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.

• 80% of Latvias residents support integration, which allows ethnic groups preserve their culture
• Telegraf features an interview with the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Karina Petersone on integration in Latvia
• Diena features an interview with the Chief of the Vredesdetachment of the Amsterdam police Leo Wilde on policing hate crimes
• Extreme right-wing organisation signs the Co-operation Memorandum with the Government
• Diena reports on the number and division of schools in the academic year 2006/2007
• Aizkraukle City Council issued a permission to open 10th grade at the only school which main instruction language is Russian
• Member of the Jurmala City Council will ask the Prosecutors Office to evaluate statements of a City Council member
• Chas features an interview with the head of the Union of Ukrainian Associations in Latvia Vladimirs Lugovskis

According to the results of a study conducted by the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences, about 80% of Latvia’s residents support integration, which allows ethnic groups to preserve their culture. The study also shows that both Latvians and Russians have stereotypes about each other – a part of Latvians believe that Russians do not want to learn Latvian, while some Russians believe that Latvians are nationalists.

According to the results of a study conducted by the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences, about 80% of Latvias residents support integration, which allows ethnic groups to preserve their culture. The study also shows that both Latvians and Russians have stereotypes about each other – a part of Latvians believe that Russians do not want to learn Latvian, while some Russians believe that Latvians are nationalists. Chas

Telegraf features an interview with the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Karina Petersone on integration issues in Latvia. The Minister stated that facilitation of integration of people from various countries who will come to Latvia will be among the new priorities of the Secretariat in 2007. Karina Petersone noted that society might perceive immigrants as a threat; therefore the task of the Secretariat is to work with both society and immigrants.

Diena features a comprehensive interview with Leo Wilde, Chief of the Police Program for Multiculturalism and Cohesion and Chief of the Vredesdetachment (Peace Force) of the Amsterdam police, on his experience and views regarding policing hate crimes. Leo Wilde came to Riga to take part in a conference Policing Hate Crimes held by the Latvian Centre for Human Rights. He believes that persons committing hate crimes should receive more severe penalties because hate crimes concern equality and rights not only of an individual concerned but also the group the individual belongs to.

The extreme right-wing organisation Latvian National Front headed by notorious Aivars Garda has been included in the group of NGOs that signed the Co-operation Memorandum between the Government and NGOs. It should be noted that several criminal processes and prosecutions for instigation ethnic hatred have been launched against members of the organisation. Members of the National Front have issued the statement that Aivars Garda and the Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis have discussed “deportation of Russian colonists from Latvia.”

The extreme right-wing organisation Latvian National Front headed by notorious Aivars Garda has been included in the group of NGOs that signed the Co-operation Memorandum between the Government and NGOs. It should be noted that several criminal processes and prosecutions for instigation ethnic hatred have been launched against members of the organisation. Members of the National Front have issued the statement that Aivars Garda and the Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis have discussed deportation of Russian colonists from Latvia.

Diena reports on the number of schools in the academic year 2006/2007 in Latvia. Of total 957 schools, 716 schools have Latvian as the main language of instruction, 140 schools – Russian, 96 schools are so called two-stream schools (Latvian and Russian), 4 schools – Polish and 1 school – Ukrainian.

Chas reports that the only school in Aizkraule which main instruction language is Russian will open 10th grade despite insufficient number of students. As reported, the administration of the school initially decided not to open the grade, however, towns City Council made an exception and gave a permission to open 10th grade.

The member of the Jurmala City Council Zanna Kupcika (FHRUL) is planning to ask the Prosecutor’s Office to evaluate whether statements of the member of the City Council Ilmars Ancans (Our Land) incite to ethnic hatred. Zanna Kupcika argues that Ilmars Ancans has made insulting statements towards Russian residents of Latvia on one of the Council’s meetings.

The member of the Jurmala City Council Zanna Kupcika (FHRUL) is planning to ask the Prosecutors Office to evaluate whether statements of the member of the City Council Ilmars Ancans (Our Land) incite to ethnic hatred. Zanna Kupcika argues that Ilmars Ancans has made insulting statements towards Russian residents of Latvia on one of the Councils meetings. Chas

Chas features an interview with the head of the Union of Ukrainian Associations Vladimirs Lugovskis who took part in the IV World Forum of Ukrainians in Kiev as a representative of the Ukrainian diaspora in Latvia.