• Latvijas Avize reports on a conference Monitoring of the Framework Convention for Protection of National Minorities: European Countries in Dialog with the European Council
• All for Latvia! and New Democrats have merged in one political union
• Vesti Segodnya reports an a conference on events concerning the WWII and Holocaust held in Riga

Latvijas Avize prints an article on an international conference Monitoring of the Framework Convention for Protection of National Minorities: European Countries in Dialog with the European Council held by the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (IUMSILS in its Latvian acronym). Representatives of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have shared their experiences on implementation of the Framework Convention. As reported, Latvia has ratified the Convention in 2005 and has submitted its first state report on implementation of the Convention in October 2006.

The extreme right wing political party “All for Latvia!” and party “New Democrats” made a decision to merge in one political union and to run together for municipal elections and elections to the European Parliament.

The extreme right wing political party All for Latvia! and party New Democrats made a decision to merge in one political union and to run together for municipal elections and elections to the European Parliament. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya reports on a scientific conference Second World War and Baltic Countries 1939-1942 held in Baltic International Academy last week in Riga. The participants of the conference have discussed the events of the WWII and the Holocaust in the Baltic countries.

• European Parliament adopted the amendments to the regulations on the EU visa regime on granting non-citizens of Latvia and Estonia rights to travel within the EU without visas
• Saeima declined the proposal of the political party FF/LNIM to deprive municipal deputies their mandate if they do not have sufficient state language skills
• European Court of Human Rights has accepted an appeal of the activist of the Headquarters Jurijs Petropavlovskis
• Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens
• Applicant for citizenship caught cheating during naturalisation exam

Yesterday, the European Parliament adopted amendments to the regulations of the EU visa regime, which would stipulate granting non-citizens of Latvia and Estonia rights to travel within the EU without visas. MEP from Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka in an interview with Chas stated that the amendments will allow non-citizens to stay in any the EU country without visa, however it will not permit them to work in those countries. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Diena, Latvijas Vestnesis

Yesterday, the Saeima declined the proposal of the political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM to deprive municipal deputies their mandates if he/she has insufficient state language skills. The Saeima supported the draft amendments to the Law on the Population Register which annulled an article stipulating that if parents of a newborn child are a Latvian non-citizen and a foreign citizen the parents might choose childs citizenship. The MP Nils Usakovs (the Concord Centre) in an interview with Chas stated that if the draft amendments are adopted such children will have a foreign nationality and will not have the rights to receive Latvian citizenship without naturalisation as it is for children born after 1991 in a family where both parents are non-citizens. Also the Saeima has supported the draft amendments to the Criminal Law which stipulate criminal liability for a person who made an attempt to pass naturalisation exam instead of a real applicant. Chas, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize, Diena

The European Court of Human Rights has accepted an appeal of the activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Language Schools Jurijs Petropavlovskis. As reported, Jurijs Petropavlovskis was denied Latvian citizenship despite that he undergone the whole naturalisation process. Telegraf, Latvijas Avize, Diena

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens. Mr. Kastens stated that the priorities of his work are based on integration of ethnic minorities into Latvian society, maintenance of connections with Latvians abroad, and development of civil society. The Minister also believed that Latvia is not typical two-community state and the main signs of divided societies are seen only in the informative space because a part of society have insufficient Latvian language skills.

Diena reports that one of the applicants for citizenship was caught cheating during the naturalisation examination in Riga. Within six months it has been a third person caught in cheating. The examination of the applicant was annulled.

• Citizen of Brazil attacked by a group of skinheads in the centre of Riga
• Prime Minister of Latvia Aigars Kalvitis: government will not permit the influx of cheap labour force to Latvia
• NGOs develop proposals concerning ethnic minority schools
• Conference Formation of the Russian Cultural-Linguistic Identity and Bilingual Education in Latvia

Diena reports that on Sunday, 10 December, a young girl, citizen of Brazil, accompanied by two locals, was attacked by a group of skinheads in the centre of Riga. The group of skinheads blocked girls and her companions way and made racist statements. Afterwards one member of the group threw a bottle of beer at the girl. Fortunately, the girl avoided the bottle, however, she got some injuries in her leg. The girl and her companions managed to escape. Two of the skinheads were detained shortly after the incident. The police have opened a criminal process under Section 78 of the Criminal Law on incitement to ethnic hatred.

The Prime Minister of Latvia Aigars Kalvitis has stated that the government will not permit influx of cheap labour force to Latvia, because it might have a negative influence on employment rates of local labour force.

The Prime Minister of Latvia Aigars Kalvitis has stated that the government will not permit influx of cheap labour force to Latvia, because it might have a negative influence on employment rates of local labour force. Telegraf

Several Russian NGOs have developed proposals on schools of ethnic minorities and forwarded them to the Saeima. The NGOs believe that minority school students should have choice over the language of examinations. The proposals also include formation of a specific department dealing with ethnic minority schools under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Science.

Several Russian NGOs have developed proposals on schools of ethnic minorities and forwarded them to the Saeima. The NGOs believe that minority school students should have choice over the language of examinations. The proposals also include formation of a specific department dealing with ethnic minority schools under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Science. Chas

Vesti Segodnya reports that the Latvian Association of Russian Language and Literature Teachers and the Latvian Association for Support of Russian Language Schools (LAPRYAL and LASHOR in their Russian acronyms respectively) will hold a conference Formation of the Russian Cultural-Linguistic Identity and Bilingual Education in Latvia from 14 to 16 December in Riga. Participants of the conference will share their experiences on bilingual education and discuss the aims and opportunities of bilingual education in Latvia.

• Cabinet of Ministers approved state language examination procedure for foreigners applying for permanent residence and working permits in Latvia
• Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens: integration policy will not be reviewed
• Telegraf prints an article about the Belorussian community of Latvia
• Days of the Rumanian culture in Latvia

Yesterday, the Cabinet of Ministers approved state language examination procedure for foreigners who are applying for permanent residence and working permits in Latvia. As reported, applicants for permanent residence permit should demonstrate Latvian language proficiency skills which correspond at least the lowest language proficiency level set by Latvian legal norms. The Cabinet of Ministers noted that those foreigners who have taken centralized Latvian language exam or have graduated  from university which main language of instruction is Latvian or have learned Latvian in their country and are able to confirm it with respective certificate, do not have to take the language proficiency test.

Yesterday, the Cabinet of Ministers approved state language examination procedure for foreigners who are applying for permanent residence and working permits in Latvia. As reported, applicants for permanent residence permit should demonstrate Latvian language proficiency skills which correspond at least the lowest language proficiency level set by Latvian legal norms. The Cabinet of Ministers noted that those foreigners who have taken centralized Latvian language exam or have graduated from university which main language of instruction is Latvian or have learned Latvian in their country and are able to confirm it with respective certificate, do not have to take the language proficiency test. Vesti Segodnya

The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens in an interview with

The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens in an interview with Telegraf has stated that despite the proposals of the political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM to halt naturalisation, no changes will be introduced in Latvias integration policy and work of the Integration Secretariat.

Telegraf prints an article about the Belorussian community of Latvia. According to the newspaper there are 90,000 Belorussians in Latvia. The newspaper notes that Belorussians have several NGOs and a school. The Union of Belorussians in Latvia was established in 2003.

Today, the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (IUMSILS in its Latvian acronym) in the framework of the Days of the Rumanian culture opens an exhibition on the Rumanian culture.

Today, the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (IUMSILS in its Latvian acronym) in the framework of the Days of the Rumanian culture opens an exhibition on the Rumanian culture. Latvijas Vestnesis

• Ministry of Welfare: Latvia does not need guest workers
• Rigas Balss prints an article on migration and possible influx of guest workers to Latvia
• FHRUL does not support proposal to elect President by general suffrage
• Riga Regional Court issued ruling in the case of bribery in the Naturalisation Board
• Amnesty International will publish a report on the situation concerning Russian speaking residents of Latvia in 2009
• Vesti Segodnya reports on a conference Cultural Inheritance of Ukrainians in the Baltic Countries in the Context of Social Integration held in Riga

According to the Ministry of Welfare, Latvia does not need guest workers because there are still ineffectively used domestic labour sources. As reported, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks has stated that Latvia will not introduce any barriers regarding free movement of people from Rumania and Bulgaria after both countries join the EU on 1 January 2007.

According to the Ministry of Welfare, Latvia does not need guest workers because there are still ineffectively used domestic labour sources. As reported, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks has stated that Latvia will not introduce any barriers regarding free movement of people from Rumania and Bulgaria after both countries join the EU on 1 January 2007. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Rigas Balss prints an article on migration and possible influx of guest workers to Latvia. According to representative of the State Employment Agency Ilze Haberlinga there are 700 registered guest workers in Latvia who have arrived in 2006, mainly from Ukraine, Russia, Uzbekistan, Moldova and India. However, Mrs. Haberlinga noted that the actual number of guest workers is bigger than official data. The majority of guest workers are employed in construction, transport, service and other industries. The President of the Latvian Construction Association Viktors Purins argued that lack of qualified labour force is the main reason of a possible influx of guest workers to Latvia.

The political party For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) does not support the proposal of the political party “The Concord Centre” to hold a referendum on a bill stipulating election of President by general suffrage. The FHRUL argues that general suffrage would not be democratic due to large number of Latvian residents (Latvian non-citizens) who have no voting rights.

The political party For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) does not support the proposal of the political party The Concord Centre to hold a referendum on a bill stipulating election of President by general suffrage. The FHRUL argues that general suffrage would not be democratic due to large number of Latvian residents (Latvian non-citizens) who have no voting rights. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

On Monday, the Riga Regional Court issued a ruling in the case of  bribery in the Naturalisation Board. The three accused persons were found guilty and imposed pecuniary penalties. As reported, the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau detained three persons - the head of the Valmiera branch of the Naturalisation Board, the head of the headquarters of Riga Municipality Police and an entrepreneur on the charges of providing mediator services in bribing.

On Monday, the Riga Regional Court issued a ruling in the case of bribery in the Naturalisation Board. The three accused persons were found guilty and imposed pecuniary penalties. As reported, the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau detained three persons - the head of the Valmiera branch of the Naturalisation Board, the head of the headquarters of Riga Municipality Police and an entrepreneur on the charges of providing mediator services in bribing. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

The worldwide organisation on protection of human rights “Amnesty International” has stated that a report on situation concerning Russian speaking residents of Latvia will be published only in 2009. The “Amnesty International” also has noted that Latvia is under its permanent supervision.

The worldwide organisation on protection of human rights Amnesty International has stated that a report on situation concerning Russian speaking residents of Latvia will be published only in 2009. The Amnesty International also has noted that Latvia is under its permanent supervision. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya reports that the Ukrainian Union of Latvia, the Ukrainian Ethnic-Cultural Association Dnipro and the International Cultural Centre RSEBAA have held the Third International Scientifically – Practical conference Cultural Inheritance of Ukrainians in Baltic Countries in the Context of Social Integration in Riga.