• Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs: notion ‘non-citizen is an anomaly in Europe
• EP denied proposals on the Law on the Status of EU Citizens and Permanent Residents
• Ambassadors of Austria and France blames the commemoration processions of Latvian WWII legionaries
• Russian leader of All for Latvia believes that power in Latvia must belong to Latvians

The Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov stated that the relations between Russia and Latvia will not be constructive until the problems of national minorities, especially of Russian speaking residents in Latvia, are solved. “This problem must be solved according to the recommendations of European un international institutions…. The notion “non-citizen” is an anomaly in Europe,” said Sergey Lavrov.

The Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov stated that the relations between Russia and Latvia will not be constructive until the problems of national minorities, especially of Russian speaking residents in Latvia, are solved. This problem must be solved according to the recommendations of European un international institutions…. The notion non-citizen is an anomaly in Europe, said Sergey Lavrov. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday, the European Parliament denied proposals submitted by Italian MEP on the draft law on the EU citizenship and status of its permanent residents. The proposal provided that all EU permanent residents would have rights to vote in municipal elections and that in the Latvian context would expand political rights of Latvian non-citizens.

Yesterday, the European Parliament denied proposals submitted by Italian MEP on the draft law on the EU citizenship and status of its permanent residents. The proposal provided that all EU permanent residents would have rights to vote in municipal elections and that in the Latvian context would expand political rights of Latvian non-citizens. Chas, Diena

The Ambassador of Austria Vernfrid Keffler in an interview with

The Ambassador of Austria Vernfrid Keffler in an interview with Chas stated that commemorational processions of Latvian WWII legionaries on 16 March are not acceptable, however, the Austrian Government will not make any official statements regarding the issue. The Ambassador of France Michel Foucherin an interview with Diena (17.01) stated that such processions are not admissible, arguing that they bring instability into society. Latvia should find a day that would encourage unity in the whole society. I think, 11 November would be a good choice, said Michel Foucher.

“I – as a Russian – truly believe that power in Latvia must belong to Latvians,” stated Dmitrijs Mironovs, one of the leaders of the nationalistic party “All for Latvia” in an interview with a private radio station. “Assimilation, according to the views of our party, is acceptance of titular nation’s laws, such as respect towards the Latvian language; acquisition of state language skills; observance of Latvian laws; loyalty towards Latvia and not imposing one’s language and mentality on Latvians,” said Dmitrijs Mironovs. However, the leader of the Youth Party Janis Kuzins when asked to comment the Mironovs’ to in an interview with

I – as a Russian – truly believe that power in Latvia must belong to Latvians, stated Dmitrijs Mironovs, one of the leaders of the nationalistic party All for Latvia in an interview with a private radio station. Assimilation, according to the views of our party, is acceptance of titular nations laws, such as respect towards the Latvian language; acquisition of state language skills; observance of Latvian laws; loyalty towards Latvia and not imposing ones language and mentality on Latvians, said Dmitrijs Mironovs. However, the leader of the Youth Party Janis Kuzins when asked to comment the Mironovs to in an interview with Vesti Segodnya, stated that such nationalistic views are dangerous, because they may lead to serious ethnic conflicts. Latvia can not be only Latvian, Russian, Polish or Chinese. Latvia can and should be a democratic European country, which observes the rights of every resident irrespectively of his/her language, skin color, social and ethnic origin. Vesti Segodnya

• Minister of Foreign Affairs asks to pay more attention to manifestations of intolerance in the society
• Members of the Saeima comment on the establishment of the nationalistic party All for Latvia
• Naturalisation Board denies Latvian citizenship for cheating attempts
• LND and FHRUL want to protest against processions of WWII Latvian legionaries
• Concord Center: Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration must resign
• Head of the IUMSILS Secretariat: loyalty to the country means observance of its laws

Yesterday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks asked the Prime Minister of Latvia Aigars Kalvitis, the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Ainars Latkovskis, and the Minister of Education Inna Druviete to pay more attention to manifestations of intolerance in the society. “It is not admissible that intolerance is expressed in aggressive and violent forms,” stated Artis Pabriks.

Yesterday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks asked the Prime Minister of Latvia Aigars Kalvitis, the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Ainars Latkovskis, and the Minister of Education Inna Druviete to pay more attention to manifestations of intolerance in the society. It is not admissible that intolerance is expressed in aggressive and violent forms, stated Artis Pabriks. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraa, Telegraf, NRA

A number of members of the Saeima in an interview with

A number of members of the Saeima in an interview with Chas commented on the establishment of a new nationalistic party All for Latvia. Juris Sokolovskis (FHRUL) said formation of such parties shows that our society is seriously ill…. Formation of parties, which place one nation over others, in the twenty-first century is nonsense. Vyacheslavs Stepanenko (Latvias First Party) stated This party will collect votes of supporters of other right-wing parties. Maris Gulbis (New Democrats) said All for Latvia is too radical, and thus it could provoke left-wing parties to take more radical steps and that could lead to radicalization of the situation. However, the director of the data and sociologic research center Latvijas fakti in an interview with Diena stated that All for Latvia has no chances, because people are more concerned with their welfare and day-to-day issues.

The Naturalisation Board in Jelgava denied granting Latvian citizenship to a man, who asked another person to sit his Latvian language test.

The Naturalisation Board in Jelgava denied granting Latvian citizenship to a man, who asked another person to sit his Latvian language test. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize, Diena

Yesterday, the Latvian National Democratic (LND) Party and the political union For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) submitted an application to the Liepaja City Council asking Council’s permission to hold a procession on 16 March. The parties want to protest against public processions of the WW II Latvian legionaries  held on that day.

Yesterday, the Latvian National Democratic (LND) Party and the political union For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) submitted an application to the Liepaja City Council asking Councils permission to hold a procession on 16 March. The parties want to protest against public processions of the WW II Latvian legionaries held on that day. Chas, Latvijas Avize

Member of the Saeima (The Concord Center) Andrejs Klementjevs stated that the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Ainars Latkovskis (the New Era) should resign. Andrejs Klementjevs made the statement after one of New Era’s members attended the congress of the party “All for Latvia.”

Member of the Saeima (The Concord Center) Andrejs Klementjevs stated that the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Ainars Latkovskis (the New Era) should resign. Andrejs Klementjevs made the statement after one of New Eras members attended the congress of the party All for Latvia. Vesti Segodnya

The Head of the Social Integration Secretariat Kristine Vagnere in an interview with

The Head of the Social Integration Secretariat Kristine Vagnere in an interview with Vesti Segodnya said that ones loyalty towards the country means observance of its laws. Kristine Vagenere believes that the majority of Latvias residents of Latvia are loyal and loves the country. She also said that unfortunately, the virus of radicalization, hatred towards people of different skin color, and different mentality have not skipped Latvia… People are not accustomed to live side by side with people who are different. She also believes that state language skills are obligatory pre-requisite for integration of national minorities, however, common values are very important aspect as well.

• Nationalistic radical organization All for Latvia transformed into a political party
• 2005 saw a record number - 19,736 – of naturalized citizens
• Union of Latvian Politically Repressed Persons expressed its dissatisfaction with naturalization process
• Riga Regional Court will review a criminal case against persons accused of genocide

On the weekend, the nationalistic radical organization “All for Latvia” established a political party. The main slogan of the party is “Latvians in government – forever.” “We will return the dominant position of Latvians and Latvia will be Latvian,” stated the leader of the party Raivis Dzintars. “Every non-Latvian has two choices – whether to love this land and assimilate, or to drive out of Latvia,” stated a party’s member.  However the United Congress of Russian Communities in Latvia is planning to ask the Security Police to evaluate whether the party program of “All for Latvia” calls to incitement of ethnic hatred.

On the weekend, the nationalistic radical organization All for Latvia established a political party. The main slogan of the party is Latvians in government – forever. We will return the dominant position of Latvians and Latvia will be Latvian, stated the leader of the party Raivis Dzintars. Every non-Latvian has two choices – whether to love this land and assimilate, or to drive out of Latvia, stated a partys member. However the United Congress of Russian Communities in Latvia is planning to ask the Security Police to evaluate whether the party program of All for Latvia calls to incitement of ethnic hatred. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Diena, NRA, Rigas Balss

A record high number of non-citizens were naturalized last year – 19,736 persons. The Naturalization Board notes that the number of those who are willing to receive Latvian citizenship is growing every year.

A record high number of non-citizens were naturalized last year – 19,736 persons. The Naturalization Board notes that the number of those who are willing to receive Latvian citizenship is growing every year. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

The Union of Latvian Politically Repressed persons expressed its dissatisfaction with naturalization process in Latvia. The Union considers that stringer limitations on naturalization should be introduced.

The Union of Latvian Politically Repressed persons expressed its dissatisfaction with naturalization process in Latvia. The Union considers that stringer limitations on naturalization should be introduced. Latvijas Avize

The Riga Regional Court will review the criminal case against 90- year-old Ilya Mashonkin accused of genocide. Mashonkin is accused in signing more than 1,500 deportation orders during the communistic regime in Latvia.

The Riga Regional Court will review the criminal case against 90- year-old Ilya Mashonkin accused of genocide. Mashonkin is accused in signing more than 1,500 deportation orders during the communistic regime in Latvia. Latvijas Avize

• Allegedly racial incident at two citizens of Sri Lanka in Riga
• FF/LNIM will appeal the decision of the SP to refuse to initiate a criminal process concerning a documentary Baltic Nazism
• Russia satisfied with the PACEs decision not to stop the post-monitoring dialog with Latvia

On Friday, two young girls in Riga physically assaulted two dark skinned citizens of Sri Lanka – a brother and a sister. The State Police initiated a criminal process for incitement of ethnic hatred.

On Friday, two young girls in Riga physically assaulted two dark skinned citizens of Sri Lanka – a brother and a sister. The State Police initiated a criminal process for incitement of ethnic hatred. Diena reports that in summer 2005 in Latvia there were a number of allegedly racial attacks, however, the Police did not classify those incidents as racially motivated incidents. Latvijas Avize, Diena

The political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM will appeal the decision of the Security Police on the refusal to initiate a criminal procedure against a documentary “Baltic Nazism” by a Russia’s TV company. The member of the party, MP Juris Dobelis is convinced that the documentary incites ethnic hatred and provides many false facts.

The political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM will appeal the decision of the Security Police on the refusal to initiate a criminal procedure against a documentary Baltic Nazism by a Russias TV company. The member of the party, MP Juris Dobelis is convinced that the documentary incites ethnic hatred and provides many false facts. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is satisfied with the decision of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) not to accept the decision of its Monitoring Committee to stop the post-monitoring dialog with Latvia.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is satisfied with the decision of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) not to accept the decision of its Monitoring Committee to stop the post-monitoring dialog with Latvia. Vesti Segodnya

• Concord Center has submitted to the Saeima a draft law on the status of EU permanent resident
• Various political organizations are planning to hold processions on 16 March
• City Ethnic Community Fellowship enterprise in Daugavpils

Yesterday, the political party The Concord Center has submitted a draft law to the Saeima according to which the status of the EU permanent resident could be granted to Latvian non-citizens through registration only. As reported, the discussed draft law provides that the EU permanent resident status may be granted only if the applicant passes Latvian language test and complies with other requirements.

Yesterday, the political party The Concord Center has submitted a draft law to the Saeima according to which the status of the EU permanent resident could be granted to Latvian non-citizens through registration only. As reported, the discussed draft law provides that the EU permanent resident status may be granted only if the applicant passes Latvian language test and complies with other requirements. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

The political organization “National Force Union” has submitted an application to the Liepaja City Council asking permission to hold a procession to commemorate the Latvian WW II legionaries on 16 March. The Latvian National Democratic party is planning to organize anti-fascistic procession in Liepaja on that day as well.

The political organization National Force Union has submitted an application to the Liepaja City Council asking permission to hold a procession to commemorate the Latvian WW II legionaries on 16 March. The Latvian National Democratic party is planning to organize anti-fascistic procession in Liepaja on that day as well. Vesti Segodnya

Tomorrow, representatives of various ethnic groups - Latvians, Russians, Poles, Jews, Roma, Belorussians, Lithuanians, Germans, Ukrainians, and Tatars - residing in Daugavpil’s (city in the eastern part of Latvia) will come together to present their culture and traditions.

Tomorrow, representatives of various ethnic groups - Latvians, Russians, Poles, Jews, Roma, Belorussians, Lithuanians, Germans, Ukrainians, and Tatars - residing in Daugavpils (city in the eastern part of Latvia) will come together to present their culture and traditions. Vesti Segodnya