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.

• Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Ilze Brands-Kehre about integration and role of state language in this process
• ECRI Round table discussion in Riga on combating racism and minority integration
• Political Scientist Ivars Ijabs: ethno-political issues prevail over social-economical issues in speeches of MPs in the Saeima

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Ilze Brands-Kehre about integration and role of state language in this process. Ilze Brands-Kehre believes that contemporary integration program in Latvia should promote diversity approach and include state language aspect only as one of many integration aspects. Mrs. Brands-Kehre considers that it is a matter of methods which are used to promote usage of state language. Ilze Brands-Kehre believes that state language inspections as a method is ineffective because it creates psychological conflicts and confrontation for use of language. While, more effective method would be informative campaigns calling to use state language and promoting advantages of it. Mrs. Brands Kehre also believes that legal requirements for state language proficiency for certain professions and posts should be proportional to necessary in reality level of language proficiency.

Yesterday, the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, Ombudsman and other officials as well as representatives of NGOs have taken part in the round table discussion on combating racism and minority integration held by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) in Riga. The ECRI presented its report on racism and intolerance in Latvia, which, while noting the progress in combating racism in Latvia, pointed out at an increase of frequency of racial incidents,  as well as at the problems in integration of ethnic minorities.

Yesterday, the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, Ombudsman and other officials as well as representatives of NGOs have taken part in the round table discussion on combating racism and minority integration held by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) in Riga. The ECRI presented its report on racism and intolerance in Latvia, which, while noting the progress in combating racism in Latvia, pointed out at an increase of frequency of racial incidents, as well as at the problems in integration of ethnic minorities. Chas, Telegraf

Political scientist Ivars Ijabs and mass media expert Sergejs Kruks issued a book “Saeima, Words and Democracy” which summarizes results of a study analyzing records of MPs’ speeches in the Saeima’s sessions in 2007. According to the study, the most often pronounced word was “occupation” – 630 times and phrase “state language” - 547 times, while phrase “civil society” was mentioned only 16 times. Ivars Ijabs in an interview with

Political scientist Ivars Ijabs and mass media expert Sergejs Kruks issued a book Saeima, Words and Democracy which summarizes results of a study analyzing records of MPs speeches in the Saeimas sessions in 2007. According to the study, the most often pronounced word was occupation – 630 times and phrase state language - 547 times, while phrase civil society was mentioned only 16 times. Ivars Ijabs in an interview with Chas has stated that ethno-political issues surely prevail over social-economical issues in speeches of MPs. Mr. Ijabs believes that ethno-political issues are used as a veil to curtain urgent economical issues. Chas