• Diena discusses the implementation of minority education reform
• Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Russia Yuri Fedotov calls the OSCE to ensure the observation of minority rights in Latvia and Estonia
• Chas reports on the growing number of naturalisation applications

In the middle of May the Ministry of Education and Science met with all directors of minority schools. In discussions directors stated that there is a strong need for text books as well as financial resources to implement individual work with those students whose Latvian is bad. Directors also noted that they expect bigger support from the Ministry of Education and Science in the formation of positive attitude towards the reform. Directors admitted that a psychological barrier experienced by minority students to use the Latvian language in classes has been reduced. While the views on the quality of education after the implementation of the minority education reform differ – several directors admit that the reform has no impact on the quality of education, another part states that the reform has an impact, while remaining part argues that any conclusions may be drawn only in 2007, when today’s 10

In the middle of May the Ministry of Education and Science met with all directors of minority schools. In discussions directors stated that there is a strong need for text books as well as financial resources to implement individual work with those students whose Latvian is bad. Directors also noted that they expect bigger support from the Ministry of Education and Science in the formation of positive attitude towards the reform. Directors admitted that a psychological barrier experienced by minority students to use the Latvian language in classes has been reduced. While the views on the quality of education after the implementation of the minority education reform differ – several directors admit that the reform has no impact on the quality of education, another part states that the reform has an impact, while remaining part argues that any conclusions may be drawn only in 2007, when todays 10th grade will graduate secondary school. Diena

The Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Russia Yuri Fedotov called the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to develop and implement real measures aimed at granting national minorities living in Latvia and Estonia their rights. During the plenary session of the OSCE Economic Forum the Russian official stated that 460,000 residents of Latvia and 150,000 residents of Estonia have the ‘discriminatory status of non-citizen.’

The Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Russia Yuri Fedotov called the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to develop and implement real measures aimed at granting national minorities living in Latvia and Estonia their rights. During the plenary session of the OSCE Economic Forum the Russian official stated that 460,000 residents of Latvia and 150,000 residents of Estonia have the ‘discriminatory status of non-citizen. Chas, Telegraf

Chas reports on the growing number of naturalisation applications. In particular the number of applications has increased from 15-17 year old people. According to the Naturalisation Board, 108 naturalisation applications from persons of this age were received during first two months of this year. The number of naturalisation applications received from young people has almost doubled during the last two years – in 2003 425 naturalisation applications were received, while in 2004 928 naturalisation applications.

• Opinions of parties on the draft law on ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
• Diena reports on allegedly racially motivated harassment against rabbi Mordehajs Glazmans
• State Security Police ask the Prosecutors Office to initiate a criminal case against journalists of the national radical newspaper DDD
• Newspapers continue discussions about Herberts Cukurs
• Article about the implementation of the minority education reform in the Riga Zolitude Gymnasium

Latvijas Avize features views of parties on the draft law on ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The Peoples Party is convinced that the current version of the law is the most suitable for Latvias circumstances. While the New Era argues that the term ‘national minority is not precisely defined and will submit their definition. The Union of Farmers and Greens as well as the Latvias First Party supports the current version of the draft law. The union For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM argues that Latvia should not ratify the Convention as several other countries have done. FF/LNIM will also submit their proposals concerning the draft law so ‘the law would correspond to the interests of Latvia. Two left-wing political parties – the Peoples Harmony party and the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) – announced that there is no sense to ratify the Convention with proposed reservations and the minority definition. The head of the FHRULs parliamentary group Jakovs Pliners stated that his party will not participate in the voting on ratification of the Convention.

Diena reports on allegedly racially motivated harassment against rabbi Mordehajs Glazmans. According to the rabbi, approximately 20 young people surrounded him and shouted insulting phrases. Although the attack took place on 10 April, the police have not initiated a criminal case yet, arguing that the rabbi was not physically abused.

The State Security Police asked the Prosecutor’s Office to start a criminal prosecution against journalists Liga Muzikante and Ilze Liepa for their publications allegedly calling to national hatred in the national-radical newspaper

The State Security Police asked the Prosecutors Office to start a criminal prosecution against journalists Liga Muzikante and Ilze Liepa for their publications allegedly calling to national hatred in the national-radical newspaper DDD. In the article the columnists called to deport MPs of the so-called Russian parties - Boris Cilevics, Jakovs Pliners and Tatjana Zdanoka and used offensive language. One of the columnists Liga Muzikante, also the editor of the DDD, denies that their article called to national hatred. She stresses that she and her colleague criticised political activities of these MPs. This is a first criminal case, initiated against members of the national-radical organisation Latvian National Front. Diena, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Newspapers continue discussions on attempts to rehabilitate the Herberts Cukurs, famous pilot in pre-war Latvia, who in the World War II allegedly participated in the Holocaust. Representatives of the Jewish community stated that the exhibition about Herberts Cukurs, revealing a number of documents from the private archive of the Cukurs’s family, is an attempt to influence public views. Members of the Jewish community argued that the exhibition shows Cukurs as a victim of the defamation.

Newspapers continue discussions on attempts to rehabilitate the Herberts Cukurs, famous pilot in pre-war Latvia, who in the World War II allegedly participated in the Holocaust. Representatives of the Jewish community stated that the exhibition about Herberts Cukurs, revealing a number of documents from the private archive of the Cukurss family, is an attempt to influence public views. Members of the Jewish community argued that the exhibition shows Cukurs as a victim of the defamation. Latvijas Avize prints a full text of the statement of the Latvian Council of Jewish Parochial and Communities. Diena, Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize prints an article about the implementation of the minority education reform in the Riga Zolitude Gymnasium. The newspaper featured views of students, teachers and schools director. Students of 10th grade note that it is difficult to understand several subjects in Latvian. However, they believe that the number of Latvian language classes should be increased to promote Latvian language proficiency among Russian-speaking students. A student of 12th grade says that classes at secondary school should be provided only in Latvian because studies at state universities are available only in Latvian. Teachers mainly point to the lack of the qualitative dictionaries for specific subjects. The director of the gymnasium states that the success rate of students has not decreased due to the implementation of the reform.

• Telegraf discusses the definition of a minority offered by the government
• Senate of the USA Congress: Russia must recognise the occupation of the Baltic States realised by the Soviet Union
• Statement of the Council of the Jewish Communities in Latvia
• Diena discusses difficulties in teaching the Latvian history at Russian-language schools
• Newspapers report on the congress of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia

Telegraf prints a comprehensive article about the definition of a minority proposed by the government in the declaration added to the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The newspaper states that according to the definition only descendants of those Latvian citizens who resided in Latvia before 1940 and belong to ethnic minorities will be covered by the Convention in Latvia. ‘Thus approximately 552,000 representatives of minorities will not be entitled to the status of a national minority, concludes the newspaper. Politicians argue that also those who are not subjects of the Convention but identify themselves as members of minorities are to the rights provided by the Convention if legal norms do not stipulate otherwise. However, Telegraf stresses that these persons will not be able to protect their rights in court. Human rights experts, interviewed by the newspaper, evaluate the minority definition offered by the government rather critically. The Head of the Human Rights Institute of the University of Latvia Arturs Kucs believes that the most appropriate solution would have been defining all minorities residing in Latvia for several generations national minorities. The MP Boris Cilevics (the Peoples Harmony Party) notes that the minority definition contradicts the Constitution of Latvia, which does not grades its inhabitants according to their citizenship status, but stipulates that all persons in Latvia are equal before law.

The Senate of the USA Congress has adopted a resolution asking Russia to recognise the occupation of the Baltic States realised by the Soviet Union and to condemn the occupation. According to the resolution of the Senate, the incorporation of the Baltic States into the Soviet Union in 1940 was an aggressive act and was implemented against the will of sovereign nations. The official representative of the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry Aleksandr Jakovenko has stated that the position of Russia towards the recognition of the Baltic States’ occupation has not changed after the resolution.

The Senate of the USA Congress has adopted a resolution asking Russia to recognise the occupation of the Baltic States realised by the Soviet Union and to condemn the occupation. According to the resolution of the Senate, the incorporation of the Baltic States into the Soviet Union in 1940 was an aggressive act and was implemented against the will of sovereign nations. The official representative of the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry Aleksandr Jakovenko has stated that the position of Russia towards the recognition of the Baltic States occupation has not changed after the resolution. Diena, Latvijas Avize

Russian-language newspapers print a statement of the Council of the Jewish Communities in Latvia regarding Herberts Cukurs, famous pilot in pre-war Latvia, who in the World War II allegedly participated in the Holocaust. The Council is concerned that recent publications and a documentary about the life of Herberts Cukurs are attempts to justify him.

Russian-language newspapers print a statement of the Council of the Jewish Communities in Latvia regarding Herberts Cukurs, famous pilot in pre-war Latvia, who in the World War II allegedly participated in the Holocaust. The Council is concerned that recent publications and a documentary about the life of Herberts Cukurs are attempts to justify him. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Diena discusses difficulties faced by teachers of the Latvian history at Russian-language schools. The daily states that the understanding of the Latvian history among Latvian and Russian students differs. While history teachers interviewed by Diena points to a number of problems concerning teaching of the Latvian history at minority schools: the lack of good text books in Russian and negative attitude of several history teachers towards the state.

Newspapers report on the congress of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL). A member of the union Vladimirs Buzajevs claimed that if there was no Russian organisations, in particular FHRUL, the situation of Russian speakers in Latvia would have been dramatic: the Russian language would be the only subject taught in Russian at Russian language schools, non-citizens would have only temporary residence permits, etc. The co-leader of the union and the member of the European Parliament Tatjana Zdanoka stated that Latvia is a two-community state and if Russian political organisations grew stronger Latvia may become another Belgium.

Newspapers report on the congress of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL). A member of the union Vladimirs Buzajevs claimed that if there was no Russian organisations, in particular FHRUL, the situation of Russian speakers in Latvia would have been dramatic: the Russian language would be the only subject taught in Russian at Russian language schools, non-citizens would have only temporary residence permits, etc. The co-leader of the union and the member of the European Parliament Tatjana Zdanoka stated that Latvia is a two-community state and if Russian political organisations grew stronger Latvia may become another Belgium. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

• Interview with the Parliamentary Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Latvia Vaira Paegle
• Minister of Justice Solvita Aboltina about amendments to the Citizenship Law
• Columnist of The Wall Street Journal Vladimir Sokor talks about the minority situation in Latvia
• NGO ‘Union of Citizens and Non-Citizens publishes the compilation of its communication with state institutions on minority issues

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with the Parliamentary Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Latvia Vaira Paegle (the Peoples Party). The Parliamentary Secretary believes that there is no necessity to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, however, if ratification takes place, reservations should be made. The state official believes that the key task of the Convention is the protection of those minorities, whose existence is endangered, or whose languages or cultures are disappearing. According to the official the Convention does not foresee the protection of national minorities.

Chas prints the statements of the Minister of Justice Solvita Aboltina about the necessary amendments to the Citizenship Law. The Minister states that amendments that would facilitate naturalisation of politically repressed persons and orphans should be adopted while the Law should also ban the acquisition of Latvian citizenship to those persons, who do not observe effective legal norms.

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the columnist of The Wall Street Journal Vladimir Sokor, who writes about the former soviet republics and ethnic conflicts. When asked to comment on the minority situation in Latvia, the columnist states that no single state in Europe defines Soviet time immigrants as national minorities. Vladimir Sokor believes that Latvia should not grant non-citizens the right to participate in municipal elections because it would be a first step towards the formation of territorial autonomies. He basis his arguments on the fact that Latvian non-citizens form a majority in six Latvias largest cities. According to the columnist, granting of voting rights to non-citizens would hamper naturalisation and reduce their willingness to learn the Latvian language.

The non-governmental organisation ‘Union of Citizens and Non-Citizens’ has published the compilation of their correspondence with state institutions on minority issues. Representatives of the NGO believe that there is no dialogue between the state and ethnic minorities.

The non-governmental organisation ‘Union of Citizens and Non-Citizens has published the compilation of their correspondence with state institutions on minority issues. Representatives of the NGO believe that there is no dialogue between the state and ethnic minorities. Chas

• Professor of the Department of Sociology of the University of Latvia Aivars Tabuns about segregation in Latvian education system
• Diena writes about reaction of the Russian-language media to declaration condemning crimes of totalitarian communism
• Rigas Balss features different opinions on ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities

Diena prints a large article by the professor of the Department of Sociology of the University of Latvia Aivars Tabuns about role of education system in the societys integration. The sociologist claims that presently Latvian education system is divided into two separate systems, Latvian and Russian schools, which promote segregation rather than integration. According to Tabuns, existing system encourages formation of ethnic stereotypes, ethnic distrust, and even hatred, instead of teaching skills of interethnic communication. Solution to this problem, says Tabuns, is in desegregation of the education system, when the state provides a possibility for all children belonging to ethnic minorities to attend Latvian kindergartens and schools. Tabuns stresses that at the same time it is necessary to provide opportunities for teachers to work individually with less successful students. When commenting on compliance of such a model to the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, the sociologist asserts that the state could provide possibilities for learning minority language or getting education in minority language foreseen by the convention by means of extra-curriculum lessons or Sunday schools.

Diena analyses publications of Russian-language mass media about declaration condemning crimes of totalitarian communist regime recently adopted by the Saeima. Russian-language media, according to Diena, evaluated this declaration as a turn against Russians and even a beginning of a new cold war. Integration experts, interviewed by Diena, stress that the government should develop an active explanation campaign aimed at convincing non-Latvians that the declaration does not suggest mass deportations or any other repressions against non-ethnic Latvians. The experts also point to the fact that Russian-language information sources frequently negatively interpret events in the country, demonstrate critical and sometimes even scornful attitude towards the state and its policy, and regularly scare their audience with all kinds of possible danger to non-Latvians. According to the experts, presently information about many official documents concerning ethnic minorities (among them also the judgement of the Constitutional Court on compliance of minority education reform to the Constitution of Latvia and international standards) do not reach the Russian-speaking audience in an adequate form. Information of the Media and Advertising Research Company TNS BMS Latvia shows that 43,2% out of approximately one million non-Latvians reads a Russian-language newspapers every day.

Rigas Balss prints an opinion of the Saeima MPs Jakovs Pliners (For Human Rights in the United Latvia) and Anta Rugate (Peoples Party), and the member of national radical youth organisation ‘Klubs 415 Janis Silis about the ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. While Rugate stresses that ratification of the convention is not imposing any additional obligations to Latvia, Pliners believes that ratification without reservations could obligate Latvia to ‘democratise the State Language Law, the Citizenship Law and the Law on Education. Janis Silis claims that the best option would be not to ratify the convention at all.