• The Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Education and Science cannot agree on division of integration issues
• 500 signatures collected in support of granting Latvian citizenship to all non-citizens automatically

Latvijas Avize reports that the Ministry of Culture (MC) and the Ministry of Education and Science (MES) cannot agree on division of integration issues on which each should work. The Minister of Culture Zanete Jaunzeme-Grende believes that all issue concerning the integration of society should remain under co-ordination of the MC. However, in October the governing coalition agreed that the MES will be responsible for integration issues and the Minister of Education and Science already took the initiative in this field. Yesterday, both Ministers hold a meeting to discuss the fields of responsibility of both ministries, however, did not came to a common agreement. As reported, the National Identity, Civil Society and Integration Policy Guidelines for 2012-2018 elaborated under the leadership of the previous Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte (presently, the advisor of the Minister of Culture) were criticized by many civil society organisations and experts.

A movement “For Equal Rights” collected 500 signatures in support of the drafamendments to the Citizenship Law stipulating granting of Latvian citizenship to all non-citizens automatically. As reported, the collection of signatures was initiated in the end of August. The initiators of the collection of signatures still believe that they will manage to collect 10,000 signatures during the first stage and to collect the sufficient amount during the next stage of the state funded collection of signatures and if the national referendum on the issue will be launched it is possible to collect votes of about 230,000 citizens in order to amend the Citizenship law.

A movement For Equal Rights collected 500 signatures in support of the drafamendments to the Citizenship Law stipulating granting of Latvian citizenship to all non-citizens automatically. As reported, the collection of signatures was initiated in the end of August. The initiators of the collection of signatures still believe that they will manage to collect 10,000 signatures during the first stage and to collect the sufficient amount during the next stage of the state funded collection of signatures and if the national referendum on the issue will be launched it is possible to collect votes of about 230,000 citizens in order to amend the Citizenship law. Chas

• President Andris Berzins: Constitutional amendments stipulating granting Russian language status of a state language are anti-constitutional

The President of Latvia Andris Berzins forwarded the draft Constitutional amendments stipulating granting Russian language status of a state language to the Parliament. The President attached to the draft amendments a cover letter addressed to the Speaker of the Saeima Solvita Aboltina stating that granting Russian language status of the state language is the denial of Latvia as national state and such amendments contradict the core of the Constitution of Latvia and basic principles of establishment of Latvia and restoration of independence. The President also stated that he is ready to be actively engaged in the consolidation of the society. Latvijas Avize, Chas

• Neatkariga prints an article about problems of integration of refuges and persons with alternative status in Latvia
• Citizens of Non-existent State issued by the Latvian Human Rights Committee
• Official results: 187,378 signatures were collected in support of granting Russian language status of a state language in Latvia

Neatkariga prints an article about problems of integration of refugees and persons with alternative status in Latvia. Newspaper interviews an Afghani woman who received alternative status in Latvia. The woman and her little child have no permanent place of residence, no job and no means for living because the time when the state granted her benefit ended. According to the head of an NGO Shelter. Safe House Sandra Zalcmane, there is no integration policy of refugees and persons granted alternative status in Latvia. There are no language courses and adaptation system which could help such people to adjust to residence in the country. Mrs Zalcmane states that the state put all the responsibility for this issue on short projects mostly funded by the European Refugee Fund and some NGOs.

The Latvian Human Rights Committee presented its study Citizens of Non-existent State about Latvian non-citizens. The study gives overview about large scale non-citizenship in Latvia, provides statistical and historical analyses of situation non-citizens. The study also gives a selection of international recommendation on rights of non-citizens and highlights the list of 80 differences in the rights of citizens and Latvian non-citizens. Vesti Segodnya

According to the official results of the Central Election Committee (CEC), 187,378 signatures were collected during the state funded collection of signatures in support of the Constitutional amendments stipulating granting Russian language status of a state language in Latvia. The CEC forwarded the amendments to the President of Latvia and the President forwarded those to the Saeima. As reported, most likely the Parliament will turn down the amendments and the national referendum will be initiated. More than a half of citizens who have right to vote (i.e. more than 770,000) must support the amendments at the referendum in order for the amendments to be approved. Telegraf, Latvijas Avize, Diena, Vesti Segodnya

• Minister of Education and Science Roberts Kilis met with integration experts

The Minister of Education and Science Roberts Kilis held a meeting with integration experts. The Minister heard the invited experts about the current situation in Latvia provoked by the collection of signatures in support of the Constitutional amendments granting Russian the status of a state language. The experts unanimously agreed that support for the initiative was a protest vote against the fact that ethnic minorities are excluded from public administration in Latvia. The experts highlighted that understanding needs to be shown to the interests of the dissatisfied part of the society. The Minister plans to hold regular meetings with integration experts.

The Minister of Education and Science Roberts Kilis held a meeting with integration experts. The Minister heard the invited experts about the current situation in Latvia provoked by the collection of signatures in support of the Constitutional amendments granting Russian the status of a state language. The experts unanimously agreed that support for the initiative was a protest vote against the fact that ethnic minorities are excluded from public administration in Latvia. The experts highlighted that understanding needs to be shown to the interests of the dissatisfied part of the society. The Minister plans to hold regular meetings with integration experts. Diena, Latvijas Avize

• Saeima refused the draft amendments to the State Language Law introducing the notion of ethnic minority language
• Proposal to grant state funding for a campaign in support of Latvian as the only state language

The Saeima refused the draft amendments to the State Language Law introducing the notion of ethnic minority language proposed by the Concord Centre (CC). The CC called these draft amendments a compromise solution for the language issues. The CC proposed to widen opportunities to use minority languages in communication with public authorities in areas where minority population comprise more than 20% of the residents, as well as to revoke reservations made by Latvia when ratifying the Council of Europes Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Latvijas Avize, Telegraf

The MP Artis Kampars (the Unity) and the Saeimas Speaker Solvita Aboltina, on the threshold of the national referendum on granting Russian language status of state language in Latvia, propose to hold a public campaign in support of the Latvian language as the only state language funded by state means. The politicians believe Latvian language is one of pillars of the Latvian state and it is logical to grant state funding for its protection. One of the initiators of the campaign of granting Russian status of state language Vladimirs Lindermans, in his turn stated that if the state funding is granted for such campaign, he will initiate the new collection of signatures in support of dissolution of the Parliament. Vesti Segodnya