• Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with the Head of the National Radio and Television Council Abrams Kleckins

Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with the Head of the National Radio and Television Council Abrams Kleckins about the freedom of speech and the reasons for punishing Channel TV5. Mr. Kleckins considers that broadcast Un-censored insulted residents of Latvia by its provocative questions and manipulation with sensitive historical issues. Mr. Kleckins believes that the broadcast opposed existence of Latvian state. As reported, Channel TV5 was fined by the NRTC with LVL 1000 (EUR 1422) for insult of national honour and dignity in its broadcast Un-censored on the Independence Day. During the broadcast, the viewers could vote to answer a question: What was Latvias acquisition of independence? One of the offered answers was it was a fatal mistake.

 

• Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis: persons who arrived to Latvia during Soviet times are not occupants
• Teacher from Russian language school complaints about insults towards her for statement that there is no Russian community in Latvia as such

The Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis in an interview to Russian information agency “RIA Novosti” stated that those persons who arrived to Latvia during Soviet times are not occupants but migrants.

The Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis in an interview to Russian information agency RIA Novosti stated that those persons who arrived to Latvia during Soviet times are not occupants but migrants. Chas

A teacher from Russian language school complaints about insults towards her made on Internet forums after her statements in interview to one of the newspapers. In the interview the woman asserts that there is no Russian community in Latvia as such and that there are only Russian speaking residents. The teacher also believes that the principle of bilingual education in Latvia’s schools is wrong and that all schools should teach in Latvian language. The teacher in an interview with

A teacher from Russian language school complaints about insults towards her made on Internet forums after her statements in interview to one of the newspapers. In the interview the woman asserts that there is no Russian community in Latvia as such and that there are only Russian speaking residents. The teacher also believes that the principle of bilingual education in Latvias schools is wrong and that all schools should teach in Latvian language. The teacher in an interview with Neatkariga asserts that she received threats to her health and life for such statements and submitted application to the Security Police regarding the threats. Neatkariga

• State Language Centre: number of complaints on violations grows
• NRA interviews one of the leaders of the International Romani Union Normunds Rudevics about Romani passports
• Most popular political party in Latvia - the Concord Centre

Latvijas Avize reports that number of complaints on violations of the State Language Law received by the State Language Centre (SLC) grows. In total, during 2009, 835 persons got punished for violations of the State Language Law, including 517 persons for insufficient language proficiency at work. At the same time, representative of the SLC Antons Kursitis notes that generally, state language proficiency of Latvian residents became better. According to Mr. Kursitis, situation with state language proficiency improves in state institutions where majority of collective is ethnic Latvian and ethnic non-Latvians colleagues are being successfully integrated and their language skills improve. While, situation in cities with majority of Russian speaking residents and in private enterprises still is not so good.

NRA interviews one of the leaders of the International Romani Union Normunds Rudevics about Romani passports. The Romani Union recently began to issue Romani passports to Roma people in various countries which cost EUR 30. According to Mr. Rudevics, such passports confirm that its holder is ethnic Roma. Mr. Rudevics believes that it is very important for Roma people to legalize themselves as nation in order to change attitude towards them and participate in the world processes, for example, to participate in Olympic Games as a separate Roma nation.

According to an opinion poll held by a research company GfK, the most popular political party in Latvia is the Concord Centre – it is supported by 14% of citizens. New political union Unity which unites the New Era, the Civic Union and the Society for Different Politics is supported by 14% of respondents. The Union of Greens and Farmers is supported by 7%. Other parties are supported by less than 5% of respondents. Diena

• Government is planning to grant asylum seekers LVL 1,50 (EUR 2,13) per day
• Latvian citizenship will be granted to 180 new citizens

Tomorrow the government will review draft amendments to the rules of the Cabinet of Ministers which stipulate granting asylum seekers LVL 1,50  (EUR 2,13) per day for food, clothes and items of personal hygiene. During the last 10 years Latvia granted asylum to 17 foreigners.

Tomorrow the government will review draft amendments to the rules of the Cabinet of Ministers which stipulate granting asylum seekers LVL 1,50 (EUR 2,13) per day for food, clothes and items of personal hygiene. During the last 10 years Latvia granted asylum to 17 foreigners. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya reports that this week, Latvian citizenship will be granted to 180 persons who went trough naturalisation process.

• Medical doctor of Arabic origin interviewed on integration issues
• The scenario of March 16th is still uncertain
• Low interest in Latvian citizenship

Lietiska Diena interviewed Housam Abu Merhi, a medical doctor practicing at twoprivate health institutions in Latvia and a chair of the Arabic Cultural Centrein Latvia. Mr.Mehri believes that what matters is not persons nationality,religious of political views, but the shared feelings towards this country, theshared love to Latvia. He is confident that if the authorities will try tointegrate the society, they will succeed. Unfortunately Latvian people donthave a common shoulder to lean on. He is also confident that his children willidentify themselves as Latvians, while acknowledging the fact that their fatheris a Lebanese.

Latvijas Avize asked Riga City Council whether it is ready to make decisionsregarding March 16th and May 9th. Press secretary of the Executive Director ofthe Riga City Council explained that before any decision is taken, the CityCouncil has to hear opinion of the state security institutions and opinions oforganizers. Organizations that traditionally organize events around these datessaid that they will organize some events but the plans are still uncertain.

Vesti Segodnya reports that the Naturalization Board (NB) received only 1847applications in 2009, which is the second lowest number of applications since1995 when the process begun. According to the newspaper, NB originallyprojected to receive around 12000 applications in 2009.