• Saeima rejected proposal of the FHRUL to soften state language proficiency requirements for certain professions
• FF/LNIM wants higher fines for violations of the State Language Law
• Vesti Segodnya features an interview with the head of the LASHOR Igors Pimenovs
• Chas prints an article on integration in Latvia
• Diena reports that three organisations have asked permission to hold public events on 16 March

Yesterday, the Saeima rejected draft amendments developed by the Saeima’s faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) which stipulated annulment of amendments to regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers which stiffer state language requirements for certain professions including fire-fighters.

Yesterday, the Saeima rejected draft amendments developed by the Saeimas faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) which stipulated annulment of amendments to regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers which stiffer state language requirements for certain professions including fire-fighters. Chas, Telegraf

The Saeima has forwarded to its committees draft amendments to the Administrative Violation Code proposed by FF/LNIM. The proposed draft amendments set higher fines for violations of the State Language Law.

The Saeima has forwarded to its committees draft amendments to the Administrative Violation Code proposed by FF/LNIM. The proposed draft amendments set higher fines for violations of the State Language Law. Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with the head of the Latvian Association for Support of Russian Language Schools (LASHOR in its Russian acronym) Igors Pimenovs why three organisations - the LASHOR, the Latvian Association of Russian Language Teachers and Literature and the Russian Community in Latvia - were not included in the new Consultative Council on Ethnic Minority Education of the Ministry of Education under auspices of the Ministry of Education. Igors Pimenovs believes that the composition of the current body show incompetence of Ministrys officials in the field of minority education. Though his organisation is not included in the Council, Mr. Pimenovs says that the LASHOR will continue to work for improvement of education in Russian schools.

Chas prints an article on ethnic integration in Latvia. The columnist believes that national integration policy is ineffective due to counter-activities of a number of politicians. However, the columnist believes that society is integrated in individual areas which are not politicised, such as economy, culture and everyday life.

Diena reports that three organisations have asked the Riga City Council to issue a permission to hold public events on 16 March (unofficial commemoration day of Latvian WWII legionaries). The extreme ultra-right organisations the National Power Union and Perkonkrusts are planning to hold a processions, while the Latvian Anti-fascistic Committee is planning to hold a meeting against neo-Nazism in the centre of Riga.

• Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis: Latvia must introduce new technologies and increase labour productivity instead of attracting cheep labour force
• MPs Jakovs Pliners and Valerijs Buhvalovs propose a new model how to teach the Russian culture in Latvias schools
• FHRUL has forwarded to the Saeima a draft law concerning citizenship
• Vice Mayor of the Liepaja: City Council is not planning to close any school providing education in Russian
• Telegraf reports that Latvia might be asked to grant asylum to Iraqi refugees
• Telegraf speculates that Moldavians will come to work to Latvia

Yesterday, the Prime Minister of Latvia Aigars Kalvitis stated that Latvia must introduce new technologies and increase labour productivity instead of planning attract cheep foreign work force.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister of Latvia Aigars Kalvitis stated that Latvia must introduce new technologies and increase labour productivity instead of planning attract cheep foreign work force. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

MPs Jakovs Pliners and Valerijs Buhvalovs have drafted a new model on how to teach the Russian culture and forwarded a draft project to Minister of Education Baiba Rivza.

MPs Jakovs Pliners and Valerijs Buhvalovs have drafted a new model on how to teach the Russian culture and forwarded a draft project to Minister of Education Baiba Rivza. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday, For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) submitted to the Saeima a draft law on granting Latvian citizenship to persons 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. The FHRUL argues that non-citizens who served during the time period must be granted Latvian citizenship.

Yesterday, For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) submitted to the Saeima a draft law on granting Latvian citizenship to persons 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. The FHRUL argues that non-citizens who served during the time period must be granted Latvian citizenship. Chas

Chas prints an interview with the Vice Mayor of the Liepaja (city in the Northern part of Latvia) City Council Silve Golda regarding information spread by some media that the Liepaja City Council is planning to close several Russian language schools in the city. Silve Golda states that the Council has just launched discussions on development of education in the city. Mrs. Golda says that the number of school children in both Latvian and Russian schools is decreasing due to the low birth rate, therefore the school system has to be reconsidered. However, the Vice Mayor notes that there are no plans to close any Russian language school in Liepaja.

Telegraf reports that Sweden that receives the highest number of Iraqi refugees is going to call on other the EU member countries to grant asylum for Iraqi migrants. A representative of the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in an interview with Telegraf reports that the Latvias stance has not been discussed yet. The representative of the MFA also argues that Latvia does not have capacities to accept a large number of refugees.

Telegraf reports that Rumania has prepared a draft law on speeding up granting Rumanian citizenship to Moldavians. The columnist argues that about one and a half million of Moldavians who have Rumanian citizenship might come to Latvia as guest workers in the nearest future. As reported, Latvia did not set any restrictions on free movement of workers from the two new EU countries -Rumania and Bulgaria.

• 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