• Telegraf prints an article on granting non-citizens rights to vote in municipal elections
• Latvijas Avize reports on a meeting of the IUMSILSs Ethnic Minority Council on Participation Affairs

Telegraf prints an article on granting Latvian non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections. The columnist of the newspaper criticizes a response of the governing coalition and the President of Latvia on the proposal of leader of the Latvias First Party Ainars Slesers to launch discussions on this issue. As reported, the majority of politicians have stated that it contradicts the national integration policy. The columnist concludes that granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections would be a real step towards promotion of integration in society.

Latvijas Avize reports on a meeting of the Ethnic Minority Council on Participation Affairs under auspices of the IUMSILSs (Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration). The aim of the meeting was to share opinions and proposals of NGOs on the state report on the implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in Latvia. An expert from the Latvian Centre for Human Rights who took part in the meeting reported that the Latvian Centre for Human Rights is drafting the shadow report on the implementation of the Framework Convention and will include some proposals and opinions in its shadow report.

• Discussion on neo-Nazism in Latvia

On Thursday, the Latvian Anti-fascistic Committee has held a discussion on neo-Nazism in Latvia. Representatives of ethnic minorities, human rights activists, so-called ‘anti-fascists’, members of extreme ultra-right organisations and neo-fascistic organisations took part in the discussion. As reported, several ultra-right organisations are planning to hold commemorative processions, while the Latvian Anti-fascistic Committee is planning to hold a meeting against neo-Nazism in the centre of Riga. The aim of the discussion was stop national radicals from holding processions on 16 March – unofficial commemoration day of WWII Latvian legionaries.

On Thursday, the Latvian Anti-fascistic Committee has held a discussion on neo-Nazism in Latvia. Representatives of ethnic minorities, human rights activists, so-called ‘anti-fascists, members of extreme ultra-right organisations and neo-fascistic organisations took part in the discussion. As reported, several ultra-right organisations are planning to hold commemorative processions, while the Latvian Anti-fascistic Committee is planning to hold a meeting against neo-Nazism in the centre of Riga. The aim of the discussion was stop national radicals from holding processions on 16 March – unofficial commemoration day of WWII Latvian legionaries. Chas

 

• Latvias First Party establishes a special unit within a party - Russian Centre
• Statistics on inspections conducted by the State Language Centre in February
• National Power Union and Club 415 will organise a conference on the history of Latvian WWII legionaries
• Saeima has refused two draft projects proposed by FHRUL

The Latvia’s First Party established a special unit within the party - the Russian Centre. The new unit will focus on ethnic integration and co-operation with Russian- speaking residents of Latvia.  

The Latvias First Party established a special unit within the party - the Russian Centre. The new unit will focus on ethnic integration and co-operation with Russian- speaking residents of Latvia. Chas, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya reports that inspectors of the State Language Centre have conducted numerous inspections on use of the Latvian language by employees of various organisations and companies - mostly, schools, hair saloons and shops - in Riga and other cities in February. Several persons were fined for failure or insufficient use of the state language while performing their duties in amount of LVL 5 to 50 (EUR 7 to 71).

The extreme ultra-right organisations the National Power Union and “Club 415” will organise a conference on history of Latvian WWII legionaries on 10 March. As reported, on 16 March – unofficial commemoration day of Latvian WWII legionaries - several ultra-right organisations are planning to hold commemorative processions, while the Latvian Anti-fascistic Committee is planning to hold a meeting against neo-Nazism in the centre of Riga.

The extreme ultra-right organisations the National Power Union and Club 415 will organise a conference on history of Latvian WWII legionaries on 10 March. As reported, on 16 March – unofficial commemoration day of Latvian WWII legionaries - several ultra-right organisations are planning to hold commemorative processions, while the Latvian Anti-fascistic Committee is planning to hold a meeting against neo-Nazism in the centre of Riga. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

Yesterday, the Saeima has declined two draft projects proposed by the Saeima’s faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL). FHRUL proposed to grant special status to soldiers of the anti-Hitler’s coalition, as well as to grant Latvian  citizenship to Latvian non-citizens who performed alternative service or active military service in Latvia from October 1991 to May 1993 as within the period both citizens and non-citizens were subjected to military service. 

Yesterday, the Saeima has declined two draft projects proposed by the Saeimas faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL). FHRUL proposed to grant special status to soldiers of the anti-Hitlers coalition, as well as to grant Latvian citizenship to Latvian non-citizens who performed alternative service or active military service in Latvia from October 1991 to May 1993 as within the period both citizens and non-citizens were subjected to military service.Vesti Segodnya

• Chas continues to print a series of articles on the situation of Russians in Latvia.
• Latvijas Avize reports on relations between Rafi Haradzanjans and the Integration Secretariat
• Best social advertisement in 2006 presented to commercials about Rezekne as a city rich in ethnic diversity
• Latvian and German school children shoot a documentary on the Holocaust in Latvia

Chas continues to print a series of articles on the situation of Russians in Latvia. The columnist notes that the Russian community needs highly educated people – scientists, teachers, engineers, doctors, journalists – to ensure survival and development of various essential aspects of the community. The columnist believes that one of the key unification factors is education in Russian.

Latvijas Avize reports that the Saeimas faction For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) has hold a meeting with the head of the Association of Ethnic Cultural Societies in Latvia (AECSL) Rafi Haradzanjans. FF/LNIM believes that state support for the organisation should be increased as the AESCL has always been a loyal organisation. As reported, Rafi Haradzanjans claimed that some representatives of the Integration Secretariat (IUMSILS in its Latvian acronym) are trying to split the organisation and that the Secretariat fails to ensure appropriate funding. Latvijas Avize also prints a response of the Special Assignments Minister of Social Integration Oskars Kastens to the Haradzanjans accusations. Oskars Kastens states that that in fact the Head of the AESCL might not be considered loyal to Latvia as he was involved in the left-wing political union Motherland which asked the Russian language status of the official state language in Latvia and had protested against governments decisions. The Minister also stresses that information provided by Mr. Haradzanjans about the AESCL and the IUMSILS is false.

Diena reports that the main award of the Latvian National Radio for the best social advertisement in 2006 was presented to TV and radio commercials about Rezekne (city in the Eastern part of Latvia) as a city of ethnic diversity. One of the directors of the commercial in an interview with the newspaper stated that mentality and traditions of representatives of various ethnic groups who reside in Rezekne were a leading-motive for the clips.

Diena reports that Latvian and German school are shooting a documentary on the Holocaust in Latvia in the framework of a project of the Goethe Institute Peace for Europe – Europe for Peace. The documentary tells about destinies of Jews deported from Germany to Latvia during WWII. Premiere of the documentary is scheduled for summer, first in Germany and then in Latvia.

• FHRUL asks the Naturalisation Board to provide information related to naturalisation of elderly Latvian residents
• Government has adopted amendments to the regulations on forceful expulsion of foreign citizens from Latvia
• President Vaira Vike-Freiberga about commemoration of Latvian legionnaires on 16 March

Yesterday, the Saeima’ s faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) has sent a letter to the Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane asking to provide information related to naturalisation of elderly non-citizens. FHRUL asks to provide statistics on naturalisation tests success rate among the elderly naturalisation applicants, as well as FHRUL notes that the Naturalisation Board should come up with proposals regarding simplification of naturalisation tests for the elderly applicants.

Yesterday, the Saeima s faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) has sent a letter to the Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane asking to provide information related to naturalisation of elderly non-citizens. FHRUL asks to provide statistics on naturalisation tests success rate among the elderly naturalisation applicants, as well as FHRUL notes that the Naturalisation Board should come up with proposals regarding simplification of naturalisation tests for the elderly applicants. Chas

The government has adopted amendments to the regulations on forceful expulsion of foreign citizens from Latvia. The new regulations simplify expulsion procedure thus decreasing detention time of foreign citizen and related expenses.

The government has adopted amendments to the regulations on forceful expulsion of foreign citizens from Latvia. The new regulations simplify expulsion procedure thus decreasing detention time of foreign citizen and related expenses. Diena

NRA features an interview with the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga. The President states that people who believe that by public commemoration of 16 March – the unofficial commemoration day of Latvian WWII legionaries – they demonstrate their patriotism are wrong. The President notes that commemoration of the day provides a room for speculations that Latvians have supported fascism and that there is a rebirth of fascism in Latvia. Vaira Vike-Freiberga also believes that national radicals use this day to draw attention of the mass media to their activities.