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.

• Former prime ministers discuss societal integration issues
• Latvijas Avize reports on the international conference ‘Language in Education – Possibilities and Challenges held in Riga
• Tatjana Zdanoka: the European Parliament may review the resolution on minority rights adopted last week

Chas reports on the discussions of former Latvian prime ministers on societal integration issues. The discussions were held during the conference ‘Power and the People: Any Opportunities to Reduce the Gap? The former Prime Minister Andris Berzins stated that the present situation reveals ethnic confrontation, therefore it is time to discuss a peaceful co-existence of the two communities instead of talking about ethnic integration. While the former Prime Minister Indulis Emsis said that confrontation between Latvians and Russians is still possible, in particular, in the area of implementation of the minority education reform.

Latvijas Avize reports on the international conference ‘Language in Education – Possibilities and Challenges. One of the discussion topics was the implementation of the minority education reform. One of minority school directors Romans Alijevs noted to the necessity to promote cooperation among teachers who work with bilingual methods.

Telegraf features views of the MEP Tatjana Zdanok (For Human Rights in the United Latvia) on the resolution on minority rights in the enlarged EU adopted last Wednesday by the European Parliament. As reported, the proposals to grant Latvian non-citizens the right to participate in municipal elections as well as the right to travel within the EU territory without visa were removed. According to Tatyana Zdanok, also the proposal (supported by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs) to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities without any reservations and declarations was removed. The MP expresses her incomprehension about the removal of these proposals from the document and believes that the document will be repeatedly reviewed.