• High Commissioner on National Minorities arrived with a visit to Latvia
• Telegraf reports about a meeting of the Minister of Education Tatjana Koke with the representatives of the LASHOR
• Head of the Saeimas European Affairs Committee, MP Vaira Paegle is concerned that Russian language is more widespread and demanded in Latvia than official languages of the EU

Chas reports that the High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe Knut Vollebaek has arrived with a visit to Latvia. Today, the Commissioner meets several Ministers and other officials.

Telegraf reports about a meeting of the Minister of Education Tatjana Koke with the representatives of the Latvian Association for Support of Russian Language Schools (LASHOR in its Russian acronym). In an interview with the newspaper head of the LASHOR Igors Pimenovs has stated that the aim of the meeting was to inform about LASHORs position on basic principles regarding ethnic minority education in Latvia. According to the Mr. Pimenovs, LASHOR is pleased with opening of dialogue with the Minister of Education.

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Head of the Saeimas European Affairs Committee, MP Vaira Paegle. Mrs. Paegle is concerned that Russian language is widespread and is more demanded in Latvia than official languages of the EU. Vaira Paegle criticizes Latvian TV channels because the majority of them broadcast partly in Russian language. Mrs. Paegle considers that this fact hinders integration of Russian speakers into Latvian society.

• Vesti Segodnya prints opinions of its readers on the reasons why they do not naturalise
• Russian delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will try to achieve exclusion of notion non-citizen from Estonian and Latvian legal acts

Vesti Segodnya prints opinions of its readers on the reasons why they do not naturalise. According to some readers they do not naturalise because they cannot agree with interpretation of some historical facts included in the naturalisation test such as occupation of Latvia by the Soviet Union. Some persons consider that it is humiliating to go trough naturalisation procedure, while the others have troubles to pass Latvian language examination.

Latvijas Avize reports that Russian delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will try to achieve exclusion of notion non-citizen from Estonian and Latvian legal acts. According to the head of Russian delegation, such notion contradicts principles of the European Human Rights Convention.

• The Ministry of Justice is finalising new list of different state language requirements for representatives of different professions
• Representatives of universities comment the draft Law on Higher Education Establishments
• The Minister of Economics believes that during the next five years Latvias economy will not need a substantial number of guest workers

The Ministry of Justice is finalising new list of different state language requirements for representatives of different professions. According to

The Ministry of Justice is finalising new list of different state language requirements for representatives of different professions. According to Vesti-Segodnya, 14 pages-long list includes professions such as sports athletes and street cleaners. The requirement to know the state language at the highest level is extended to managers and engineers, as well as to teachers of private minority education establishments. The draft envisages penalties such as fines or dismissal form the job for the lack of the state language proficiency certificate or failure to communicate in the state language according to the required level of proficiency. Newspapers also report that the State Language Centre of the Ministry of Justice decided to increase to 3 the number of state language inspectors in Daugavpils (mainly Russian-speaking town in the East of Latvia). Vesti-Segodnya, Chas

Vesti-Segodnya interviews representatives of universities about the draft Law on Higher Education Establishments, which envisages prohibition to teach in foreign languages in private universities. Representatives of private universities criticised the draft, arguing that it infringes the rights of students as consumers, interferes with private enterprise, curtails the export of education, which attracted foreign students to universities of Latvia and motivates young people to go elsewhere in search of better education.

The Minister of Economics believes that during the next five years Latvia’s economy will not need a substantial number of guest workers. As reported, 3,113 foreigners received official work permits in Latvia in 2007, - three-fold increase from 2006.

The Minister of Economics believes that during the next five years Latvias economy will not need a substantial number of guest workers. As reported, 3,113 foreigners received official work permits in Latvia in 2007, - three-fold increase from 2006. Chas

• Newspapers report about the visit of the Delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe
• The Concord Centre considers possibilities to oppose the proposed prohibition to teach in foreign languages in private universities

Newspapers report about the visit to Latvia of a delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. Yesterday, the delegation held meetings with Latvian human rights and social integration experts as well as with representatives of municipalities and the Ministry of Regional Development and Local Government, discussing the rights of non-citizens, naturalisation and language policy. The delegation repeated recommendations to grant Latvian non-citizens the right to vote in municipal elections. The head of the delegation Jean-Claude Frecon also stated that non-citizens’ right to vote in municipal elections is a common value of the Council of Europe and it should not be perceived as an issue focussed on Latvia or Russians.

Newspapers report about the visit to Latvia of a delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. Yesterday, the delegation held meetings with Latvian human rights and social integration experts as well as with representatives of municipalities and the Ministry of Regional Development and Local Government, discussing the rights of non-citizens, naturalisation and language policy. The delegation repeated recommendations to grant Latvian non-citizens the right to vote in municipal elections. The head of the delegation Jean-Claude Frecon also stated that non-citizens right to vote in municipal elections is a common value of the Council of Europe and it should not be perceived as an issue focussed on Latvia or Russians. Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

The Concord Centre considers possibilities to oppose the proposed draft Law on Higher Education Establishments, which envisages prohibition to teach in foreign languages in private universities. According to MP Boriss Cilevics (the Concord Centre), this norm represents linguistic discrimination, contradicts Latvia’s international obligations and would generate a number of court suits filed by private universities. If the present version of the draft law is adopted by the Saeima, the Concord Centre will probably file a complaint to the Constitutional court or act on the international level. He also alleges the proposed ban will benefit national-radicals, who are interested in heightening tensions in society on the eve of elections.

The Concord Centre considers possibilities to oppose the proposed draft Law on Higher Education Establishments, which envisages prohibition to teach in foreign languages in private universities. According to MP Boriss Cilevics (the Concord Centre), this norm represents linguistic discrimination, contradicts Latvias international obligations and would generate a number of court suits filed by private universities. If the present version of the draft law is adopted by the Saeima, the Concord Centre will probably file a complaint to the Constitutional court or act on the international level. He also alleges the proposed ban will benefit national-radicals, who are interested in heightening tensions in society on the eve of elections. Telegraf, Chas

• Committee of the Cabinet of Ministers has supported the draft Law on Higher Education Establishments which forbids teaching in foreign languages in all higher education establishments
• Vesti Segodnya: municipal police ignores public display of Nazi symbolic in Riga
• Delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe gets acquainted with situation of non-citizens in Riga

Yesterday, the Committee of the Cabinet of Ministers has supported the draft Law on Higher Education Establishments which forbids teaching in foreign languages in all higher education establishments. In fact, it forbids receiving higher education in Russian language. The political party “The Concord Centre” criticizes the draft law arguing that it is an unacceptable interference into private enterprise and a violation of rights of students to choose language of studies.

Yesterday, the Committee of the Cabinet of Ministers has supported the draft Law on Higher Education Establishments which forbids teaching in foreign languages in all higher education establishments. In fact, it forbids receiving higher education in Russian language. The political party The Concord Centre criticizes the draft law arguing that it is an unacceptable interference into private enterprise and a violation of rights of students to choose language of studies. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

According to columnist

According to columnist of Vesti Segodnya municipal police ignores public display of Nazi symbolic and trade of Nazi badges and uniforms in Riga.

Latvijas Avize reports on a visit to Latvia of a delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. The delegation has arrived with an aim to get acquainted with participation on non-citizens in political and social life at level of municipalities. Yesterday, the delegation has met with the Head of the Naturalization Board Eizenija Aldermane, representatives of NGOs and the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration.