• Representative of the Ombudsman Office: government should focus on transposition of the EU Racial Equality Directive
• Cabinet of Ministers adopts stiffer visa and permanent residence application procedure
• State Language Centre fines staff of an orphanage for failure to use the state language

Diena asks various experts to evaluate the first 100 days of new government. One of experts, head of Anti-discrimination Department of the Ombudsman Office Liga Biksiniece believes that the government should be more active in adoption legal norms providing protection against racial discrimination. Liga Biksiniece notes that the European Commission has started infringement procedure against Latvia for not transposition of the EU Racial Equality Directive.

Yesterday, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted regulations stipulating procedure on examining available information when reviewing visa or residence permit applications of foreigners. The regulations were developed on the basis of security arguments and stipulate stiffer examination of application documents.

Yesterday, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted regulations stipulating procedure on examining available information when reviewing visa or residence permit applications of foreigners. The regulations were developed on the basis of security arguments and stipulate stiffer examination of application documents. Vesti Segodnya

State Language Centre has fined staff of the orphanage “Priedites” in Daugavpils’ district (district in the Eastern part of Latvia) for failure to use the state language in the amount of LVL 15 (EUR 21).

State Language Centre has fined staff of the orphanage Priedites in Daugavpils district (district in the Eastern part of Latvia) for failure to use the state language in the amount of LVL 15 (EUR 21). Latvijas Avize

• Residents of Liepaja are sending petitions against closure of schools providing education in Russian
• Chas features an interview with the Head of the PACEs Sub-Committee on Minority Rights Boriss Cilvecs
• State Language Centre fines director of the Ludza School of Evening Classes for insufficient use of the state language
• Latvijas Avize prints an article about a conflict between the Association of Ethnic Cultural Societies of Latvia and the IUMSILS

Chas reports that residents of Liepaja (city in the Northern part of Latvia) are sending protest letters against closure of some schools providing education in Russian to the European Parliaments Petitions Committee. The letters have been drafted by activists of For Human Rights in United Latvia and the Latvian National Democratic Party. As reported, the Liepaja City Council is planning to optimise the city school system and close several secondary schools teaching in Russian within 2007-2013.

Chas features an interview with MP, Head of the PACEs (Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe) Sub-Committee on the Rights of Minorities Boriss Cilevics (The Concord Centre) who have been re-elected to the post. Boriss Cilevics talks about activities of the Sub-committee in the field of ethnic minorities in various European countries.

Latvijas Avize reports that the State Language Centre has imposed a fine on the director of the Ludza School of Evening Classes in the amount of LVL 35 (EUR 50) for insufficient use of the Latvian language in official communication.

Latvijas Avize prints an article about a conflict between the Association of Ethnic Cultural Societies of Latvia (AECSL) and the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (IUMSILS in its Latvian acronym). Head of the AECSL Rafi Haradzanjans claims that some representatives of the IUMSILS are trying to split the organisation to take over the building which currently is owned by the AECSL. Mr. Haradzanjans believes that the Secretariat is not providing sufficient funding. However, the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens in an interview with the newspaper stated that the head of the AECSL has not claimed for a bigger funding and support. (12.02)

• President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga: racism and intolerance are among the biggest threats for the EU future

Chas reports on a conference of the Consultative Council of Russian NGOs on Russian education in Latvia and unification of NGOs

Ainars Slesers: granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections would be a big step towards consolidation of society

93 projects ethnic integration projects funded by EU were implemented in 2005 and 2006

Diena features an interview with candidate for the post of the Ombudsman Romans Apsitis

2,452 persons have renounced citizenship of Latvia in the time period from 1999 to 2007

The President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga at the opening session of the Paris Forum has stated that racism and various forms of intolerance are among the biggest threats to a successful future of the EU. Diena, NRA

Chas reports on a conference of the Consultative Council of Russian NGOs on education in Russian in Latvia and unification of NGOs. Member of the LASHOR (the Latvian Association for Support of Russian Language Schools - LASHOR in its Russian acronym) Tatjana Favorska has stated that there is a lack of objective information on the implementation and results of minority education reforms in elementary and secondary schools. Mrs. Favorska also called for consolidation of NGOs to take effective measures to preserve and promote education in Russian. The second part of the conference will be held this week.

Telegraf interviews the leader of the Latvias First Party Ainars Slesers on his proposal to grant voting rights to non-citizens in municipal elections. Ainars Slesers stated that it would be a big step towards consolidation of society. Mr. Slesers believed that consolidation of society requires compromises from both Latvians and Russians.

Latvijas Avize reports that 93 projects aimed at integration of society mainly funded by the EU Phare and administrated by the Society Integration Foundation were implemented in 2005 and 2006.

Diena features an interview with candidate for the post of the Ombudsman Romans Apsitis. Among other Mr. Apsitis noted that more effective means of protection of visible minorities should be implemented in Latvia.

According to the Naturalisation Board 2,452 persons have renounced citizenship of Latvia in the time period from 1999 to 2007. The majority of these persons have become citizens of Russia – 1,360; Germany – 413; Belorussia – 209; Ukraine – 72; Israel – 37.

According to the Naturalisation Board 2,452 persons have renounced citizenship of Latvia in the time period from 1999 to 2007. The majority of these persons have become citizens of Russia – 1,360; Germany – 413; Belorussia – 209; Ukraine – 72; Israel – 37. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

• Socialistic Party of Latvia criticizes plans of radical political organisations to hold a commemorative public event on 16 March

The Socialistic Party of Latvia has issued a statement criticising plans of a radical right-wing political organisation the National Power Union (NSS in its Latvian acronym) to hold a commemorative event on 16 March – the unofficial commemoration day of Latvian WWII legionaries. The Socialistic Party also asks the Latvian government to intervene and do not issue permissions for public activities planned by radicals.

The Socialistic Party of Latvia has issued a statement criticising plans of a radical right-wing political organisation the National Power Union (NSS in its Latvian acronym) to hold a commemorative event on 16 March – the unofficial commemoration day of Latvian WWII legionaries. The Socialistic Party also asks the Latvian government to intervene and do not issue permissions for public activities planned by radicals. Chas

• Saeima forwards draft amendments setting higher state language proficiency requirements for persons running for municipal elections to its committees
• Weekly Republika.lv interviews several persons on tolerance towards representatives of visible minorities in Latvia
• Republika.lv features a series of articles on Roma in Latvia
• Republika.lv prints an interview with Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kalyuzhniy on relations between Latvia and Russia
• Saeima supports granting the rights to the Cabinet of Ministers to sign the border agreement between Latvia and Russia

The Saeima has in principle supported draft amendments, developed by FF/LNIM, setting higher state language proficiency requirements for persons willing to run for municipal elections. The draft amendments have been forwarded to the Saeima’s committees.

The Saeima has in principle supported draft amendments, developed by FF/LNIM, setting higher state language proficiency requirements for persons willing to run for municipal elections. The draft amendments have been forwarded to the Saeimas committees. Telegraf, Latvijas Avize

The weekly

The weekly Republika.lv interviews several persons on tolerance towards representatives of visible minorities in Latvia. Representative of the Afro-Latvian organisation Leonards Nveze states that he has been targeted racist statements in public places. Mr. Nveze believes that the level of tolerance is low due to a small number of visibly different minorities in Latvia and the majority are not used to visually different people. The U.S. Ambassador to Latvia Catherine Todd Bailey stresses that in order to raise the level of tolerance more public discussions and educational activities are necessary. Media expert Sandra Veinberga argues that racism is very common in Latvia and many people believe in race theory.

Republika.lv prints several articles on Roma in Latvia. Head of the Roma NGO Ame Roma Vanda Zamicka-Bergendale in an interview with the magazine states that in Latvia Roma are the least integrated group due to a number of reasons, including a low level of education among Roma and discrimination in the job market. Mrs. Zamicka-Bergendale believes that Roma also have to take responsibility for their place in society and be more active. The weekly also interviews head of Sabile (town in the Northern part of Latvia) Roma Cultural Centre and Roma song group Taboras Romance Kaspars Arhipovs.

Republika.lv prints an interview with the Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kalyuzhniy on relations between Latvia and Russia. The Ambassador states that a large number of non-citizens and official discourse of the Latvian government on historical issues are the main stumbling stones in the relations of the two countries.

Yesterday, the Saeima supported granting the rights to the Cabinet of Ministers to sign the border agreement between Latvia and Russia. During discussion session, a number of members of the right-wing party “All for Latvia!” including their leader Raivis Dzintars, held a protest at the building of the Saeima.

Yesterday, the Saeima supported granting the rights to the Cabinet of Ministers to sign the border agreement between Latvia and Russia. During discussion session, a number of members of the right-wing party All for Latvia! including their leader Raivis Dzintars, held a protest at the building of the Saeima. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Diena, Latvijas Avize, NRA