• Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs of the European Parliament hold a debate on issues concerning non-citizenship in Europe
• Representative of the Russias Ministry of Foreign Affairs: meeting with members of Latvian government has given the impression that Latvia is ready to solve non-citizenship problems
• State Language Centre has fined two shop cashiers for insufficient Latvian language proficiency skills at work

Vesti Segodnya reports that on 26 June, the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs of the European Parliament hold a debate on issues concerning non-citizenship in Europe. Representative of the Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia Inga Reine has stated that Russia as a successor state of the USSR is responsible for large number of non-citizens in Latvia and Estonia. Inga Reine believes that if political rights of Latvian non-citizens are widened they would lost motivation to become naturalised. Representative of the European Commission Francisco Fonseca Morillo has stated that the European Commission will continue to hold consultations with the Baltic States regarding non-citizenship problems.

Latvijas Avize reports that representative of Russias Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that a meeting with representatives of Latvian government have given the impression that Latvia is ready to solve problems of non-citizens. As reported, representatives of Russias Parliament have visited Latvia recently.

Inspectors of the State Language Centre have fined two shop cashiers in amount of LVL 10 (EUR 14) for insufficient Latvian language proficiency skills at work. The State Language Centre held the inspection after receiving a complaint.

Inspectors of the State Language Centre have fined two shop cashiers in amount of LVL 10 (EUR 14) for insufficient Latvian language proficiency skills at work. The State Language Centre held the inspection after receiving a complaint. Latvijas Avize

• Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe discussed situation on anti-Semitism and xenophobia in Europe

Yesterday, members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) have discussed situation concerning anti-Semitism and xenophobia in Europe. According to the report by the PACE’s member, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, Mihail Margelov, there are several radical groupings in Latvia propagating Judiophobia and other forms of xenophobia; there are also expressions of anti-Semitism in Latvian internet and mass media.

Yesterday, members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) have discussed situation concerning anti-Semitism and xenophobia in Europe. According to the report by the PACEs member, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, Mihail Margelov, there are several radical groupings in Latvia propagating Judiophobia and other forms of xenophobia; there are also expressions of anti-Semitism in Latvian internet and mass media. Vesti Segodnya

• Citizen of Latvia has appealed to the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations Organisation with a complaint against Latvianisation of his name and surname

Newspapers report that a citizen of Latvia Leonid Raihman has appealed to the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations Organisation with a complaint against Latvianisation of his name and surname (adding the ending -

Newspapers report that a citizen of Latvia Leonid Raihman has appealed to the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations Organisation with a complaint against Latvianisation of his name and surname (adding the ending -s) in his passport issued in Latvia. Leonid Raihman already has appealed to all Latvian judiciary instances, however, they have refused his claim. Mr. Raihman believes that Latvianisation of names of non-Latvians is intervention into personal and family life. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

• Ministry of Interior: granting Latvian non-citizens rights to travel within the EU without a visa has speeded the growth of international prostitution and slave-trade
• Russian MP Vladimir Zhirinovskiy: Russia will not ratify the border agreement with Latvia until it stops to oppress Russian-speakers
• Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins supported a proposal to establish the Day of Citizen

Telegraf reports that the Ministry of Interior in its report on slave-traffic has concluded that granting Latvian non-citizens rights to travel within the EU without visas since January had a negative impact resulting in growth of international prostitution and slave-trade. In an interview with the newspaper, a researcher on migration issues Aija Lulle has stated that the conclusion of the Ministry is groundless because there are no indicators or statistics proving that non-citizens are those who actively go abroad to be engaged in prostitution. According to critical comments of the MEP from Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka, the Ministrys statements might be considered as an indirect hint that mainly Russian-speaking residents are engaged in prostitution in Europe.

Newspapers report that the Russian MP Vladimir Zhirinovskiy has stated that Russia will not ratify the border agreement with Latvia “until Latvian government stops to oppress Russian speaking residents.” As reported, the Latvian government has ratified the border agreement between two countries in May, while the government of the Russian Federation is planning to ratify the agreement during the summer months.

Newspapers report that the Russian MP Vladimir Zhirinovskiy has stated that Russia will not ratify the border agreement with Latvia until Latvian government stops to oppress Russian speaking residents. As reported, the Latvian government has ratified the border agreement between two countries in May, while the government of the Russian Federation is planning to ratify the agreement during the summer months. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize reports that the Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins has supported a proposal of the Naturalisation Board to establish a new celebration – the Day of Citizen. Gaidis Berzins believed that the Day of Citizen would promote patriotism and pride for being Latvian citizen.

• Chas reports that three enterprises in Ogre are planning to hire guest workers from Bulgaria and China
• Security Police has confirmed the fact Adolf Hitlers book Mein Kampf can be bought through the Internet in Latvia

Chas reports that three enterprises in Ogre (town in the central part of Latvia) are planning to hire guest workers from Bulgaria and China due to a lack of domestic labour force.

Vesti Segodnya and Telegraf reports that the Security Police has confirmed the fact Adolf Hitlers book Mein Kampf by ordering can be bought through the Internet in Latvia. According, to the Security Police, the book is distributed in such a way with commercial aims, and such practice does not incite ethnic hatred.