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.

• Chas prints an article by a member of the Consultative Council on Ethnic Minority Education Elizabete Krivcova
• Naturalisation Board presented a report on its main problems to the Saeimas Citizenship Law Implementation Committee
• Strategic Analyses Committee has published a book which among other analyses the Russian language press in Latvia
• FHRUL proposes to soften requirements on state language proficiency for certain professions
• Latvian non-citizens-pensioners are loosing about LVL 6 - 7 millions due to lack of a social agreement between Latvia and Russia
• Telegraf prints an interview with the authors of a study Integration of Latvian Youth and Value Changes

Chas prints an article by the head of the NGO Humanitarian Perspective, member of the Consultative Council on Ethnic Minority Education Elizabete Krivcova. Mrs. Krivcova states that a dialogue between society and state will not be successful without participation of representatives from major ethnic minority NGOs. Elizabete Krivcova believes that Russian NGOs will trust the Council only if independent experts are invited to participate in its activities.

Chas reports that the Naturalisation Board (NB) has presented a report on its main problems to the Saeimas Citizenship Law Implementation Committee. A representative of the NB stated that one of the problems is concerning double citizenship, in particular, lack of co-operation with some countries, which refuse to share information about their citizens who might be also Latvian citizens. Another problem is lack of legal in-house expertise.

Chas reports that yesterday, the Strategic Analyses Committee working under the auspices of the President of Latvia has presented a book Informative Space in Latvia: Beginning of XXI century. The book contains an article Phenomenon of the Russian Press in Latvia which analyses the Russian language press in Latvia as a public phenomenon and business.

In response to the adoption of amendments to regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers which stiffer state language requirements for fire fighters, the Saeima’s faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) has developed draft amendments which stipulate annulment of such requirements. FHRUL also proposes to annul Latvian citizenship requirement for fire-fighters, policemen and prison staff.

In response to the adoption of amendments to regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers which stiffer state language requirements for fire fighters, the Saeimas faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) has developed draft amendments which stipulate annulment of such requirements. FHRUL also proposes to annul Latvian citizenship requirement for fire-fighters, policemen and prison staff. Chas

Newspapers report that according to calculations of the Ministry of Welfare lack of social agreement between Latvia and Russia results in losses of about LVL 6 -7 millions (EUR 9 -10 millions) for 15,000 of Latvian non-citizens-pensioners who have worked outside Latvia on the territories of other former Soviet republics during the Soviet times.

Newspapers report that according to calculations of the Ministry of Welfare lack of social agreement between Latvia and Russia results in losses of about LVL 6 -7 millions (EUR 9 -10 millions) for 15,000 of Latvian non-citizens-pensioners who have worked outside Latvia on the territories of other former Soviet republics during the Soviet times. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Telegraf prints an interview with the authors of a study Integration of Latvian Youth and Value Changes. The authors argue that that measures to promote ethnic integration are more needed in places where number of ethnic minorities is small, such as Valmiera, while places where ethnic minorities constitute a big share of a population need completely different and new approach as the national integration program has failed.