• OSCE recommends Latvia and Estonia to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and to grant non-citizens the right to vote at municipal elections
• The first meeting of the combined working group of the Ministry of Education and Science and the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-language Schools
• Newspapers comment on the appeal in the case of Tatjana Zdanoka
• Russia State Council adopts a statement ‘On the Necessity to Implement Counteractions against the Idealisation of the Nazism in the Baltic States
• Head of the Russia State Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Mihail Margelov talks about Russias attitude towards the occupation of Latvia
• Moscow mayor Jurij Luzkov on the Russian-speakers situation in Latvia
• Riga City Council decides to reorganise the Riga Polish primary school

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly has adopted a resolution, which recommends Latvia and Estonia to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and to grant non-citizens the right to vote at municipal elections. The Parliamentary Assembly did not support other reproaches expressed in the draft resolution, developed by Russia, such as heavy criticism regarding the implementation of the education reform, state language proficiency requirements and the large number of non-citizens in both Baltic States.

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly has adopted a resolution, which recommends Latvia and Estonia to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and to grant non-citizens the right to vote at municipal elections. The Parliamentary Assembly did not support other reproaches expressed in the draft resolution, developed by Russia, such as heavy criticism regarding the implementation of the education reform, state language proficiency requirements and the large number of non-citizens in both Baltic States. Diena, Rigas Balss, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Chas

Today the first meeting of the working group, combined of representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science and the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-language Schools (LASHOR) will take place. The key task of the working group is to develop the educational programmes for minorities’ schools on the basis of bilingual models, proposed by the LASHOR.

Today the first meeting of the working group, combined of representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science and the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-language Schools (LASHOR) will take place. The key task of the working group is to develop the educational programmes for minorities schools on the basis of bilingual models, proposed by the LASHOR. Chas, Telegraf

One of the leaders of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka believes that she will be capable to win a case against Latvia at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The ECHR Grand Chamber will be able to review the appeal of Latvia in the case of Tatjana Zdanoka only in 2005, because there is no judge form Latvia at ECHR.

One of the leaders of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka believes that she will be capable to win a case against Latvia at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The ECHR Grand Chamber will be able to review the appeal of Latvia in the case of Tatjana Zdanoka only in 2005, because there is no judge form Latvia at ECHR. Latvijas Avize

Yesterday Russia State Council adopted the statement ‘On the Necessity of Counteraction against the Idealisation of the Nazism.’ The statement stresses that activities concerning ‘exoneration (‘rehabilitation’) and idealisation of Nazism’ become more and more frequent in Baltic States.

Yesterday Russia State Council adopted the statement ‘On the Necessity of Counteraction against the Idealisation of the Nazism. The statement stresses that activities concerning ‘exoneration (‘rehabilitation) and idealisation of Nazism become more and more frequent in Baltic States. Vesti Segodnya

“Russia will never revise its attitude towards the World War II and consequently towards the Latvia’s occupation fact,” stated the Head of the Russia State Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Mihail Margelov during the meeting with the journalists from the Baltic States.  

Russia will never revise its attitude towards the World War II and consequently towards the Latvias occupation fact, stated the Head of the Russia State Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Mihail Margelov during the meeting with the journalists from the Baltic States. Latvijas Avize features the opinions of Latvian MPs on this statement. Latvijas Avize

“The most complicated situation concerning the observation of the rights of Russian-speakers is in Latvia,” believes the Moscow mayor Jurij Luzkov. In the interview to a Russian TV channel, Yuri Luzkov stated that Latvia is doing everything to suppress the Russian-speaking residents in Latvia.

The most complicated situation concerning the observation of the rights of Russian-speakers is in Latvia, believes the Moscow mayor Jurij Luzkov. In the interview to a Russian TV channel, Yuri Luzkov stated that Latvia is doing everything to suppress the Russian-speaking residents in Latvia. Vesti Segodnya

Due to the insufficient number of children, Riga City Council has decided to reorganise the Riga Polish primary school by transforming it into a preschool institution. The reorganisation process will be realised until the 2009. Students, who want to study the Polish culture and language, will have the opportunity to do it at the Riga’s Itas Kozakevicas Polish Secondary School.

Due to the insufficient number of children, Riga City Council has decided to reorganise the Riga Polish primary school by transforming it into a preschool institution. The reorganisation process will be realised until the 2009. Students, who want to study the Polish culture and language, will have the opportunity to do it at the Rigas Itas Kozakevicas Polish Secondary School. Diena

• A call to establish a moratorium on education reform
• Latvia is planning to appeal the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the case of Tatjana Zdanoka
• The status of Tatjana Slivenko and her daughter in Latvia will be defined by court
• Member of Riga City Council Ivans Klementjevs talks about the Russian community in Latvia
• Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Eleonor Mitrophanov speaks about the status of the Russian language in the Baltic States
• Palestinian Haisam Abu Abda becomes a citizen of Latvia

Russian language newspapers feature articles about the call by a group of public figures and teachers addressed to the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Saeima Speaker Ingrida Udre and Prime Minister Indulis Emsis. The high officials are called to start a dialogue on the education reform with the discussion group, nominated by the Congress of the Defenders of Russian-language schools. The authors of the call emphasise the necessity to reach a compromise regarding the education reform, which, in their opinion, cannot be achieved if requirements developed by the discussion group are not considered. The main requirement is to set at least a one year long moratorium on the education reform. During the moratorium proposals on how to improve the quality of instruction in Latvian language should be developed, amendments to legislation which would stipulate the right to minorities’ schools to define the ratio of subjects to be taught in Latvian and minorities’ languages should be adopted, as well as a department on minorities’ education under the Ministry of Education and Science should be established.

Russian language newspapers feature articles about the call by a group of public figures and teachers addressed to the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Saeima Speaker Ingrida Udre and Prime Minister Indulis Emsis. The high officials are called to start a dialogue on the education reform with the discussion group, nominated by the Congress of the Defenders of Russian-language schools. The authors of the call emphasise the necessity to reach a compromise regarding the education reform, which, in their opinion, cannot be achieved if requirements developed by the discussion group are not considered. The main requirement is to set at least a one year long moratorium on the education reform. During the moratorium proposals on how to improve the quality of instruction in Latvian language should be developed, amendments to legislation which would stipulate the right to minorities schools to define the ratio of subjects to be taught in Latvian and minorities languages should be adopted, as well as a department on minorities education under the Ministry of Education and Science should be established. Vesti Segodnya, Chas

The Government of Latvia has decided to appeal the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the case of Tatjana Zdanoka.

The Government of Latvia has decided to appeal the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the case of Tatjana Zdanoka. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Cabinet of Ministers has charged the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs to file a petition to court, which would clarify what documents and status – entrance visa, temporary or permanent residence permit – must be conferred to the wife of the Russian army officer, Tatjana Slivenko, and his daughter Karina Slivenko so they could enter Latvia. Last October European Court of Human Rights satisfied one claim of the Slivenko, deciding that Latvia has violated their rights to respect for private life and home when it made the decision about deportation of the family from the state. According to the Latvian representative to the international human rights organizations Inga Reine, Latvia has already paid the compensation of 13,400 lats.

Cabinet of Ministers has charged the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs to file a petition to court, which would clarify what documents and status – entrance visa, temporary or permanent residence permit – must be conferred to the wife of the Russian army officer, Tatjana Slivenko, and his daughter Karina Slivenko so they could enter Latvia. Last October European Court of Human Rights satisfied one claim of the Slivenko, deciding that Latvia has violated their rights to respect for private life and home when it made the decision about deportation of the family from the state. According to the Latvian representative to the international human rights organizations Inga Reine, Latvia has already paid the compensation of 13,400 lats. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss, Chas, Telegraf

Chas features an interview with the sportsman and the deputy of Riga City Council Ivans Klementjevs (Peoples Harmony Party) about the Russian community in Latvia. According to the deputy, Russians must form a strong cultural and language community. The key task of the community would be the solution of the most urgent problems, among them, abolishment of the language exam during the naturalisation process for old persons, granting Latvian citizenship to all children born in Latvia and the right to all non-citizens, who are taxpayers in Latvia, to participate at municipal elections.

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Eleonor Mitrophanov believes that Russian must be used as an official language in international communications among the Baltic States and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Eleonor Mitrophanov believes that Russian must be used as an official language in international communications among the Baltic States and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Vesti Segodnya

Chas features an article about Palestinian Haisam Abu Abda, who has succesfully passed the naturalisation exam and soon will receive the passport of a Latvian citizen.

• Speakers of the Latvian and Estonian Parliaments on social integration issues
• Newspapers comment on the draft resolution On minorities situation in Latvia and Russia
• Latvijas Avize continues a discussion about the possible ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in Latvia
• Minorities schools show little interest about the possibilities to organise information campaign on education reform
• Latvian Social Democratic Labour Party youth organization condemns the activities of the national – extremist organisation Visu Latvijai!
• Forthcoming protest actions against the education reform

“The minority policies implemented in Estonia and Latvia fully comply with the international requirements,” stated the speakers of Latvian and Estonian parliaments Ingrida Udre and Ene Ergma during their meeting in Tallinn. The Speaker of the Estonian Parliament Ene Ergma voiced that Estonia fully supports the choices of Latvia in the area of minorities’ integration and pointed to the necessity to develop new effective collaboration forms between both states.

The minority policies implemented in Estonia and Latvia fully comply with the international requirements, stated the speakers of Latvian and Estonian parliaments Ingrida Udre and Ene Ergma during their meeting in Tallinn. The Speaker of the Estonian Parliament Ene Ergma voiced that Estonia fully supports the choices of Latvia in the area of minorities integration and pointed to the necessity to develop new effective collaboration forms between both states. Neatkariga Rita Avize

Newspapers continue to write about the draft resolution “On minorities’ situation in Latvia and Russia”, developed by Russia State Council’s speaker Boris Grizlov. The resolution includes a number of requirements for the Latvian and Estonian governments. Among them are the requirements to grant voting rights for non-citizens at municipal elections, to grant the rights to use Russian language officially in regions, where Russian-speakers live in substantial number, to facilitate the naturalisation process and to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

Newspapers continue to write about the draft resolution On minorities situation in Latvia and Russia, developed by Russia State Councils speaker Boris Grizlov. The resolution includes a number of requirements for the Latvian and Estonian governments. Among them are the requirements to grant voting rights for non-citizens at municipal elections, to grant the rights to use Russian language officially in regions, where Russian-speakers live in substantial number, to facilitate the naturalisation process and to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Latvijas Avize prints an article about the possible ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in Latvia. Special Tasks Ministers for Society Integration Secretariat believes that the Convention can be ratified with one reservation regarding Paragraph 3 of Article 11, which stipulates that in areas, traditionally inhabited by substantial numbers of persons belonging to a national minority, the traditional local names, street names and other topographical indications have to be displayed also in minority language when there is a sufficient demand for such indications. According to the Head of the Saeima Subcommittee on Social Integration Andris Berzins, the committee will not take any decision regarding the possible reservation, before the agreement on the definition of the term minority is formulated and adopted. The Secretariat has developed three definitions. One stipulates that certain ethnic groups – Russians, Belorussians, Ukrainians, Poles, Lithuanians, Jews, Roma, Germans, Estonians and Lives - should be recognized as national minorities. The second definition stipulates that the representatives of national minorities are entitled to be called minority if they meet certain requirements: they are the citizens of the Republic of Latvia; live permanently in the territory in Latvia and maintain long-term and sustainable links with Latvia; differ according to the ethnical, cultural, religious or linguistic features and want to preserve their culture, religion and language as the base of their group identity. The third definition stipulates that the national minorities are both citizens and non-citizens, who conform to the other requirements mentioned in the second definition.

Minorities’ schools have showed little interest in the competition, organised by the Social Integration Foundation, to implement information campaign on education reform. The deadline for application has been extended till 15 October, because only three schools have submitted applications. In total 20,000 lats are available for the organisation of the information campaigns this year, however, only Ls 2,904 has been allocated until now. Integration experts explain the small interest due to inordinate politicisation of the education reform and the fact that minorities’ schools are tired from the clamour, set up around the reform.

Minorities schools have showed little interest in the competition, organised by the Social Integration Foundation, to implement information campaign on education reform. The deadline for application has been extended till 15 October, because only three schools have submitted applications. In total 20,000 lats are available for the organisation of the information campaigns this year, however, only Ls2,904 has been allocated until now. Integration experts explain the small interest due to inordinate politicisation of the education reform and the fact that minorities schools are tired from the clamour, set up around the reform. Diena

Latvian Social Democratic Labour Party (LSDLP) youth organization has spread a statement condemning the activities of the national – extremist organisation “Visu Latvijai!”, which organises the pickets near the building of the Russia embassy and calls Russia to recognise the fact of Latvia’s occupation. Leader of the youth organisation Janis Kuzins regards the activities of the Latvian national radicals as the attempt to raise national hatred between Latvians and Russians and deepen tension in society. The leader of the LSDLP Dainis Ivans commented that the statement shows the lack of history knowledge and stressed that the party’s official statement is that Russia must recognise the occupation of Latvia.

Latvian Social Democratic Labour Party (LSDLP) youth organization has spread a statement condemning the activities of the national – extremist organisation Visu Latvijai!, which organises the pickets near the building of the Russia embassy and calls Russia to recognise the fact of Latvias occupation. Leader of the youth organisation Janis Kuzins regards the activities of the Latvian national radicals as the attempt to raise national hatred between Latvians and Russians and deepen tension in society. The leader of the LSDLP Dainis Ivans commented that the statement shows the lack of history knowledge and stressed that the partys official statement is that Russia must recognise the occupation of Latvia. Chas

Newspapers write about the forthcoming protest actions against the education reform, planned by the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools in order to attain the establishment of the moratorium on education reform. According to the representatives of the Headquarters, six parents have already affirmed their participation in the hunger strike against the reform, which will take place at the end of August. Other essential events will be the manifestation on 1 September and the Congress of the Russian community on 12 September.

Newspapers write about the forthcoming protest actions against the education reform, planned by the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools in order to attain the establishment of the moratorium on education reform. According to the representatives of the Headquarters, six parents have already affirmed their participation in the hunger strike against the reform, which will take place at the end of August. Other essential events will be the manifestation on 1 September and the Congress of the Russian community on 12 September. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

• Commemoration meeting of Holocaust victims
• Latvia could receive more than EUR 100,000 from the European Fund for Refugee
• Russia Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Eleonor Mitrophanov calls the European Union to intervene in solving the problems of Russian speakers in Latvia
• Draft resolution about the necessity to expand the Russian-speakers rights in Latvia and Estonia
• Head of the Russia State Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Mihail Margelov on relations between Latvia and Russia
• Latvijas Avize writes about activities of the State Language Agencys Consultative Department

Newspapers write about the commemoration meeting of Holocaust victims, which took place in Riga yesterday. The President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga expressed her condolences and invited society to fight against violence and stereotypes to prevent such tragedies in future.

Newspapers write about the commemoration meeting of Holocaust victims, which took place in Riga yesterday. The President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga expressed her condolences and invited society to fight against violence and stereotypes to prevent such tragedies in future. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Latvia could receive more than EUR 100,000 from the European Fund for Refugees (EFR) for the support for the asylum seekers and refugees if the state provides co-funding in the amount of 25% in the EFR’s project on the protection policy of person’s rights and legitimate interests’. Only four persons have sought asylum in Latvia this year.

Latvia could receive more than EUR 100,000 from the European Fund for Refugees (EFR) for the support for the asylum seekers and refugees if the state provides co-funding in the amount of 25% in the EFRs project on the protection policy of persons rights and legitimate interests. Only four persons have sought asylum in Latvia this year. Neatkariga Rita Avize also features an article about Palestinian Haisam Abu Abda, who has already passed the naturalisation exam and soon will receive the passport of Latvian citizen. Neatkariga Rita Avize

During the International Conference of the World Association of the Russian Press Russia Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Eleonor Mitrophanov has called the European Union to intervene in affairs of Russian speakers, who are the residents of Latvia.

During the International Conference of the World Association of the Russian Press Russia Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Eleonor Mitrophanov has called the European Union to intervene in affairs of Russian speakers, who are the residents of Latvia. Latvijas Avize

Chas continues to write about the draft resolution, developed by the Speaker of the Russia State Council Boris Grizlov. The draft resolution will be presented at the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Edinburgh. The draft resolution points to the necessity to expand the Russian-speakers rights in Latvia and Estonia by ratifying the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and Protocol 12 and 13 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms without any reservations. Russia also recommends Latvia and Estonia to grant voting rights to the non-citizens at municipal elections, to accede to the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and to speed up naturalisation process. According to the resolution, in regions, where non-citizens live in substantial numbers, they must have the right to use their language officially. The newspaper also features the opinion of the Latvia Foreign Affairs Minister Rihards Piks about the possible ratification of the Framework Convention. The minister believes that the main obstacle is a large number of non-citizens.

Chas features an interview with the Head of the Russia State Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Mihail Margelov about relations between Latvia and Russia.

Latvijas Avize writes about activities of the State Language Agencys Consultative Department. The chairperson of the Department Melita Stengrevica believes that members of minorities lack motivation to learn the Latvian language, because all the necessary information is also available in Russian.

• The Saeimas decision to prolong prohibitions for the ex-staff of the State Security Committee leads to initiating a case at the Latvian Constitutional Court
• Observation of minorities rights in Latvia will be discussed during the session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
• Head of the Russia State Council Committee on International Affairs Konstantin Kosachev on the relationship between Russia and Latvia
• Recently elected European Parliaments (EP) MPs meet the representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce in Latvia
• Interview with the chairman of the Russia Presidential Commission for Rehabilitation ofPolitical Repressions Victims Aleksandr Yakovlev
• Director of Yad Vashems library Robert Rozett on Holocaust research projects
• Liepaja Prosecutors office changes security means for the leader of National Democratic Party Jevgenijs Osipovs from detention to police supervision

The Constitutional Court of Latvia has initiated a case on the basis of the application by Latvian MPs. The application challenges the decision of Saeima to prolong prohibitions for the ex-staff of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia to hold certain offices and naturalize within 10 years. MPs believe that the Saeima’s decision does not correspond with Paragraph 101 of the Constitution of Latvia and the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

The Constitutional Court of Latvia has initiated a case on the basis of the application by Latvian MPs. The application challenges the decision of Saeima to prolong prohibitions for the ex-staff of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia to hold certain offices and naturalize within 10 years. MPs believe that the Saeimas decision does not correspond with Paragraph 101 of the Constitution of Latvia and the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Chas

Observation of minorities’ rights in Latvia will be discussed during the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Edinburgh. The chairman of the Russia State Council Boris Grizlov is planning to present a draft resolution. The draft resolution will call Latvia to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of Minorities Rights and the Protocol of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Both documents stipulate equal rights to everybody irrespectively of one’s colour of skin, nationality or language.

Observation of minorities rights in Latvia will be discussed during the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Edinburgh. The chairman of the Russia State Council Boris Grizlov is planning to present a draft resolution. The draft resolution will call Latvia to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of Minorities Rights and the Protocol of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Both documents stipulate equal rights to everybody irrespectively of ones colour of skin, nationality or language. Vesti Segodnya

Russian language newspapers print the opinion of the head of the Russia State Council Committee on International Affairs Konstantin Kosachev on relations between Russia and Latvia and the recommendations of the Russia State Council for Latvia concerning observation of minorities’ rights. According to Konstantin Kosachev, Russia has brought forward a number of complaints in order to normalise relations between the states. The implementation of the education reform, mass non-citizenship and ‘attempts to idealise the fascism’ are the most topical issues to be addressed. Russia also condemns Latvia’s unwillingness to ratify the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

Russian language newspapers print the opinion of the head of the Russia State Council Committee on International Affairs Konstantin Kosachev on relations between Russia and Latvia and the recommendations of the Russia State Council for Latvia concerning observation of minorities rights. According to Konstantin Kosachev, Russia has brought forward a number of complaints in order to normalise relations between the states. The implementation of the education reform, mass non-citizenship and ‘attempts to idealise the fascism are the most topical issues to be addressed. Russia also condemns Latvias unwillingness to ratify the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Newspapers write about the meeting of four recently elected European Parliament’s (EP) MPs from Latvia with representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce in Latvia. Issues concerning the protection of minorities’ rights in Europe and the further relationship between Latvia and Russia were discussed at the meeting.

Newspapers write about the meeting of four recently elected European Parliaments (EP) MPs from Latvia with representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce in Latvia. Issues concerning the protection of minorities rights in Europe and the further relationship between Latvia and Russia were discussed at the meeting. Latvijas Avize, Chas

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the chairman of the Russia Presidential Commission for Rehabilitation ofPolitical Repressions Victims Aleksandr Yakovlev. He expresses criticism towards Russians who live in Latvia, but do not want to learn Latvian. However, he stresses that it is not correctly to introduce the usage of the Latvian language by administrative methods in daily communications.

Diena features an article by the director of Yad Vashems library Robert Rozett about the Holocaust in Latvia during World War II and research projects in this area.

Liepaja Prosecutor’s office has changed safety means for the leader of the National Democratic Party (NDP) Jevgenijs Osipovs from detention to police supervision. Osipovs was accused of attacking a policeman during the unapproved protest action against the education reform in Liepaja.

Liepaja Prosecutors office has changed safety means for the leader of the National Democratic Party (NDP) Jevgenijs Osipovs from detention to police supervision. Osipovs was accused of attacking a policeman during the unapproved protest action against the education reform in Liepaja. Diena, Latvijas Avize