• Liepaja Russian Community meets to discuss its plans

Chas reports that the Liepaja (city in the Northern part of Latvia) Russian Community (LRC) will hold meeting on 11 March on its plans. According to the head of the LRC Valerijs Kravcovs, there are 1,800 members in the LRC and it is the biggest Russian NGO in Latvia. We were able to unite almost all Russian residents in Liepaja and to demonstrate what a united community can achieve – stated Valerijs Kravcovs

• Head of the State Fire Safety and Rescue Service: amendments to regulations on required levels of state language proficiency for fire-fighters must be annulled

The Head of the State Fire Safety and Rescue Service (SFSRS) Aigars Pencis in an interview with a daily

The Head of the State Fire Safety and Rescue Service (SFSRS) Aigars Pencis in an interview with a daily Telegraf has stated that the Cabinet of Ministers must annul the adopted amendments to regulations on required levels of state language proficiency according to which fire-fighters must speak the state language at the highest level. Aigars Pencis has stated that the requirement that state language proficiency level of a line fire-fighter is at second level would be appropriate

• Leader of a nationalistic party proposes to relocate the Monument of Soviet Soldiers to the very outskirts of Riga
• Existing version of a draft law on granting compensation to the Jewish Community of Latvia will not be reviewed by the Saeima

Leader of the ultra-right political party “All for Latvia!” Raivis Dzintars has sent a letter to the Ministry of Regional Development and Municipal Affairs asking to de-construct the Monument for Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders and relocate Raivis Dzintars believes that the monument symbolises Latvia’s occupation by the Soviet Union and therefore should not be in the centre of Riga.

Leader of the ultra-right political party All for Latvia! Raivis Dzintars has sent a letter to the Ministry of Regional Development and Municipal Affairs asking to de-construct the Monument for Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders and relocate Raivis Dzintars believes that the monument symbolises Latvias occupation by the Soviet Union and therefore should not be in the centre of Riga. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

NRA reports that an existing version of a draft law on granting compensation to the Jewish Community of Latvia will not be reviewed by the Saeima. As reported, in November, the majority of the 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 as a compensation for historical injustices brought to the Latvian Jewish community during the Holocaust and the Soviet period.

• Anti-Fascistic Committee would do everything to stop commemorative processions on 16 March
• Chas prints an article by MPs Valerijs Buhvalovs and Jakovs Pliners on uniting of the Russian community in Latvia
• Telegraf reports on funding for ethnic minority NGOs

The Latvian Anti-Fascistic Committee (LAC) has stated that it would do everything to stop commemorative processions held by extreme ultra-right organisations on 16 March - unofficial commemoration day of Latvian WWII legionaries. As reported, several radical organisations are planning to hold procession, while, the LAC is planning to organise an anti-fascistic meeting in the centre of Riga. The LAC has also called on the government not to permit the processions.

The Latvian Anti-Fascistic Committee (LAC) has stated that it would do everything to stop commemorative processions held by extreme ultra-right organisations on 16 March - unofficial commemoration day of Latvian WWII legionaries. As reported, several radical organisations are planning to hold procession, while, the LAC is planning to organise an anti-fascistic meeting in the centre of Riga. The LAC has also called on the government not to permit the processions. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, NRA

Chas prints an article by MPs Valerijs Buhvalovs and Jakovs Pliners (both from FHRUL) on a uniting of the Russian community in Latvia. The MPs believe that the preservation of the Russian community and its development depends on five factors: 1) availability of a wide range of education models in Russian providing qualitative education; 2) intensive implementation of cultural and educational activities by Russian NGOs in Riga and across Latvia; 3) active involvement of Russian businesses in funding cultural and educational projects; 4) direct dialog among NGOs and local and central authorities; and 5) establishment of partnership relations with political parties which protect the rights of ethnic minorities.

Telegraf reports that the amount of state funding allotted for ethnic minority NGOs has increased 10 times over five years. LVL 144,600 (EUR – 205,747) was granted to NGOs in 2006, and LVL 145,000 (EUR 206,316) will be granted in 2007. The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens in an interview with the newspaper has stated that increasing funding demonstrates Latvias serious commitment regarding ethnic minority issues.

• Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens: 16 March is not the day to demonstrate Latvian patriotism
• Telegraf reports that Norway has cancelled visa regime for non-citizens of Latvia

The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens has stated that 16 March – unofficial commemoration day of Latvian WWII legionaries - is not the day to demonstrate one’s patriotic feelings. The newspaper also reports that five organisation have applied for a permission of the Riga City Council to hold public events on 16 March – three organisations are planning to hold commemorational processions; Latvian Anti-fascistic Committee – a meeting against fascism; while a member of the Riga City Council Genadijs Kotovs is planning to hold a procession with a aim to protect rights of tenants of denationalised houses. All applications are forwarded to security services for examination.

The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens has stated that 16 March – unofficial commemoration day of Latvian WWII legionaries - is not the day to demonstrate ones patriotic feelings. The newspaper also reports that five organisation have applied for a permission of the Riga City Council to hold public events on 16 March – three organisations are planning to hold commemorational processions; Latvian Anti-fascistic Committee – a meeting against fascism; while a member of the Riga City Council Genadijs Kotovs is planning to hold a procession with a aim to protect rights of tenants of denationalised houses. All applications are forwarded to security services for examination. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Telegraf reports that Norway has cancelled the visa regime for Latvian non-citizens. As of 5 March non-citizens are able to travel to Norway without visas.