• First 100 days of Indulis Emsiss government
• Interview with the Minister for Education and Science Juris Radzevics
• About Latvia joining the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research
• Today European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) will announce its judgement in the case of Tatjana Zdanoka
• About alleged attempts of the Russian-language schools to get rid of the Latvian language teachers
• New publications of the Naturalisation Board
• Critical article about restrictive for non-citizens amendments to the Law on Aviation

Newspapers feature articles about performance of the government of Indulis Emsis during its first 100 days. Journalists predict that Saeima will not support requested resignation of the government today, because People’s Party is willing to grant more time to Indulis Emsis to ensure the right-wing majority in the government, and the People’s Harmony Party has decided to continue supporting the government at least until September. Journalist of

Newspapers feature articles about performance of the government of Indulis Emsis during its first 100 days. Journalists predict that Saeima will not support requested resignation of the government today, because Peoples Party is willing to grant more time to Indulis Emsis to ensure the right-wing majority in the government, and the Peoples Harmony Party has decided to continue supporting the government at least until September. Journalist of Vesti Segodnya Abiks Elkins, evaluating work of the Secretariat of the Special Tasks Minister for Society Integration, concludes that it has actively worked on diminishing ethnic tensions in the society. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Latvijas Vestnesis features an interview with Minister for Education and Science Juris Radzevics, who believes that there are many unused opportunities for improving the implementation process of the education reform within the framework of the present Law on Education.

Newspapers continue to write about Latvia becoming a full-fledged member of the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research. Latvia has already drawn up a plan of specific measures in the areas of education and research, including, for example, preparation of a new teaching aid about the Holocaust for schools, and research on the Holocaust victims. A new webpage

Newspapers continue to write about Latvia becoming a full-fledged member of the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research. Latvia has already drawn up a plan of specific measures in the areas of education and research, including, for example, preparation of a new teaching aid about the Holocaust for schools, and research on the Holocaust victims. A new webpage www.jews.lvprovides information about Jews in Latvia in both Latvian and English languages. Diena, Latvijas Vestnesis, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Today European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) will announce its judgement in the case of Tatjana Zdanoka. Tatjana Zdanoka applied to the ECHR, claiming that her voting rights and freedom of speech and association have been violated, when she was prohibited to stand as a candidate for Saeima elections in 1997, because of her membership in the Communist Party after January 13, 1991.

Today European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) will announce its judgement in the case of Tatjana Zdanoka. Tatjana Zdanoka applied to the ECHR,claiming that her voting rights and freedom of speech and association have been violated, when she was prohibited to stand as a candidate for Saeima elections in 1997, because of her membership in the Communist Party after January 13, 1991. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Chas writes about statement of the official of the Ministry of Education and Science Arija Berzina that several directors of the Russian-language schools allegedly attempt to get rid of the Latvian language teachers. According to Arija Berzina, ministry has received a letter from two Latvian language teachers of Riga Secondary School Nr. 34, whose contract has been terminated allegedly because of the Education State Inspection recommendation. Arija Berzina insists that no such recommendations have been given by the inspection to the directors of the schools. Deputy Director of the school Natalija Suslova denies reproaches, saying that teachers education qualifications do not correspond to the subject they are teaching. According to the Latvian legislation, teachers having, for example, qualification of a foreign language teacher, would not be able to teach Latvian language from the 1 September 2004.

Naturalisation Board published a Terminology Dictionary for the Latvian Language Proficiency Examination and a Handbook for the Language Tests Authors.

Naturalisation Board published a Terminology Dictionary for the Latvian Language Proficiency Examination and a Handbook for the Language Tests Authors. Latvijas Vestnesis, Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya features a critical article about amendments to the Law on Aviation, supported by the Saeima Economic, Agricultural, Environmental and Regional Policy Committee. The amendments stipulate that all crewmembers of the aircrafts registered in Latvia should be Latvian citizens.

• Human rights experts discuss results of the public dispute on draft Programme on Tolerance Promotion
• Russian experts carry out monitoring on situation of the Russian-speakers in all republics of the former USSR
• Chairman of the NGO Baltijas Forums Janis Urbanovics on society integration in Latvia
• About the draft Anti-Discrimination Law
• Norwegian newspaper Morgenbladet writes about society integration in Latvia
• Vesti Segodnya features an article about the National Programme for Latvian Language Training

Public policy portal

Public policy portal www.politika.lvpublishes discussion among the human rights experts about results of the public dispute on draft Programme of Tolerance Promotion. While the Special Task Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks regards ethnic minorities as the main groups, which suffer from prejudices and stereotypes in the society, researcher of the Public Policy Centre PROVIDUS Marija Golubeva, referring to the public opinion poll made by SKDS, states that intolerance is very frequently expressed also against sexual minorities. Marija Golubeva and Inga Reine, Latvian representative to the international human rights organizations, believe that values of tolerance must be introduced into the basic standards of educational programmes.

Experts from Russian Federation have carried out monitoring on situation of the Russian-speakers in all former USSR republics. One of the experts, professor of Russia Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Diplomatic Academy Tatyana Poloskova, recognizes that economic and social situation of Russian-speakers in Latvia are much better than, for example, in Central Asia, however, she points to problems in the area of human rights. Poloskova names two issues as the most acute problems of Russian-speakers in Latvia: the education reform, which, according to her, has been adopted in a rush and implemented extremely unprofessionally, and a high percentage of non-citizens.

Experts from Russian Federation have carried out monitoring on situation of the Russian-speakers in all former USSR republics. One of the experts, professor of Russia Foreign Affairs Ministrys Diplomatic Academy Tatyana Poloskova, recognizes that economic and social situation of Russian-speakers in Latvia are much better than, for example, in Central Asia, however, she points to problems in the area of human rights. Poloskova names two issues as the most acute problems of Russian-speakers in Latvia: the education reform, which, according to her, has been adopted in a rush and implemented extremely unprofessionally, and a high percentage of non-citizens. Vesti Segodnya

Chas features opinion of the chairman of the NGO Baltijas Forums (Baltic Forum) Janis Urbanovics about society integration in Latvia. According to Janis Urbanovics, Latvian residents are witnesses to the birth and escalation of new radicalism, caused by the education reform. Chairperson also points to the necessity of resolving the Russian-speakers issue in Latvia, as well as within the European Union, at the same time calling to suspend ‘futile attempts to assimilate non-Latvians, and to create ‘real provisions for solution of the non-citizenship problem.

Public policy portal

Public policy portal www.politika.lv features an article by the lawyer of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Ilvija Puce about the draft Anti-Discrimination Law. According to the lawyer, the draft law selectively ‘borrows provisions of the Race Equality Directive and the Employment Directive , at the same time ignoring other international documents binding for Latvia.

Vesti Segodnya reprints fragments of the article, published by the Norwegian newspaper Morgenbladet, about society integration in Latvia. Norwegian newspaper concludes that Russian-speakers desire to re-vitalize Russian cultural community is antagonistic to the ethnic Latvians wishes. Newspaper states that implementation mechanism of official policy of society integration is the slow systematic diminishment of possibilities to live in an exclusive Russian-language environment.

Vesti Segodnya features an article about activities of the National Programme for Latvian Language Training and current situation with the teaching aids for Latvian language learning.

 

• For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM and New Era call on Peoples Party to form a new coalition
• Russian language newspapers on results of the European Parliament election
• Interview with the chairperson of the board of the Latvian Integration Movement ‘Runa (The Speech) Marina Romanenko
• Poet Mara Zalite about protest actions against the education reform
• Organisation Visu Latvijai! plans to organise a picket on the Commemoration Day of Latvias Occupation

After success at the European Parliament election, parties For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM and the New Era have called on the People’s Party to support resignation of the Indulis Emsis’s government in order to form a new, right-wing coalition. The vote of non-confidence to the current government is scheduled already for Thursday’s session of the Saeima.

After success at the European Parliament election, parties For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM and the New Era have called on the Peoples Party to support resignation of the Indulis Emsiss government in order to form a new, right-wing coalition. The vote of non-confidence to the current government is scheduled already for Thursdays session of the Saeima. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss, Telegraf

Russian-language newspapers feature opinions of the state officials, experts and business executives about results of the European Parliament election. ‘Because of the education reform implementation, and the protest actions it caused, we have reached an unprecedented confrontation in the society, which ensured victory of the ultra-radical political forces in the EP elections,’ says the Riga vice-mayor Sergejs Dolgopolovs in his interview to

Russian-language newspapers feature opinions of the state officials, experts and business executives about results of the European Parliament election. ‘Because of the education reform implementation, and the protest actions it caused, we have reached an unprecedented confrontation in the society, which ensured victory of the ultra-radical political forces in the EP elections, says the Riga vice-mayor Sergejs Dolgopolovs in his interview to Vesti Segodnya. MP Boris Tsilevitch regards election results as a failure of not only the Peoples Harmony Party, but of all opposition of the human rights defenders. Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the chairperson of the board of the Latvian Integration Movement ‘Runa (The Speech) Marina Romanenko about implementation of the education reform and possible establishment of Russian national school in Latvia. Marina Romanenko believes that all so called Russian Schools in Latvia are in reality post-soviet schools, which do not provide deep and essential contact with the Russian culture. According to the chairperson, her organisation is planning to submit for accreditation to the Ministry of Education and Science an educational programme of the Russian national school, which includes 14 extra-curriculum courses, designed for maintenance of the ethnic and cultural identity, in addition to the compulsory subjects.

Latvijas Avize features an interview with the poet Mara Zalite about protest actions against the education reform. Mara Zalite expresses incomprehension of the fact that representatives of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools still have an opportunity to incite hate in the society, while state officials fail to qualify their actions as incitement to hate.

Extreme national organisation Visu Latvijai! is planning to organise a picket near the embassy of Russia in Latvia on 17 June, the Commemoration Day of Occupation of the Republic of Latvia.

Extreme national organisation Visu Latvijai! is planning to organise a picket near the embassy of Russia in Latvia on 17 June, the Commemoration Day of Occupation of the Republic of Latvia. Latvijas Avize, Telegraf

 

• European Parliament elections in Latvia
• Approximately 40 people participate at the picket against discrimination of non-citizens
• The Wall Street Journal about the European Unions Russian Party
• Interview with the former Prime Minister of Latvia Ivars Godmanis about society integration issues

Only 41,2% citizens of Latvia participated in the European Parliament (EP) elections. According to the provisional results announced yesterday by the Central Election Commission, 29,82% of citizens gave their votes to the party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM, 19,68% – to the New Era, 10,71% – to the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia, 6,65% – to the People’s Party and 6,52% – to the Latvian Way.

Only 41,2% citizens of Latvia participated in the European Parliament (EP) elections. According to the provisional results announced yesterday by the Central Election Commission, 29,82% of citizens gave their votes to the party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM, 19,68% – to the New Era, 10,71% – to the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia, 6,65% – to the Peoples Party and 6,52% – to the Latvian Way. Chas and Telegraf print comments of political scientists and politicians on the outcome of elections. For example, political scientist Janis Ikstens believes that results are indicative of the residents dissatisfaction with the work of the current government. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Approximately 40 people participated in the picket against discrimination of the non-citizens, which was organised by the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia and took place on Saturday near one of the poll-stations. Picketers called the state to grant rights to participate in the elections to non-citizens.

Approximately 40 people participated in the picket against discrimination of the non-citizens, which was organised by the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia and took place on Saturday near one of the poll-stations. Picketers called the state to grant rights to participate in the elections to non-citizens. Chas

The Wall Street Journal has compared the European Union’s Russian Party, which is being established by the Russian-speaking representatives of the six EU states, with the pro-Soviet Interfront movement in the Baltics during the period of regaining state independence. Author of the article, representative of the Jamestown Foundation Vladimir Socor, observes that although majority of Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian residents are looking forward to the future, there are people among them that are trying to bring along ‘relicts from the Soviet past’ into the heart of the European Union. 

The Wall Street Journal has compared the European Unions Russian Party, which is being established by the Russian-speaking representatives of the six EU states, with the pro-Soviet Interfront movement in the Baltics during the period of regaining state independence. Author of the article, representative of the Jamestown Foundation Vladimir Socor, observes that although majority of Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian residents are looking forward to the future, there are people among them that are trying to bring along ‘relicts from the Soviet past into the heart of the European Union. Latvijas Avize

Chas features an interview with the former Prime Minister of Latvia Ivars Godmanis about society integration issues. Ivars Godmanis stresses that it is impossible to start negotiations until extent of the other sides demands is not clear. He believes that as long as Russian-speakers continue to increase their demands for education and language rights, ethnic Latvians will feel as if the final goal of the process is to join Latvia to the Russian Federation. And, says Godmanis, there are always radical politicians around who are ready to feed these suspicions.

• Latvia becomes a full-fledged member of the Holocaust Task Force
• Latvijas Avize about an unapproved protest action against the education reform
• Deputy Director of the Second European department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Mikhail Demurin on preconditions of the good relationship between Latvia and Russia
• Headquarters for the Defence of the Russian-language Schools express support to the youth organizations which have signed appeal on the establishment of moratorium on the education reform

Latvia has become a full-fledged member of the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research. According to the state secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry Andris Teikmanis, this serves as a confirmation of Latvia’s ability to evaluate its history objectively, and of the strength of the country’s democratic structures.

Latvia has become a full-fledged member of the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research. According to the state secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry Andris Teikmanis, this serves as a confirmation of Latvias ability to evaluate its history objectively, and of the strength of the countrys democratic structures. Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize features an article about an unapproved protest action against the education reform, which is taking place for a fourth day in a row. The protest action is organised by the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools and the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia.

Solving problems of the Russian-speakers in Latvia and Estonia is a prerequisite for improvement of relations between Russia and these states, said the Deputy Director of the European II department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Mikhail Demurin during the seminar dedicated to Russia’s policy towards the European Union.

Solving problems of the Russian-speakers in Latvia and Estonia is a prerequisite for improvement of relations between Russia and these states, said the Deputy Director of the European II department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Mikhail Demurin during the seminar dedicated to Russias policy towards the European Union. Vesti Segodnya

Headquarters for the Defence of the Russian-language Schools made a statement, expressing support to the youth organization of the Latvian Social Democratic Labour Party (LSDLP) and Organization of the Working Youth. These organizations, in collaboration with the young representatives of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools, have appealed to the government to establish a moratorium on the education reform. Latvian Social Democratic Labour Party is allegedly planning to expel those LSDLP youth organization’s representatives, who have signed this appeal, from the party.

Headquarters for the Defence of the Russian-language Schools made a statement, expressing support to the youth organization of the Latvian Social Democratic Labour Party (LSDLP) and Organization of the Working Youth. These organizations, in collaboration with the young representatives of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools, have appealed to the government to establish a moratorium on the education reform. Latvian Social Democratic Labour Party is allegedly planning to expel those LSDLP youth organizations representatives, who have signed this appeal, from the party. Vesti Segodnya