• Special Tasks Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks accounts for his performance during the first 100 days of the present government
• Riga Mayor Gundars Bojars is planning to call on state officials to introduce changes in the process of the education reforms implementation
• Analysis of ethnic aspects in the European Parliament elections results
• Russia State Council prepared recommendations for Latvia in the area of minorities rights
• Russia Foreign Affairs Ministry condemns statements of the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga
• Latvijas Avize continues discussion about proposals included in the appeal of the group of intellectuals to the state officials regarding implementation of the minority education reform
• MP of the Russia State Council Konstantin Zatulin on implementation of the education reform in Latvia
• Latvijas Avize writes about possible governments response to the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Tatjana Zdanoka
• Chas features an article about demands of the Russian-speaking community
• Mourning meeting at the commemoration site of the synagogue burned during the Holocaust will take place on 4 July
• Children in T-shirts with the logo of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools visit the Occupation Museum of Latvia

Nils Muiznieks named the action, during which 15,000 letters to eligible non-citizen children’s parents were send in order to invite them to register their children born in Latvia after 21 August 1991 as Latvian citizens, as one of the most notable achievements during his first 100 days at the post of the Special Tasks Minister in the present government. As a result of the action, 354 children in May and 290 children in June were registered as citizens of Latvia, while only 356 children where registered during the twelve months of the last year. Nils Muiznieks has also mentioned collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Science in order ‘to help the Ministry of Education to cope with the inherited hard situation in the area of the education reform’, and to the elaboration of the national program for promotion of tolerance.

Nils Muiznieks named the action, during which 15,000 letters to eligible non-citizen childrens parents were send in order to invite them to register their children born in Latvia after 21 August 1991 as Latvian citizens, as one of the most notable achievements during his first 100 days at the post of the Special Tasks Minister in the present government. As a result of the action, 354 children in May and 290 children in June were registered as citizens of Latvia, while only 356 children where registered during the twelve months of the last year. Nils Muiznieks has also mentioned collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Science in order ‘to help the Ministry of Education to cope with the inherited hard situation in the area of the education reform, and to the elaboration of the national program for promotion of tolerance. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Latvijas Vestnesis

Yesterday Riga City Council Education, Youth and Sports Department decided that the Riga Mayor Gundars Bojars should call on the Prime Minister Indulis Emsis and the Saeima Speaker Ingrida Udre to make several changes in the process of the education reform’s implementation. The city council is suggesting following changes: to grant exceptional status to Riga secondary school Nr. 34, where teachers of geography and informatics are not able to teach their subjects in Latvian; to decrease number of subjects which must be taught in Latvian from 5 to 3 in Grade 10 of minorities schools’ evening and by-correspondence classes; to allow teaching of two subjects bilingually, and to increase the number of Latvian language lessons per week by one lesson.

Yesterday Riga City Council Education, Youth and Sports Department decided that the Riga Mayor Gundars Bojars should call on the Prime Minister Indulis Emsis and the Saeima Speaker Ingrida Udre to make several changes in the process of the education reforms implementation. The city council is suggesting following changes: to grant exceptional status to Riga secondary school Nr. 34, where teachers of geography and informatics are not able to teach their subjects in Latvian; to decrease number of subjects which must be taught in Latvian from 5 to 3 in Grade 10 of minorities schools evening and by-correspondence classes; to allow teaching of two subjects bilingually, and to increase the number of Latvian language lessons per week by one lesson. Rigas Balss features opinions of the state officials about the possibility to increase the role and responsibility of municipalities in implementing the education reform. Rigas Balss, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Analysis of the European Parliament election’s results, conducted by the ethnologist Ilmars Mezs, indicates that the vote of Latvia’s citizens at the European Parliament’s elections has been explicitly ethnically motivated, as the biggest support to the left parties has been given by voters in the regions and cities populated by ethnic minorities in big numbers. According to Mezs, percentage of votes given to the left parties in these regions is almost identical to the percentage of minorities among citizens living there. Integration experts, asked by

Analysis of the European Parliament elections results, conducted by the ethnologist Ilmars Mezs, indicates that the vote of Latvias citizens at the European Parliaments elections has been explicitly ethnically motivated, as the biggest support to the left parties has been given by voters in the regions and cities populated by ethnic minorities in big numbers. According to Mezs, percentage of votes given to the left parties in these regions is almost identical to the percentage of minorities among citizens living there. Integration experts, asked by Diena, whether the ‘ethnic vote during the EP elections indicates that social integration policy has come to a dead end, have all denied such a possibility. Diena

Russia State Council is planning to submit a document, which includes 17 recommendations for Latvia in the area of minorities’ rights observation, to the international organisations. The main focus is on granting voting rights at municipal elections to non-citizens, simplification of the naturalisation procedure for older persons, and implementation of the education reform.

Russia State Council is planning to submit a document, which includes 17 recommendations for Latvia in the area of minorities rights observation, to the international organisations. The main focus is on granting voting rights at municipal elections to non-citizens, simplification of the naturalisation procedure for older persons, and implementation of the education reform.

Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs has evaluated statements of the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga about Russia intervening with the internal affairs of Latvia, expressed during the interview to the Latvijas Radio, as unwarranted and intended to strain the relationship between Riga and Moscow. In the commentary submitted by the Information department of the Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the news agency Interfax, it is said that what the Latvian president calls ‘intervention in the internal affairs of Latvia’, is, in fact, ‘Russia’s principal position’ on defending Russian-speaking minority’s rights in accordance with the unified standards set by  international legislation and recommended by the human rights institutions and  experts of the United Nations, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe.

Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs has evaluated statements of the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga about Russia intervening with the internal affairs of Latvia, expressed during the interview to the Latvijas Radio, as unwarranted and intended to strain the relationship between Riga and Moscow. In the commentary submitted by the Information department of the Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the news agency Interfax, it is said that what the Latvian president calls ‘intervention in the internal affairs of Latvia, is, in fact, ‘Russias principal position on defending Russian-speaking minoritys rights in accordance with the unified standards set by international legislation and recommended by the human rights institutions and experts of the United Nations, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe. Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize continues discussion about proposals included into the appeal of the group of intellectuals to the state officials regarding implementation of the minority education reform. Writer Mara Svire believes that the appeal is not providing any specific solutions to existing problems, while writer Anda Lice calls the appeal ‘rhetorical and claims that it presents an attempt to destabilise the situation. The publicist Peteris Bankovskis believes, that, on the contrary, appeal aims at stabilisation, not escalation, of the conflict.

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with the MP of Russia State Council Konstantin Zatulin about implementation of the education reform in Latvia.

Latvijas Avize features an article about possible governments reaction to the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Tatjana Zdanoka. According to the newspaper, neither Ministry of Foreign Affairs, nor Ministry of Justice have read the judgment yet, as it is still being translated into Latvian from the original French language.

Chas prints an article by Viktors Guscins answering to the former Prime Minister of Latvia Ivars Godmanis, who in his previous interview to the newspaper claimed that ‘Latvians want to know at what level demands of the Russian-speaking community will stop. According to the author, Russian-speakers want Latvia to become a democratic state, and the ‘ruling Latvian elite should abandon policy of ‘lies, hypocrisy, and coercion towards the ethnic minorities. Only fulfilment of these requirements, writes Viktors Guscins, can stop further escalation of the ethnic conflict.

A mourning meeting will take place at the site of the remains of the synagogue, burned during the Holocaust, on 4 July, Commemoration day for the victims of the genocide against Jewish people. Approximately 200 representatives of the Jewish community and Latvian intellectual circles will attend. The Prime Minister Indulis Emsis will also participate in the meeting.

A mourning meeting will take place at the site of the remains of the synagogue, burned during the Holocaust, on 4 July, Commemoration day for the victims of the genocide against Jewish people. Approximately 200 representatives of the Jewish community and Latvian intellectual circles will attend. The Prime Minister Indulis Emsis will also participate in the meeting. Latvijas Avize

Yesterday approximately 40 children dressed in T-shirts with the inscription “Hands off from our schools!” and logo of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools visited the Occupation Museum of Latvia.

Yesterday approximately 40 children dressed in T-shirts with the inscription Hands off from our schools! and logo of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools visited the Occupation Museum of Latvia. Chas

• Head of the FHRUL parliamentary group Jakovs Pliners sends an open letter to the president of Latvia and the prime minister regarding implementation of the minority education reform
• Newspapers continue discussion about appeal of the group of intellectuals to the state officials regarding implementation of the minority education reform
• Director of the Second European department of the Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs Alexander Udaltsov about Russian-speakers situation in Latvia
• Vice-speaker of the Russia State Council Vladimir Zhirinovsky threatens the Baltic states with military invasion

Responding to the appeal of the group of intellectuals regarding implementation of the minority education reform, the head of the union’s For Human Rights in the United Latvia parliamentary group Jakovs Pliners has also sent an open letter to the president of Latvia and the prime Minister. In his letter, Jakovs Pliners points to the necessity of an urgent moratorium on education reform, and suggests to grant the rights to define the language of instruction and the ‘level of bilingualism’ to the minorities schools’ councils; to divide subject ‘Latvian language and literature’ into two separate subjects ‘Latvian language’ and ‘Latvian literature’, at the same time increasing number of lessons from 4 to 6 per week; and to establish a department on minorities’ education issues under the Ministry of Education and Science.

Responding to the appeal of the group of intellectuals regarding implementation of the minority education reform, the head of the unions For Human Rights in the United Latvia parliamentary group Jakovs Pliners has also sent an open letter to the president of Latvia and the prime Minister. In his letter, Jakovs Pliners points to the necessity of an urgent moratorium on education reform, and suggests to grant the rights to define the language of instruction and the ‘level of bilingualism to the minorities schools councils; to divide subject ‘Latvian language and literature into two separate subjects ‘Latvian language and ‘Latvian literature, at the same time increasing number of lessons from 4 to 6 per week; and to establish a department on minorities education issues under the Ministry of Education and Science. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Latvian-language newspapers continue discussion about the appeal of the group of intellectuals to the state officials regarding implementation of the minority education reform.

Latvian-language newspapers continue discussion about the appeal of the group of intellectuals to the state officials regarding implementation of the minority education reform. Diena features opinions of the state officials, most of whom believe that suggested abandonment of the language ratios is belated and cannot be accomplished at the present moment. The Prime Minister Indulis Emsis, as well as the Minister for Education and Science Juris Radzevics and Special Tasks Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks, categorically reject the possibility of opening the Law on Education in order to cancel the language ratios. Latvijas Avize features a commentary by the journalist Voldemars Krustins, who believes that proposals included in the appeal have been already expressed in the past by the representatives of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools.

“Russia will apply to international organisations more actively in order to solve Russian-speakers’ problems in Latvia,” stated director of the Second European department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Udaltsov during the meeting with the Baltic State’s journalists. According to Udaltsov, problems are well known – naturalisation, education in the Russian language, voting rights and attitude towards the Soviet Army veterans. Alexander Udaltsov believes that the education reform must be cancelled, or at least postponed in order to be carefully prepared. He also said that in the regions, where Russian-speakers live in substantial numbers, they should have rights to use the Russian language officially.

Russia will apply to international organisations more actively in order to solve Russian-speakers problems in Latvia, stated director of the Second European department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Udaltsov during the meeting with the Baltic States journalists. According to Udaltsov, problems are well known – naturalisation, education in the Russian language, voting rights and attitude towards the Soviet Army veterans. Alexander Udaltsov believes that the education reform must be cancelled, or at least postponed in order to be carefully prepared. He also said that in the regions, where Russian-speakers live in substantial numbers, they should have rights to use the Russian language officially. Chas features an interview with Alexander Udaltsov and the deputy director of the department Mikhail Demurin. Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Vice-speaker of the Russia State Council Vladimir Zhirinovsky (Russia Liberal Democratic Party) has threatened that Russia’s armed forces may be moved into the Baltic States if those countries continue to ‘offend the big neighbour’. Zhirinovsky said that all people born in a specific state should have its citizenship.

Vice-speaker of the Russia State Council Vladimir Zhirinovsky (Russia Liberal Democratic Party) has threatened that Russias armed forces may be moved into the Baltic States if those countries continue to ‘offend the big neighbour. Zhirinovsky said that all people born in a specific state should have its citizenship. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

• Newspapers continue discussion about appeal of the group of intellectuals to the state officials regarding implementation of the minority education reform
• President of Estonia Arnold Ruutel meets with students of the Riga Estonian School
• Leader of party Equality Tatjana Zdanoka about status of Russian language in the European Union
• A monument for Righteous, who helped to save the lives of Jews during the World War II, will be unveiled next year in Riga

Newspapers continue discussion about proposals included in the appeal by the group of intellectuals to the state officials regarding implementation of the minority education reform.

Newspapers continue discussion about proposals included in the appeal by the group of intellectuals to the state officials regarding implementation of the minority education reform. Latvijas Avize features a full text of the appeal. Commentator of the Neatkariga Rita Avize Viktors Avotins believes that appeal was rather intended for calming down political tensions than for providing qualitative and professional solutions to implementation of the education reform. The journalist also explains that he has refused to sign the appeal because he does not see a possible professional solution for implementation of the suggested compromises. Russian-language newspapers feature a statement by the organising committee of the United Congress of the Russian community, expressing overall support to the appeal, though disapproving of several separate statements. Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with the associated professor of the University of Latvia Abrams Kleckins, one of those who have signed the appeal. Abrams Kleckins regards methods of the education reforms implementation as threatening to democracy, as opinions of those, who are obliged to implement the reform, are not taken into account. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Yesterday President of Estonia Arnold Ruutel, who has been participating in the World Reunion of Estonian diaspora taking place in Riga, met with the students of the Riga Estonian School.

Yesterday President of Estonia Arnold Ruutel, who has been participating in the World Reunion of Estonian diaspora taking place in Riga, met with the students of the Riga Estonian School. Latvijas Avize

Chas prints an interview with the leader of party Equality Tatjana Zdanoka about status of Russian language in the European Union. According to Tatjana Zdanoka, it is very possible that status of the official EU language will be granted to the Russian language, because it already has weight on the global political arena as an official language of the United Nations.

A monument for the righteous, who helped to save the lives of Jews during the World War II, will be unveiled at the commemoration site for the Holocaust’s victims in Riga on 4 July 2005.

A monument for the righteous, who helped to save the lives of Jews during the World War II, will be unveiled at the commemoration site for the Holocausts victims in Riga on 4 July 2005. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

 

• About the call of the group of intellectuals to state officials on the implementation of the education reform
• Article by Ineta Ziemele about the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decision in the case of Tatjana Zdanoka
• 12,000 non-citizens of Latvia have not replaced the former USSR passports with the non-citizens passports of Latvia
• Prosecutors office dismisses a criminal case against National Bolsheviks, accused of calling for the overthrow of state authority
• Commentary about the role of the European Unions Russian Party
• Events connected to the world reunion of Estonians, who live outside Estonia, taking place in Riga

Newspapers continue to write about the call by the group of intellectuals to the state officials regarding the implementation of the minority education reform.

Newspapers continue to write about the call by the group of intellectuals to the state officials regarding the implementation of the minority education reform. Neatkariga Rita Avize features the fragments of the appeal. Telegraf prints the opinions of several intellectuals, who have signed this appeal, most of whom stress that they are not appealing against the goal of the education reform, but against the methods of its implementation.

Diena features an article by Dr. iur. Ineta Ziemele about the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decision in the case of Tatjana Zdanoka. The author states that the concrete activities and expressed statements of the plaintiff have not been analysed in the context of the post-occupation context of a democratically immature and ethnically sensitive society. Ineta Ziemele also believes that the case of Tatjana Zdanoka should be retained in the competence of the state, at the same time she stresses that this does not mean that it is not necessary to cancel the restrictions for the former agents of the Sate Security Committee and those persons, who were members of the Communist Party after 13 January 1991. In truth, the ECHR does not have experience in reviewing such cases and it would be worthwhile to enable it to re-analyse the circumstances of this case and the arguments of the parties, concludes the jurist.

According to the information of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA), 12,000 non-citizens of Latvia have not replaced their former USSR passports with the non-citizens’ passports of Latvia until the 1 June 2004. OCMA’s press secretary Inga Saleniece believes that a large part of these persons most probably do not live in Latvia anymore, but has emigrated from the state during the early 1990ies, when such information was not fixed in the registers.

According to the information of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA), 12,000 non-citizens of Latvia have not replaced their former USSR passports with the non-citizens passports of Latvia until the 1 June 2004. OCMAs press secretary Inga Saleniece believes that a large part of these persons most probably do not live in Latvia anymore, but has emigrated from the state during the early 1990ies, when such information was not fixed in the registers. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Rigas Balss

The Prosecutor’s office has dismissed a criminal case against the three National Bolsheviks, previously accused of issuing a call to overthrow the state authority, due to lack of evidence.

The Prosecutors office has dismissed a criminal case against the three National Bolsheviks, previously accused of issuing a call to overthrow the state authority, due to lack of evidence. Diena

Latvijas Avize features a commentary of the journalist Modris Ziemins about the role of the European Unions Russian Party, which is in the process of being established by the Russian-speaking representatives of the six EU states. The journalist believes that ‘the leading hand of Moscow can be seen behind the establishment of this party, because the basic programmatic position of this formation corresponds to the policy on the strengthening the status of the Russian language in the EU and the defence of the rights of all the Russian-speakers who live in the EU, rights, which is also advocated by the Kremlin.

Newspapers feature articles about the events connected to the world reunion of Estonians, who live outside Estonia, which is taking place in Riga.

Newspapers feature articles about the events connected to the world reunion of Estonians, who live outside Estonia, which is taking place in Riga. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss, Latvijas Vestnesis, Vesti Segodnya,Chas

• Latest ratings of the political parties
• Appeal to the state officials due to the implementation of the education reform
• Deputy Speaker of the Russia State Council Dmitry Rogozin calls the European Parliaments MPs to exert a pressure on the new MPs from Latvia on the observation of minority rights
• Neatkariga Rita Avize writes about the naturalisation exams
• Russian language newspapers write about the future of the NGO Cita Politika
• World reunion of Estonians, who lives outside the Estonia, is taking place in Riga

The latest

The latest Latvijas Fakti opinion poll indicates that in June the most popular party still is New Era with the rating 18,9%. A dramatic increase in the ratings of: For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM, which rates14%. Other ratings are: For Human Rights in United Latvia – 8,6%, Peoples Party – 6% and Union of Greens and Farmers – 5,7%, Peoples Harmony Party – 3,2% and Latvias First Party – 2,9%. Diena, Telegraf

Newspapers continue to write about the call to the state officials, issued by the group of intellectuals due to the implementation of the education reform.

Newspapers continue to write about the call to the state officials, issued by the group of intellectuals due to the implementation of the education reform. Diena features the main statements of this document and some comments. Latvijas Avize prints the statements of several persons, who have signed this document, about the education reform. For example, former Prime Minister Andris Berzins believes that the reform must be implemented only in those schools, which are ready for it. According to him, it is also necessary to prepare a transitional formula, providing possibilities for municipalities to schedule when each of its schools will be able to implement the education reform. Cardinat Janis Pujats also states that he is not for the elimination of the reform but against the creation of ethnic tensions. Diena, Latvijas Avize

Deputy Speaker of the Russia State Council Dmitry Rogozin (Rodina) has called on the MPs of the European Parliament to exert a pressure on the new MPs elected from Latvia in order to attain the granting of the civic and political rights for all the residents of Latvia in irrespective of their ethnic identity. At the same time Dmitry Rogozin in the statement, spread to the Russian mass media, is appealing to the Russian government, calling on it to adopt political and economic measures in order to help enforce the observance of human rights in Latvia.

Deputy Speaker of the Russia State Council Dmitry Rogozin (Rodina) has called on the MPs of the European Parliament to exert a pressure on the new MPs elected from Latvia in order to attain the granting of the civic and political rights for all the residents of Latvia in irrespective of their ethnic identity. At the same time Dmitry Rogozin in the statement, spread to the Russian mass media, is appealing to the Russian government, calling on it to adopt political and economic measures in order to help enforce the observance of human rights in Latvia. Chas features an interview with Dmitry Rogozin. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Neatkariga Rita Avize writes about the naturalisation exams, featuring the opinion of the deputy head of the Naturalisation Boards Examination and Methodological Centre Lilita Danga about the level of difficulty of the exams.

Russian language newspapers

Russian language newspapers write about the forthcoming change of the NGO Cita Politika (The Other Policy) into a political party. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Newspapers write about the

Newspapers write about the world reunion of Estonians, who lives outside Estonia, which is taking place in Riga from 26 till 30 June. Neatkariga Rita Avize features an interview with the head of the Latvian Estonian Cultural Society Parja Svarpstina, according to whom there are approximately 3,000 Estonians living in Latvia. Vesti Segodnya, Neatkariga Rita Avize