• 94 persons asked for asylum in Latvia
• Education Initiative Centre will train more than 100 teachers and their assistants on how to work with Roma children and their families
• Saeimas Committee rejected proposal to withdraw legal norms which stipulate granting residence permits to foreigners who possess expensive real estate in Latvia
• Miroslavs Mitrofanovs: the aim of the FHRUL to is preserve Russian platform
• Diena: none of the most popular political parties supports moratorium on sensitive ethnic and history issues

94 persons asked for asylum in Latvia during the first half of 2011 which is 71 persons more than in 2010. The majority of asylum seekers – 52 - were from Georgia and 14 from Congo.

94 persons asked for asylum in Latvia during the first half of 2011 which is 71 persons more than in 2010. The majority of asylum seekers – 52 - were from Georgia and 14 from Congo. Telegraf

An NGO “Education Initiative Centre” will train more than 100 teachers and their assistants on how to work with Roma children and their families in Riga, Daugavpils, Kuldiga and Tukums. Teachers will be trained about the principles of inclusive education.

An NGO Education Initiative Centre will train more than 100 teachers and their assistants on how to work with Roma children and their families in Riga, Daugavpils, Kuldiga and Tukums. Teachers will be trained about the principles of inclusive education. Latvijas Avize

The Saeima’s Defence, Interior Affairs and Corruption Prevention Committee rejected proposal of the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM to withdraw legal norms which stipulate granting residence permits to foreigners who possess expensive real estate in Latvia. Members of the nationalists’ union believe this norm represents an immoral sale of residence permits.

The Saeimas Defence, Interior Affairs and Corruption Prevention Committee rejected proposal of the nationalists union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM to withdraw legal norms which stipulate granting residence permits to foreigners who possess expensive real estate in Latvia. Members of the nationalists union believe this norm represents an immoral sale of residence permits. Latvijas Avize

According to one of the leaders of the political party For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) Miroslavs Mitrofanovs, the aim of the party is to preserve Russian platform which at present is disappearing due to changes in the Concord Centre (CC). Mr Mitrofanovs believes that the CC brushes aside issues regarding protection of rights of Russian speaking residents and history. Mr Mitrofanovs considers that all non-citizens should be grated Latvian citizenship automatically and Russian should become official language in Latvia.

According to one of the leaders of the political party For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) Miroslavs Mitrofanovs, the aim of the party is to preserve Russian platform which at present is disappearing due to changes in the Concord Centre (CC). Mr Mitrofanovs believes that the CC brushes aside issues regarding protection of rights of Russian speaking residents and history. Mr Mitrofanovs considers that all non-citizens should be grated Latvian citizenship automatically and Russian should become official language in Latvia. Telegraf

Diena reports that none of the most popular political parties supports moratorium on sensitive ethnic and history issues for the next three years proposed by the Concord Centre. The newspaper questioned representatives of the Unity, the All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM, the Union of Greens and Farmers, the For Human Rights in United Latvia, and the Latvias First Party/Latvias Way.

• Neatkariga prints an article about asylum procedure in Latvia and the EU
• Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg: large number of non-citizens in Latvia and Estonia is a serious problem for Europe

Neatkariga prints an article about asylum procedure in Latvia and the EU. According to the article, there is no common approach to the asylum procedure in the EU countries and each country follows own guidelines evaluating asylum seeker cases. Newspaper notes that the majority of asylum seekers in Latvia receives negative decision and gets expelled from the country. 160 persons appealed for asylum in Latvia from the beginning of the year till the end of July.

Large number of non-citizens in Latvia and Estonia is a serious problem for Europe – stated the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Thomas Hammarberg. According to the Commissioner, number of those non-citizens who received citizenship during past years increased and non-citizens granted rights to travel and work, however, even those non-citizens who were born in Latvia and Estonia still do not have voting rights in national elections.

Large number of non-citizens in Latvia and Estonia is a serious problem for Europe – stated the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Thomas Hammarberg. According to the Commissioner, number of those non-citizens who received citizenship during past years increased and non-citizens granted rights to travel and work, however, even those non-citizens who were born in Latvia and Estonia still do not have voting rights in national elections. Chas

• Head of Russias Presidents administration Sergey Narishkin: Russia is concerned about situation and rights of Russian speaking residents and non-citizens in Latvia

Newspapers reports about a visit of the Head of Russia’s President’s administration Sergey Narishkin to Latvia. During the meeting with the President of Latvia Andris Berzins, Mr Narishkin mentioned that Russia is still highly concerned about situation and rights of Russian speaking residents and non-citizens in Latvia. Mr Narishkin also stated that the visit of the President of Russia Dmitriy Medvedyev to Latvia is possible after further development of political relations between the two countries.

Newspapers reports about a visit of the Head of Russias Presidents administration Sergey Narishkin to Latvia. During the meeting with the President of Latvia Andris Berzins, Mr Narishkin mentioned that Russia is still highly concerned about situation and rights of Russian speaking residents and non-citizens in Latvia. Mr Narishkin also stated that the visit of the President of Russia Dmitriy Medvedyev to Latvia is possible after further development of political relations between the two countries. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya,

• MP Valerijs Kravcovs will not to stand in the up-coming Saeimas elections
• Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs: concentration on ethnic issues hinders economic development
• Vesti Segodnya reports about a round table discussion Rights and Suppression of Russian Language in Latvia

The MP Valerijs Kravcovs (the Concord Centre) decided not to stand in the up-coming Saeima’s elections. As reported, Valerijs Kravcovs is known as an MP with poor Latvian proficiency.

The MP Valerijs Kravcovs (the Concord Centre) decided not to stand in the up-coming Saeimas elections. As reported, Valerijs Kravcovs is known as an MP with poor Latvian proficiency. Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

According to the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs (the Concord Centre (CC)), concentration on ethnic issues hinders economic development of the country. Therefore, the CC proposes a moratorium on legislation initiatives concerning all the ethnic issues for the next three years. The CC believes that in such way all people regardless of their ethnic background will unite to overcome economic crisis.

According to the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs (the Concord Centre (CC)), concentration on ethnic issues hinders economic development of the country. Therefore, the CC proposes a moratorium on legislation initiatives concerning all the ethnic issues for the next three years. The CC believes that in such way all people regardless of their ethnic background will unite to overcome economic crisis. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya reports about a round table discussion Rights and Suppression of Russian Language in Latvia held by the Russian information agency Rosbalt in Riga. Participants of the discussion – representatives of Russian NGOs, politicians and journalists – concluded that it is unfair that Russian language in Latvia has status of foreign language and it should have at least status of ethnic minority language. According to the MP Boriss Cilevics (the Concord Centre) there are internal contradictions in Latvian legal acts – the State Language Law acknowledges only state and foreign languages, while, the Constitution and the Law on Education mention the notion of ethnic minority languages. Mr Cilevics believes that the notion of ethnic minority languages should be consistently introduced in all legal acts in order to enable protection mechanisms stipulated by the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities of the Council of Europe.

• Presidents counsellor Elina Egle: ethnic minority schools is a pride of Latvia

Counsellor of the President of Latvia on economics and national economy issues Elina Egle believes that Latvia should be proud of the fact that education in Latvian schools is not only in state language but also in languages of ethnic minorities. Mrs Egle does not support granting Russian language the status of official in Latvia arguing that Latvian language unites residents of such small country as Latvia and also because such changes would be very expensive.

Counsellor of the President of Latvia on economics and national economy issues Elina Egle believes that Latvia should be proud of the fact that education in Latvian schools is not only in state language but also in languages of ethnic minorities. Mrs Egle does not support granting Russian language the status of official in Latvia arguing that Latvian language unites residents of such small country as Latvia and also because such changes would be very expensive. Vesti Segodnya