• Chas features an interview with the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers
• Latvijas Avize prints an article by the MP Visvaldis Lacis on a proposal to grant non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections

Chas features an interview with the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers. The President believes that cultural diversity is great value for Latvia. Valdis Zatlers has stated that it is important to stimulate naturalisation of young non-citizens. The President also believes that granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections is pointless because this way non-citizens would be granted only partial political rights and this would not strengthen sense of belonging to the country.

Latvijas Avize prints an article by the MP Visvaldis Lacis (Union of Greens and Farmers) on a proposal to grant non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections. According to the MP, if non-citizens were granted voting rights independence of Latvia would be endangered and ethnic Latvians would lose their control in political, social and cultural spheres.

• Diena prints an article about social integration summer camps

Diena prints an article about summer camps for Latvian and Russian-speaking children held in Latvia this summer which promote integration. According to a representative of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, integration trough culture and joint playtime is one of the most significant ways for social integration in Latvia and for consolidation of people of various ethnic affiliations.

• Prime Minister Aigras Kalvitis: merger of the Naturalisation Board and the State Language Centre is pointless and ineffective
• Chas features an interview with an activist of the Coordination Council of NGOs Tatyana Favorska on history and activities of the organisation

Yesterday, the Prime Minister of Latvia Aigras Kalvitis has stated that the proposed merger of the Naturalisation Board and the State Language Centre is pointless and ineffective due to different functions of two institutions. As reported, the Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins has proposed to restructure both institutions and merge them into one institution

Yesterday, the Prime Minister of Latvia Aigras Kalvitis has stated that the proposed merger of the Naturalisation Board and the State Language Centre is pointless and ineffective due to different functions of two institutions. As reported, the Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins has proposed to restructure both institutions and merge them into one institution Vesti Segodnya

Chas features an interview with an activist of the Coordination Council of NGOs Tatyana Favorska on history and activities of the organisation. According to Ms. Favorska, the Coordination Council unites more than 40 mostly ethnic minority NGOs. Tatyana Favorska believes that the ability of different organisations to cooperate with each other is one of the main achievements of the Council.

• Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration does not support a proposal of the Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins to merge the Naturalisation Board with the State Language Centre
• Citizen of Iraq was granted refugee status in Latvia, while a citizen of Belarus was granted an alternative status
• Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens has proposed to celebrate the Day of Citizen on 3 of August

The Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration does not support a proposal of the Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins to merge the Naturalisation Board with the State Language Centre. As reported, the Minister of Justice has proposed to restructure both institutions and merge them into one institution which could be named “Board of State Language and Citizenship Affairs”. The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens has stated that the number of non-citizens in Latvia is still high, therefore, the naturalisation must continue. The governing coalition is planning to discuss the initiative of the Ministry of Justice in September.

The Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration does not support a proposal of the Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins to merge the Naturalisation Board with the State Language Centre. As reported, the Minister of Justice has proposed to restructure both institutions and merge them into one institution which could be named Board of State Language and Citizenship Affairs. The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens has stated that the number of non-citizens in Latvia is still high, therefore, the naturalisation must continue. The governing coalition is planning to discuss the initiative of the Ministry of Justice in September. Vesti Segodnya, Diena

Diena reports that, in 2007, a citizen of Iraq was granted refugee status in Latvia, while a citizen of Belarus was granted an alternative status. According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, Iraqi citizen was granted the status because motives of asylum seeking have complied with criteria of the Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. In total, 19 persons have applied for asylum in Latvia in the first half 2007.

The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens has proposed to celebrate the Day of Citizen on 3 of August – the day when the Cabinet of Ministers approved granting Latvian citizenship to first 103 persons who have gone through naturalisation procedure in 1995. According to the Minister, various events which promote consolidation of the society could be held in the framework of the Day of Citizen, while the most socially active new citizens could be granted diplomas.

The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens has proposed to celebrate the Day of Citizen on 3 of August – the day when the Cabinet of Ministers approved granting Latvian citizenship to first 103 persons who have gone through naturalisation procedure in 1995. According to the Minister, various events which promote consolidation of the society could be held in the framework of the Day of Citizen, while the most socially active new citizens could be granted diplomas. Chas, Telegraf

• Newspapers report on interview of the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers to the radio station Eho Moskvi
• Telegraf: tourists are complaining on racism in Latvia

Yesterday, the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers has given an interview to the Russia’s radio station “Eho Moskvi”. The President has stated that granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections will not solve problem of non-citizenship because this way they will not become full-fledged citizens. The President also believes that Latvia is a successful example of naturalisation because there were no large ethnic and social disorders in the country. Valdis Zatlers has stated that Latvian language will remain the only state language, however, usage of other language will not be limited. 

Yesterday, the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers has given an interview to the Russias radio station Eho Moskvi. The President has stated that granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections will not solve problem of non-citizenship because this way they will not become full-fledged citizens. The President also believes that Latvia is a successful example of naturalisation because there were no large ethnic and social disorders in the country. Valdis Zatlers has stated that Latvian language will remain the only state language, however, usage of other language will not be limited. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize

Telegraf reports that according to some foreign internet forums, tourists who have visited Latvia are complaining on racist attitude of Latvian residents towards foreigners.