• Ex-minister of integration Nils Muiznieks: Latvian residents should consolidate around their own positive achievements
• Telegraf questions leaders of political union Unity about possible inclusion of nationalistic party All for Latvia! into the union
• Diena prints opinion of experts about the proposal to grant citizenship to all Latvian non-citizens

According to academician, ex-minister of integration Nils Muiznieks, Latvian residents should consolidate not around events or personalities of the past but around their own positive achievements such as peaceful coexistence of various nations and religions, peaceful return of independence, entrance to the NATO and the EU. 

According to academician, ex-minister of integration Nils Muiznieks, Latvian residents should consolidate not around events or personalities of the past but around their own positive achievements such as peaceful coexistence of various nations and religions, peaceful return of independence, entrance to the NATO and the EU. Vesti Segodnya

Telegraf questions leaders of political union Unity about possible inclusion of nationalistic party All for Latvia! into the union. The majority of Unitys leaders consider that views of All for Latvia! are too radical for the union, because the Unity supports the principle of consolidation of society regardless of ethnic affiliation. At the same time, the leaders do not completely rule out co-operation with the party.

Diena prints opinion of experts – head of the Naturalsiation Board Igors Gorbunovs, researcher Marija Golubeva and academician Nils Muiznieks - about statement made by a member of a new political movement For Better Latvia! famous business woman Ieva Plaude-Relingere that all non-citizens should be granted Latvian citizenship. All the experts do not support such statement and believe that natursalisation process could be easier for specific groups of residents such as elder people and children who were born and study in Latvia.

• Three organisations are planning to hold events on 9 May in Riga
• 52% of economically active Latvian residents support granting residence permits to foreign investors
• Ex-head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane does not support the proposal to grant Latvian citizenship to all non-citizens
• Presidents Advisory Council on Ethnic Minorities recommends to specify draft society integration policy guidelines
• Latvijas Avize prints an article about work of the Concord Committee of Liepaja

Three organisations are planning to hold events on 9 May (Victory Day) near the Monument to the Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders. Two organisations are planning to hold commemorative and festive events devoted to 65th anniversary of victory in the WWII. Third organisation nationalistic political party “All for Latvia!” wants to hold an event with an aim to attract attention of society to “unresolved issues of de-occupation and de-colonisation.” The Riga City Council did not decide yet whether to allow the events.

Three organisations are planning to hold events on 9 May (Victory Day) near the Monument to the Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders. Two organisations are planning to hold commemorative and festive events devoted to 65th anniversary of victory in the WWII. Third organisation nationalistic political party All for Latvia! wants to hold an event with an aim to attract attention of society to unresolved issues of de-occupation and de-colonisation. The Riga City Council did not decide yet whether to allow the events. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize

According to a pubic opinion survey, 52% of economically active Latvian residents support granting residence permits to foreign investors. 31% does not support such proposal.

According to a pubic opinion survey, 52% of economically active Latvian residents support granting residence permits to foreign investors. 31% does not support such proposal. Chas, Telegraf

Ex-head of the Naturalisation Board, deputy of the Riga City Council Eizenija Aldermane does not support the proposal to grant Latvian citizenship to all non-citizens. Mrs. Aldermane states that citizenship is freely available trough naturalisation process. At the same time, she believes that naturalisation process could be simplified for graduates of those minority schools where most of subjects are taught in the state language and for the elder people who are not able to go trough examinations.

Ex-head of the Naturalisation Board, deputy of the Riga City Council Eizenija Aldermane does not support the proposal to grant Latvian citizenship to all non-citizens. Mrs. Aldermane states that citizenship is freely available trough naturalisation process. At the same time, she believes that naturalisation process could be simplified for graduates of those minority schools where most of subjects are taught in the state language and for the elder people who are not able to go trough examinations. Vesti Segodnya

The President’s Advisory Council on Ethnic Minorities recommends to specify draft society integration policy guidelines elaborated by the Ministry of Justice. Members of the Council consider that approaches to integration of migrants and non-citizens cannot be the same because those are two different categories of residents with different historical background, experience and problems.

The Presidents Advisory Council on Ethnic Minorities recommends to specify draft society integration policy guidelines elaborated by the Ministry of Justice. Members of the Council consider that approaches to integration of migrants and non-citizens cannot be the same because those are two different categories of residents with different historical background, experience and problems. Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize prints an article about work of the Concord Committee of the Liepaja City Council. According the head of the Committee, its work is aimed at unity and concord among all society members.

• MEP from Latvia Inese Vaidere accuses Lattelecom of wrong language policy
• Emigration from Latvia during last year grew by 23%
• Member of a new political movement For Better Latvia! stands for new model of society independent of ethnic affiliation

The MEP from Latvia Inese Vaidere sent a letter to the Minister of Economy Artis Kampars criticizing the largest in Latvia electronic service company “Lattelecom”. Mrs. Vaidere believes that “Lattelecom” provides free-of-charge Russian TV channels to Latvian residents, while European TV channels are offered for a fee. According to Mrs. Vaidere, such situation is inadmissible because 51% of “Lattelecom” shares belongs to the state and free-of-charge Russian language TV channels might endanger society integration and state security.  Representatives of “Lattelecom”, in their turn, stated that Mrs. Vaidere’s statements are false because Russian TV channels are included in the pay package.

The MEP from Latvia Inese Vaidere sent a letter to the Minister of Economy Artis Kampars criticizing the largest in Latvia electronic service company Lattelecom. Mrs. Vaidere believes that Lattelecom provides free-of-charge Russian TV channels to Latvian residents, while European TV channels are offered for a fee. According to Mrs. Vaidere, such situation is inadmissible because 51% of Lattelecom shares belongs to the state and free-of-charge Russian language TV channels might endanger society integration and state security. Representatives of Lattelecom, in their turn, stated that Mrs. Vaideres statements are false because Russian TV channels are included in the pay package. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Neatkariga

According to the Central Statistic Bureau, emigration from Latvia during last year grew by 23% comparing to 2008. In the meantime, the number of persons arrived to Latvia in 2009 decreased by 22,4%. C

According to the Central Statistic Bureau, emigration from Latvia during last year grew by 23% comparing to 2008. In the meantime, the number of persons arrived to Latvia in 2009 decreased by 22,4%. Chas, Telegraf

According to a member of a new political movement “For Better Latvia!” a business woman Ieva Plaude-Relingere, a new nation which would be proficient in three languages – Latvian, Russian, and English - should be modelled in Latvia. Mrs. Plaude-Relingere believes that Latvian residents should be united regardless of their ethnic affiliation.  Mrs. Plaude-Relingere also supports granting of citizenship to all non-citizens.

According to a member of a new political movement For Better Latvia! a business woman Ieva Plaude-Relingere, a new nation which would be proficient in three languages – Latvian, Russian, and English - should be modelled in Latvia. Mrs. Plaude-Relingere believes that Latvian residents should be united regardless of their ethnic affiliation. Mrs. Plaude-Relingere also supports granting of citizenship to all non-citizens. Chas

• Latvijas Avize criticizes competition among students in Daugavpils devoted to 65th anniversary of victory in the WWII.
• Director of the State Language Centre Maris Baltins does not support teaching in Russian language in state funded higher education establishments

Latvijas Avize criticizes competition among students of schools in Latgale (Eastern Latvian region) called The Great Patriotic War in the Eyes of Contemporary devoted to 65th anniversary of victory in the WWII. The competition is conducted by the Russian Consular General in Daugavpils, the Russian Community in Latvia and the School Board of Daugavpils. According to the newspaper, competitions topic contradicts interpretation of official Latvian history and imposes Russias history understanding.

Director of the State Language Centre Maris Baltins considers that it is inadmissible to allow teaching in Russian language in state funded higher education establishments in Latvia. Mr. Baltins believes that demand for education in Russian from foreign students is not so high to permit such changes.

Director of the State Language Centre Maris Baltins considers that it is inadmissible to allow teaching in Russian language in state funded higher education establishments in Latvia. Mr. Baltins believes that demand for education in Russian from foreign students is not so high to permit such changes. Chas

 

• Director of the State Language Centre Maris Baltins: one-fifth part of Latvian residents does not know state language

According to the director of the State Language Centre Maris Baltins, one-fifth part of Latvian residents does not know state language. This fact is attested by various studies and observations of state language inspectors. The worst Latvian language proficiency is among elder people.

According to the director of the State Language Centre Maris Baltins, one-fifth part of Latvian residents does not know state language. This fact is attested by various studies and observations of state language inspectors. The worst Latvian language proficiency is among elder people. Latvijas Avize