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.

• Gundars Daudze: there is no threat to Latvian identity
• Boriss Cilevics: the new integration concept denies equality of all regardless of identity

In an interview with

In an interview with Latvijas Avize the Parliamentary Deputy Speaker and the Chairman of National Security Committee Gundars Daudze (Union of Greens and Farmers) stated that there is no threat to Latvian identity. Those residents who do not understand Latvian language are mainly the elderly, while among those persons belonging to ethnic minorities who were born after the restoration of independence most are fluent in Latvian. According to Mr.Daudze, there are forces that will always try to pit native Latvian speakers and native Russian speakers against each other, yet the extremist views are not supported by the society at large. In the meantime, Latvian identity could also be threatened by English language.

Chas interviewed MP Boriss Cilevics (Concord Centre), Chairperson of the Sub-Committee on Rights of Minorities of PACE, about the new concept of society integration developed under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture. Mr. Cilevics believes the new concept is based on assimilation and denies the idea of equality of all people regardless of their ethnicity, native language, and cultural identity. He also notes that a number of members of the integration expert council deny they ever endorsed the new integration document, while their objections were ignored. Mr. Cilevics believes ambitions of Sarmite Elerte (Civic Union) are going much further than that of her current position of the Minister of Culture, and she is using the issue of integration as a PR tool.