• Vesti Segodnya reports on a discussion Challenge for Civic Involvement held by public policy centre Providus
• Diena prints an interview with ex-President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga

Vesti Segodnya reports on a discussion and presentation of an interim report Challenge for Civic Participation prepared by the centre for public policy Providus. The Centre has made monitoring of media content, Saeimas debates and Saeimas legislative initiatives. The monitoring is held with an aim to promote visibility of various minorities and NGOs in public sphere and their involvement in political process.

Diena prints an interview with ex-President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga. Mrs. Vike-Freiberga has stated that ethnic Latvians must learn how to forgive and not to blame a nation or representatives of a nation for tragic events made by particular persons under particular political system.

• Diena prints an article on the proposal of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration to permit granting double citizenship

Diena prints an article on the proposal of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration to permit granting double citizenship to children of Latvian residents who were born abroad. In an interview with the newspaper, academician Atis Lejins has stated that discussions on the rights to grant double citizenship not only to children will also be launched soon. According to historian Aivars Strangs, granting double citizenship with EU countries or the U.S.A would not constitute a threat for Latvia.

• 125, 000 persons have been granted Latvian citizenship trough naturalisation since 1995
• Memorial to the rescuer of Jews Zanis Lipke and all Latvians who helped Jews during the Holocaust has been opened in Riga

Newspapers report that 125, 000 persons have been granted Latvian citizenship through naturalisation since the procedure was launched in 1995.

Newspapers report that 125, 000 persons have been granted Latvian citizenship through naturalisation since the procedure was launched in 1995. Chas, Latvijas Avize

Yesterday, the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga and the Chairman of the Council of Jewish Parishes and Communities Arkadijs Suharenko have opened a memorial to the rescuer of Jews Zanis Lipke and all Latvians who helped Jews during the Holocaust in Latvia. The memorial was opened in Riga.

Yesterday, the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga and the Chairman of the Council of Jewish Parishes and Communities Arkadijs Suharenko have opened a memorial to the rescuer of Jews Zanis Lipke and all Latvians who helped Jews during the Holocaust in Latvia. The memorial was opened in Riga. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize, NRA

• Vesti Segodnya reports on a congress held by the nationalistic organisation Civic Committee

Vesti Segodnya reports on a congress held by the nationalistic organisation Civic Committee. Members of the Committee have stated that one of their core aims is to expel from Latvia all persons who had arrived to the country during the Soviet times. According to the Civic Committee, naturalisation process is illegal and all persons who have received citizenship through naturalisation are not legitimate Latvian citizens.

• Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins: there is no need to change the naturalisation procedure
• Chas prints an interview with the director of Rigas Belarussian elementary school Anna Ivane

The Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins has stated that there is no need to change the naturalisation procedure. According to Gaidis Berzins, the number of applicants for naturalisation has decreased because persons willing to become Latvian citizens have already naturalised. The Minister also believes that naturalisation policy is a part of internal policy and foreign intervention into it is not acceptable.

The Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins has stated that there is no need to change the naturalisation procedure. According to Gaidis Berzins, the number of applicants for naturalisation has decreased because persons willing to become Latvian citizens have already naturalised. The Minister also believes that naturalisation policy is a part of internal policy and foreign intervention into it is not acceptable. Chas

Chas prints an interview with the director of Belarussian elementary school of Riga Anna Ivane. According to Ms. Ivane, Belarussian school is not able to rent larger premises and to become a secondary school due to a lack of funding.