• Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration presents a brief analysis of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities to the Latvian President
• Latvijas Avize investigates a case of a teacher who calls students to protest against the education reform
• New Era calls the Russian President to sign a border agreement before 9 May
• Overview of projects funded by the Secretariat of Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration
• Residents of Riga change their ethnicity for Latvians, Jews and Germans
• Russians in Liepaja celebrate Orthodox Christmas and formation of the Russian Community

Yesterday the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Ainars Latkovskis presented a brief analysis of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities to the Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga. The analysis includes the compilation of practices of the implementation of the Convention in other countries and analysis of articles of the Convention. The Minister stated that a detailed analysis of all articles of the Convention will be conducted in a month and a half.

Yesterday the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Ainars Latkovskis presented a brief analysis of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities to the Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga. The analysis includes the compilation of practices of the implementation of the Convention in other countries and analysis of articles of the Convention. The Minister stated that a detailed analysis of all articles of the Convention will be conducted in a month and a half. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

In its section ‘Minority Education,’ which is funded by the Society Integration Foundation, the newspaper

In its section ‘Minority Education, which is funded by the Society Integration Foundation, the newspaper Latvijas Avize prints an article about teacher Zanna Kupcika who was fined for not using the state language at the level required by the State Language Law. The newspaper also stresses that she is trying to mobilise students and their parents to protest against the minority education reform. The newspaper believes that such teachers should not work at school and Zanna Kupcika should be fired.

The New Era parliamentary group released a statement urging the Russian President Vladimir Putin sign the Latvian-Russian border agreement before 9 May. The New Era argues that Russia's intention to link the signing of the Latvian-Russian agreement with the Victory Day celebration on 9 May is unacceptable and improper and places Latvia, as well as the President Vaira Vike-Freiberga in a humiliating situation. The New Era notes that the recent statement made by the Russian President about the situation with the Russian-speaking population in Latvia, and the rhetoric of the new Russian Ambassador Viktor Kalyuzhny can be regarded as provocative, and should be condemned by Saeima.

The New Era parliamentary group released a statement urging the Russian President Vladimir Putin sign the Latvian-Russian border agreement before 9 May. The New Era argues that Russia's intention to link the signing of the Latvian-Russian agreement with the Victory Day celebration on 9 May is unacceptable and improper and places Latvia, as well as the President Vaira Vike-Freiberga in a humiliating situation. The New Era notes that the recent statement made by the Russian President about the situation with the Russian-speaking population in Latvia, and the rhetoric of the new Russian Ambassador Viktor Kalyuzhny can be regarded as provocative, and should be condemned by Saeima. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya prints an article about several projects implemented by minority NGOs and funded by the Secretariat of Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration. In 2004 the Secretariat managed to allot LVL 51 000 (EUR 35,445) for the implementation of minority NGOs projects.

Rigas Balss prints an article about the residents of Riga. Among other data, the newspaper reports that there are cases when a person changes his/her record of ethnicity in his/her identification documents. According to newspaper it is possible within two generations if a mother and a father or their parents have different ethnicities. Majority of people want to be Latvians, however, there are many cases when people want to become Jews or Germans.

Vesti Segodnya reports about celebrations of Orthodox Christmas and formation of the Russian Community in Liepaja. About 400 Russians took part in celebrations. There are 42,000 are Russians in Liepaja.

• FHRUL: local governments should have a right to use minority languages in communication with residents
• Comments on the case of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools activist Jurijs Petropavlovskis against state
• MP Aleksandrs Bartasevics asks to renew broadcasting of municipal election campaigns clips also in the Russian language
• Plans of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Society Integration
• Interview with the representative of the UN International Organisation for Migration in Latvia Ilmars Mezs

Union For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) proposed to grant local governments the right to use minority languages alongside with the Latvian language in communication with their residents. According to FHRUL, such rights should be granted to municipalities in which at least one fifth of residents belong to a respective minority. At present, municipalities can only use Latvian as a working language, as stipulated by the Law on Local Governments.

Union For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) proposed to grant local governments the right to use minority languages alongside with the Latvian language in communication with their residents. According to FHRUL, such rights should be granted to municipalities in which at least one fifth of residents belong to a respective minority. At present, municipalities can only use Latvian as a working language, as stipulated by the Law on Local Governments. Rigas Balss, Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya comments on the case of Jurijs Petropavlovskis, activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools, against the Latvian state. According to the consultant of the European Parliaments Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance Miroslavs Mitrofanovs (FHRUL), governments refusal to grant citizenship to Petropavlovskis is indicative of ‘discrimination on political and ethnic grounds, as Jurijs Petropavlovskis as a representative of minority is protecting rights of a concrete ethnic group, and FHRUL plans to draw attention of the European institutions to this case.

MP Aleksandrs Bartasevics (People’s Harmony Party) sent a letter to the Special Assignments Minister for Society Integration Ainars Latkovskis asking for cooperation in providing broadcast of TV clips, explaining voting procedure during upcoming municipal elections, also in the Russian language. According to Bartasevics, Latvian legislation contains no direct prohibition on providing information on voting procedure in other languages.

MP Aleksandrs Bartasevics (Peoples Harmony Party) sent a letter to the Special Assignments Minister for Society Integration Ainars Latkovskis asking for cooperation in providing broadcast of TV clips, explaining voting procedure during upcoming municipal elections, also in the Russian language. According to Bartasevics, Latvian legislation contains no direct prohibition on providing information on voting procedure in other languages. Chas

Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Society Integration is planning to start three programmes directed towards social integration and development of civic society, support to the Latvian Diaspora and promotion of tolerance. According to the deputy director of the Secretariat’s Department of Ethnic Minority Affairs Denis Hanovs, Ls 30,000 have been allocated to the programme for tolerance promotion in society. The programme foresees media monitoring, as well as active involvement of youth and minority NGOs.

Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Society Integration is planning to start three programmes directed towards social integration and development of civic society, support to the Latvian Diaspora and promotion of tolerance. According to the deputy director of the Secretariats Department of Ethnic Minority Affairs Denis Hanovs, Ls30,000 have been allocated to the programme for tolerance promotion in society. The programme foresees media monitoring, as well as active involvement of youth and minority NGOs. Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Vestnesis prints an interview with the ethnologist and representative of the UN International Organisation for Migration in Latvia Ilmars Mezs about migration processes. Ilmars Mezs points to the necessity of developing national programme aimed at preventing problems related to labour force migration. The ethnologist also believes that Latvia would violate the basic principles of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities by applying it also to immigrants who had arrived in Latvia after the World War II. ‘Only Livs, Roma, Jews and Russians in their historical locations, for example Old believers in Latgale region, should be regarded as minorities in Latvia, believes Ilmars Mezs.

• Vesti Segodnya comments on the conclusions of ‘The Report on Global Anti-Semitism
• Vesti Segodnya criticises the decision of the chairman of the Central Election Commission Arnis Cimdars to stop broadcasting of municipal election campaigns clips in Russian

Vesti Segodnya comments on the conclusions of ‘The Report on Global Anti-Semitism developed by the USA Department of State and features views of the Advisor of the President of Latvia on social integration issues Sols Bukingolts about the xenophobia in Latvia. Sols Bukingolts argues that there is no anti-Semitism at the state level and states that state security institutions have adequately responded to a number of anti-Semitic manifestations. At the same time Sols Bukingolts points to existence of several national-radical organisations, which, according to Sols Bukingolts, incite national hatred.

Vesti Segodnya comments on the decision of the Chairman of the Central Election Commission Arnis Cimdars to stop a broadcast of municipal election campaigns clips which provide information about voting procedure in the Russian language. The newspaper ironically suggests that on the basis of the decisions arguments interfaces of websites of the Commission and other state institutions in other languages but Latvian should be closed as well.

• Interview with the Minister of Education and Science Ina Druviete
• Chairman of the Central Election Commission Arnis Cimdars takes decision to stop broadcast of municipal election campaigns clips in the Russian language

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with the Minister of Education and Science Ina Druviete. Referring to her meeting with the students of Riga Secondary School Nr.13, the Minister states that difficulties brought by the implementation of the minority education reform are almost solved. The Minister argues that the effective ratio of the languages of instruction at minority schools is optimal for the Latvias situation. She states that the number of subjects, which are taught in Latvian at minority schools, will not be increased. However, Ina Druviete stresses that the implementation of bilingual education is topical for Latvian language schools as well.

In the response to the petition of the union For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM the Chairman of the Central Election Commission Arnis Cimdars has issued a decision to stop broadcast of municipal election campaign’s clips about voting procedure in the Russian language. In its petition FF/LNIM argued that broadcast of clips in Russian contradicts the Law on Municipal Elections and the Official Language Law.

In the response to the petition of the union For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM the Chairman of the Central Election Commission Arnis Cimdars has issued a decision to stop broadcast of municipal election campaigns clips about voting procedure in the Russian language. In its petition FF/LNIM argued that broadcast of clips in Russian contradicts the Law on Municipal Elections and the Official Language Law. Vesti Segodnya notes that the usage of languages in mass media is not the subject of the Official Language Law, but the Law on Radio and Television. The Russian-language newspaper also stresses that the Central Election Commission Law stipulates that the Central Election Commission should collaborate with mass media to provide information about voting procedure to voters, but the Law does not stipulate any restrictions concerning the usage of languages. MPs of left-wing political parties Jurijs Sokolovskis (FHRUL) and Boris Tsilevitch (Peoples Harmony Party) believes that the decision of Arnis Cimdars shows that the Commission is not politically objective. While MP Antra Rugate (Peoples Party) believes that the decision of Arnis Cimdars is correct and argues that all Latvian citizens should know the Latvian language. Vesti Segodnya, Chas

• USA Department of State has issued the Report on Global Anti-Semitism
• Minister of Education and Science Ina Druviete: bilingual education should be implemented in Latvian-language schools as well
• Response of the Minister of Education and Science Ina Druviete to the claim of the party For Human Rights in the United Latvia
• For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM demands to stop broadcasting of clips of municipal election campaign in the Russian language
• Slivenko family is planning to appeal against the decision of the Administrative District Court
• National Agency for Latvian Language Training plans to print a bilingual newspaper
• Russian-language newspaper Chas blames the Latvian language daily Diena for distorting the images of Russians in Latvia
• Old Believers and Orthodox believers celebrate Christmas

Newspapers report that the USA Department of State has issued the Report on Global Anti-Semitism (1 July 2003 – 31 December 2004). The report evaluates the extension of the anti-Semitism and its forms in the world, including Latvia. Regarding Latvia, the authors of the report state that in Latvia in 2003 there were several incidents of desecration of cemeteries, vandalism and anti-Semitic graffiti. The report compliments the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, state institutions and police for their contribution in fighting with anti-Semitism and promoting tolerance. 

Newspapers report that the USA Department of State has issued the Report on Global Anti-Semitism (1 July 2003 – 31 December 2004). The report evaluates the extension of the anti-Semitism and its forms in the world, including Latvia. Regarding Latvia, the authors of the report state that in Latvia in 2003 there were several incidents of desecration of cemeteries, vandalism and anti-Semitic graffiti. The report compliments the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, state institutions and police for their contribution in fighting with anti-Semitism and promoting tolerance. Diena, Chas

Yesterday the Minister of Education and Science Ina Druviete visited two secondary schools in Riga and stated that ‘bilingual education should be implemented also in Latvian-language schools.’ The Minister believes that it would ‘enhance the quality of children’s knowledge and enrich their intellect.’

Yesterday the Minister of Education and Science Ina Druviete visited two secondary schools in Riga and stated that ‘bilingual education should be implemented also in Latvian-language schools. The Minister believes that it would ‘enhance the quality of childrens knowledge and enrich their intellect. Diena, Rigas Balss

Vesti Segodnya comments on the response of the Minister of Education and Science Ina Druviete to the claim of the party For Human Rights in the United Latvia. The party asked the Minister whether there are any data on how successful are Russian and Latvian students in the entrance exams of higher academic institutions and whether their levels of academic success differ during studies at these institutions. According to the Minister of Education and Science Ina Druviete, the Ministry does not have such data at its disposal: ‘university applicants have never been asked their ethnicity, because it could be regarded as discrimination [on ethnic grounds]. The Minister adds that unitary final examinations which have to be taken by all secondary school graduates show that there is a tendency that students, who study in minority languages, have better knowledge in mathematics and natural sciences, while students, who study in Latvian, are more successful in humanitarian and social subjects.

The union For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM has asked the Central Election Commission to stop the broadcast of clips of municipal election campaign in the Russian language. The party believes that broadcast of clips in Russian contradicts the Law on Municipal Elections and the State Language Law. The Chairman of the Election Commission Andris Cimdars has refused to comment the application of the party.

The union For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM has asked the Central Election Commission to stop the broadcast of clips of municipal election campaign in the Russian language. The party believes that broadcast of clips in Russian contradicts the Law on Municipal Elections and the State Language Law. The Chairman of the Election Commission Andris Cimdars has refused to comment the application of the party. Chas

The Slivenko family plans to appeal the decision of the Administrative District Court with higher instance court. The family’s lawyer believes that the judgement of the Administrative District Court is ungrounded. As reported, the Administrative District Court ruled that the decision of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs Office to annul the personal codes of Tatiana and Karina Slivenko, the spouse and the daughter of a former Russian army officer, was illegitimate. At the same time the judge noted that the ruling does not give any new rights to the Slivenkos: they both are Russian citizens and therefore cannot apply for the status of Latvian non-citizens.

The Slivenko family plans to appeal the decision of the Administrative District Court with higher instance court. The familys lawyer believes that the judgement of the Administrative District Court is ungrounded. As reported, the Administrative District Court ruled that the decision of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs Office to annul the personal codes of Tatiana and Karina Slivenko, the spouse and the daughter of a former Russian army officer, was illegitimate. At the same time the judge noted that the ruling does not give any new rights to the Slivenkos: they both are Russian citizens and therefore cannot apply for the status of Latvian non-citizens. Chas

The National Agency for Latvian Language Training plans to print a bilingual newspaper, which will explain government’s decisions. Project manager Inga Misiņa states that previous studies of the agency show that Russian-speaking residents of Latvia know laws effective in Russia, but have very limited knowledge about Latvian legislation.

The National Agency for Latvian Language Training plans to print a bilingual newspaper, which will explain governments decisions. Project manager Inga Misiņa states that previous studies of the agency show that Russian-speaking residents of Latvia know laws effective in Russia, but have very limited knowledge about Latvian legislation. Telegraf

The Russian-language newspaper

The Russian-language newspaper Chas blames the Latvian language daily Diena for distorting the images of Latvias Russians. On 30 December 2004 Diena published 21 answers to the question: ‘What are you waiting from the next year? According to Chas, only 3 of them were Russians – a homeless person Volodya, driver Michail and a girl, while represented much broader social circle, for instance, ‘defender of the fatherland, employee of an European institution, participant of the Song Festival, etc The member of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia Jakovs Pliners evaluates the sampling of respondents as ‘at least incorrect and argues that the Latvian language press distorts reality and the image of the Russian community in Latvia quite often. Dienas deputy editor in chief of the Mara Mikelsone responds that the sampling of respondents did not have any intentions to present the full spectrum of Latvias society and ‘it was just a coincidence that the only homeless person, interviewed by a journalist, had a Russian name. Chas

Today the Old Believers and Orthodox believers living in Latvia celebrate Christmas.

Today the Old Believers and Orthodox believers living in Latvia celebrate Christmas. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Chas