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.

• Vesti Segodnya interviews one of the candidates for the Presidents’ post Egils Levits

Vesti Segodnya interviews one of the candidates for the Presidents’ post, judge of the Court of Justice of the European Union Egils Levits. According to Mr Levits, Latvia is a state established in order to realise the right to self-determination of ethnic Latvian nation. Mr Levits believes that in order to establish a civil nation –society needs to have a common language. For Latvia this language is Latvian and it is common for all residents regardless of their nationality, religion, and native language. He believes that representatives of ethnic minorities who want to be included in the civil nation cannot live in their own ghetto, cannot live separately from ethnic Latvians and to be separated by, for instance, other language. They (ethnic minorities) should join the common language and common comprehension about the state. At the same time, they can develop their language and their culture, says Mr Levits. He stresses that those who are not proficient in Latvian language cannot participate in the Latvian democracy fully. Mr Levits also believes that basic education should be in Latvian language for all pupils in Latvia, but some subjects should be taught also in minority languages.  Regarding 9 May as the celebration day of the end of the WWII or Victory Day, Mr Levits says that ethnic Latvians cannot celebrate this day because for Latvia this was the day of the beginning of Stalin’s repressions and the day when one occupation was replaced with another. Mr Levits believes that for Latvia, the WWII has ended only in 1990 when the country’s independence got restored.