• Head of the governmental commission on calculation of loss and damages inflicted by the USSR occupation Edmunds Stankevics: decolonisation would be a logical process
• Russian NGOs are preparing for celebration of 65th anniversary of liberation of Latvia from Fascism

Vesti Segodnya reports that head of the governmental commission on calculation of loss and damages inflicted by the USSR occupation Edmunds Stankevics in an interview with national radical newspaper DDD has stated that the commission will probably present results of its work in 2010. According to Mr. Stankevics, Soviet-era migrants and their descendants also inflicted damage to Latvia and, therefore, decolonisation would be a logical process.

Latvijas Avize reports that several Russian NGOs are preparing for celebration of 65th anniversary of liberation of Latvia from Fascism. Conferences and various commemorative events are being planned for 2008 and 2009. The newspaper alleges that some NGOs organising the events are disloyal towards Latvia and that they are propagating a false view of history hostile to Latvia.

• Public opinion survey: neither of the governing coalitions parties would get into the Saeima if the elections were held in January
• www.latvia.lv: most of Latvias Russians arrived as a result of the Soviet occupation, many of them take a different view regarding the countrys future and do not wish to recognise Latvian as the countrys sole official language
• National-radical Ivo Rubins: non-citizens should be repatriated

According to the latest public opinion survey held by the market and social research company “Latvijas fakti”, neither of the governing coalition’s parties would get into the Saeima if the elections were held in January. Only opposition parties would be able to overcome the 5% threshold: 9% of Latvian citizens would vote for the Concord Centre and 5,1% - for the New Era. 17,8% of respondents would not participate in the elections. Also, according to public opinion survey, 64,3% of Latvian citizens would vote for dissolution of the Saeima if the issue was put on a referendum.

According to the latest public opinion survey held by the market and social research company Latvijas fakti, neither of the governing coalitions parties would get into the Saeima if the elections were held in January. Only opposition parties would be able to overcome the 5% threshold: 9% of Latvian citizens would vote for the Concord Centre and 5,1% - for the New Era. 17,8% of respondents would not participate in the elections. Also, according to public opinion survey, 64,3% of Latvian citizens would vote for dissolution of the Saeima if the issue was put on a referendum. Telegraf, Diena

Vesti Segodnya reports that English version of internet site www.latvia.lv administrated by the Institute of Latvia contains a section on ethnic minorities in Latvia according to which most of Latvias Russian population consists of immigrants who arrived recently as a result of the Soviet occupation, and unfortunately, many of them take a different view regarding the countrys future and do not wish to recognise Latvian as the countrys sole official language.

Vesti Segodnya reports that ethnic Latvian national-radical Ivo Rubins in his article, published on nationalistic internet site www.nacionalisti.lv, states that non-citizens residing in Latvia are not loyal towards the state and, therefore, should be repatriated. Ivo Rubins considers non-citizens as colonists and states that ethnic Latvians should not tolerate these people in their country.

• Presidents Advisory Council on Ethnic Minorities held its first meeting

On Friday, the President’s Advisory Council on Ethnic Minorities held its first meeting. The members of the Council shared with the President their opinion about situation of ethnic minority communities they represent and discussed the most urgent tasks of the Council. 

On Friday, the Presidents Advisory Council on Ethnic Minorities held its first meeting. The members of the Council shared with the President their opinion about situation of ethnic minority communities they represent and discussed the most urgent tasks of the Council. Latvijas Avize

• Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins: vacancies should be granted primarily to applicants with better Latvian language proficiency
• Political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM Roberts Zile : all ethnic Latvian parties should unite
• European Return Fund granted Latvia almost LVL 3,000,000 (EUR 4,200,000) in the framework of the programme Solidarity and Management of Migration Flow

The Ministry of Justice elaborated draft amendments to the Labour Law stipulating inclusion of state language proficiency level in the labour agreement. The Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins considers that in the circumstances of economic crisis vacancies should be granted primarily to applicants with professional skills and better Latvian language proficiency.

The Ministry of Justice elaborated draft amendments to the Labour Law stipulating inclusion of state language proficiency level in the labour agreement. The Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins considers that in the circumstances of economic crisis vacancies should be granted primarily to applicants with professional skills and better Latvian language proficiency. Chas

In an interview with

In an interview with Latvijas Avize, head of the political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM Roberts Zile has stated his worry that Russian parties could come to power in Riga. State power should be in the hands of those political parties that are elected by voters loyal to Latvia, and according to Mr.Zile, the Concord Centre is not among such parties. Mr.Zile believes that all ethnic Latvian parties should unite, because divisions will bring gains to the Concord Centre and its allies.

NRA reports that the European Return Fund granted Latvia almost LVL 3,000,000 (EUR 4,200,000) in the framework of the programme Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows. The funds will be used up to 2013 for improvement of information flow about opportunities for non-EU citizens to return to their home countries, exchange of experience among institutions, organisation of seminars and studies about migration of third country nationals and their opportunities for their return.

• Telegraf prints an interview with the Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane
• Diena prints an article on integration of Russian speaking residents of Latvia
• Number of applications for Latvian citizenship increased due to growing unemployment
• Interest of Latvian employers in attracting guest workers has noticeably decreased

Telegraf prints an interview with the Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane. According to Mrs. Aldermane, many Latvian citizens who move abroad and receive citizenship of other countries are forced to relinquish Latvian citizenship. Mrs. Aldermane believes that every citizen is very important for Latvia and, therefore, the Citizenship Law should stipulate possibilities for double citizenship. Mrs. Aldermane considers that too many amendments were already made to the effective Citizenship Law; therefore, a new Law should be elaborated.

Diena prints an article on integration of Russian speaking residents of Latvia. Experts interviewed by the newspaper believe that because of unsuccessful integration policy, loyalty towards Latvian state among Russian speaking part of society has not increased and these people are increasingly identifying themselves with Russia. According to the article, events of 13 January in Riga (mass anti-governmental demonstration and clashes) showed that, perhaps, for first time in many years, economic and social problems united Latvian and Russian speakers.

According to

According to Diena, number of applications for Latvian citizenship has increased during last weeks. According to the newspaper, growing unemployment in Latvia could be the reason for the increase, as non-citizens are willing to receive the EU passport in order to widen their employment opportunities.

NRA reports that interest of Latvian employers in attracting guest workers has noticeably decreased. In 2008, the State Employment Agency has approved 230 fewer working permits than in 2007. In total, 2913 working permits were approved for foreigners from non-EU countries (mostly from Ukraine and Moldova) in 2008.