• Governing coalition has conceptually supported a proposal to allow double citizenship
• Latvijas Avize reports on a meeting of the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers and head of the State Language Commission
• Diena prints an interview with Juris Jaunzems, director of an enterprise which employs several guest workers

Yesterday, the governing coalition has conceptually supported a proposal to allow double citizenship. According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks, the amendments to the Citizenship Law must stipulate opportunity to register children of Latvian citizens who were born abroad as Latvian citizens in cases when they already were granted or are planning to take citizenship of their residency state. The governing coalition also has decided to form a working group which will prepare the draft amendments.

Yesterday, the governing coalition has conceptually supported a proposal to allow double citizenship. According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks, the amendments to the Citizenship Law must stipulate opportunity to register children of Latvian citizens who were born abroad as Latvian citizens in cases when they already were granted or are planning to take citizenship of their residency state. The governing coalition also has decided to form a working group which will prepare the draft amendments. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Diena, NRA, Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize reports on a meeting of the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers and head of the State Language Commission Andrejs Veisbergs. The President believes that the Commission has to be more active in popularisation of state language among non-Latvians. According to Andrejs Veisbergs, next year, the Commission is planning to conduct a study on changes in Latvian language proficiency and in the attitude of students of Russian-language schools towards Latvian language after implementation of education reform.

Diena prints an interview with Juris Jaunzems, director of an enterprise which employs five guest workers from Mongolia and four from Ukraine. According to Mr. Jaunzems, the guest workers do not have problems in communication with local people and all of them are willing to learn Latvian language. Juris Jaunzems believes that influx of guest workers to Latvia will continue to grow due to the lack of domestic labour force. Mr. Jaunzems also believes the procedure to invite foreign workers is too complicated.

• Latvijas Avize prints various opinions on a proposal of Latvias First Party to grant non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections
• Nedela prints MPs opinions on a proposal to allow double citizenship for children of Latvian citizens who were born abroad

Latvijas Avize prints various opinions on a proposal of Latvias First Party to grant non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections. Ex-Judge of the Constitutional Court, MP Ilma Cepane believes that this proposal is politically motivated because according to international documents and experience of other countries, the lack of voting rights for non-citizens is not a violation of human rights. Head of the Human Rights Institute of the University of Latvia Arturs Kucs considers that granting voting rights to non-citizens would promote their involvement into political and social life. According to the ex-Chairman of the Constitutional Court Aivars Endzins, if non-citizens were granted voting rights they would lose reasons to naturalise.

Weekly magazine

Weekly magazine Nedela prints MPs opinions on whether they support a proposal to allow double citizenship for children of Latvian citizens who were born abroad. Most of the interviewed MPs support the proposal because it would help to keep connection with Latvians who reside abroad. Karina Petersone (Latvias Way) also supports the proposal and believes that this proposal has to be included into the governmental declaration. Karina Petersone also proposes to allow double citizenship for foreign spouses of Latvian citizens if s/he is citizen of the EU.

• Russian MP Aleksey Mitrofanov is planning to submit to the Russias Parliament a proposal to cancel visa requirement to Russia for Latvian non-citizens
• 190 persons were fined for insufficient state language proficiency at work in the first half of 2007

Russian MP Aleksey Mitrofanov in an interview with

Russian MP Aleksey Mitrofanov in an interview with Vesti Segodnya has stated that he is planning to submit to the Russias Parliament a proposal to cancel visa requirement to Russia for Latvian non-citizens.

The State Language Centre has fined 190 persons for insufficient state language proficiency at work in the first half of 2007. Inspectors of the Centre also revealed 158 forged certificates of state language proficiency.

The State Language Centre has fined 190 persons for insufficient state language proficiency at work in the first half of 2007. Inspectors of the Centre also revealed 158 forged certificates of state language proficiency. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize, NRA

• Telegraf interviews the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens
• Latvijas Avize interviews the Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane on issues concerning a proposal to allow double citizenship for children of Latvian citizens who were born abroad
• According to the State Employment Agency, 1,370 foreigners have received working permits in Latvia during the first half of 2007
• NGO of Russian Culture in Jelgava Veche is inviting persons and organisations to participate in a co-operation circle Cultural Co-operation 2007

Telegraf prints an interview with the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens. The Minister has stated that Latvia is not ready for liberalisation of its labour market. Oskars Kastens believes that Latvia should carefully open its labour market only for professions with greatest shortage of labour and for workers from certain countries. According to Mr. Kastens, in autumn, the Secretariat of Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration in co-operation with the Naturalisation Board, are planning to study the reasons why non-citizens are not willing to naturalise.

Latvijas Avize interviews the Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane on issues concerning a proposal to allow double citizenship for children of Latvian citizens who were born abroad. Ms. Aldermane believes that such amendments in the Citizenship Law would help to protect rights of Latvian citizens who live abroad and would prevent the decrease of Latvian community. Eizenija Aldermane considered that double citizenship might be granted to children with a reservation that they will have to choose which countrys citizenship to keep upon reaching full age.

According to the State Employment Agency, 1,370 foreigners have received working permits in Latvia in the first half of 2007. 60 percents of working permits were issued to guest workers from Ukraine (447 persons) and Moldova (420).  Working permits were issued also to109 Uzbekistanis, 95 Belorussians and 77 Russians.

According to the State Employment Agency, 1,370 foreigners have received working permits in Latvia in the first half of 2007. 60 percents of working permits were issued to guest workers from Ukraine (447 persons) and Moldova (420). Working permits were issued also to109 Uzbekistanis, 95 Belorussians and 77 Russians. NRA

Vesti Segodnya reports that the NGO of Russian Culture in Jelgava (city in the central part of Latvia) Veche is inviting persons and organisations to participate in a co-operation circle Cultural Co-operation 2007 with an aim to develop Slavic culture and rights of ethnic minorities in Latvia.

• NGO Russian Community of Liepaja has decided to interrupt its membership in the Russian Community of Latvia and in the United Congress of Russian Communities in Latvia
• Board of Citizenship and Migration Affairs: the number of guest workers arriving to Latvia is growing

Chas reports that the NGO Russian Community of Liepaja (city in the Western part of Latvia) has decided to interrupt its membership in the Russian Community of Latvia (RCL) and in the United Congress of Russian Communities in Latvia (OKROL in its Russian acronym). In an interview with the newspaper, head of the Russian Community of Liepaja Valerijs Kravcovs has stated that such decision was made due to the ineffective work of two organisations. According to Mr. Kravcovs, the OKROL did not fulfil its main aim – consolidation of Russian NGOs, while the working style of RCLs board is inappropriate because all the decisions are made only by its head. Valerijs Kravcovs also has stated that the only organisation which truly promotes consolidation of Russian NGOs is Coordinating Council of NGOs which unites 40 various, mainly ethnic minority organisations. Mr. Kravcovs believed that the Coordinating Council during nine years of its work has proved that its members are united by common values and are able to co-operate with each other.

According to the Board of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, the number of guest workers arriving to Latvia is growing. 1,989 guest workers have arrived to Latvia during the first half of 2007 as compared to 2006, when 2,398 foreigners have arrived during 12 months. Most of the guest workers in Latvia are employed in construction – 674 persons, transportation and communications - 226 and manufacturing industry – 225.

According to the Board of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, the number of guest workers arriving to Latvia is growing. 1,989 guest workers have arrived to Latvia during the first half of 2007 as compared to 2006, when 2,398 foreigners have arrived during 12 months. Most of the guest workers in Latvia are employed in construction – 674 persons, transportation and communications - 226 and manufacturing industry – 225. Telegraf, Chas, Latvijas Avize