• Interview with the Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga
• Vaira Vike-Freiberga comments on the anti-Semitic statements made by the Russian Ambassador to Latvia
• Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins will not apologise for comments on Russian-Latvian relations
• State Security Police initiate a criminal case of incitement of national hatred

Telegraf prints an interview with the Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga. The main topics of the interview are Latvian Russian relations, the economic role of Russia and domestic issues. The President does not agree with the view that Latvias society is getting more extreme and believes that in the upcoming municipal elections Latvian citizens will not support radical forces. Regarding the minority education reform, the President states that the reform was very politicised and used by several political forces to manipulate with feelings of Russian-speakers to ensure political support for these forces. When asked whether the President is not concerned that so many people [non-citizens] do not have any rights to participate in Latvias political life, Vaira Vike-Freiberga says that she would be very happy to introduce herself with a sociologic study about mentality of these people and argues that there are so many non-citizens because of the passive attitude of these people: either they are not interested in politics or they do not understand what it is about.

‘An ambassador, when s/he makes certain statements, represents the stance of his government on this issue,’ stated the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga commenting on the latest statements of the Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kaluznij which according to representatives of the Jewish community and historians are anti-Semitic. In the interview with Latvian Radio, the President said such statements are not acceptable.

‘An ambassador, when s/he makes certain statements, represents the stance of his government on this issue, stated the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga commenting on the latest statements of the Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kaluznij which according to representatives of the Jewish community and historians are anti-Semitic. In the interview with Latvian Radio, the President said such statements are not acceptable. Diena

The Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins believes that he should not apologise for his comments on Latvian Russian relations [that there are only two ways of building relations with Russia ‘either to beat her up or to lick the dust’] as it was asked by the Head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Russian State Council Konstantin Kosatchev. The Russian official evaluated the statements of Aleksandrs Kirsteins as provocative and offensive.

The Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins believes that he should not apologise for his comments on Latvian Russian relations [that there are only two ways of building relations with Russia ‘either to beat her up or to lick the dust] as it was asked by the Head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Russian State Council Konstantin Kosatchev. The Russian official evaluated the statements of Aleksandrs Kirsteins as provocative and offensive. Latvijas Avize

On the basis of the application submitted by the Head of the parliamentary group of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia Jakovs Pliners State Security Police initiated a criminal case of incitement of national hatred in a number of articles published by the national-radical internet portal

On the basis of the application submitted by the Head of the parliamentary group of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia Jakovs Pliners State Security Police initiated a criminal case of incitement of national hatred in a number of articles published by the national-radical internet portal www.latvians.lv. The newspaper also reports that the Prosecutor General Office replied to the application of the Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins. In his application Aleksandrs Kirsteins asked the Prosecutor General Office to examine whether publications in the Russian language media incite national hatred. The Prosecutor General Office replied that publications do not incite national hatred, but reflect personal views of journalists. Chas

• MP Ingrida Circene (The New Era) is a new head of the Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee
• Interview with the Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane
• Head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Russian State Council Konstantin Kosatchev asks Latvia to apologise

The MP and former Minister of Health Ingrida Circene (The New Era)is appointed to the post of head of the Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee.

The MP and former Minister of Health Ingrida Circene (The New Era)is appointed to the post of head of the Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee. Vesti Segodnya criticises the appointment of Ingrida Circene to the post, stressing that she has no experience with human rights issues. The new Head stated that the top priorities of the Committee are revision of three laws: the Law on Radio and Television, the Anti-Discrimination Law and the Ombudsman Law. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane. When asked to comment on the refusal to grant Latvian citizenship to the activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools Jurijs Petropavlovskis, Eizenija Aldermane stresses that the governments decision bears a political character and that means that Jurijs Petropavlovskis can reapply for naturalisation after a year. Eizenija Aldermane argues that the Citizenship Law should be amended so it would prohibit a grant of Latvian citizenship to persons who are activists of organisations, which goals are anti-constitutional. Eizenija Aldermane also believes that the loyalty pledge taken by naturalisation applicants should imply more responsibility of an applicant. She also argues that only Latvian citizens should have the right to work as teachers.

The Head of the Russian State Council Foreign Affairs Committee Konstantin Kosatchev believes that the Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins should apologise to Russia for his latest comments regarding Russia. Aleksandrs Kirsteins stated that there are only two ways to build relations with Russia: ‘either to beat her up or to lick the dust.’ Konstantin Kosatchev says that such statements are provocative and offensive.

The Head of the Russian State Council Foreign Affairs Committee Konstantin Kosatchev believes that the Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins should apologise to Russia for his latest comments regarding Russia. Aleksandrs Kirsteins stated that there are only two ways to build relations with Russia: ‘either to beat her up or to lick the dust. Konstantin Kosatchev says that such statements are provocative and offensive. Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

• Latvian government cautious towards the call of the Baltic Assembly to launch negotiations with Russia and Germany about compensations brought by occupations
• Discussions on the latest statements of the Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kaluznij
• Candidacy of the Deputy State Secretary of the Latvian Foreign Affairs Ministry Andis Teikmanis for the post of Latvian Ambassador to Russia under discussions
• Discussions on the role of the Latvian language in social integration
• Administrative Regional Court reduces a fine imposed for organisation of the unapproved protest action against the education reform
• NGO United Congress of the Russian Community in Latvia starts official registration of its members

The Latvian government is cautious about the call the Baltic Assembly to launch negotiations with Russia and Germany about compensations for losses brought by Soviet and German occupations. The Latvian government believes that several other key issues, for example signing of the border agreement with Russia, should be solved before Latvia asks for compensation. The Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis doubts whether such claims would have any results and believes that it would be more important if Russia recognises the occupation of Latvia. Historians, interviewed by

The Latvian government is cautious about the call the Baltic Assembly to launch negotiations with Russia and Germany about compensations for losses brought by Soviet and German occupations. The Latvian government believes that several other key issues, for example signing of the border agreement with Russia, should be solved before Latvia asks for compensation. The Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis doubts whether such claims would have any results and believes that it would be more important if Russia recognises the occupation of Latvia. Historians, interviewed by Diena, support the stance of the Prime Minister. Diena, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Dienas columnist Aivars Ozolins criticizes the attitude of the Latvian government towards the latest statements of the Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kaluznij. Integration experts and representatives of the Jewish community believe that these statements were anti-Semitic: the Ambassador said that Russia should not apologise to Latvia for the Soviet occupation because ‘what should the Russian people be blamed for? The KGB was headed by Pole Dzerzinskis; out of 44 members of the War Council 38 were Jews, 4 Latvians and only one was a Russian. In the opinion of Ozolins the Latvian government is too tolerant to the Kaluznijs statements and in other countries such statements would have led to international scandal. While Viktor Kaluznij in the interview with the newspaper Latvijas Avize expressed his incomprehension about the discussion regarding his statements. He stressed that he ‘has nothing in common with anti-Semitism and he only ‘provided statistical information and nothing else. The Ambassador once again stressed that Russia will not apologise to Latvia, because the majority of Russian citizens were not even born then and there was no state called Russia. Viktor Kaluznij, however, reproaches Latvia for imposing the language of instruction in minority schools and Latvias requirements which provide that even senior non-citizens have to learn Latvian to acquire Latvian citizenship. Diena, Latvijas Avize

Referring to unofficial sources of information,

Referring to unofficial sources of information, Vesti Segodnya reports that the Deputy State Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry Andis Teikmanis is nominated for the post of the Latvian Ambassador to Russia.

Latvijas Avize features a discussion among Norwegian Rihard Berug, German Matiass Knoll and Georgian Mariam Koberidze about the role of the Latvian language in social integration. All participants agree that in Latvia there are many people, including the service sector, who do not speak Latvian at all. Rihard Berug argues that in order to strengthen the role of Latvian in society a positive attitude towards the Latvian language should be developed. Rihard Berug believes that the policy of the Russian Federation does not foster development of a positive attitude towards the Latvian language and Latvia.

The Administrative Regional Court reduced the amount of a fine from LVL 100 (EUR 144) to LVL 50 (EUR 72) imposed on the activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools and the deputy of Riga City Council Aleksandrs Gilmans for the organisation of the unapproved protest action against the education reform.

The Administrative Regional Court reduced the amount of a fine from LVL100 (EUR 144) to LVL50 (EUR 72) imposed on the activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools and the deputy of Riga City Council Aleksandrs Gilmans for the organisation of the unapproved protest action against the education reform. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday representatives of the NGO United Congress of the Russian Community in Latvia started official registration of its members. According to a representative of the NGO, more than 50,000 people have expressed readiness to join this organisation.

Yesterday representatives of the NGO United Congress of the Russian Community in Latvia started official registration of its members. According to a representative of the NGO, more than 50,000 people have expressed readiness to join this organisation. Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

• Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration plans to implement a public awareness campaign on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
• Baltic Assembly calls the Baltic States to ask compensations for damages brought by Soviet and German occupations
• Psychologist and professor of the University of Latvia Olegs Nikiforovs comments on the implementation of bilingual education in minority schools
• Jewish memorial site opened in the Malta parish
• Majority of St. Petersburgs residents think that Latvia is not a friendly country

The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Ainars Latkovskis plans to launch a public awareness campaign about the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The campaign will be launched in May and will go till December next year. In the framework of the campaign informative materials will be published, public discussions, expert seminars and lecture series will be organised.

The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Ainars Latkovskis plans to launch a public awareness campaign about the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The campaign will be launched in May and will go till December next year. In the framework of the campaign informative materials will be published, public discussions, expert seminars and lecture series will be organised. Diena, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Participants of the Baltic Assembly issued a resolution calling the governments of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia to launch negotiations with Russia and Germany about receiving compensations for damages brought by these occupations.

Participants of the Baltic Assembly issued a resolution calling the governments of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia to launch negotiations with Russia and Germany about receiving compensations for damages brought by these occupations. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Diena prints an article by the psychologist and professor of the University of Latvia Olegs Nikiforovs about the implementation of bilingual education in minority schools. He argues that bilingual education model introduced in Latvia is based on the bilingual education models developed for Turks in Germany and that these models are not suited for the situation of Latvia, first of all, because Latvia is not able to ensure the necessary Latvian language environment. Referring to the opinion poll, which professor conducted in 1998, Olegs Nikiforovs states that the level of motivation among Russians to learn Latvian is rather high. He notes that there is a strong need for Latvian language environment and the lack of such environment is the main obstacle for successful implementation of bilingual education in Latvia.

Yesterday a Jewish memorial site was opened in the Malta parish (Eastern part of Latvia). In World War II a number of Jews were shot there. The director of the Riga Jewish Community Gita Umanovska stated that there are approximately 200 places in Latvia where mass destruction of Jews took place.

Yesterday a Jewish memorial site was opened in the Malta parish (Eastern part of Latvia). In World War II a number of Jews were shot there. The director of the Riga Jewish Community Gita Umanovska stated that there are approximately 200 places in Latvia where mass destruction of Jews took place. Telegraf

According to the opinion poll, conducted by the Russian news agency

According to the opinion poll, conducted by the Russian news agency Rosbalt, 45% inhabitants of St. Petersburg think that Latvia is not a friendly state and 29.7% believes that Latvia is a friendly country. The General Consul of Latvia in St. Petersburg Hardijs Baumanis believes that the negative attitude among Russias residents towards Latvia is due to biased information about Latvia spread by the Russian mass media about Latvia. Diena

• Diena: recent statements of the Russian Ambassador to Latvia were anti-Semitic
• Racial attacks at Latvians in the UK raises comparison between Latvia and the UK
• Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins: Russian officials intentionally provide biased information about the situation of minorities in Latvia
• Interview with the Director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Ilze Brands-Kehris
• Leader of the National Democratic Party Jevgenijs Osipovs plans to apply with the European Court of Human Rights against Latvia
• Member of the European Parliament from Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka received the title ‘Compatriot of the Year
• Childrens fairy tales reflect clichés and stereotypes of the adults world

In the opinion of integration experts, historians and representatives of the Jewish community surveyed by the daily

In the opinion of integration experts, historians and representatives of the Jewish community surveyed by the daily Diena the recent statements of the Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kaluznij are anti-Semitic. The Ambassador said that Russia should not apologise to Latvia for the Soviet occupation because ‘what should the Russian people be blamed for? The KGB was headed by Pole Dzerzinskis; out of 44 members of the War Council 38 were Jews, 4 Latvians and only one was a Russian. The former Society Integration Minister Nils Muiznieks argues that anti-Semitism historically has been a characteristic feature of Russian nationalism, which implies construction of a negative Jewish prototype and that people are not perceived as individuals but a group. Diena notes that there have been other expressions of Kaluznijs disrespect towards Jews: the Ambassador demonstratively did not use the kipa when he attended the Synagogue. The Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks said that the Latvian Foreign Affairs Ministry will not issue any official statements regarding the Ambassador Kaluznijs statements, however, the Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister invited the Russian Ambassador to the Occupation Museum and the Russian Ambassador accepted the invitation.

In the response to recent attacks at Latvians in the United Kingdom

In the response to recent attacks at Latvians in the United Kingdom Diena prints an article ‘Do They Hate Us? about the attitude of ‘old Europe towards guest workers from East Europe. The author of the article provides data about the attitude of Brits towards ‘others, in particular people from East Europe. The newspaper concludes that the level of tolerance of the Great Britains society is lower than expected. In the conclusion the author provides opinions from the Internet discussions in the Latvian website. One of the comments says ‘the attitude of Latvian guest workers [towards the country and society they have come] does not differ from the one Russians have towards Latvia: if things are not like at home, than they are stupid and damn.

‘Russian officials intentionally provide biased information on the situation of minorities in Latvia,’ stated the Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins referring to the recent statements of the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Russia Vladimir Chizhov. The Russian official stated that Russian experts have found 59 differences between the social, political and legal rights of Latvian citizens and non-citizens and provides as an example the prohibition of the right of Latvian non-citizens to participate in municipal elections.

‘Russian officials intentionally provide biased information on the situation of minorities in Latvia, stated the Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins referring to the recent statements of the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Russia Vladimir Chizhov. The Russian official stated that Russian experts have found 59 differences between the social, political and legal rights of Latvian citizens and non-citizens and provides as an example the prohibition of the right of Latvian non-citizens to participate in municipal elections. Latvijas Avize

Chas features an interview with director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Ilze Brands-Kehris. The main topic of the interview is societal integration. Ilze Brands-Kehris expresses her concern concerning the situation in minority education. According to Ilze Brands-Kehris people who are responsible for minority education reform, have paid little attention to ensuring the quality of education and development of a positive motivation to acquire the Latvian language. The Director of the Centre believes that the existing segregation of Latvian and Russian schools should be eliminated as it further leads to society segregation in general. Ilze Brands-Kehris also points to the tendency to treat the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities as a threat for Latvians. The attempts to block ratification of the Convention show that the attitude towards minorities is not very positive, as well as it impedes naturalisation.

The leader of the National Democratic Party Jevgenijs Osipovs is planning to submit a claim with the European Court of Human Rights against Latvia. The leader of the Party believes that his rights to the freedom of assembly, freedom of speech and free movement were violated. Jevgenijs Osipovs is accused of attacking a policeman during the unapproved protest action against the education reform in Liepaja and now is under the supervision of the police. He is denied the right to leave the city and participate in public meetings and processions.

The leader of the National Democratic Party Jevgenijs Osipovs is planning to submit a claim with the European Court of Human Rights against Latvia. The leader of the Party believes that his rights to the freedom of assembly, freedom of speech and free movement were violated. Jevgenijs Osipovs is accused of attacking a policeman during the unapproved protest action against the education reform in Liepaja and now is under the supervision of the police. He is denied the right to leave the city and participate in public meetings and processions. Vesti Segodnya

Mayor of Moscow Jurij Luzhkov has presented an award ‘The Compatriot of the Year’ to the member of the European Parliament from Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka. The award was given to Tatjana Zdanoka as acknowledgement of her persistent attempts to protect the rights of Russians in Latvia and the EU.

Mayor of Moscow Jurij Luzhkov has presented an award ‘The Compatriot of the Year to the member of the European Parliament from Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka. The award was given to Tatjana Zdanoka as acknowledgement of her persistent attempts to protect the rights of Russians in Latvia and the EU. Vesti Segodnya

This year the fairy tale contest has been organised in Latvia and 865 children from all Latvia wrote and sent in their own fairy tales.

This year the fairy tale contest has been organised in Latvia and 865 children from all Latvia wrote and sent in their own fairy tales. Diena prints comments of two critics on the most common characters and themes in stories written by children. One of the critics states that childrens fairy tales reflect the values, stereotypes and clichés most common in the adults world. The dominant number of childrens stories is about the rich and the poor and how sharp is the division between these two groups, while the ethnic prejudices ‘Russians are such and such, but Latvians are better and superior were observed in only few fairy tales. Diena