• MP Boriss Cilevics: nationalists want to introduce the principle “ethnic Latvian is always right”

The MP Boriss Cilevics (Concord Centre) criticizes the draft amendments to the Labour Law forbidding the employers to demand potential employees for foreign language proficiency unless those are necessary for work duties. Mr Cilevics believes that instead of the principle “costumer is always right” the authors of the draft amendments want to introduce the principle “ethnic Latvian is always right” no matter whether ethnic Latvian is a costumer or, for instance, a waiter. Well known Latvian journalist Karlis Streips also stated that sometimes domination of Latvian language is pushed to an absurd extreme, especially what concerns provision of information for tourists. Chas

• Saeima in the second reading supported the draft amendments forbidding the employers to indicate requirements for foreign language proficiency in job announcements
• Vesti Segodnya reports about a discussion “Language – Instrument of Integration or Stumbling Rock?”

Yesterday, the Saeima in the second reading supported the draft amendments to the Labour Law forbidding the employers to indicate requirements for foreign language proficiency in job announcements unless those are obligatory required for fulfilment of work duties.After long debates, the Saeima did not support the proposal to attribute the prohibition also to labour agreements. According to the authors of the draft amendments, the aim is to stop linguistic discrimination of potential employees who are not proficient in Russian language because often the employers unreasonably ask for foreign languages, especially, Russian. Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga, Chas

Vesti Segodnya reports about a discussion “Language – Instrument of Integration or Stumbling Rock?” organised by the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art in the framework of a project funded by European Integration Fund for Third-country nationals. Participants – linguists, politicians and representatives of mass media and non-EU citizens residing in Latvia - discussed the role of language as national and state identity factor. 

• Chas prints an interview with the President of Latvia Andris Berzins
• President Andris Berzins met with representatives of various Latvian WWII veterans’ organisations

Chas prints an interview with the President of Latvia Andris Berzins. The President states he will do everything in order to unite the split society because the state’s future can be only common for all residents. The President believes it was possible to establish Latvia as independent state in 1918 because representatives of various nations were able to find common language and to see the issues which united them. The President believes that same issues are topical nowadays because if Latvian residents do not unite they will disappear in the big world.

Latvijas Avize reports about a meeting of the President Andris Berzins with representatives of various Latvian WWII veterans’ organisations – those veterans who fought in the Red Army and in the German army. The aim of the meeting was to continue the initiative of the Good Will Manifesto promoting consolidation of the society and further to gather WWII veterans together in commemoration event in Riga fraternal cemetery on 8 May. According to the President, the conversation with the veterans was conducted in a very humane atmosphere and it was only the beginning and conversations will continue.

• Minister of Interior Rihards Kozlovskis: agitation activities for the referendum on the status of Russian language were anticonstitutional
• About 3,000 signatures collected for support of a draft law on granting Latvian citizenship to all non-citizens

According to the Minister of Interior Rihards Kozlovskis, the activities on promotion of the referendum on the status of Russian language in Latvia were funded by various NGOs and private persons. Mr Kozlovskis believes that such practice contradicts Latvian Constitution because endangers the state security. However, Mr Kozlovskis admits it is impossible to punish for such actions because the legal acts do not regulate referendum agitation activities. Chas

A movement “For Equal Rights” collected about 3,000 signatures for support of a draft law on granting Latvian citizenship to all non-citizens. In total, during the first stage, it is required to collect 10,000 signatures in order to initiate state funded collection of signatures. Chas

• Editor of the weekly magazine “Ir”: Russian mass media in Latvia is the biggest internal threat

Vesti Segodnya reports about a conference “Impact of mass media on public opinion, national security and state identity.” The majority of the participants of the conference blamed Russia’s TV channels broadcasted in Latvia for formation of the split society. According to the editor of the weekly magazine “Ir” Nelija Locmele, Russia is a threat for Latvia because Russia is undemocratic, corrupt state. Mrs Locmele believes that Russian mass media in Latvia is the biggest internal threat.