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.

• UNO Human Rights Committee remains concerned at the status of ‘non-citizen’ residents and the situation of linguistic minorities in Latvia
• State Language Centre criticizes a video clip advertising political party “United for Latvia” and its leader Ainars Slesers which calls for reconciliation
• Saeima supported the Introduction or Preamble to Constitution of Latvia in the first reading
• Vesti Segodnya reports about Chinese living in Ozolnieki

The UNO Human Rights Committee issued recommendations to Latvia. The Committee remains concerned about the status of ‘non-citizen’ residents and the situation of linguistic minorities. In particular, it is concerned about the impact of the State language policy on the enjoyment of the rights envisioned by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights without any discrimination by members of linguistic minorities, including the right to choose and change one’s own name and the right to an effective remedy. The Committee is further concerned about discriminatory effects of the language proficiency requirement on the employment of minority groups. The Committee recommends Latvia to enhance its efforts to ensure the full enjoyment of the Covenant rights by ‘non-citizen’ residents and members of linguistic minorities and further facilitate their integration into society. It also recommends Latvia to review the State Language Law and its application in order to ensure that any restriction on the rights of non-Latvian speakers is reasonable, proportionate and non-discriminatory, and take measures to ensure access by non-Latvian speakers to public institutions and facilitate their communication with public authorities. Diena, full report is available at http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CCPR/C/LVA/CO/3&Lang=En

The State Language Centre (SLC) criticizes a video clip advertising political party “United for Latvia” and its leader Ainars Slesers which calls for reconciliation of nations. In particular, the SLC criticizes the way word “Latvia” is spelled – “LATVIЯ” (added Russian letter "YA" to the ending) – symbolizing unity of ethnic Latvians and Russians. However, representative of the SLC Antons Kursitis believes that it is rather can be viewed as a call for official bilingualism in Latvia. The video clip calls to build common society and not to split people on ethnic lines. It says that Latvian language should be the foundation for the reconciliation but respecting all other languages. It also calls not to give Russian residents of Latvia to Russia. Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday, the Saeima supported the Introduction or Preamble to Constitution of Latvia in the first reading. As reported, the Introduction to the Constitution says “Latvia was established uniting ethnic Latvians in historical land, based on a firm state will of ethnic Latvian nation and its irrevocable rights for self-determination in order to guarantee existence and development of ethnic Latvian nation, its language and culture through centuries, insure freedom of every person and all nations and promote welfare.” The adoption of the Introduction got accompanied by long debates of parliamentarians and critics from the members of the oppositional party “Concord Centre.”

Vesti Segodnya reports about Chinese living in Ozolnieki (town in the Central part of Latvia). The newspaper says that there are no reasons to speak about invasion of Chinese to the town, because out of 65 Chinese who have declared the town as their town of residence, permanent residents are only few families. Interviewed residents of Ozolnieki do not see any problems that there are some Chinese in the town, however, they do not want to see large influx of Chinese people.