• Naturalisation rate in Latvia has not changed since Russia cancelled visa requirements for non-citizens

Telegraf reports that the statistics of the Naturalisation Board shows that the naturalisation rate in Latvia has not changed since Russia cancelled visa requirements for non-citizens. According to a representative of the Naturalisation Board, there is a constant inflow of young people who want to receive Latvian citizenship. Diena reports that this week Latvian citizenship will be given to 130,000th person since the naturalisation procedure was launched in 1995. However, 372,421 persons still are non-citizens. Telegraf, Diena

• Functions of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration will be hand over to the Ministry for Children and Family Affairs

The Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis decided to close the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (IUMSILS), the Secretariat for Administration of the EU Funds and the Secretariat for Electronic Government Affairs in order to economise state funds. Functions of the IUMSILS will be hand over to the Ministry for Children and Family Affairs. 

The Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis decided to close the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (IUMSILS), the Secretariat for Administration of the EU Funds and the Secretariat for Electronic Government Affairs in order to economise state funds. Functions of the IUMSILS will be hand over to the Ministry for Children and Family Affairs. Chas, Latvijas Avize, Diena

• State Employment Agency has approved invitations for work in Latvia for 1715 foreigners from non-EU countries during the first half of 2008
• Latvijas Avize prints an article about the Ombudsmans Office

The State Employment Agency has approved invitations for work in Latvia for 1715 foreigners from non-EU countries during the first half of 2008 which is for 17% less as compared with first half of 2007. The majority of guest workers arrived from Ukraine (654), Moldova (308), Thailand (191), Uzbekistan (146), Russia (86), and Belarus (77).

The State Employment Agency has approved invitations for work in Latvia for 1715 foreigners from non-EU countries during the first half of 2008 which is for 17% less as compared with first half of 2007. The majority of guest workers arrived from Ukraine (654), Moldova (308), Thailand (191), Uzbekistan (146), Russia (86), and Belarus (77). Chas

Latvijas Avize prints an article about the Ombudsmans Office. The institution has received 186 complaints concerning discrimination during the first half of 2008. According to the Ombudsman Romans Apsitis, the Ombudsmans Office encountered several cases regarding discriminative advertisements and it seems that because of the Offices work the advertisers became more cautious and tolerant, however, desirable result are not achieved yet.

• Telegraf: more parents are sending their Russian speaking children to Latvian language schools
• Cabinet of Ministers is planning to review the draft rules of internal regulations of the State Border Guards accomodation centre for detained foreigners

Telegraf reports that more parents are sending their Russian speaking children to Latvian language schools. However, according to the article, such parents predominantly choose Latvian language schools with high education quality.

Vesti Segodnya reports that the Cabinet of Ministers at its next session is planning to review the draft rules of internal regulations of the State Border Guards accomodation centre for detained foreigners. The draft rules contain description of procedure of reception of foreigners, sanitary and medical inspections, and rules of stay in the facility.

• Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration has entrusted elaboration of the guidelines for social integration policy to a public relations company

Diena reports that the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (IUMSILS in its Latvian acronym) has entrusted elaboration of the guidelines for social integration policy to a public relations company. Experts interviewed by Diena criticize this decision arguing that elaboration of political documents is one of the main responsibilities and jobs of the IUMSILS officials. According to the director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Ilze Brands-Kehre, instead of ordering someone to write something in haste, this should be serious and well-grounded document, and its elaboration should involve specific experts.