• Public opinion survey: main instigators of ethnic tensions – Nils Usakovs and Raivis Dzintars
• Newspapers report about the violations in the process of the collection of signatures in support of granting Russian language status of official in Latvia
• Concord Centre proposes to widen usage of foreign languages in education process

According to a public opinion survey conducted by a company “Gfk”, many Latvian residents believe that the main instigators of growth of ethnic tension between ethnic Latvians and Russian speaking residents are the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs (Concord Centre) (32% of respondents) and the leader of the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM Raivis Dzintars (31% of respondents). 20 % of residents believe that the main instigators is leader of the Zatler’s Reforms Party, ex-President Valdis Zatlers and 16 % blame the Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis (the Unity).

According to a public opinion survey conducted by a company Gfk, many Latvian residents believe that the main instigators of growth of ethnic tension between ethnic Latvians and Russian speaking residents are the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs (Concord Centre) (32% of respondents) and the leader of the nationalists union All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM Raivis Dzintars (31% of respondents). 20 % of residents believe that the main instigators is leader of the Zatlers Reforms Party, ex-President Valdis Zatlers and 16 % blame the Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis (the Unity). Chas

Chas and Vesti Segodnya report about the violations in the process of the collection of signatures in support of granting Russian language status of official in Latvia. The initiators of the collection of signatures complain that many signatures collection stations open later and close earlier than scheduled, or close even if there are still persons waiting in a queue. The initiators also allege that some municipalities have intentionally opened the signatures collection stations in locations which are difficult to access or sparsely populated by Russian speaking residents, while in some locations with large number of Russian speakers no stations are situated.

The parliament’s faction Concord Centre (CC) prepared the draft amendments to the Law on Education widening usage of foreign languages in education process. The CC proposes to allow teaching in all foreign languages in paid programs of state funded higher education establishments. The CC also proposes to give bigger freedom to ethnic minority schools choosing subjects which are taught in state language and in other languages. The CC also wants to establish that local governments should ensure education programs for ethnic minorities in schools if there is such demand from residents of municipality.

The parliaments faction Concord Centre (CC) prepared the draft amendments to the Law on Education widening usage of foreign languages in education process. The CC proposes to allow teaching in all foreign languages in paid programs of state funded higher education establishments. The CC also proposes to give bigger freedom to ethnic minority schools choosing subjects which are taught in state language and in other languages. The CC also wants to establish that local governments should ensure education programs for ethnic minorities in schools if there is such demand from residents of municipality. Chas

• MP Ina Druviete: self-sufficiency of Russian language is the biggest misfortune for the language situation in Latvia
• Magazine of Russias compatriots Baltic World reports about Russian speaking media in Baltic countries

The MP, member of the parliamentary Committee on Education, Culture and Science Ina Druviete speaking at a conference “Language for activities and society” stated that she believes Russian language in Latvia is self-sufficient and this is the biggest misfortune for the language situation in Latvia. Ina Druviete also maintains that the usage of languages should be subjected to certain hierarchy.

The MP, member of the parliamentary Committee on Education, Culture and Science Ina Druviete speaking at a conference Language for activities and society stated that she believes Russian language in Latvia is self-sufficient and this is the biggest misfortune for the language situation in Latvia. Ina Druviete also maintains that the usage of languages should be subjected to certain hierarchy. Chas

Vesti Segodnya reports about a topic raised in a magazine of Russias compatriots Baltic World about Russian speaking media in Baltic countries. Part of the experts interviewed by the magazine believes that Russian language mass media in Latvia are aimed at consolidation of Russian speaking residents. According to them, viable Russian community is a product of Russian language mass media in Latvia. Other experts, in their turn, believe that Russian language media in Latvia are not professional and are working only to keep their audience and maintain the rating.

• 64% of ethnic minority youth have good or very good Latvian language proficiency

According to a study conducted by the Latvian Language Agency, 64% of ethnic minority youth have good or very good Latvian language proficiency. Third part of ethnic minority youth have average state language proficiency and only 3% are not proficient in state language at all.  The authors of the study note that despite the good level of language proficiency in total, Latvian language is rarely used in daily life.

According to a study conducted by the Latvian Language Agency, 64% of ethnic minority youth have good or very good Latvian language proficiency. Third part of ethnic minority youth have average state language proficiency and only 3% are not proficient in state language at all. The authors of the study note that despite the good level of language proficiency in total, Latvian language is rarely used in daily life. Vesti Segodnya

• Saeima conceptually supported the draft amendments stipulating to forbid the employers from requiring employees foreign languages proficiency
• Saeimas Committee on Mandate, Ethics and Submissions excluded non-citizens from the list of potential applicants to the Saeima with legal initiatives

The Saeima conceptually supported the draft amendments to the Labour Law stipulating to forbid the employers from requiring employees foreign languages proficiency unless those are necessary for work. The authors of the draft amendments are the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM and the Unity. The draft amendments are forwarded to the parliamentary commissions for discussion. Earlier, the draft amendments got criticized by the trade unions and employers’ confederation.

The Saeima conceptually supported the draft amendments to the Labour Law stipulating to forbid the employers from requiring employees foreign languages proficiency unless those are necessary for work. The authors of the draft amendments are the nationalists union All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM and the Unity. The draft amendments are forwarded to the parliamentary commissions for discussion. Earlier, the draft amendments got criticized by the trade unions and employers confederation. Telegraf, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

The Saeima’s Committee on Mandate, Ethics and Submissions excluded non-citizens from the list of potential applicants to the Saeima with legal initiatives. According to the draft amendments to the Regulations of the Parliament, at least 5,000 of citizens can appeal to the Saeima with proposals to the legal acts. The initial draft amendments envisaged that the initiative can be submitted by at least 5,000 Latvian residents. Members of the Committee believed that widening of rights of non-citizens would not stimulate naturalisation.

The Saeimas Committee on Mandate, Ethics and Submissions excluded non-citizens from the list of potential applicants to the Saeima with legal initiatives. According to the draft amendments to the Regulations of the Parliament, at least 5,000 of citizens can appeal to the Saeima with proposals to the legal acts. The initial draft amendments envisaged that the initiative can be submitted by at least 5,000 Latvian residents. Members of the Committee believed that widening of rights of non-citizens would not stimulate naturalisation. Telegraf

Minister of Culture Zanete Jaunzeme-Grende: obstacle for integration is different historical memory

Nationalists union asked the Saeimas Mandate, Ethics and Submissions Committee to evaluate whether the MP Nikolajs Kabanovs broke the deputys oath

In an interview with

In an interview with Neatkariga, the Minister of Culture Zanete Jaunzeme-Grende states that the National Identity, Civil Society and Integration Policy Guidelines for 2012-2018 elaborated by the previous Minister Sarmite Elerte will continue to be implemented. The Minister believes that the obstacle for integration in Latvia is not language, but the different historical memory of residents. Mrs Jaunzeme-Grende believes that integration process can begin only with mutual empathy.

The nationalists’ union All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM appealed to the Saeima’s Mandate, Ethics and Submissions Committee asking to evaluate whether the MP Nikolajs Kabanovs broke the deputy’s oath by signing in support of the initiative on granting Russian language status of official in Latvia. The nationalists’ union also planned to find out all the MPs who also signed for the initiative.

The nationalists union All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM appealed to the Saeimas Mandate, Ethics and Submissions Committee asking to evaluate whether the MP Nikolajs Kabanovs broke the deputys oath by signing in support of the initiative on granting Russian language status of official in Latvia. The nationalists union also planned to find out all the MPs who also signed for the initiative. Vesti Segodnya