• Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins on naturalisation issues

At yesterday’s meeting of the Citizenship Law Implementation Committee of the Saeima, the Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins has stated that the Naturalisation Board (NB) has had to dismiss 24 staff members and to postpone examinations several times due to the decreased number of applicants for naturalisation. Therefore, the Minister believed that there is a need to revise the NB’s structure while several its departments and branches must be closed. According to the Minister, the NB could also be responsible for repatriation issues. Gaidis Berzins has also mentioned possible amendments to the Cabinet of Minister’s rules which would stipulate that non-citizens must demonstrate their state language proficiency certificate if they wish to register their children as Latvian citizens.

At yesterdays meeting of the Citizenship Law Implementation Committee of the Saeima, the Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins has stated that the Naturalisation Board (NB) has had to dismiss 24 staff members and to postpone examinations several times due to the decreased number of applicants for naturalisation. Therefore, the Minister believed that there is a need to revise the NBs structure while several its departments and branches must be closed. According to the Minister, the NB could also be responsible for repatriation issues. Gaidis Berzins has also mentioned possible amendments to the Cabinet of Ministers rules which would stipulate that non-citizens must demonstrate their state language proficiency certificate if they wish to register their children as Latvian citizens. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

• Study on Professional Plans of Secondary School Graduates
• 474 persons have been granted Latvian citizenship through naturalisation yesterday

At the yesterday’s meeting of the Education, Culture and Science Committee of the Saeima, the MPs and various experts were presented results of a research “Study on Professional Plans of Secondary School Graduates” conducted by the P

At the yesterdays meeting of the Education, Culture and Science Committee of the Saeima, the MPs and various experts were presented results of a research Study on Professional Plans of Secondary School Graduates conducted by the Professional Career Counselling State Agency and the Hansabanka. According to the study, 12 grade students in Latvian language schools more often prefer to study culture and art in the higher education institutions as compared to the Russian language schools students willing primarily to study exact sciences such as mathematics and physics. The MPs believed that this situation could cause ethnic segregation in 10-15 years. According to the MP from the left wing political party For Human Rights in United Latvia Jakovs Pliners, the education reforms shortcomings have influenced the differences in the preferences of the students. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday, the Cabinet of Ministers has granted Latvian citizenship through naturalisation to 474 persons. Overall, 2,239 persons have been granted Latvian citizenship in 2007.

Yesterday, the Cabinet of Ministers has granted Latvian citizenship through naturalisation to 474 persons. Overall, 2,239 persons have been granted Latvian citizenship in 2007. Vesti Segodnya

• Chas features an interview with a candidate for the post of the President of Latvia Karina Petersone
• 10,000 persons have signed under a petition to the European Parliament on granting Latvian non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections
• Vesti Segodnya interviews the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens

Chas features an interview with a candidate proposed by the political party Latvias Way for the post of the President of Latvia, the ex-Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Karina Petersone. According to Karina Petersone, there are two distinct information spaces and differences between Russian speakers and Latvians ways of thinking largely influenced by the politicized mass media. Meanwhile, Ms. Petersone believed that society is not split and that integration process has been slowly progressing.

10,000 Riga’s residents have signed under a petition initiated by the political party For Human Rights in United Latvia on granting Latvian non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections to the European Parliament. The party has organised the collection of signatures also in other cities of Latvia.

10,000 Rigas residents have signed under a petition initiated by the political party For Human Rights in United Latvia on granting Latvian non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections to the European Parliament. The party has organised the collection of signatures also in other cities of Latvia. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens. Mr. Kastens believed that peoples estrangement from political authority is the main factor hindering integration. Oskars Kastens also has stated that granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections must take place after broad discussions.

• Head of the political party Latvias Way Ivars Godmanis on granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections

Weekly magazine

Weekly magazine Nedela features an interview with the head of the political party Latvias Way Ivars Godmanis on the issues concerning granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections. According to Ivars Godmanis, the present Latvias Ways program declares that only Latvian citizens have the rights to participate in elections. However, Ivars Godmanis believed that there is a need for debates and discussions on this issue and that a national referendum is the only way to solve the problem. Ivars Godmanis has also pointed to a need to find opportunities for Russians and Latvians mutual integration based on the common future, not on historical events.

• Leader of the Latvias First Party Ainars Slesers: majority of the Saeima is not ready to support granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections

In an interview with

In an interview with Vesti Segodnya, the leader of the Latvias First Party Ainars Slesers has stated that the majority of MPs is not ready to support granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections. According to Ainars Slesers, a national referendum is the best way to take a decision on this issue. Mr. Slesers believed that granting voting rights to non-citizens would promote national stability in Latvia.