• Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon praised Latvia for promotion of human rights

The Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon during his visit to Latvia praised Latvia for promotion of human rights and strengthening of women's rights. This is the first visit of the Secretary-General of the UN to Latvia. Diena

• Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon called Latvian authorities to solve the problem of non-citizenship

The Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, on the threshold of the official visit to Latvia, called Latvian authorities to solve the problem of non-citizenship in the country. Such statement, most likely, followed the appeal from the Congress of Non-citizens which asked for the UN assistance solving issue of non-citizenship in Latvia. Mr Ban Ki-moon’s visit to Latvia is on 14-15 November. Vesti Segodnya

• Vesti Segodnya reports about complaints of Russian speaking residents on medical personnel of one of the largest hospitals in Riga who refuse to speak Russian to non-Latvian patients
• Constitutional Court refused a claim about non-conformance of regulations on state language requirements for local deputies with the Constitution

Vesti Segodnya reports about complaints of Russian speaking residents on medical personnel of one of the largest hospitals in Riga who refuse to speak Russian to non-Latvian patients or do it unwillingly. Newspaper describes a case when an old man who spoke to a nurse in Russian got reproach why he does not speak Latvian. Representative of the hospital refused rude treatment of Russian speaking residents arguing that there are many Russian speaking doctors and patients and language problem does not exist.

The Constitutional Court of Latvia refused a claim about non-conformance of the Rules of the Cabinet of Ministers about state language requirements for local deputies with the Constitution. The claim was submitted by the ex-deputies of Jekabpils Natalja Cehova and Liepaja Valerijs Kravcovs who were subjected to the state language inspections after adoption of regulation stipulating that the local deputies should be proficient in Latvian language for the highest category. The claimants argued that among ethnic minority citizens of Latvia, about 80% (300,000 persons) do not correspond to such requirements and thus their right to be elected to the local government is violated. Vesti Segodnya

• President Andris Berzins returned the draft amendments to the Immigration Law concerning residence permits back to the Parliament
• Newspapers report about a congress of a social democratic party “Concord”

The President of Latvia Andris Berzins returned the draft amendments to the Immigration Law concerning residence permits back to the Parliament. As reported, the Saeima supported the draft amendments introducing quotas on granting residence permits to foreign investors and also a new option to receive residence permit by paying EUR 50,000 to the state budget. In a letter to the Saeima’s Speaker Solvita Aboltina, the President drew attention to the absurdity of such provisions and stressed that quotas would harm investment environment. The President also stressed that various researches approved financial benefit of the existing provisions on residence permits to foreign investors. Vesti Segodnya

Newspapers report about a congress of a social democratic party “Concord”. Its leader Nils Usakovs stressed that one of the main tasks of the party is to care about preservation and development of Latvian language and culture and, at the same time, it is important to care more effectively about ethnic minorities and to fight against Russophobia, xenophobia and nationalism. Party’s leaders also stressed the support the Concord Centre received from ethnic Latvians at the elections to the Riga City Council and ethnic Latvian members of the party. Diena, Latvijas Avize

• Neatkariga reports about desecration of the monument with swastikas

Neatkariga reports about desecration of the monument to the first Latvian president Janis Cakste. Unknown persons painted two swastikas and wrote “M.Ruks” on the monument. According to the newspaper, most likely “M.Ruks” means Maris Ruks who is known as one of the initiators of a public collection of signatures in support of demolition of the Monument to the Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders. Maris Ruks also is in the process of writing a book about the Holocaust in Latvia. Commenting the case with the desecration of the monument, Mr Ruks said that it is done by neo-Nazis.