• Experts do not support hastened transition of all elementary and secondary schools to education in Latvia language only
• Latvian scientist deprived of Latvian citizenship

Experts interviewed by

Experts interviewed by Diena do not support the proposal of the party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM to implement transition of all elementary and secondary state-funded schools to education only in Latvian language starting from 2011. Policy analyst Marija Golubeva criticizes the proposal because there are no reasons for such reform except for political agenda and interests of the party. According to a director of one of the Russian language schools, neither children nor teachers are ready for full transition to state language especially in elementary schools.

Latvian scientist, Habilitate Doctor in physics was deprived of Latvian citizenship by court’s decision because he accepted Swedish citizenship in 2007. Legal representative of the scientist says that probably they will appeal to the Constitutional Court in order to dispute prohibition of double citizenship in Latvia.

Latvian scientist, Habilitate Doctor in physics was deprived of Latvian citizenship by courts decision because he accepted Swedish citizenship in 2007. Legal representative of the scientist says that probably they will appeal to the Constitutional Court in order to dispute prohibition of double citizenship in Latvia. NRA

• Minister of Education and Science Tatjana Koke considers that proposal about free-of-charge education only in Latvian language could be discussed in future
• Saeimas Committee did not allow writing titles of education establishments of ethnic minorities in Cyrillic
• Saeima supported transfer of the Naturalisation Board (NB) from the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice to the Ministry of Interior
• MEP from Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka calls on the European Commission to use legal provisions of the Lisbon Treaty to protect rights of minorities in the EU

After a meeting with the Saeima’s faction For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM), the Minister of Education and Science Tatjana Koke stated that its proposal to guarantee free-of-charge elementary and secondary education only in Latvian language could be discussed in future. The FF/LNIM, in its turn, considers that its proposal should be enshrined in the Constitution of Latvia as soon as possible and therefore the party is planning to initiate collection of signatures for referendum on amending the Constitution.

After a meeting with the Saeimas faction For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM), the Minister of Education and Science Tatjana Koke stated that its proposal to guarantee free-of-charge elementary and secondary education only in Latvian language could be discussed in future. The FF/LNIM, in its turn, considers that its proposal should be enshrined in the Constitution of Latvia as soon as possible and therefore the party is planning to initiate collection of signatures for referendum on amending the Constitution. Chas

Yesterday, the Saeima’s Committee on Education, Science and Culture refused proposal of the MP Igors Pimenovs to allow writing titles of education establishments of ethnic minorities in Cyrillic alphabet.

Yesterday, the Saeimas Committee on Education, Science and Culture refused proposal of the MP Igors Pimenovs to allow writing titles of education establishments of ethnic minorities in Cyrillic alphabet. Vesti Segodnya

The Saeima supported the transfer of the Naturalisation Board (NB) from the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice to the Ministry of Interior. Thus, the NB will be merged with the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs on the basis of the latter institution. Head of the NB Eriks Baranovskis criticized the arrangement, because he believes that if the merger is unavoidable, it should be done on the basis of the NB otherwise it will harm functions of the NB.

The Saeima supported the transfer of the Naturalisation Board (NB) from the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice to the Ministry of Interior. Thus, the NB will be merged with the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs on the basis of the latter institution. Head of the NB Eriks Baranovskis criticized the arrangement, because he believes that if the merger is unavoidable, it should be done on the basis of the NB otherwise it will harm functions of the NB. Telegraf

The MEP from Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka calls on the European Commission to use legal provisions of the Lisbon Treaty to protect rights of minorities in the EU. Mrs. Zdanoka believes that the European Commission should clearly define that everyone who acts against the rights of minorities, including language rights, is violating fundamental rights of the EU.

The MEP from Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka calls on the European Commission to use legal provisions of the Lisbon Treaty to protect rights of minorities in the EU. Mrs. Zdanoka believes that the European Commission should clearly define that everyone who acts against the rights of minorities, including language rights, is violating fundamental rights of the EU. NRA

• 150,000th person was granted Latvian citizenship since the naturalisation procedure was launched in 1995
• President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers: non-citizens are the most privileged part of Latvian residents
• FF/LNIM propose draft amendments to the Constitution stipulating free-of-charge education only in Latvian language
• Head of the New Eras faction in the Riga City Council Edgars Jaunups: ethnic Latvian parties should unite ethnic Latvian electorate like the Concord Centre unites ethnic Russian electorate
• There are 48 asylum seekers in Latvia

150,000

150,000th person was granted Latvian citizenship since the naturalisation procedure was launched in 1995. This includes 132,636 persons who received citizenship through naturalisation, 9,278 persons who received citizenship through registration and 8,086 persons who were born after 21 august 1991 and also granted citizenship through registration. The citizenship was granted to 578 persons in 2007, 601 in 2008 and 620 during the nine months of 2009. Chas

The President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers in interview with Polish newspaper

The President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers in interview with Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita regarding situation of non-citizens in Latvia stated that they are the most privileged part of Latvian residents because non-citizens have right to travel without visa on two continents from Gibraltar to Kamchatka. Vesti Segodnya

The political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) fears that after the next Saeima’s elections the Concord Centre might take part in the governing coalition, therefore the FF/LNIM elaborated draft amendments to the Constitution of Latvia stipulating that the state guarantees free-of-charge elementary and secondary education only in Latvian language. According to the FF/LNIM only amendments in the Constitution would preserve state language’s positions in Latvia. 

The political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) fears that after the next Saeimas elections the Concord Centre might take part in the governing coalition, therefore the FF/LNIM elaborated draft amendments to the Constitution of Latvia stipulating that the state guarantees free-of-charge elementary and secondary education only in Latvian language. According to the FF/LNIM only amendments in the Constitution would preserve state languages positions in Latvia. Latvijas Avize

Head of the New Era’s faction in the Riga City Council Edgars Jaunups in an interview with

Head of the New Eras faction in the Riga City Council Edgars Jaunups in an interview with Latvijas Avize stated that ethnic Latvian parties should find a way for co-operation in order to unite ethnic Latvian electorate, alleging that the Concord Centre unites ethnic Russian electorate. Mr. Jaunups criticized the governing coalition of the City Council for its contacts with cities in Russia and Belarus and accuses it does not put priority on the contacts with the EU countries. Mr. Jaunups also believes that co-operation of the New Era with the Concord Centre is not possible due to mistrust of ethnic Latvian residents to the Concord Centre because of its position regarding ethnic issues.

According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, presently there are 48 asylum seekers in Latvia and every year the number grows. The majority of asylum seekers are from Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.

According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, presently there are 48 asylum seekers in Latvia and every year the number grows. The majority of asylum seekers are from Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. NRA

• Inspectors of the State language Centre fined one more municipal deputy for insufficient state language proficiency

 

Inspectors of the State language Centre fined one more municipal deputy for insufficient state language proficiency - this time member of the Jekabpils City Council Natalja Cehova. According to Mrs. Cehova, despite the fact that she spoke Latvian during the Council’s working sessions the inspectors criticized her pronunciation and wrong endings. The deputy did not agree with the conclusion of the State Language Centre and is planning to dispute it in the court. Another deputy of the Liepaja City Council Valerijs Kravcovs also fined by the SCL is planning to dispute the decision as well. Vesti Segodnya

Inspectors of the State language Centre fined one more municipal deputy for insufficient state language proficiency - this time member of the Jekabpils City Council Natalja Cehova. According to Mrs. Cehova, despite the fact that she spoke Latvian during the Councils working sessions the inspectors criticized her pronunciation and wrong endings. The deputy did not agree with the conclusion of the State Language Centre and is planning to dispute it in the court. Another deputy of the Liepaja City Council Valerijs Kravcovs also fined by the SCL is planning to dispute the decision as well. Vesti Segodnya

• Minister of Education and Science Tatjana Koke believes Latvia has a successful model of bilingual education that could be a good example to all Europe
• Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with Vice President of the World Congress of Russian Speaking Jewry Valeriy Engel
• Ethnic minorities festival United in Diversity will start on 28 November

The Minister of Education and Science Tatjana Koke believes that Latvia has a successful model of bilingual education and it could be a good example to all European countries. According to the data of the Ministry of Education and Science for the past school year, 73,54% of all Latvian students studied in Latvian language and 25,83% in Russian language. Among ethnic minorities in Russian language studied 96,77% Jews, 86,16% Ukrainians, 83,27% Russians, 77,09% Belorussians, 71,34% Polish, and 56,35% Germans. 70,48% Roma, 56,74% Lithuanians, and 52,84% Estonians studied in Latvian language.

The Minister of Education and Science Tatjana Koke believes that Latvia has a successful model of bilingual education and it could be a good example to all European countries. According to the data of the Ministry of Education and Science for the past school year, 73,54% of all Latvian students studied in Latvian language and 25,83% in Russian language. Among ethnic minorities in Russian language studied 96,77% Jews, 86,16% Ukrainians, 83,27% Russians, 77,09% Belorussians, 71,34% Polish, and 56,35% Germans. 70,48% Roma, 56,74% Lithuanians, and 52,84% Estonians studied in Latvian language. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with Vice President of the World Congress of Russian Speaking Jewry Valeriy Engel. Mr Engel argues that Waffen SS was part of SS organisation condemned by the Nuremberg Tribunal and criticizes Latvia for justification of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires. Mr. Engel also believes that it is wrong to equate Nazi regime and Stalins regime because Holocaust cannot be equated with anything else.

Chas reports that a cultural festival of ethnic minorities United in Diversity organised by the association of ethnic cultural NGOs will start on 28 November. The festival is held for the seventh year.