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.

• Latvian high officials and MPs started discussions about further actions in integration policy
• 420 persons signed the Goodwill Manifesto
• Vesti Segodnya criticizes well-known lawyer Andris Grutups for anti-Semitic statements

Latvijas Avize reports that Latvian high officials and MPs started discussions about further actions in integration policy. At a meeting with the Parliamentary Human Rights and Social Affairs Committee representatives of the Ministry of Culture informed about plans to conduct various activities for promotion of integration during the year. The activities will concern Latvian language courses for ethnic non-Latvians, promotion of participation in civil society, inclusive education of Roma, and other initiatives. It is also planned to establish the National Integration Centre which will provide various services for non-Latvians such as legal assistance, social workers assistance, consultant about state language learning and labour issues. The MP Raivis Dzintars (All for Latvia/FF-LNIM) and the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs (Concord Centre), in their turn, conducted a discussion with students of Latvian and Russian language schools in Ogre (city near Riga). Mr Dzintars and Mr Usakovs stated that they want to be an example for the society that despite the different views it is possible to hold conversation and maintain human relations with each other.

420 persons signed the Goodwill Manifesto aimed at the consolidation of the society by 21 February. As reported, the Manifesto was written by a Lutheran pastor and it got supported by the President of Latvia Andris Berzins and many well-known persons and politicians. Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya criticizes well-known lawyer Andris Grutups for anti-Semitic statements made in an interview with Neatkariga. In the interview, Mr Grutups stated that irresponsible consolidation measures by the government have driven the country into extreme poverty, and the people are asking why life is harder now than during the Soviet era and are searching for whom to blame, and the present economic crisis could easily turn into an ethnic crisis. Mr Grutups believes that Vladimirs Lindermans (initiator of the collection of signatures for granting Russian the status of a state language) with a wild energy does everything to antagonise the two peoples (Latvians and Russians) in Latvia. Mr Grutups sees Lindermans as one Jewish revolutionary, who has ignited safety matches next to the gasoline barrel. Vesti Segodnya also notes that no politician or political force has condemned Mr Grutups for these statements.