with the Victory Day celebration on 9 May is unacceptable and improper and places Latvia, as well as the President Vaira Vike-Freiberga in a humiliating situation. The New Era notes that the recent statement made by the Russian President about the situation with the Russian-speaking population in Latvia, and the rhetoric of the new Russian Ambassador Viktor Kalyuzhny can be regarded as provocative, and should be condemned by Saeima. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya prints an article about several projects implemented by minority NGOs and funded by the Secretariat of Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration. In 2004 the Secretariat managed to allot LVL 51 000 (EUR 35,445) for the implementation of minority NGOs projects.

Rigas Balss prints an article about the residents of Riga. Among other data, the newspaper reports that there are cases when a person changes his/her record of ethnicity in his/her identification documents. According to newspaper it is possible within two generations if a mother and a father or their parents have different ethnicities. Majority of people want to be Latvians, however, there are many cases when people want to become Jews or Germans.

Vesti Segodnya reports about celebrations of Orthodox Christmas and formation of the Russian Community in Liepaja. About 400 Russians took part in celebrations. There are 42,000 are Russians in Liepaja.