• Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins: strengthening the positions of the state language is one of his priorities
• FF/LNIM has adopted a resolution calling to promote the departure of ethnic non-Latvians from the country
• Lawyer Aleksejs Dimitrovs: there are no legal obstacles for adoption of a draft law on granting Jewish community compensation for properties lost during the Holocaust in Latvia
• Latvijas Avize prints an article about draft amendments to the Citizenship Law elaborated by the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration

Chas prints an interview with the Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins (For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM). The Minister has stated that strengthening the positions of the state language is one his priorities as a Minister. Mr. Berzins considers that status of Latvian language as state language must be strengthened at all levels in Latvia. The Minister has stated that a person who wants to change ethnicity to ethnic Latvian must know Latvian language.

Newspapers report that the political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) has adopted a resolution which calls to slow-down the departure of ethnic Latvians from Latvia and promote the departure of ethnic non-Latvians.  The FF/LNIM considers that those ethnic non-Latvians who stay in Latvia should assimilate. The FF/LNIM also categorically objects against an influx of guest workers from non-EU countries to Latvia.

Newspapers report that the political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) has adopted a resolution which calls to slow-down the departure of ethnic Latvians from Latvia and promote the departure of ethnic non-Latvians. The FF/LNIM considers that those ethnic non-Latvians who stay in Latvia should assimilate. The FF/LNIM also categorically objects against an influx of guest workers from non-EU countries to Latvia. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

In an interview with

In an interview with Telegraf, lawyer Aleksejs Dimitrovs has stated that there are no legal obstacles for adoption of a draft law on granting Jewish community compensation for properties lost during the Holocaust in Latvia. As reported, in 2006, Saeima did not support the draft law on granting LVL 32,000,000 (EUR 45,531,897) and some real estate buildings to the Jewish Community arguing that it contradicts Latvian Civil Law. Aleksejs Dimitrovs considers that compensation to the victims of Holocaust in this case cannot be regulated by the Civil Law, therefore, adoption of the draft law is fully within the competences of the Saeima.

Latvijas Avize prints an article about draft amendments to the Citizenship Law elaborated by the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration. At present the draft amendments stipulate granting dual citizenship only for persons who were Latvian citizens until 1940 and their descendants. The Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane criticizes the draft amendments because they substantially change Latvian position towards multiple citizenship and stipulate too wide range of persons who are allowed to be granted Latvian citizenship, including those persons who allegedly have no connections with Latvia and do not know Latvian language. Mrs. Aldermane considers that Latvian citizenship could be granted to children of Latvian citizens born abroad with a remark that child should choose which citizenship to keep after reaching the age of 18. The Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins also criticizes the amendments arguing that Latvia should not permit dual citizenship except for very special cases.

• MEP from Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka proposes that budgets of the European Commission and EU member states should provide financial support to NGOs fighting for human rights

The MEP from Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka proposes that budgets of the European Commission and the EU member states should provide financial support to NGOs fighting for human rights. The journalist of

The MEP from Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka proposes that budgets of the European Commission and the EU member states should provide financial support to NGOs fighting for human rights. The journalist of Latvijas Avize has alleged that this proposal is an attempt to grant funding for NGOs dealing with the rights of Russian speakers in Latvia. Another MEP from Latvia Inese Vaidere in an interview with Latvijas Avize criticizes the proposal arguing that the EU policies are already tackling discrimination and the member states already established national anti-discrimination bodies. Instead, the EU funding should rather go to human rights NGOs outside the EU. Inese Vaidere also stated that Russians or Russian speakers are not discriminated in Latvia. Latvijas Avize

• Vesti Segodnya and Latvijas Avize print various opinions about the statement of the State Language Centre that state officials must speak only in Latvian with Russian speaking journalists from Latvia
• NRA prints an interview with the Russian Ambassador to Latvia Aleksandr Veshnyakov
• Chas reports about a seminar Future of Latvia: Development Scenarious, Problems

Vesti Segodnya and Latvijas Avize print various opinions about the statement of the State Language Centre that state officials must speak only in Latvian with Russian speaking journalists from Latvia. Representative of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights has stated that initiative to speak in Russian with Russian journalists must come from the officials because it demonstrates their openness to Russian speaking audience. Political Scientist Lolita Cigane believes that prohibition for the officials to speak Russian language would narrow their official duties because it decreases their chances to be heard by a particular part of the society. Famous Latvian journalist Janis Domburs also believes that it is an absurd to forbid officials to speak in foreign languages with journalists. Also several MPs interviewed by Latvijas Avize consider that speaking in Russian with representatives of mass media helps them to be heard by all residents of Latvia.

NRA prints an interview with the Russian Ambassador to Latvia Aleksandr Veshnyakov. According to the Ambassador, presently, the Russian State Duma reviews the draft amendments of law stipulating simplified procedure on grant of visas and cross of Russias borders and these amendments might be also referred to Latvian non-citizens. Mr. Veshnyakov also has stated that by 31 March in the framework of Russias national program on voluntary permanent resettlement to Russia of Russian compatriots, 355 applications were received from Latvian residents (110 from Latvian citizens and 165 from non-citizens). The Ambassador has informed that the Days of Russian Culture are planned to be held in Riga from 16 July to 30 November.

Chas reports about a seminar Future of Latvia: Development Scenarios, Problems held by an NGO Council of Humanitarian Seminar (official name of the organisation is in Latin: Seminarium Hortus Humanitatis). Participants of the seminar – experts, politicians and representatives of NGOs – have discussed various issues, including possible scenarios of Latvias future development in the context of ethnic policy.

• Latvian Association for Support of Russian Language Schools will continue its work aimed at facilitating preservation and development of education in Russian language
• State Language Centre has appealed to journalists and state officials to communicate only in Latvian language
• Concord Centre proposes to grant Latvian citizenship automatically to those non-citizens who graduated any of Latvias secondary schools

Chas reports that the Latvian Association for Support of Russian Language Schools (LASHOR in its Russian acronym) has re-affirmed that its future activities are aimed at facilitating preservation and development of education in Russian language. The LASHOR believes that development of Russian language and culture in Latvia is possible only in correlation with preservation and development of Latvian language and culture and cultures of other ethnic groups in Latvia.

The State Language Centre (SLC) has appealed to journalists to communicate only in Latvian language. The SLC also has appealed to state officials to reply to journalists only in Latvian.

The State Language Centre (SLC) has appealed to journalists to communicate only in Latvian language. The SLC also has appealed to state officials to reply to journalists only in Latvian. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Political party the Concord Centre is preparing draft amendments to the Law on Citizenship according to which non-citizens who have graduated any of Latvia’s secondary schools should be granted Latvian citizenship automatically regardless of whether it is a Latvian language school or a school implementing ethnic minority education programme. Presently, only graduates of Latvian language schools are granted citizenship automatically.

Political party the Concord Centre is preparing draft amendments to the Law on Citizenship according to which non-citizens who have graduated any of Latvias secondary schools should be granted Latvian citizenship automatically regardless of whether it is a Latvian language school or a school implementing ethnic minority education programme. Presently, only graduates of Latvian language schools are granted citizenship automatically. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize, Chas

• Vesti Segodnya reports on establishment of a Roma coalition of the Baltic Sea region

Yesterday, in the framework of the International Roma Day, leaders of Roma communities from Latvia, Lithuania, Finland and Sweden have established a Roma coalition of the Baltic Sea region. The aim of the coalition is to join forces to solve on the European level problems facing Roma people, such as ethnic integration into society and labour market, education, preservation of cultural heritage, and combat of discrimination.

Yesterday, in the framework of the International Roma Day, leaders of Roma communities from Latvia, Lithuania, Finland and Sweden have established a Roma coalition of the Baltic Sea region. The aim of the coalition is to join forces to solve on the European level problems facing Roma people, such as ethnic integration into society and labour market, education, preservation of cultural heritage, and combat of discrimination. Vesti Segodnya