• Telegraf prints an article with one of the leaders of the new political union Unity Sarmite Elerte
• Raivis Dzintars: no official answer was given yet regarding possible inclusion of All for Latvia! into political union Unity
• Vesti Segodnya: nationalistic party All for Latvia! attracts young people in its ranks
• Most popular party in March - Unity

Telegraf prints an article with one of the leaders of the new political union Unity Sarmite Elerte. Mrs. Elerte states that she is afraid of party The Concord Centre not because it has many Russian members but because she alleges it has relations with authoritative Russia. Mrs. Elerte also believes that stabile development of Latvia is not possible if the voters elect parties by ethnic belonging.

According to the leader of the nationalistic party “All for Latvia!” Raivis Dzintars, he had a number of promising conversations with leaders of political union “Unity” about inclusion of his party into the union, although no official answer was given yet. Raivis Dzintars believes that the “Unity” is reluctant because it is not a strong homogeneous body standing for national principles, while some of the union’s members are afraid of competing against his party’ activists as well as afraid to scare away a part of electorate by “All for Latvia!”’s strict nationalistic position.

According to the leader of the nationalistic party All for Latvia! Raivis Dzintars, he had a number of promising conversations with leaders of political union Unity about inclusion of his party into the union, although no official answer was given yet. Raivis Dzintars believes that the Unity is reluctant because it is not a strong homogeneous body standing for national principles, while some of the unions members are afraid of competing against his party activists as well as afraid to scare away a part of electorate by All for Latvia!s strict nationalistic position. Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya reports that nationalistic party All for Latvia! attracts more and more young people in its ranks. One of the partys members established a youth department of All for Latvia! at the Faculty of History and Philosophy of the University of Latvia.

According to the latest public opinion survey held by “Latvijas fakti”, the most popular party in March is “Unity” – 17,6% of Latvian citizens support it. The Concord Centre is supported by 16,7% of residents and Union of Greens and Farmers by 7,6%. Other parties are supported by less than 5% of respondents. Diena

According to the latest public opinion survey held by Latvijas fakti, the most popular party in March is Unity – 17,6% of Latvian citizens support it. The Concord Centre is supported by 16,7% of residents and Union of Greens and Farmers by 7,6%. Other parties are supported by less than 5% of respondents. Diena

• Head of the Presidents State Language Commission Andrejs Veisbergs criticizes Latvian officials who speak Russian to local Russian mass media
• Riga Regional Court fully refused a claim of the ex-politician Aleksandrs Kirsteins against the newspaper Chas

Head of the Presidents State Language Commission Andrejs Veisbergs criticizes Latvian officials who speak Russian to local mass media. Mr. Veisbergs alleges that almost all ethnic Latvians speak Russian to Russian language channels as well as non-Latvians speak Russian to Latvian language channels. Mr. Veisbergs also considers that Latvian language mass media should interview those Russian speakers who speak Latvian sufficiently for conversation. Chas, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday, the Riga Regional Court fully refused a claim of the ex-politician Aleksandrs Kirsteins against the newspaper Chas. The case started in 2004, when Mr. Kirsteins sued the newspaper for publication allegedly insulting him personally and inciting to ethnic hatred. Chas

• Interview with the leader of the Latvian National Bolsheviks Vladimirs Lindermans

Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with the leader of the Latvian National Bolsheviks Vladimirs Lindermans. Mr. Lindermans considers that anti-fascist protests against Waffen SS supporters on 16 March are reinforcing split within the society and consolidating ethnic Latvian nationalists. Vladimirs Lindermans believes that consolidation of all Latvian residents regardless of their ethnic affiliation should take place on social basis.

• Rector of the Riga Stradins University Janis Gardovskis considers that language policy regarding state higher education establishments should be more flexible
• Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the director of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre Efraim Zuroff
• Minister of Foreign Affairs Maris Riekstins criticizes statements made by Efraim Zuroff
• Extra free-of-charge state language courses for 7,000 unemployed persons

Rector of the Riga Stradins University Janis Gardovskis considers that language policy regarding state higher education establishments should be more flexible and allow teaching of foreign students not only in Latvian or English but also in Russian language. Such option would help state universities to earn money and attract foreign Russian speaking students. According to Mr. Gardovskis, majority of Latvian academicians are fluent in Russian language and ready to teach in it.

Rector of the Riga Stradins University Janis Gardovskis considers that language policy regarding state higher education establishments should be more flexible and allow teaching of foreign students not only in Latvian or English but also in Russian language. Such option would help state universities to earn money and attract foreign Russian speaking students. According to Mr. Gardovskis, majority of Latvian academicians are fluent in Russian language and ready to teach in it. Chas

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the director of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre Efraim Zuroff. According to Mr. Zuroff, the fact that many Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires were drafted to the legion against their own will does not make them heroes because they fought for the victory of Nazism in Europe.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Maris Riekstins criticizes statements made by the director of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre Efraim Zuroff that events held on 16 March in Riga glorify Nazism. Mr. Riekstins believes that 16 March (unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires) is just a commemoration day of dead soldiers and there are no contradictions or obstacles for ex-soldiers to gather for private commemoration.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Maris Riekstins criticizes statements made by the director of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre Efraim Zuroff that events held on 16 March in Riga glorify Nazism. Mr. Riekstins believes that 16 March (unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires) is just a commemoration day of dead soldiers and there are no contradictions or obstacles for ex-soldiers to gather for private commemoration. Telegraf, Latvijas Avize

The Ministry of Education and the State Employment Agency agreed to conduct extra free-of-charge state language courses for 7,000 unemployed persons. Presently, 23,000 unemployed persons have insufficient state language proficiency and thus they are lees competitive in the labour market.

The Ministry of Education and the State Employment Agency agreed to conduct extra free-of-charge state language courses for 7,000 unemployed persons. Presently, 23,000 unemployed persons have insufficient state language proficiency and thus they are lees competitive in the labour market. Latvijas Avize

• Newspapers report about 16 March events in Riga
• Minister of Interior Linda Murniece: Mayor of Riga should thoughtfully evaluate public security during upcoming 9 May events

Newspapers report about 16 March events in Riga. About 1,000 of persons took part in the procession in commemoration of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires. At the same time, activists of anti-fascist organisation form various countries held a protest action against the procession. All the events were held under massive supervision of state security bodies. 6 persons got arrested for various violations including supporters of legionnaires and members of anti-fascists’ protest.

Newspapers report about 16 March events in Riga. About 1,000 of persons took part in the procession in commemoration of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires. At the same time, activists of anti-fascist organisation form various countries held a protest action against the procession. All the events were held under massive supervision of state security bodies. 6 persons got arrested for various violations including supporters of legionnaires and members of anti-fascists protest. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Diena, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga

According to the Minister of Interior Linda Murniece, the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs should thoughtfully evaluate public security during upcoming 9 May events (Victory Day) because risk of provocations on this day is much higher than on 16 March. The Minister also believes that distribution of St. George ribbons (symbol of remembrance of the WWII) in Latvia is aimed at splitting the society.

According to the Minister of Interior Linda Murniece, the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs should thoughtfully evaluate public security during upcoming 9 May events (Victory Day) because risk of provocations on this day is much higher than on 16 March. The Minister also believes that distribution of St. George ribbons (symbol of remembrance of the WWII) in Latvia is aimed at splitting the society. Chas