• Representative of the government of Moscow met with Russian compatriots in Latvia

Chas reports about a meeting of the head of the department of external economic relations of the government of Moscow Georgiy Muradov with representatives of Russian compatriots in Latvia. Mr. Muradov stated that Russia will continue to promote protection of Russian language and rights of its compatriots and help them to solve social issues.

• For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM demand for bigger control over education in ethnic minority schools

Members of political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) appealed to the head of the Control Service of Education Quality demanding to resume inspections in ethnic minority schools in order to prevent usage of education materials published in Russia, especially at history classes. As reported, earlier the FF/LNIM stated that state should guarantee free-of-charge education only in Latvian language.

Members of political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) appealed to the head of the Control Service of Education Quality demanding to resume inspections in ethnic minority schools in order to prevent usage of education materials published in Russia, especially at history classes. As reported, earlier the FF/LNIM stated that state should guarantee free-of-charge education only in Latvian language. Vesti Segodnya

• Concord Centre will demand guarantees from the Minister of Interior that naturalisation process will not become complicated or hindered
• Nils Muiznieks is elected to the post of the Chairman of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance
• Saeima rejected proposal to officially use Latgalian names of lakes in two nature protected areas in Latgale
• Patients' Rights Law adopted
• Saeima rejected proposal to abolish regulation of language of instruction in state-funded universities

The Concord Centre is planning to appeal to the Minister of Interior Linda Murniece demanding for guarantees that naturalisation process will not become complicated or hindered due to liquidation of the Naturalisation Board and delegation of its functions to the Office of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) under subordination of the Ministry of Interior. Merger of the Naturalisation Board and the OCMA should be completed by 20 January 2009.

The Concord Centre is planning to appeal to the Minister of Interior Linda Murniece demanding for guarantees that naturalisation process will not become complicated or hindered due to liquidation of the Naturalisation Board and delegation of its functions to the Office of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) under subordination of the Ministry of Interior. Merger of the Naturalisation Board and the OCMA should be completed by 20 January 2009. Chas

Latvijas Avize reports that the director of the Institute of Social and Political Studies of the University of Latvia Nils Muiznieks is elected to the post of the Chairman of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) of the Council of Europe.

Yesterday, the Saeima rejected draft amendments to the laws on Razna National Park and Telci Nature Reserve (both in Latgale, Eastern Latvia). The amendments envisaged changing the official names of few lakes within these protected areas from Latvian to local Latgalian.

Yesterday, the Saeima rejected draft amendments to the laws on Razna National Park and Telci Nature Reserve (both in Latgale, Eastern Latvia). The amendments envisaged changing the official names of few lakes within these protected areas from Latvian to local Latgalian. Vesti Segodnya

After seven years of consideration, the Saeima adopted yesterday the Patients' Rights Law, envisaging,

After seven years of consideration, the Saeima adopted yesterday the Patients' Rights Law, envisaging, inter alia, a mechanism for out-of-court damages settlement. The Saeima rejected the proposal of the For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) to oblige healthcare institutions to take into consideration the native language of the patient. The FHRUL claims there are cases when doctors refuse to communicate in Rusian with patients, thus putting their health in danger. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

The Saeima rejected proposal of the For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) to amendment the Law on Higher Education, abolishing regulation of language of instruction in state-funded universities. According to Dzintars Abikis, the secretary of the Education, Culture and Science Committee, the proposal would “destroy the linguistic hierarchy and eliminate the will to learn Latvian”.

The Saeima rejected proposal of the For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) to amendment the Law on Higher Education, abolishing regulation of language of instruction in state-funded universities. According to Dzintars Abikis, the secretary of the Education, Culture and Science Committee, the proposal would destroy the linguistic hierarchy and eliminate the will to learn Latvian. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

 

• Commissioner for Multilingualism Leonard Orban: promotion of multilingualism in the European Union applies to all languages used in the member countries including minority languages
• Society Unity Prize presented to NGO Dialogi.lv

The Commissioner for Multilingualism Leonard Orban of the European Commission replying to a request of the MEP from Latvia Inese Vaidere stated that promotion of multilingualism in the European Union applies to all languages used in the member countries including minority languages and languages of third countries. As reported, Mrs Vaidere sent request to the Commissioner asking to explain wide usage of Russian language in European mass media. Especially Mrs. Vaidere complained that such media channels as Euronews, Eurosport and BBC broadcast and publish news in Russian, while such services are not available in Latvian language. The Commissioner stated that private TV channels choose their own broadcasting strategies and the European Commission cannot impact it.  

The Commissioner for Multilingualism Leonard Orban of the European Commission replying to a request of the MEP from Latvia Inese Vaidere stated that promotion of multilingualism in the European Union applies to all languages used in the member countries including minority languages and languages of third countries. As reported, Mrs Vaidere sent request to the Commissioner asking to explain wide usage of Russian language in European mass media. Especially Mrs. Vaidere complained that such media channels as Euronews, Eurosport and BBC broadcast and publish news in Russian, while such services are not available in Latvian language. The Commissioner stated that private TV channels choose their own broadcasting strategies and the European Commission cannot impact it. Vesti Segodnya

The Society Integration Foundation presented the Society Unity Prize to NGO “Dialogi.lv” for long term and systematic promotion of dialogue between various society groups.

The Society Integration Foundation presented the Society Unity Prize to NGO Dialogi.lv for long term and systematic promotion of dialogue between various society groups. Latvijas Avize

• National Radio and Television Council drew up an administrative protocol on alleged incitement to ethnic hatred
• Mayor of the Riga City Council Nils Usakovs: my activities are under especially high attention from ethnic Latvians and ethnic Russians

The National Radio and Television Council (NRTC) drew up an administrative protocol on alleged incitement to ethnic hatred in Channel TV5 broadcast “Un-censored” presented by Andrejs Mamikins. The protocol will be reviewed at the NRTC’s meeting on 17 December. The NRTC initiated the case against Andrejs Mamikins after complaints about one-sided questions in the 18 November broadcast’s TV viewers’ opinion poll.

The National Radio and Television Council (NRTC) drew up an administrative protocol on alleged incitement to ethnic hatred in Channel TV5 broadcast Un-censored presented by Andrejs Mamikins. The protocol will be reviewed at the NRTCs meeting on 17 December. The NRTC initiated the case against Andrejs Mamikins after complaints about one-sided questions in the 18 November broadcasts TV viewers opinion poll. Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Mayor of the Riga City Council Nils Usakovs. According to the Mayor, he is the first ethnic Russian who occupies such high post in Latvia and, therefore, all his activities are under especially high attention from both ethnic Latvian and ethnic Russian side.