• Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Ilze Brands-Kehre about integration and role of state language in this process
• ECRI Round table discussion in Riga on combating racism and minority integration
• Political Scientist Ivars Ijabs: ethno-political issues prevail over social-economical issues in speeches of MPs in the Saeima

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Ilze Brands-Kehre about integration and role of state language in this process. Ilze Brands-Kehre believes that contemporary integration program in Latvia should promote diversity approach and include state language aspect only as one of many integration aspects. Mrs. Brands-Kehre considers that it is a matter of methods which are used to promote usage of state language. Ilze Brands-Kehre believes that state language inspections as a method is ineffective because it creates psychological conflicts and confrontation for use of language. While, more effective method would be informative campaigns calling to use state language and promoting advantages of it. Mrs. Brands Kehre also believes that legal requirements for state language proficiency for certain professions and posts should be proportional to necessary in reality level of language proficiency.

Yesterday, the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, Ombudsman and other officials as well as representatives of NGOs have taken part in the round table discussion on combating racism and minority integration held by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) in Riga. The ECRI presented its report on racism and intolerance in Latvia, which, while noting the progress in combating racism in Latvia, pointed out at an increase of frequency of racial incidents,  as well as at the problems in integration of ethnic minorities.

Yesterday, the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, Ombudsman and other officials as well as representatives of NGOs have taken part in the round table discussion on combating racism and minority integration held by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) in Riga. The ECRI presented its report on racism and intolerance in Latvia, which, while noting the progress in combating racism in Latvia, pointed out at an increase of frequency of racial incidents, as well as at the problems in integration of ethnic minorities. Chas, Telegraf

Political scientist Ivars Ijabs and mass media expert Sergejs Kruks issued a book “Saeima, Words and Democracy” which summarizes results of a study analyzing records of MPs’ speeches in the Saeima’s sessions in 2007. According to the study, the most often pronounced word was “occupation” – 630 times and phrase “state language” - 547 times, while phrase “civil society” was mentioned only 16 times. Ivars Ijabs in an interview with

Political scientist Ivars Ijabs and mass media expert Sergejs Kruks issued a book Saeima, Words and Democracy which summarizes results of a study analyzing records of MPs speeches in the Saeimas sessions in 2007. According to the study, the most often pronounced word was occupation – 630 times and phrase state language - 547 times, while phrase civil society was mentioned only 16 times. Ivars Ijabs in an interview with Chas has stated that ethno-political issues surely prevail over social-economical issues in speeches of MPs. Mr. Ijabs believes that ethno-political issues are used as a veil to curtain urgent economical issues. Chas

• Cabinet of Ministers is planning to review a proposal of the Ministry of Interior to lower state language proficiency requirements for firemen and border guards
• Latvijas Avize prints an interview about state language in Latvia

Vesti Segodnya reports that today, the Cabinet of Ministers is planning to review a proposal of the Ministry of Interior to lower state language proficiency requirements for firemen and border guards. According to effective legal norms, representatives of these professions must have highest state language proficiency level. The Ministry of Interior argues that firemen and border guards in their work do not have necessity for the highest language proficiency level. The Ministry of Justice and its Head Gaidis Berzins are strongly objecting to the proposal.

In an interview with

In an interview with Latvijas Avize, head of the Control Department of the State Language Centre Antons Kursitis has stated that usage of Latvian language should be demanded in those spheres which concern legal interests of society. Mr. Kursitis believes that Russian speaking residents should adjust to ethnic Latvian majority in terms of usage of Latvian language. Head of the State Language Commission Andrejs Veisbergs in an interview with the newspaper has stated that if integration in Latvia will not be based on Latvian language and culture than Latvia might become two-community state and Russian language will be dominating, while Latvian language will be in reserved positions

• Saeima has supported draft amendments to the Administrative Violations Code stipulating fines for provision of information in foreign languages
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not support widening of list of posts and professions which would require obligatory Latvian language proficiency and usage
• Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with political scientist ex-Minister of Integration Nils Muiznieks
• Chas reports about a study on promotion and preservation of culture in ethnic minority schools
• Representatives of ethnic Russian NGOs from Latvia will take part in a round-table discussion concerning interaction of Russian Diasporas in Europe

The Saeima has supported and forwarded to the Saeima’s commissions the draft amendments to the Administrative Violations Code prepared by the Ministry of Justice stipulating fines for provision of information in foreign languages. Particularly, the draft amendments concern fining house management companies which provide information to their tenants in Latvian and in Russian languages. Vesti Segodnya

The Saeima has supported and forwarded to the Saeimas commissions the draft amendments to the Administrative Violations Code prepared by the Ministry of Justice stipulating fines for provision of information in foreign languages. Particularly, the draft amendments concern fining house management companies which provide information to their tenants in Latvian and in Russian languages. Vesti Segodnya

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not support widening of list of posts and professions which would require obligatory Latvian language proficiency and usage. As reported, such list is prepared by the Ministry of Justice and it contains about 250 posts and professions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that such amendments contradict the State Language Law, moreover, significant increase of number of post and professions required for higher state language proficiency would not promote wider usage of Latvian language. Latvijas Avize

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not support widening of list of posts and professions which would require obligatory Latvian language proficiency and usage. As reported, such list is prepared by the Ministry of Justice and it contains about 250 posts and professions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that such amendments contradict the State Language Law, moreover, significant increase of number of post and professions required for higher state language proficiency would not promote wider usage of Latvian language. Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with political scientist ex-Minister of Integration Nils Muiznieks. Mr. Muiznieks believes that serious discussions about granting Latvia’s non-citizens voting rights in municipal election will start only in about 5 years when the number of non-citizens will decrease while the number of new ethnic Russian citizens of Latvia will grow. Mr. Muiznieks considers that if non-citizens elect municipal governments that would radically change attitude of politicians, while some parties would lose their influence at all. Nils Muiznieks also believes that ethnic Russians in Latvia will be able to change situation in the country only in co-operation with ethnic Latvians.

Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with political scientist ex-Minister of Integration Nils Muiznieks. Mr. Muiznieks believes that serious discussions about granting Latvias non-citizens voting rights in municipal election will start only in about 5 years when the number of non-citizens will decrease while the number of new ethnic Russian citizens of Latvia will grow. Mr. Muiznieks considers that if non-citizens elect municipal governments that would radically change attitude of politicians, while some parties would lose their influence at all. Nils Muiznieks also believes that ethnic Russians in Latvia will be able to change situation in the country only in co-operation with ethnic Latvians.

Chas reports that the Bilingual Centre of Riga in co-operation with the Education Contents and Examination Centre of the Ministry of Education have held a study on promotion and preservation of culture in ethnic minority schools. The aim of the study was to reveal whether the schools affords opportunities to learn about culture, languages and history of ethnic minorities in Latvia and whether they help to maintain ethnic identity of students. According to the newspaper, the study has showed that promotion and preservation of culture in ethnic minority schools is poor due to the luck of support of the Ministry of Education. Also, issues concerning culture of ethnic minorities in Latvia are not sufficiently presented in school programs and standards.

Chas reports that representatives of ethnic Russian NGOs from Latvia will take part in a round-table discussion concerning interaction of Russian Diaspora with other ethnic Diasporas in Europe. The discussion is planned to be held in Luxemburg on 16 to 18 May.

 

• Vesti Segodnya reports that Latvian national radicals are planning to hold a joint meeting

Vesti Segodnya reports that Latvian national radicals are planning to hold a joint meeting with an aim to discuss consolidation of common efforts in field of Latvian nationalism and possible merge of all political nationalistic organisations. According to the newspaper, all preparations for the meeting are kept in a secret.

• Andrejs Veisbergs assessed the status of the state language
• Diena interviews Tariq Modood on multiculturalism

Chairperson of the State Language Commission Andrejs Veisbergs assessed the status of the state language 18 years since declaration of Latvian independence. In a commentary published by

Chairperson of the State Language Commission Andrejs Veisbergs assessed the status of the state language 18 years since declaration of Latvian independence. In a commentary published by Diena, he concludes that today Latvian language usage opportunities are very good – it has reclaimed lost spheres, became an official language of the EU and is widely used in computer sciences. According to Andrejs Veisbergs, the so-called school reform of 2004 can be mentioned as one the latest achievements in strengthening the positions of the state language. Andrejs Veisbergs believes that the noticeable influence of English language is not a threat yet. Diena

Diena published an interview with Tariq Modood, professor at the University of Bristol (UK). Replying to the journalists question on the possible threat posed by multiculturalism to the idea of national state, Tariq Modood noted that national culture should not be looked upon as an item of museum exhibition. National culture will be changing as long as it is alive; it is not a single unit, but rather a mixture. Citizens have a right to be part of this mixture, to influence it and to be able to recognise themselves in it. Citizens should not think that national culture is something that belongs to others, belongs to a dominant group. Multiculturalism is opposed to the idea that national culture belongs only to some people. Diena