• Interior Minister about intolerance in Latvia
• PACE adopts a resolution about providing support for persons who were deported during the Soviet times
• European Parliament calls to adopt legal norms which would entitle nationals of third countries to travel without visa in Europe

Diena features an article by the Interior Minister Eriks Jekabsons. He notes that lately the press has paid particular attention of manifestations of racial and ethnic intolerance in the streets of Riga. The Minister reports that he has met with rabbi Mordehajs Glazmans, one of recent victims of intolerance, in order to apologise and discuss these issues. The Minister writes ‘I am ashamed to admit that these manifestations [of racial and ethnic intolerance] committed by young people are provoked also by radical and irresponsible statements of several politicians. In this respect the Minister points to the events around the meeting which took place on 16 March in the commemoration of WWII Latvian Legionnaires ‘unfortunately, this day has become a stage for radical organisations to express their views. The Minister assures that activities of radical organisation, which take place in Russia, will not be permitted in Latvia. Eriks Jekabsons concludes that a set of complex measures should be taken to deal with the situation: improvements in legislation and education of society in families and schools.

Chas reports on the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe focusing on mutual reproaches between Latvia and Russia. Latvia reproached Russia for violence of minority rights and xenophobia. All three Baltic States proposed to amend the PACE resolution - the Baltic States proposed to include in the resolution amendments which state that ‘persons, who were deported during the Soviet times to other republics, including the occupied Baltic States, should be provided support to return to their homes. The newspaper notes that PACE recommendations are not legally binding.

Vesti Segodnya reports that the European Parliament adopted a resolution, which ‘demands the European Commission to find possibilities for nationals of third countries, that according to the newspaper are also non-citizens of Latvia and Estonia, could travel in European countries without visa. Telegraf

• Amendments to the Citizenship Law under development
• Saeima terminates accreditation of two journalists accused in incitement of national hatred
• Latvian President points at intolerance existing in the Latvian society in her speech for MPs
• Interview with leaders of two left-wing parties
• Interview with the leader of New Democrats about partys stance on national issues
• Comments of Chas readers on the call to naturalise

Latvijas Avize talks to the Minister of Justice Solvita Aboltina about development of amendments to the Citizenship Law. The Minister is convinced that the Law should be amended, as the Law has not been opened since 1998. Solvita Aboltina reports that the working group has already started to work at the development of amendments, which Saeima may discuss in September. The amendments will provide a number of changes: first, children of Latvian non-citizens will be entitled to receive Latvian citizenship automatically – at the same moment when they are registered (for the moment these children have to be registered as non-citizens and after that their parents may apply for Latvian citizenship for their child). The new amendments will also provide that orphans are entitled to Latvian citizenship. Second, the amendments will stipulate that citizens have to be loyal to the state. The Minister says that the working group proposed to include the following amendment ‘if a person has given public statements aimed against the state, then s/he may not be granted Latvian citizenship. Third, the amendments will stipulate that persons under suspect of terrorism may not be granted Latvian citizenship.

Latvijas Avize reports that accreditation of Liga Muzikante and Ilze Liepa, two journalists of the national radical newspaper ‘De-occupation. De-colonisation. De-bolshevisation, at Saeima has been terminated. The Head of the Saeima Press Office, who took the decision to terminate accreditation, states that she received the report of the Security Police, which confirms that both journalists have been pressed criminal charges for incitement of national hatred. As reported, the newspaper DDD published anti-Semitic statements.

Latvijas Avize prints the full version of the Latvian Presidents speech given for MPs on the last day of the Parliaments session. Although the majority of newspapers refer mainly to the Presidents statements regarding the border agreement between Latvia and Russia and her calls to politicians to think about countrys long-term future, the President also devoted a part of her speech to the issues of intolerance. The President also stressed that ratification of the framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities was a responsible and needed step.

NRA interviews leaders of two left wing parties Sergeys Dolgopolovs (the New Centre) and Janis Urbanovics (the Peoples Harmony Party). Despite a number of previously unsuccessful attempts to work together, the parties recently came out with an announcement about their intentions to work together with the goal to ‘unify those forces, people, views and parties that stand for civilized co-living in Latvia. The leaders stress that in fact almost all people in Latvia want to see a unified society in the country, therefore the parties will focus on solving daily issues and development joint projects and will pay particular attention to young people.

Latvijas Avize interviews the former Interior Minister and former member of the New Era Maris Gulbis who recently formed his own party The New Democrats. When asked about the partys views on national issues, Maris Gulbis states that the party has not developed a clear stance on these issues yet, however, he believes that national values should be preserved. He adds that there is an issue of mass non-citizenship, however, he does not consider that additional attention should be paid to promotion of naturalisation ‘I believe, that integration is slowly, however, naturally taking place in Latvia.

Chas prints a summary of its readers diverse comments on the article, which called non-citizens to naturalise so they would be able to take more active part in the countrys affairs. A part of readers expressed their support to the call, while others disagreed arguing that naturalisation may be interpreted as conformation with ‘the ruling policy and also a threat to lose ones identity.

• Diena features the response of the US Ambassador to Latvia to the article about intolerance and racism in Latvia by the Integration Minister
• Chas reports on the conference ‘Russian-speakers in the EU: Formation of the Civil Society

Diena publishes the response of the US Ambassador to Latvia Catherine Todd Bailey to the article about racism and intolerance in Latvia by Ainars Latkovskis, Minister for Social Integration Affairs, printed in the yesterdays Diena. The Ambassador welcomes the Ministers article and notes that recent allegedly racially motivated attacks place the Latvian society in a negative light. The Ambassador stresses that all members of society, including and first of all the government and law enforcement authorities, are responsible for dealing with those who call to hate ‘others.

Chas continues featuring the conference ‘Russian-speakers in the EU: Formation of the Civil Society held in Brussels on 16 and 17 June. Members of the conference established the Federation of the EU Russian Parties and the non-governmental organisation European Russian Alliance. According to the newspaper, the main goal of the Federation is to achieve the situation when all Russian-speakers living in the EU member states should have the rights of EU citizens.

• Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Ainars Latkovskis talks about a necessity to eliminate manifestations of racism, anti-Semitism and intolerance
• Interviews with the head of the Belorussian National Culture Society of Latvia ‘Svitanak Tatjana Kazaka and the chairperson of the Georgian National Culture Society ‘Samsobolo Nino Jakobidze

Diena features a commentary by the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Ainars Latkovskis about several allegedly racially motivated incidents, which have recently taken place in Riga. The Minister believes that certain measures should be taken to eliminate manifestations of racism, anti-Semitism and intolerance. According to the Minister he has already discussed further co-operation possibilities in this area with the Minister of Interior and the Riga Mayor. The Mayor has already promised to strengthen activities of the municipal police in the territory of the downtown. The Minister also notes that that last the government supported amendments to six laws developed by the Secretariat which provide prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of gender, age, race, skin colour, language and persons religious and political beliefs.

Latvijas Avize prints two interviews with the head of the Belorussian National Culture Society of Latvia ‘Svitanak Tatjana Kazaka and the chairperson of the Georgian National Culture Society ‘Samsobolo Nino Jakobidze about the activities of these organisations and relations in society. Tatjana Kazaka believes that politicians are responsible for two-community situation in Latvia. She argues that there would not be so many problems regarding the implementation of the minority education reform, if the state had paid more attention to development of national schools. While Nino Jakobidze states that many Georgians do not support demands regarding the minority education made by so-called Russian-speakers. He says that many Georgians send their children to Latvian-language kindergartens and schools.

• Vesti Segodnya features views of politicians and experts on a possibility of ethnic conflicts in Latvia
• Members of Jurmala City Council call to establish a Committee on Non-citizen and Foreigner Affairs

Referring to the study ‘Ethnopolitical Tension in Latvia: Looking for the Conflict Solution’ by the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences about a possibility of an ethnic conflict in Latvia,

Referring to the study ‘Ethnopolitical Tension in Latvia: Looking for the Conflict Solution by the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences about a possibility of an ethnic conflict in Latvia, Vesti Segodnya features views of several politicians and experts on the issue. MPs Valerijs Agesins (the Peoples Harmony Party) and Andris Berzins (the Union of Farmers and Greens) as well as the political scientist, professor of the University of Latvia Juris Rozenvalds argue that there are signs of ethnic conflict in the Latvian political elite, while the situation among members of society is better, although some signs of tension are observable as well. Juris Rozenvalds notes that the increasing support of voters to radical political parties is one of the signs. Political scientist Tatjana Bogusevic is convinced that Latvia faces a phase of non-violent conflict in Latvia.

Members of the joint factions of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia and the Latvian Youth Party called to establish the Committee on Non-citizens and Foreigners Affairs in the Jurmala City Council. They argue that 17,000 out of 55,000 Jurmala’s residents are non-citizens or foreigners.

Members of the joint factions of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia and the Latvian Youth Party called to establish the Committee on Non-citizens and Foreigners Affairs in the Jurmala City Council. They argue that 17,000 out of 55,000 Jurmalas residents are non-citizens or foreigners.