• Situation of the Latvian language
• Record number of naturalised people in Latvia
• Critical comments on the statements by the Integration Minister

The official newspaper

The official newspaper Latvijas Vestnesis prints a comprehensive article about the situation concerning the Latvian language by Dr.philol. Dzintra Hirsha, former head of the State Language Centre. Dzintra Hisrsha argues despite the adopted legal norms the situation concerning use of Latvian is not stable and status of the state language is not secure. She states that after 14 years of independence the importance of the Russian language in Latvia is still very high. She believes that Russian politicians and media misinforms their audiences about the language policy in Latvia, thus escalating confrontation between Latvians and Russians.

Diena reports on the huge number of naturalised persons. Within first nine months of 2005, 16,4000 people have acquired Latvian citizenship through naturalisation – the record high number since naturalisation was launched. Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Chas prints critical comments on the statements made by the Integration Minister Ainars Latkovskis in his recent interview with Vesti Segodnya (6 October).

• Minister of Justice- proposals about stopping naturalisation are irresponsible
• Head of the National TV and Radio Council accounts to the Saeima Integration Sub-committee
• Interview with the representative of the Berezovskis Charity Foundation in Latvia

The Minister of Justice Solvita Aboltina stated that the proposal of FF/LNIM to stop naturalisation is irresponsible.

The Minister of Justice Solvita Aboltina stated that the proposal of FF/LNIM to stop naturalisation is irresponsible. Vesti Segodnya

The Head of the National TV and Radio Council Aivars Berkis was called to the Saeima’s Integration Sub-committee to report on the situation regarding broadcasting for national minorities in Latvia. Although there are only 3 radio stations which broadcast only in a foreign language, Aivars Berkis expressed concern about the lack of radio stations which broadcast in the state language in some regions and that broadcasts in Russian are produced in Russia ‘thus turning listeners into Russia’s citizens.’

The Head of the National TV and Radio Council Aivars Berkis was called to the Saeimas Integration Sub-committee to report on the situation regarding broadcasting for national minorities in Latvia. Although there are only 3 radio stations which broadcast only in a foreign language, Aivars Berkis expressed concern about the lack of radio stations which broadcast in the state language in some regions and that broadcasts in Russian are produced in Russia ‘thus turning listeners into Russias citizens. Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize interviews Aleks Goldfarb, vice president of the branch of the Russians entrepreneur Boriss Berezovskis charity foundation in Latvia. The foundation has been operating in Latvia for three years. Aleks Goldfarb argues that Moscow uses the local Russian community to destabilise the situation in Latvia. Regarding the activities of the Foundation, Aleks Goldfarb says that their aim is to support activities which foster development of culture and integration of Russians into the Latvian society, for instance, funding Latvian language courses for people with low income. He concludes that Russians are satisfied with the life in Latvia.

• Russian students meet with the Human Rights Commissioner of the CoE
• National Human Rights Office without leadership till the adoption of the Ombudsman Law
• Russian-language newspapers provide detailed information on the conference Russian-speakers in Europe

Chas and Vesti Segodnya report on the meeting of three Russian students from Latvia with the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Alvaro Gil-Robles in Strasbourg. The main discussion topics were mass non-citizenship, the minority education reform and restrictions in the rights of non-citizens to participate in municipal elections.

The coalition parties agreed to halt searching for a candidate for post of the director of the Latvian National Human Rights Office till the Law on Ombudsman is adopted.

The coalition parties agreed to halt searching for a candidate for post of the director of the Latvian National Human Rights Office till the Law on Ombudsman is adopted. Diena

Chas and Vesti Segodnya print a very comprehensive article on the conference Russian-speakers in the EU which took place in Estonia last weekend.

 

• NGO presents the shadow report on the human dimension situation in Latvia
• Developments regarding state language inspections at the National Railway
• About relations between Russians and Latvians
• OKROL will hold its meeting on the weekend in Liepaja

Vesti Segodnya reports on the alternative report about the situation of minorities in Latvia developed by the NGO Latvian Human Rights Committee for the OSCE Human Dimension meeting in Warsaw. The report argues that Latvia is a two-community country. It highlights the mass non-citizenship in Latvia and difficulties of Russian-speakers to organise protest meetings and actions to express their views.

Chas reports on the developments regarding state language inspections in the National Railway Company. As reported, left-wing MPs from the Peoples Harmony Party received a number of complaints from the staff of the National Railway Company about illegitimate actions of state language inspectors, in particular, the examination of real language skills of people who have already passed the state language examinations and have the state language certificate. The Peoples Harmony Party sent another letter to the Minister of Justice asking to clarify the situation.

Neatkariga talks to the Head of the Baltic Institute of Strategic Research Igors Zlotnikovs about the situation regarding integration of society in Latvia. He believes that the elite of both communities is responsible for the future and the situation in the country. He argues that the Russian community as human resources has a big potential which has not been appreciated till now. He believes that the main issues in Latvian Russian relations is the over-focus of Latvians on the dramatic aspects of their history, while those Russians who came to Latvia during the Soviet occupation have been under very heavy sovietisation policy.

The United Congress of the Russian Community in Latvia (OKROL in its Russian acronym) will hold its congress on 15 October in Liepaja. Latvijas Avize

The United Congress of the Russian Community in Latvia (OKROL in its Russian acronym) will hold its congress on 15 October in Liepaja. Latvijas Avize

• Saeima returns the draft amendments to the Civil Law to the Cabinet of Ministers
• Sestdiena features a story of a mixed family and societys attitude towards them
• FF/LNIM plans to propose to stop naturalisation

The Saeima decided to return to the Cabinet of Ministers the draft amendments to the Civil Law, which would transpose requirements set by the EU Race Equality Directive. The main argument was that the list of the grounds of discrimination provided by the draft amendments is broader than the Race Directive requires it.  

The Saeima decided to return to the Cabinet of Ministers the draft amendments to the Civil Law, which would transpose requirements set by the EU Race Equality Directive. The main argument was that the list of the grounds of discrimination provided by the draft amendments is broader than the Race Directive requires it.

Dienas supplement Sestdiena features an article about attitudes of members of Latvian society towards people with dark colour of skin. The newspaper talks to a mixed family about their experiences. George, who has been in Latvia for 11 years, states that people in Latvia are becoming less and less tolerant towards people with different colour of skin. He is convinced that when their daughter starts to attend kindergarten there will be parents who would refuse their children to go to the same group. Although he personally has not experienced any physical threats, constant staring and occasional derogative statements in his and his family address is his daily life.

FF/LNIM plans to submit proposals to stop naturalisation or at least influence the current pace of naturalisation. Members of other parties are critical about the proposal. The representative of the New Era Karlis Sadurskis says that ‘the most important is the quality not numbers. Because of few non-loyal applicants, restrictions should not be introduced.’ Also the representative of the People’s Party Dzintars Abikis does not think that naturalisation should be stopped.

FF/LNIM plans to submit proposals to stop naturalisation or at least influence the current pace of naturalisation. Members of other parties are critical about the proposal. The representative of the New Era Karlis Sadurskis says that ‘the most important is the quality not numbers. Because of few non-loyal applicants, restrictions should not be introduced. Also the representative of the Peoples Party Dzintars Abikis does not think that naturalisation should be stopped. Latvijas Avize