• Russian language telephone referral service 1180 found a way to stop nit-pickings of the State Language Centre

Vesti Segodnya reports that the Russian language telephone referral service 1180 found a way to stop the nit-pickings of the State Language Centre for advertisement placed in Russian language. According to a representative of the referral service, the State Language Centre no longer has a ground to criticize placement of services name in public places in Russian because now it is registered as trademark 1180 Russian referral service (written in Russian language).

• Nationalists call to send Russian speaking residents out of Latvia
• Telegraf: even nationalists admit that Russian language has high economic value in Latvia

 

One of the leaders of the nationalistic political party All for Latvia! Janis Iesalnieks has stated that Russian speaking residents of Latvia must be send out of the country back to the homeland of their ancestors. According to Iesalnieks, majority of ethnic non-Latvians hate Latvia and are a threat towards countrys security and independence. Vesti Segodnya

According to Telegraf, even nationalists admit that Russian language has high economic value in Latvia. In an interview with the newspaper, leader of the nationalistic political party All for Latvia! Imants Paradnieks states that proficiency in Russian language is positive for person in all respects. Head of the State Language Centre Agris Timuska also states that in terms of career, Russian language proficiency gives opportunities to achieve more than only Latvian language proficiency.

• MPs commenting on the split within the society revealed by the conflict in Georgia
• NRA prints an article on integration policy in Latvia
• Latvijas Avize prints an interview with a salesperson of a shop Narvesen who refused to speak Russian to a costumer

The MP Sandra Kalniete (the Civil Union) has stated that national integration program should be revised because it does not work. According to Mrs. Kalniete, failure of integration policy is demonstrated by different reactions of Russian speaking residents of Latvia and ethnic Latvians on the military conflict in Georgia. As reported, biggest Russian NGOs in Latvia voiced their support for South Ossetia and Russia, while Latvian state officials condemned Russia and supported Georgia. In an interview with

The MP Sandra Kalniete (the Civil Union) has stated that national integration program should be revised because it does not work. According to Mrs. Kalniete, failure of integration policy is demonstrated by different reactions of Russian speaking residents of Latvia and ethnic Latvians on the military conflict in Georgia. As reported, biggest Russian NGOs in Latvia voiced their support for South Ossetia and Russia, while Latvian state officials condemned Russia and supported Georgia. In an interview with Chas, the MP Boriss Cilevics (the Concord Centre) has stated that the conflict in Georgia did not split Latvian society but demonstrated how deep the split is. Latvijas Avize, Chas

NRA prints an article on integration policy in Latvia. The columnist of the newspaper considers that activities, speeches and draft laws proposed by Latvian politicians often are contrary to national integration program, therefore, integration in Latvia is halted. The columnist states that principles of integration should not be seen as a mere part of a list of activities. Instead, the principles should run trough every political decision and be in politicians spinal cord. The author also believes that the word integration should not be used so often because for many it is associated with the word suppression.

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with a salesperson of a shop Narvesen who refused to speak Russian to a costumer (reported on 9 August). The woman believes that all residents of Latvia should speak Latvian and that state language policy should be more severe. The woman states that Latvians are owners of Latvia and it is not normal when non-Latvian refuse to speak Latvian.

• According to the Migrant Integration Policy Index, the worst conditions for guest workers arriving to the EU countries are in Latvia

According to the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX), the worst conditions for guest workers arriving to the EU countries are in Latvia. The country is criticized for restrictions for immigrants in

According to the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX), the worst conditions for guest workers arriving to the EU countries are in Latvia. The country is criticized for restrictions for immigrants in access to labour market and in political participation. As compared, Sweden has the best conditions for integration of immigrants. MIPEX measures policies to integrate migrants in 25 EU Member States and three non-EU countries using 140 policy indicators including six major areas such as labour market access, family reunion, long-term residence, political participation, access to nationality, and anti-discrimination. Telegraf

• Newspapers report about a conference Russian World in the Baltic States as a Factor for Co-operation and Development of the Society
• MP Ainars Slesers: all special assignments secretariats probably will be liquidated
• The Border Guard Service has detained a citizen of Azerbaijan illegally crossing Latvias-Russias border for second time

Newspapers

Newspapers report about a conference Russian World in the Baltic States as a Factor for Co-operation and Development of the Society held in Riga on 22 and 23 August. Members of Russian NGOs in Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia, Russias Ambassador to Latvia Aleksandr Veshnyakov and Russias officials took part in the conference. The Russias Ambassador has stated that Russian residents in Latvia should co-operate with Latvian state authorities for establishment of integrated society. The participants of the conference adopted a common resolution calling on Latvian government to grant Latvian non-citizens rights to vote and to stand as candidates in elections to the European Parliament and municipalities. Chas, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

The leader of the Latvia’s First Party/Latvia’s Way, MP Ainars Slesers in an interview with

The leader of the Latvias First Party/Latvias Way, MP Ainars Slesers in an interview with Telegraf has stated that special assignments secretariats including the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration probably will be liquidated from 1 January 2009. Functions of secretariats will be divided between various ministries.

Telegraf reports that the Border Guard Service has detained a citizen of Azerbaijan illegally crossing Latvias-Russias border for second time. According to detained citizen of Azerbaijan, he is forced to cross the border illegally in order to visit his wife, who is Latvian citizen. Representative of the Border Guard Service has stated that although the man is married to a Latvian citizen, he is included into the list of persons banned from entering Schengen area. After the reasons why he was denied Schengen visa will be clarified, the man could be granted so-called limited visa which would allow his stay only in Latvia.