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.

Press Report

Today 

TodayDiena publishes the speech of the State President Guntis Ulmanis at the extraordinary session of the Saeima on 22 June when the Citizenship Law amendments were considered in the third reading.

Panorama Latvii publishes an interview with the representatives of the Committee on the Relations with CIS and the Countrymen at the Russian Duma ( Parliament) who recently visited Latvia. The Deputy Chair of the Committee Juriy Kuznecov assured the readers that the "present day democratic Russia fights and will fight against any discrimination of its countrymen residing in Latvia and will insist on the equal rights to all residents of Latvia."

In an interview for 

In an interview forJauna Avize Maris Grinblats (Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK) argues that some partners of the governmental coalition seems to have forgotten the Article 3 of the coalition agreement which provided for the taking into consideration the language and history knowledge when granting citizenship to children of non-citizens. Therefore, the Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK insists on co-ordinating the final version of the Citizenship Law amendments not only with the OSCE recommendations but also with the document signed by all government forming factions.

Jan Sorensen, the UNDP Resident Representative in Latvia, told press that in 1998 the UNDP focuses on the issues related with the social integration in Latvia. According to Mr. Sorensen, at the moment in Latvia there is no two-community society, although members of the different ethnic groups residing in Latvia differently interpret essential historical issues and differently envision the future of the country. 

Jan Sorensen, the UNDP Resident Representative in Latvia, told press that in 1998 the UNDP focuses on the issues related with the social integration in Latvia. According to Mr. Sorensen, at the moment in Latvia there is no two-community society, although members of the different ethnic groups residing in Latvia differently interpret essential historical issues and differently envision the future of the country.

Chasinterviews the advisor of the State President Reinis Aboltins who also is a member of the work group on the preparation of the integration program in Latvia. According to Mr. Aboltins, the integration is a peaceful co-existence in the society, therefore the most important prerequisite of the integration should be the equal rights for all ethnic groups residing in Latvia. The task of the state is to provide grounds for the voluntary integration by amending the legislation and liberalizing the laws on citizenship and language.