• Vesti Segodnya reports about a complaint of its reader about incomplete translation of a paper with information in Latvian and Russian languages for patients coming for a certain diagnostic examination
• Latvijas Avize interviews the Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkevics

Vesti Segodnya reports about a complaint of its reader about incomplete translation of a paper with information in Latvian and Russian languages for patients coming to a hospital for a certain diagnostic examination. The description in Russian language contains less information than in Latvian about such issues as what medications are or not allowed, what documents about previous examinations to take along, and etc.  According a representative of the hospital, this paper is not a supremely important document because all the important information the patient receives in communication with her/his treating doctor. But this information paper is rather a reminder. The paper also gets complemented by a new information in Latvian and then translated into Russian. In this case the paper in Russian was not translated yet. 

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkevics in an interview with Latvijas Avize considering on how loyal towards Latvian state Russian speaking residents could be integrated in the political system, says that first option is establishment of a European minded Russian party who would respect the basic values of the Constitution, state independence, membership in the NATO and the EU, and would not have an agreement with Putin’s party. The second option is engagement in the existing parties of those ethnic minorities for whom the main existing pro-Russian party in not acceptable. But for both options, the most important pre-condition is self-organisation of Russian residents, believes the Minister.

• Latvian high state officials are planning to take part in the commemorative events devoted to the victims of the genocide of the Jewish people on 4 July
• Ivars Godmanis: it is important to find a peaceful and fruitful way of coexistence of ethnic Latvians, Russians and people of other ethnicities in Latvia

Latvijas Avize reports that Latvian high state officials are planning to take part in the commemorative events devoted to the victims of the genocide of the Jewish people on 4 July in Riga and other Latvian regions. Thus, the President Andris Berzins, the Saeima’s Speaker Solvita Aboltina and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkevics will take part in the commemorative events at Riga memorial. The Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma will take part in an event in Daugavpils and  visit Daugavpils’ synagogue.

Diena interviews the twice time ex-Prime Minister, ex MEP from Latvia Ivars Godmanis who decided to run for the upcoming Saeima’s elections again with a new party United for Latvia. Mr Godmanis believes that consolidation of the society is one of the most important issues to solve in Latvia. Mr Godmanis believes that it is important to find a peaceful and fruitful way of coexistence of ethnic Latvians, Russians and people of other ethnicities in the country because ethnic split hinders achievement of the main aim – European average standard of living for the majority of Latvian residents. Mr Godmanis believes that the ethnic split can facilitate emigration of young Latvians from the country and it may force to change the existing immigration policy causing new problems.

• Latvijas Avize reports about one of the young guardians’ camp attended also by ethnic minorities

Latvijas Avize reports about one of the young guardians’ camp conducted in June in one of the Latvian regions. The newspaper stresses that such camps are attended also by ethnic minority young people. One of the aims of the camps is to promote patriotism and civil integration, helping young people to become responsible and active Latvian citizens.  Young guardians interviewed by the newspaper said that they would be ready to protect Latvia if a military invasion by an enemy happens.

• Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Preamble to the Constitution is not in the competence of the Russia’s Ambassador to Latvia

The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs following criticism made by the Russia’s Ambassador to Latvia Aleksandr Veshnyakov about the adoption of the Preamble to the Constitution of Latvia stated that this issue is not the competence of the Ambassador. The Ambassador Veshnyakov in an interview with a TV channel stated that instead of positive effect on consolidation of the society, the Preamble will lead to confrontation. Also the Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs distributed a statement saying that the Preamble will facilitate ethnic split in Latvian society. The Latvian Ministry stated that the Ambassador should better worry about the legal provisions adopted by Russia’s legislator. Vesti Segodnya

• Ministry of Justicepresented an informative report on legal regulation concerning incitement of national or ethnic hatred
• Survey: 28% of Latvian non-citizens fluently speak Latvian language

Vesti Segodnya reports about an informative report on legal regulation concerning incitement of national or ethnic hatred prepared by the Ministry of Justice and presented to the Cabinet of Ministers. Presently the Article 78 of the Criminal Law says that a person can be punished with imprisonment up to three years or short-term imprisonment or social services or pecuniary penalty for conscious action aimed at instigation of national, ethnic or racial hatred or discord; and punished with imprisonment up to ten years with (or without) probation period of up to three years for the same action if it involved violence or threats, or committed by a group of persons, or by a state official, or a responsible employee of an enterprise or organisation, or committed using automated data processing system. There are proposals to amend the Article 78: to add liability also for instigation of religious hate or discord and to exclude the word “conscious”. It is also proposed to differentiate sanctions according to who has committed a crime and to stipulate more severe liability for crime involving violence. The Ministry of Justice also proposes to add racial, nationalistic, ethnic, religious or xenophobic motivation to the Article 48 (Aggravating Circumstances). 

According to a survey conducted by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, 28% of Latvian non-citizens fluently speak Latvian language, 31% can communicate in Latvian or use simple phrases. There is also a positive tendency on decrease of those non-citizens who are not proficient in Latvian at all. Authors of the survey concluded that the better is the state language proficiency of non-citizens the greater is their desire to receive Latvian citizenship. Vesti Segodnya