• Free-of-charge Latvian language courses to be made available for third country nationals
• 2,213 persons received Latvian citizenship through naturalisation in 2012
• Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the head of the control department of the State Language Centre Antons Kursitis

NGO “Shelter. Safe House” will start free-of-charge Latvian language courses for third country nationals in the framework of a project co-funded by the European Integration Fund. The courses will be of six month duration in Riga, Olaine and Liepaja. Vesti Segodnya

According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, 2,213 persons received Latvian citizenship through naturalisation in 2012. It is 5% fewer compared with 2011. Diena

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the head of the Control Department of the State Language Centre Antons Kursitis. According to Mr Kursitis, the number of complaints concerning the violation of the State Language Law increased almost twice during 2012 compared with previous years. Despite the fact, Mr Kursitis believes the situation with Latvian language has improved in many fields. The biggest problems Mr Kursitis sees in the fact that Russian speakers ignore using the Latvian language, especially in private companies and also in the fact that state officials and state institutions promote self-sufficiency of Russian language by using it in official communication.

• Commissioner of Human Rights of the Council of Europe Nils Muzinieks: governments should act in the best interest of stateless children

 The Commissioner of Human Rights of the Council of Europe Nils Muzinieks believes states should grant citizenship automatically at birth to children born in their territory who would otherwise be stateless and not permit parents to choose an option that is clearly not in the child’s interest. Among the European countries, the Commissioner highlights Latvia and Estonia as countries with significant population of stateless children - 1,500 stateless or „non-citizens” children under the age of 15 live in Estonia and approximately 9,000 live in Latvia. The Commissioner believes Estonian and Latvian governments have allowed this situation to persist, permitting parents to choose a status that is not in the best interests of the child. The Commissioner calls governments to stop foisting the blame on history, other states or on “irresponsible parents,” but rather take the initiative to address statelessness and prioritise the best interests of the child. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

Read more in the blog of the Commissioner of Human Rights: http://humanrightscomment.org/

 

• Saeima sub-committee on Citizenship Law Amendments turns down Foreign Minister’s proposal to remove requirements for non-citizen parents
• Neatkariga reports about a project promoting Latvian language learning by foreign students

The Saeima’s sub-committee on Citizenship Law Amendments turned down the proposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkevics calling to remove the requirement for parents non-citizens upon the registration of their children as Latvian citizens to sign a written pledge to teach their child the Latvian language and to instil a sense of respect and trust towards Latvia. The High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe Knut Vollebaek earlier criticised the requirement that non-citizens  must see to that their children learn Latvian  or be loyal to Latvia as it is formal and that the same is not being required of citizens. Vesti Segodnya

Neatkariga reports about the language learning centre’s Skrivanek Baltic project “Language Institute.” The aim of the project is to promote Latvian language learning by foreign students. According to one of the medical students who attends the courses, Latvian for him is important for communication with patients and in order to get better acquainted with local residents.

• Saeima's committees continue work on the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law
  
• State Language Centre initiated a case against the National Council of Electronic Mass Media for violation of the State Language Law

Latvijas Avize reports the Saeima’s Legal Committee continues to work on the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law  before the final reading in the Saeima. Besides the fact that the draft amendments will allow dual citizenship with other countries and procedure on granting Latvian citizenship to children of non-citizens will become easier, some of legal norms will become stricter towards applicants for naturalisation. Thus, persons who with their behaviour or activities endangers Latvian state or public security, state’s democratic constitutional system, state independence and territorial integrity will not be able to receive Latvian citizenship.

The State Language Centre initiated a case against the National Council of Electronic Mass Media for not providing translation of its seminar into Latvian language. Speaker of the seminar spoke to journalists only in English. Representatives of the Council explained they did not have funding for translator and were not aware of the law violation. The National Council might be punished with LVL 25-50 (EUR 35-70).

• Hindu statesman was refused in leading a prayer at the Saeima’s chapel

A Hindu statesman was refused in leading a prayer at the Saeima’s chapel before a regular plenary session. The refusal was based in the fact that Christianity is the main religion in Latvia and the chapel was built only for services of traditional Christian confessions. The Hindu statesman shocked by the refusal appealed to the high state officials asking them to become more open for other religions and to allow them to be introduced in the Saeima. The Saeima’s chapel was opened in 1998 and every time before the Parliament’s plenary session Catholic, Lutheran or Baptists priests lead a service in it. Vesti Segodnya (10.01)