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.

• Concord Centre will demand guarantees from the Minister of Interior that naturalisation process will not become complicated or hindered
• Nils Muiznieks is elected to the post of the Chairman of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance
• Saeima rejected proposal to officially use Latgalian names of lakes in two nature protected areas in Latgale
• Patients' Rights Law adopted
• Saeima rejected proposal to abolish regulation of language of instruction in state-funded universities

The Concord Centre is planning to appeal to the Minister of Interior Linda Murniece demanding for guarantees that naturalisation process will not become complicated or hindered due to liquidation of the Naturalisation Board and delegation of its functions to the Office of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) under subordination of the Ministry of Interior. Merger of the Naturalisation Board and the OCMA should be completed by 20 January 2009.

The Concord Centre is planning to appeal to the Minister of Interior Linda Murniece demanding for guarantees that naturalisation process will not become complicated or hindered due to liquidation of the Naturalisation Board and delegation of its functions to the Office of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) under subordination of the Ministry of Interior. Merger of the Naturalisation Board and the OCMA should be completed by 20 January 2009. Chas

Latvijas Avize reports that the director of the Institute of Social and Political Studies of the University of Latvia Nils Muiznieks is elected to the post of the Chairman of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) of the Council of Europe.

Yesterday, the Saeima rejected draft amendments to the laws on Razna National Park and Telci Nature Reserve (both in Latgale, Eastern Latvia). The amendments envisaged changing the official names of few lakes within these protected areas from Latvian to local Latgalian.

Yesterday, the Saeima rejected draft amendments to the laws on Razna National Park and Telci Nature Reserve (both in Latgale, Eastern Latvia). The amendments envisaged changing the official names of few lakes within these protected areas from Latvian to local Latgalian. Vesti Segodnya

After seven years of consideration, the Saeima adopted yesterday the Patients' Rights Law, envisaging,

After seven years of consideration, the Saeima adopted yesterday the Patients' Rights Law, envisaging, inter alia, a mechanism for out-of-court damages settlement. The Saeima rejected the proposal of the For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) to oblige healthcare institutions to take into consideration the native language of the patient. The FHRUL claims there are cases when doctors refuse to communicate in Rusian with patients, thus putting their health in danger. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

The Saeima rejected proposal of the For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) to amendment the Law on Higher Education, abolishing regulation of language of instruction in state-funded universities. According to Dzintars Abikis, the secretary of the Education, Culture and Science Committee, the proposal would “destroy the linguistic hierarchy and eliminate the will to learn Latvian”.

The Saeima rejected proposal of the For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) to amendment the Law on Higher Education, abolishing regulation of language of instruction in state-funded universities. According to Dzintars Abikis, the secretary of the Education, Culture and Science Committee, the proposal would destroy the linguistic hierarchy and eliminate the will to learn Latvian. Chas, Vesti Segodnya