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.

• PACE adopts the resolution which calls Latvia and Estonia to grant the right to participate in municipal elections to their non-citizens
• Chairperson of the Union of the Greens and Farmers: politicians are responsible for conflicts in society
• Members of Latvias Way do not believe in integration
• Interview with the outgoing head of the National Human Rights Office
• University of Latvia will educate Russian language editors
• Book about the life of Roma in Latvia at the beginning of the last century republished

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution, which calls to grant the rights to participate in municipal elections to Latvian and Estonian non-citizens

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution, which calls to grant the rights to participate in municipal elections to Latvian and Estonian non-citizens. Latvijas Avize, Chas

Chas talks to the Chairperson of the parliamentary faction of the Union of the Greens and Farmers Augusts Brigmanis. The Chairperson disagrees with the newspapers statement that interethnic tension is growing in Latvia. He states that recently he has not observed any increase of tension in the relations of Latvian and Russians, however, he adds that mainly politicians are responsible for disagreements in society ‘on one hand there is Dobelis with his right wing views and on the other hand there is Pliners and his rhetoric.

Latvijas Avize notes that former prime minister Andris Berzins, Latvias Way, recently argued that Latvia should not discuss integration possibilities but peaceful co-existence among Russians and Latvians. Latvijas Avize asks other members of Latvias Way whether they agree with the statement. Another former prime minister Ivars Godmanis says that he does not believe in integration either and adds that a pact on peaceful co-existence should be concluded. Couple other members of the party agree with the Berzins statement.

NRA interviews Olafs Bruvers, outgoing Head of the National Human Rights Office, about the future of the office and its functions. When asked whether Latvia is ready for the influx of immigrants and tolerance towards others, Olafs Bruvers says that Latvia is ready for refugees though not for many. He believes that in Latvia there is no anti-Semitism and racism. He states ‘if somebodys rights, religion contradict Christian understanding about things then the rights of those persons who arrived here and want to ruin something should be restricted. He is convinced that if there is something that poses threats to morals and security of the state, it should be prohibited. Here he refers to a possibility to organise gay pride in the streets of Riga and assures that if there were such application and the Riga City Council had banned the pride, according to Olafs Bruvers, it would not be a violation of human rights.

University of Latvia has received accreditation for the professional programme Russian Language Editor. The programme will prepare editors for publishing houses working with texts in the Russian language. The programme was developed because there is a lack of professionals who are able to do editing in Russian.

University of Latvia has received accreditation for the professional programme Russian Language Editor. The programme will prepare editors for publishing houses working with texts in the Russian language. The programme was developed because there is a lack of professionals who are able to do editing in Russian. Chas

NRA reports that the publishing house Zinatne has published a book ‘Roma in Latvian Forests, Homes and Markets by Juris Leimanis. The book tells how Romani people lived in Latvia at the beginning of the last century. It is the second edition of the book, the first was 66 years ago.