• Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis states that integration of society is in the interests of the state
• Latvias First Party wants to form a new political force based on family values and unity in the society
• Latvian National Human Rights Office has received 9 complaints on alleged racial and ethnic discrimination and 14 complaints on alleged language discrimination in 2006
• Weekly Nedela prints an article on skinhead groups in Latvia
• New members of the Consultative Council on Ethnic Minority Education held their first meeting

Telegraf prints an interview with the Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis. Aigars Kalvitis has stated that integration of society is in the interests of the state. He argues that there is no ethnic discrimination in Latvia. Regarding possible attraction of a foreign labour force, Mr. Kalvitis commented that the government should discuss attraction of only highly qualified guest workers as an influx of a cheap labour force might have a negative impact on salaries.

On Saturday, the Latvia’s First Party held a party’s congress. Participants adopted a resolution on a formation of a new political force based on family values and unity in the society. The leader of the party Ainars Slesers stressed that efforts should be made to integrate Russian speakers into a Latvian society, as well as the government should  launch discussions on granting voting rights to Latvian non-citizens in municipal elections.

On Saturday, the Latvias First Party held a partys congress. Participants adopted a resolution on a formation of a new political force based on family values and unity in the society. The leader of the party Ainars Slesers stressed that efforts should be made to integrate Russian speakers into a Latvian society, as well as the government should launch discussions on granting voting rights to Latvian non-citizens in municipal elections. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize, NRA

NRA reports that in 2006, the Latvian National Human Rights Office (LNHRO) received 9 written complaints on alleged racial and ethnic discrimination and 14 written complaints on alleged discrimination on the basis of language. The LNHRO has provided 55 verbal consultations on discrimination on the above mentioned basis.

The weekly N

The weekly Nedela prints an article on skinhead groups in Latvia. Over last two years a number of assaults on dark skinned persons were reported to the police in Latvia in 2006. According to the article, the Security Police (SP) carefully follow activities of Latvias skinheads and conducts monitoring of various internet sites. A representative of the SP in an interview with Nedela has stated that the SP in co-operation with the Ministry of Education and Science and the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration plan to develop and distribute materials on extremism and racism in Latvia.

Chas reports that new members of the Consultative Council on Ethnic Minority Education held their first meeting on Sunday. The Council includes 16 members – representatives of various Latvian schools and NGOs.

• Prosecutor asks one year imprisonment for attack on a dark-skinned man
• Chas prints comments of representatives of several political parties on a proposal of the leader of the Latvias First Party Ainars Slesers to grant voting rights to Latvian non-citizens in municipal elections
• Latvia and Russia signed a protocol on cooperation aimed at prevention of undocumented migration
• Saeima repeatedly did not support the proposals of the FF/LNIM to ban persons whose state language skills are insufficient from running for municipal elections

On Friday, the Prosecutor of the Riga Regional Court asked the court to sentence two accused charged with a racially motivated assault on a dark skinned man in the centre of Riga in summer 2006  to one year imprisonment. As reported, the two men are charged with violation of racial equality under Section 78 of the Criminal Law.

On Friday, the Prosecutor of the Riga Regional Court asked the court to sentence two accused charged with a racially motivated assault on a dark skinned man in the centre of Riga in summer 2006 to one year imprisonment. As reported, the two men are charged with violation of racial equality under Section 78 of the Criminal Law. Latvijas Avize, Diena

Chas prints comments of representatives of several political parties on a proposal of the leader of the Latvias First Party Ainars Slesers to grant voting rights to Latvian non-citizens in municipal elections. The MP Mareks Seglins (Peoples Party) has stated that Latvian non-citizens have to become citizens of Latvia to take part in the states political life. Mareks Seglins also believes that his party most likely will not support the proposal. Similar opinions have been voiced by MP August Brigmanis (Union of Greens and Farmers) and Solvita Aboltina (New Era). The MP Vitalijs Orlovs (The Concord Centre) has stated that the Slesers proposal is in agreement with the program of The Concord Centre and he hopes that the proposal will gain support of politicians.

Chas reports that representatives of Latvia and Russia have signed a protocol on the coordination of cooperation between special units of two countries to prevent undocumented migration.

Latvijas Avize reports that the Saeima repeatedly did not support the proposal of the political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) to ban persons whose Latvian language skills are insufficient running for municipal elections.

• Riga Regional Court hears the case of two persons charged with allegedly racially motivated assault on a dark-skinned man
• Chief of the State Border Guard Gunars Dabolins talks about unofficial immigration tendencies
• Leader of the Latvias First Party Ainars Slesers plans to launch discussions about necessity to grant voting rights to non-citizens in municipal elections

The Riga Regional Court has started hearing of a case of two men charged with violation of racial equality under Section 78 of the Criminal Law. As reported, the two men attacked a dark-skinned man who happened to be a member of the Afro-Latvian Association in the centre of Riga last summer.

The Riga Regional Court has started hearing of a case of two men charged with violation of racial equality under Section 78 of the Criminal Law. As reported, the two men attacked a dark-skinned man who happened to be a member of the Afro-Latvian Association in the centre of Riga last summer. Latvijas Avize, Chas

The majority of unofficial immigrants who have arrived in Latvia are from the former CIS, has stated the Chief of the State Border Guard Gunars Dabolins stressing that in total the number of immigrants from non-EU states has not increased. He reports that at the beginning of the year, 40,380 foreigners resided in Latvia and 9,656 of them have the temporary residence permit and 30,724 – the permanent residence permit.

The majority of unofficial immigrants who have arrived in Latvia are from the former CIS, has stated the Chief of the State Border Guard Gunars Dabolins stressing that in total the number of immigrants from non-EU states has not increased. He reports that at the beginning of the year, 40,380 foreigners resided in Latvia and 9,656 of them have the temporary residence permit and 30,724 – the permanent residence permit. Neatkariga Rita Avize

The leader of the Latvia’s First Party Ainars Slesers is planning to launch discussions about necessity to grant voting rights to Latvian non-citizens in municipal elections.

The leader of the Latvias First Party Ainars Slesers is planning to launch discussions about necessity to grant voting rights to Latvian non-citizens in municipal elections. Diena believes that the initiative is related with the plans of Slesers to consolidate centrist political forces, in particular The Concord Centre. However, the newspaper also points to the lack of the support from the governing coalition to the proposal. Diena

• Discussions on possibilities to consolidate the Russian community
• European Parliaments Committee on Petitions is planning to discuss the situation of non-citizens in Latvia

Chas prints a comprehensive article about a meeting of representatives of political parties, religious confessions and non-governmental organisations representing the interests of Russians. During the meeting possibilities to consolidate the Russian community on the grounds of common values were discussed.

Latvijas Avize reports on planned discussions about the situation of non-citizens in Latvia at the European Parliaments Committee on Petitions. The discussion is organised by the MP of the European Parliament Tatjana Zdanoka (For Human Rights in the United Latvia).

• Telegraf reports on draft Framework Document on Labour Force Migration
• Comprehensive article about a study ‘Integration of Latvian youth and changes of values
• Vesti Segodnya writes about activities of the European Russian Alliance
• Mayor of Ventspils Aivars Lembergs speaks about integration of society

Telegraf reports on a draft Framework Paper on Labour Force Migration and points to the critical attitude of the Employers Confederation of Latvia (ECL) towards the document. According to the newspaper, the ECL has stressed that the draft document does not analyse important aspects of migration and integration of society. The Confederation also forecasts the further outflow of the labour force as well as the increase of the number of unofficial immigrants in Latvia if the government does not take control over migration processes.

Telegraf prints a comprehensive article about the study ‘Integration of Latvian youth and changes of value, conducted by students of the University of Latvia. The study reflects views of young people on minority education reform, the choice of language in everyday communication and relationships between the youth of different ethnic background.

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with Miroslavs Mitrofanovs about activities of the European Russian Alliance.

Chas prints an interview with the Mayor of Ventspils Aivars Lembergs. When speaking about integration of society, Lembergs believes that in future persons ethnicity will not have a primary importance if ethnic issues artificially prioritised.