• Amendments to the Immigration Law will exempt foreigners who have severe hearing and speaking disabilities from the language examination
• Two Riga Mayor candidates – Janis Jurkans and Juris Lujans - discuss some integration issues
• Janis Lagzdins, member of the Riga City Council, about the aims of the Peoples Party
• Political scientist Karlis Dauksts argues that Latvia is not an ethnocratic state
• Historian comments on the interpretation of the Soviet times in Latvia

According to the new amendments to the Immigration Law adopted by Saeima in the second reading, the government has to determine those categories of foreigners who will be issued permanent residence permits and exempted from state language examinations. According to the new amendments only those persons who are not able to take the examination because they have total or partly speech disability or they are deaf will be exempted from the language examination.

According to the new amendments to the Immigration Law adopted by Saeima in the second reading, the government has to determine those categories of foreigners who will be issued permanent residence permits and exempted from state language examinations. According to the new amendments only those persons who are not able to take the examination because they have total or partly speech disability or they are deaf will be exempted from the language examination.

Saeima also supported the proposal of Aleksandrs Kirsteins (the People’s Party), who suggested introduction of an integration declaration:  foreigners, who want to receive residence permits in Latvia, will have to submit an integration declaration. In this declaration a person promises to pass state language examination and respect Latvia’s laws, traditions and culture.

Saeima also supported the proposal of Aleksandrs Kirsteins (the Peoples Party), who suggested introduction of an integration declaration: foreigners, who want to receive residence permits in Latvia, will have to submit an integration declaration. In this declaration a person promises to pass state language examination and respect Latvias laws, traditions and culture. Latvijas Avize

Rigas Balss holds a discussion of two candidates running for the post of Riga City Councils Mayor – Janis Jurkans (the Peoples Harmony Party) and Juris Lujans (the Latvian First Party). Janis Jurkans notes that the Latvian First Party talks about harmony in society only in the Russian version of the partys pre-election programme and reproaches the party for not supporting minority issues, such as non-citizenship and education reform, in the Saeima. Juris Lujans replies that the Latvian First Party believes that non-citizens should not be granted the right to participate in municipal elections, because ‘it is too late and would only aggravate hatred and aggression. However, he believes that requirements for the acquisition of Latvian citizenship should be made easier.

Latvijas Avize talks to member of the Riga City Council Janis Lagzdins (the Peoples Party). He states that the key task of his party in the municipal elections in Riga is to consolidate the right-wing parties and acquire control in the Council. He argues that due to the policies and activities implemented by left-wing parties in Riga for last 4 years it is very difficult to get a place in Latvian kindergartens, thus parents are forced to send their children to Russian ones. Further he states that Latvian language skills of non-Latvians are gradually improving and the number of Ukrainian, Russian and Belorussian children who study in Latvian is increasing. However, he notes that there are about 6,000 Latvian children who attend Russian schools and adds that ‘municipalities should work with their parents and persuade them to send their children to Latvian schools. Janis Lagzdins admits that more and more Latvians support left-wing parties. In the further discussion the newspaper reproaches the Latvian First Party for addressing also the Russian electorate and provides Lujans (Mayors candidate from the Latvian First Party) quote who has said that ‘he [Lujans] would not go only with Muslims, but with Christians, whatever kind, he will be together.

Chas talks to political scientist Karlis Dauksts. He disagrees with the journalists statement that Latvia develops as an ethnocratic state. He states that the Russian language has its secure place in Latvia and it is proved by a number of Russian-language newspapers printed in the country, which, according to Karlis Dauksts, would not be possible in an ethnocratic country. However, he admits that at the beginning of the 90-ies and also now there are attempts to form an ethnocratic country, however, it will be never realised in Latvia.

Chas prints an interview with Dr.hist. Tatyana Feigmane about interpretation of history of Latvia and the USSR in the time period 1940-1990. She argues that Latvia experienced incorporation and Sovetisation and not occupation and Russification. The historian states that under the USSR the Russian culture had suffered even more than any other culture and it was not the Russian but the Soviet culture which ruled in the territory of the USSR. Tatyana Feigmane is convinced that Russians are a traditional national minority in Latvia.

• FHRUL and Russian pupils will visit the European Parliament to talk about the minority education reform
• Interview with MP Vaira Paegle (Peoples Party)
• Chas: book about Riga published in Russian contains many language mistakes and controversial statements as well
• Russia calls theOSCE to intervene in the implementation of the minority education reform in Latvia

Next week representatives of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia and a number of Russian pupils will repeatedly visit the European Parliament in order to draw attention of its members to the issues concerning the implementation of the minority education reform in Latvia.

Next week representatives of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia and a number of Russian pupils will repeatedly visit the European Parliament in order to draw attention of its members to the issues concerning the implementation of the minority education reform in Latvia. Diena, Telegraf

Latvijas Avize interviews MP Vaira Paegle (Peoples Party). Regarding Russian Latvian relations, the MP states that Russia intervenes in political situations of its neighbour countries and tries to destabilise the situation there. When asked what the government and the Peoples Party do so that Riga remains Latvian after the municipal elections, Vaira Paegle argues that it depends on the ability of right-wing parties to consolidate their efforts before the municipal elections.

The Russian-language newspaper

The Russian-language newspaper Chas comments on the recently published book ‘Riga in the Russian language. The newspaper criticises the book as it contains controversial statements regarding Soviet times and people, as well as there are many language mistakes. Chas

Vesti Segodnya reports that Russia demands the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe to intervene in the implementation of the minority education reform in Latvia.

• Cabinet of Ministers adopts regulations on the usage of foreign languages in information for public
• Minorities will be informed on possibilities to participate in decision-making processes in the Russian language
• PR expert comments on parties pre-election programmes
• Russian Ambassador visits another Latvian city – Jelgava
• Interview with member of the Peoples Harmony Party about partys goals and electorate

According to new amendments adopted yesterday by the Cabinet of Ministers to the regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers On the Usage of Languages in Information, in specific cases foreign languages may be used along the state language in public information. Foreign languages in public information may be used if this information concerns international tourism, international events, if this information is provided due to security concerns, in cases of epidemics, diseases and in prisons if information concerns rights or obligations of inmates of foreign origin. The only restriction is that the text in foreign languages may not be bigger than a text in Latvian. The Russian-language press stress that the amendments were adopted under the pressure of the European Union.

According to new amendments adopted yesterday by the Cabinet of Ministers to the regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers On the Usage of Languages in Information, in specific cases foreign languages may be used along the state language in public information. Foreign languages in public information may be used if this information concerns international tourism, international events, if this information is provided due to security concerns, in cases of epidemics, diseases and in prisons if information concerns rights or obligations of inmates of foreign origin. The only restriction is that the text in foreign languages may not be bigger than a text in Latvian. The Russian-language press stress that the amendments were adopted under the pressure of the European Union. Latvijas Avize, Chas, Telegraf

Chas reports that as of now the web page of the Cabinet of Ministers www.mk.gov.lv will provide information on possibilities to take part in decision-making processesin the Russian language. The aim of this action is to increase involvement of minorities in states decision-making processes. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segednya talks to PR expert Vsevolods Kacans about the forthcoming municipal elections and parties pre-election programs. Vsevolods Kacans agrees with the journalist that in these municipal elections all parties, including the ones, which are considered nationalistic, try to address the Russian electorate. He argues that ‘the demand for nationalistic ideas among Latvians is decreasing, while the Russian electorate is getting bigger and bigger. However, this group [Russians] has specific interests, therefore parties have to change their programs and pre-election campaigns.

The Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kaluznij visited Jelgava. The Ambassador met representatives of Jelgava’s municipality and visited a school, which provides bilingual education. In his meeting with students and teachers the Ambassador admitted that all residents should speak the state language, however, he expressed his incomprehension about the reduction of lessons in minority languages at primary school. The official of the Ministry of Education and Science Evija Papule comments that the number of lessons of native languages at primary school will be reduced at both Latvian and minority schools due to the inclusion of 3 extra subjects in the curriculum.

The Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kaluznij visited Jelgava. The Ambassador met representatives of Jelgavas municipality and visited a school, which provides bilingual education. In his meeting with students and teachers the Ambassador admitted that all residents should speak the state language, however, he expressed his incomprehension about the reduction of lessons in minority languages at primary school. The official of the Ministry of Education and Science Evija Papule comments that the number of lessons of native languages at primary school will be reduced at both Latvian and minority schools due to the inclusion of 3 extra subjects in the curriculum. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Chas talks to a candidate from the list of the Peoples Harmony Party writer Vladlens Dozorcevs. He states that the key issue for the party is mass non-citizenship issue in the country. When asked to describe partys electorate, he says that it is composed of people who are ‘fed up with national radicals of any party and that many of them come from mixed families or have acquired Latvian citizenship recently. He also notes that there are many Latvians among the members of the party.

 

 

• Committee of the Cabinet of Ministers approves the main principles of the Latvian language policy for 2005-2014
• Education officials cannot make any comments on the effect of the minority education reform on the level of academic success of students yet
• Teachers from Russian schools talk about the minority education reform

Yesterday the Committee of the Cabinet of Ministers approved the main principles of the Latvian language policy for 2005-2014. The document includes provision of Latvian language training for members of minorities.

Yesterday the Committee of the Cabinet of Ministers approved the main principles of the Latvian language policy for 2005-2014. The document includes provision of Latvian language training for members of minorities. Telegraf comments that although the document provides state funding for this purpose, in 2004 the state allotted only LVL 341,000 (EUR 488,256) for teachers training, examinations of state language, etc. Telegraf

In the response to the statements of the former education minister Juris Radzevics (Latvian First Party) that the level of academic success of minority students has dropped,

In the response to the statements of the former education minister Juris Radzevics (Latvian First Party) that the level of academic success of minority students has dropped, Latvijas Avize inquires the Head of the Curriculum and Examination Centre Maris Krastins about the level of academic success of students of minority secondary schools. Maris Krastins states that according to data at the disposal of the Centre the level of academic success has neither worsened nor got better. He notes that more accurate conclusions can be drawn regarding the level of academic success in specific subjects but not regarding the whole process. While politicians argue that the Radzevics statements are ‘flirting with the Russian electorate, because they [Latvian First Party] expect their support at the forthcoming municipal elections.

Latvijas Avize talks to several teachers from Russian schools about the minority education reform. Teachers state that many of students involved in the protest actions are not aware of actual goals of the reform, and a number of them protest not against the reform, but independent Latvia in general. Teachers agree that the Russian-language media plays an important role in providing a one-sided reflection of the education reform.

• Number of people who renounce Latvian Citizenship increases
• NRA reports on positive effects of the minority education reform on students of a Secondary School in Jelgava
• Leader of the Jewish Community about education in Latvia
• Rigas Balss: the Latvian First Party is the only party which declares that it orients to voters from all ethnic groups
• Chas writes that the Mezmalas Secondary School will review exclusion of a student from school because he was collecting signatures against the implementation of the minority education reform

According to the data provided by the Naturalisation Board a number of people who renounce Latvian citizenship is increasing. The people who renounce Latvian citizenship are young, educated and many of them are Latvians, while those who renounce Latvian citizenship among non-Latvians are mainly older people. In total 1760 people have renounced Latvian citizenship since 1999.

According to the data provided by the Naturalisation Board a number of people who renounce Latvian citizenship is increasing. The people who renounce Latvian citizenship are young, educated and many of them are Latvians, while those who renounce Latvian citizenship among non-Latvians are mainly older people. In total 1760 people have renounced Latvian citizenship since 1999. Diena, NRA, Telegraf

NRA reports on the effects of the minority education reform on students of the Secondary School No 6 in Jelgava. The director of the school states that the school had done everything to make the implementation of the reform successful: teachers attended courses, new teaching aids were acquired, and discussions with students and their parents were hold. The analysis of the academic success level of students reveals that the academic success of students in subjects which last year were taught in Russian but this year in Latvian has improved. The director concludes that on the whole the attitude towards the reform is positive.

Latvijas Avize talks to the Executive Director of the Riga Jewish Community Gita Umanovska. She suggests that in the future the proportion of the usage of the Russian language at schools should be reduced, that is those children who are not Latvians and not Russians should not study in Russian. She states that measures should be taken to ensure that non-Latvian children would be accepted and feel comfortable at Latvian schools.

Rigas Balss writes about the forthcoming municipal elections. The newspaper states that all parties focus on specific ethnic groups, but the Latvian First Party, which has openly stated that it addresses people from all ethnic groups. The Latvian First Party has declared that it will form a Minority Department and Advisory Council, which would represent members of minorities, if the party is elected in the Riga City Council.

Chas reports about a case of a pupil of the 12th grade of the Mezmalas Secondary School Jevgenijs Sazonovs. He is accused in offending a teacher, although he states that he did not offended her. The pupil argues that accusations are false and made because he was collecting signatures of other pupils against the implementation of the minority education reform. The Board of Schools Teachers will review a possibility to exclude Jevgenijs Sazonovs from school in its todays meeting.