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.

• Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs called supporters of the Concord Centre to sign for the initiative to grant Russian language the status of official
• MP Raivis Dzintars: Latvia can only be ethnically Latvian
• Neatkariga reports about a state language courses funded by the Riga City Council

The Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs called the members of the Concord Centre and its supporters to sign for the initiative to grant Russian language the status of official in Latvia. Mr Usakovs believes that the initiative is a signal to the state officials that interests of various groups of residents must be taken into account. Ex-President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, in her turn, stated if Russian language is granted status of official in Latvia, existence of Latvian language would be seriously endangered.

The Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs called the members of the Concord Centre and its supporters to sign for the initiative to grant Russian language the status of official in Latvia. Mr Usakovs believes that the initiative is a signal to the state officials that interests of various groups of residents must be taken into account. Ex-President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, in her turn, stated if Russian language is granted status of official in Latvia, existence of Latvian language would be seriously endangered. Telegraf, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Diena

Leader of the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM, MP Raivis Dzintars wrote an open letter to ethnic Russian, Ukrainian and Belorussian residents of Latvia. In the letter, Mr Dzintars expresses his belief that Latvia can only be ethnically Latvian. The MP states that the meaning of existence of Latvia is preservation, protection and development of Latvian language and culture.

Leader of the nationalists union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM, MP Raivis Dzintars wrote an open letter to ethnic Russian, Ukrainian and Belorussian residents of Latvia. In the letter, Mr Dzintars expresses his belief that Latvia can only be ethnically Latvian. The MP states that the meaning of existence of Latvia is preservation, protection and development of Latvian language and culture. Vesti Segodnya

Neatkariga reports about a state language courses funded by the Riga City Council in the framework of its society integration program. According to a representative of one of the Riga schools which organised the courses for 104 persons from August to November, these courses have a big meaning for integration because it is much easier to get integrated in the society being proficient in state language. The Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs who took part in the presentation of diplomas for the graduates of the courses, promised to grant funding for courses also next year.