• Communication Department of the University of Latvia wants to see more Russians among its students
• Short stories about participants of the National Pupils Song and Dance Festival

Chas talks to the Head of the Communication Department of the University of Latvia Inta Brikse. The Head of the Department states that she was surprised that this year very few graduates of Russian school expressed the wish to become students of the Department. Inta Brikse stresses that they are very happy to see Russians among Departments students as the Departments task is to ‘support Russian journalism. She reports that studies are in Latvian, however, students are not forced to write all works in Latvian and recently the Department has also acquired academic literature in Russian.

NRAs weekly supplement We features an article about several participants of the Pupils Song and Dance Festival whose ethnic identity is other than Latvian. The Pupils Song and Dance Festival takes place once in four years and gathers about 35,000 pupils in Riga from all regions.

• Integration Minister about possibility to grant Latvian non-citizens any additional rights
• Presidents Advisor Sols Bukingolts about intolerance in Latvian society
• Head of the Israeli delegation to Latvia about relations between Latvia and Israel
• Vesti Segodnya re-prints excerpts from the article in the German newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau about Latvia
• Ratio of Latvians is growing in Latvia

Telegraf talks to the Minister for Social Integration Ainars Latkovskis. Regarding the recent call of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to provide a possibility for nationals of third countries to travel without a visa in EU countries, the Minister states that a possibility to travel without a visa is among the key reasons which motivate Latvian non-citizens to apply for Latvian citizenship and ‘it would be more correct to become a citizen... as it is in the interests of non-citizens. The Minister admits that he is against introduction of any easements for non-citizens because then they will not have any motivation to naturalise ‘and then we will stay with a huge number of non-citizens and that may be used as an argument against Latvia by a person him-/herself or by Russia.

Vesti Segodnya interviews Sols Bukingolts, Presidents Advisor and the Head of the Society Integration Foundation about growing intolerance in Latvian society. He admits that Latvia is not an exception and ‘there are people who do not accept ‘others and there are politicians who take advantage of these people. And these politicians are not hiding anymore. Sols Bukingolts notes that racial expressions and even calls to national hatred are very wide spread on the Internet, however, no action is taken. In regard to measures, which should be implemented to deal with intolerance, he says that the stress should be placed on educational and not so much on administrative measures.

NRA talks to Mark Sofer, Deputy General Director of the Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Head of the Israeli delegation to Latvia. Mark Sofer states that relations between Latvia and Israel are very good. He adds that anti-Semitism is a disease and it is not seen only in Latvia. Mark Sofer expresses his appreciation to the Latvian Presidents statements about the Holocaust in Latvia and stresses that the Israeli government wants to continue co-operation with the Latvian government in the field of education and teacher training about the Holocaust.

Vesti Segodnya reports that the German newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau has published a comprehensive article about the situation in Latvia and in particular the anti-Semitic statements made by the former Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins. Vesti Segodnya concludes that if the situation in Latvia does not change, Latvia will not manage to improve her international reputation and succeed in integration of the Russian minority.

Newspapers report that within last years the ratio of Latvians to the total country’s population has increased – in 2000 there were 57.7% Latvians, while this year there are 58.8% Latvians in Latvia. However, the actual number of Latvians is dropping – in 2000 there were 1,37 million Latvians, while in 2005 – 1,36 million. The demographic decline applies to other nationalities as well; for instance, in 2000 there were 703,000 Russians in Latvia, while in 2005 - 661,000. The only ethnicity in Latvia that has a positive demography is Roma.

Newspapers report that within last years the ratio of Latvians to the total countrys population has increased – in 2000 there were 57.7% Latvians, while this year there are 58.8% Latvians in Latvia. However, the actual number of Latvians is dropping – in 2000 there were 1,37 million Latvians, while in 2005 – 1,36 million. The demographic decline applies to other nationalities as well; for instance, in 2000 there were 703,000 Russians in Latvia, while in 2005 - 661,000. The only ethnicity in Latvia that has a positive demography is Roma. Latvijas Vestnesis, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

 

• Diena launches a discussion on the subject Racism in Us
• Vesti Segodnya: MP Andrejs Klementjevs will ask a couple of 'uncomfortable' questions about the situation of minorities in Latvia to the OSCE HCNM

Diena has launched a public discussion on a subject Racism in Us in its section private life. The newspaper calls its readers to tell about their attitudes and feelings towards people who are not Latvians. In the first story a woman shares with her experiences regarding Russians, Roma and black-skinned people. While another participant of the discussion argues that all people have various stereotypes, however, they are turned into action only if a person who holds them is weak and has low self-esteem.

Vesti Segodnya reports that in the upcoming session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe left-wing MP Andrejs Klementjevs will ask a number of ‘unpleasant questions to the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Ralf Ekeus, in particular, why the High Commissioner welcomed the decision of the Latvian Parliament to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities with reservations.

• PACE adopts the resolution which calls Latvia and Estonia to grant the right to participate in municipal elections to their non-citizens
• Chairperson of the Union of the Greens and Farmers: politicians are responsible for conflicts in society
• Members of Latvias Way do not believe in integration
• Interview with the outgoing head of the National Human Rights Office
• University of Latvia will educate Russian language editors
• Book about the life of Roma in Latvia at the beginning of the last century republished

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution, which calls to grant the rights to participate in municipal elections to Latvian and Estonian non-citizens

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution, which calls to grant the rights to participate in municipal elections to Latvian and Estonian non-citizens. Latvijas Avize, Chas

Chas talks to the Chairperson of the parliamentary faction of the Union of the Greens and Farmers Augusts Brigmanis. The Chairperson disagrees with the newspapers statement that interethnic tension is growing in Latvia. He states that recently he has not observed any increase of tension in the relations of Latvian and Russians, however, he adds that mainly politicians are responsible for disagreements in society ‘on one hand there is Dobelis with his right wing views and on the other hand there is Pliners and his rhetoric.

Latvijas Avize notes that former prime minister Andris Berzins, Latvias Way, recently argued that Latvia should not discuss integration possibilities but peaceful co-existence among Russians and Latvians. Latvijas Avize asks other members of Latvias Way whether they agree with the statement. Another former prime minister Ivars Godmanis says that he does not believe in integration either and adds that a pact on peaceful co-existence should be concluded. Couple other members of the party agree with the Berzins statement.

NRA interviews Olafs Bruvers, outgoing Head of the National Human Rights Office, about the future of the office and its functions. When asked whether Latvia is ready for the influx of immigrants and tolerance towards others, Olafs Bruvers says that Latvia is ready for refugees though not for many. He believes that in Latvia there is no anti-Semitism and racism. He states ‘if somebodys rights, religion contradict Christian understanding about things then the rights of those persons who arrived here and want to ruin something should be restricted. He is convinced that if there is something that poses threats to morals and security of the state, it should be prohibited. Here he refers to a possibility to organise gay pride in the streets of Riga and assures that if there were such application and the Riga City Council had banned the pride, according to Olafs Bruvers, it would not be a violation of human rights.

University of Latvia has received accreditation for the professional programme Russian Language Editor. The programme will prepare editors for publishing houses working with texts in the Russian language. The programme was developed because there is a lack of professionals who are able to do editing in Russian.

University of Latvia has received accreditation for the professional programme Russian Language Editor. The programme will prepare editors for publishing houses working with texts in the Russian language. The programme was developed because there is a lack of professionals who are able to do editing in Russian. Chas

NRA reports that the publishing house Zinatne has published a book ‘Roma in Latvian Forests, Homes and Markets by Juris Leimanis. The book tells how Romani people lived in Latvia at the beginning of the last century. It is the second edition of the book, the first was 66 years ago.

• Interior Minister about intolerance in Latvia
• PACE adopts a resolution about providing support for persons who were deported during the Soviet times
• European Parliament calls to adopt legal norms which would entitle nationals of third countries to travel without visa in Europe

Diena features an article by the Interior Minister Eriks Jekabsons. He notes that lately the press has paid particular attention of manifestations of racial and ethnic intolerance in the streets of Riga. The Minister reports that he has met with rabbi Mordehajs Glazmans, one of recent victims of intolerance, in order to apologise and discuss these issues. The Minister writes ‘I am ashamed to admit that these manifestations [of racial and ethnic intolerance] committed by young people are provoked also by radical and irresponsible statements of several politicians. In this respect the Minister points to the events around the meeting which took place on 16 March in the commemoration of WWII Latvian Legionnaires ‘unfortunately, this day has become a stage for radical organisations to express their views. The Minister assures that activities of radical organisation, which take place in Russia, will not be permitted in Latvia. Eriks Jekabsons concludes that a set of complex measures should be taken to deal with the situation: improvements in legislation and education of society in families and schools.

Chas reports on the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe focusing on mutual reproaches between Latvia and Russia. Latvia reproached Russia for violence of minority rights and xenophobia. All three Baltic States proposed to amend the PACE resolution - the Baltic States proposed to include in the resolution amendments which state that ‘persons, who were deported during the Soviet times to other republics, including the occupied Baltic States, should be provided support to return to their homes. The newspaper notes that PACE recommendations are not legally binding.

Vesti Segodnya reports that the European Parliament adopted a resolution, which ‘demands the European Commission to find possibilities for nationals of third countries, that according to the newspaper are also non-citizens of Latvia and Estonia, could travel in European countries without visa. Telegraf