• Interview with a leader of Arab Culture Center, MP candidate

Latvijas Avīze interviewed Hosams Abu Meri - a doctor, leader of Arab Culture Center and MP candidate. The main reason why he decided to enter politics is that the NGO sector in Latvia is not strong enough to influence state decisions and policies. Abu Meri recognizes that there are two communities in Latvia: Latvian- and Russian- speaking. He believes that while living in Latvia one has to observe three things: state language, which has to be guarded, culture and laws.

 

• Opinion of the Council of NGOs of Latvia regarding the issue of non-citizens of Latvia

Chas published opinion of the Council of NGOs of Latvia regarding the issue of non-citizens of Latvia. The Council highlights the fact that non-citizens of Latvia is a unique institution and believes that its existence is justified only on political and not legal grounds. The Council also points at opinion of specific international bodies which have on various occasions voiced their concern regarding democratic deficit in Latvia because significant part of the people is denied voting rights. The Council of NGOs asks for international attention to ethnocratic policy in Latvia and calls for immediate abolition of division of society into citizens and non-citizens.

• Duplicate language exams for naturalization could be abolished

The Government ordered the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Education and Science to develop draft amendments which could envisage abolition of the requirement to pass Latvian language exam for those applicants who already passed language exams successfully, such as: centralized language exam at school (receiving at least level “D”), employment language exam (levels “B” or “C”), residence permit language exam as well as EU permanent resident language exam. Draft amendments should be developed and presented to the Cabinet of Ministers by 15 January 2010.

The Government ordered the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Education and Science to develop draft amendments which could envisage abolition of the requirement to pass Latvian language exam for those applicants who already passed language exams successfully, such as: centralized language exam at school (receiving at least level D), employment language exam (levels B or C), residence permit language exam as well as EU permanent resident language exam. Draft amendments should be developed and presented to the Cabinet of Ministers by 15 January 2010. Chas

 

• Dzintars Rasnacs comments on pre-election promises of political union of All For Latvia! and For Fatherland and Freedom / LMIN
• Aivis Ronis: majority of Latvias people have the same values, similar world views and common responsibility for the future

Neatkariga Rita Avize (NRA) interviewed Dzintars Rasnacs, Secretary of the Saeima and board member of For Fatherland and Freedom / LMIN about the pre-election promises of right wing political union of All For Latvia! and For Fatherland and Freedom / LMIN. The union promised to abolish preferences for investors envisaged in the Immigration Law and, while the unemployment rate is high, to strictly limit immigration of third-country nationals. Mr. Rasnacs believes that Latvia is the only state of the Schengen Agreement which does not have the fundamental basis of a nation state – mandatory education system in the state language. Therefore, the union promises to amend legislation, making it mandatory for the state-funded education to be in the state language only. Mr.Rasnacs also stated that the Citizenship Law should envisage more simple way to withdraw Latvian citizenship. Latvia should recognize dual citizenship with EU and NATO countries and Australia, which would encourage the return of ethnic Latvians from exile.

In an interview with

In an interview with Telegraf Aivis Ronis, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, has stated that Latvian political elite sees the changes in dynamics of relations between Russia and the USA, EU and NATO and is ripe ready for changes. According to Mr.Ronis, Latvia is united with Russians by a thousand years of history and mutual interests, while being member of the EU and NATO, Latvia is closely consulting with its allies. Mr. Ronis also stated that majority of Latvias people, citizens and non-citizens alike, - have the same values, similar world views and common responsibility for the future of the state. In the meantime, integration policy should be more effective and to be implemented in the interests of the countrys security, while issues of citizenship and participation of non-citizens in municipal elections are internal affair of Latvia and should not be raised in the context of relations between Latvia and Russia.

• Latvijas Avīze interviews Concord Centre MP candidate

Latvijas Avīze interviewed professor Valdis Bluzma (PhD Hist.), political union Concord Centre candidate in the upcoming parliamentary elections. According to Mr.Bluzma, after 5 August 1940 Latvia was occupied from the legal point of view, and annexed from de-facto point of view. Mr.Bluzma believes that the Concord Centre should stand against two-community division of society, because this threatens state integrity and unity. Latvia should ensure consolidation of society in order for residents of the country to feel loyalty towards the state.