• Latvijas Avize interviews new director of Social Integration and Policy Department of IUMSILS

Latvijas Avize interviews Juris Asars, recently nominated to the position of director of Social Integration and Policy Department of IUMSILS. One of the issues on the agenda of the new director is elaboration of “Basic Principles of Society Integration Policy 2008-2018.” His position is that there is one main group – ethnic Latvians, and “we, Latvians, are doing all we can for you, Byelorussians and Russians, Ukrainians, to live here and feel like home, feel belonging to this state.” Latvian language is the main principle for uniting the society, while expression of other ethnicities should not be prohibited. Mr.Asars also would like to know why the notions of “inclusive society” and “multiculturalism” have been included into the draft “Basic Principles of Society Integration Policy 2008-2018” elaborated before his nomination to the office.