• Newspapers continue discussion about appeal of the group of intellectuals to the state officials regarding implementation of the minority education reform
• President of Estonia Arnold Ruutel meets with students of the Riga Estonian School
• Leader of party Equality Tatjana Zdanoka about status of Russian language in the European Union
• A monument for Righteous, who helped to save the lives of Jews during the World War II, will be unveiled next year in Riga

Newspapers continue discussion about proposals included in the appeal by the group of intellectuals to the state officials regarding implementation of the minority education reform.

Newspapers continue discussion about proposals included in the appeal by the group of intellectuals to the state officials regarding implementation of the minority education reform. Latvijas Avize features a full text of the appeal. Commentator of the Neatkariga Rita Avize Viktors Avotins believes that appeal was rather intended for calming down political tensions than for providing qualitative and professional solutions to implementation of the education reform. The journalist also explains that he has refused to sign the appeal because he does not see a possible professional solution for implementation of the suggested compromises. Russian-language newspapers feature a statement by the organising committee of the United Congress of the Russian community, expressing overall support to the appeal, though disapproving of several separate statements. Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with the associated professor of the University of Latvia Abrams Kleckins, one of those who have signed the appeal. Abrams Kleckins regards methods of the education reforms implementation as threatening to democracy, as opinions of those, who are obliged to implement the reform, are not taken into account. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Yesterday President of Estonia Arnold Ruutel, who has been participating in the World Reunion of Estonian diaspora taking place in Riga, met with the students of the Riga Estonian School.

Yesterday President of Estonia Arnold Ruutel, who has been participating in the World Reunion of Estonian diaspora taking place in Riga, met with the students of the Riga Estonian School. Latvijas Avize

Chas prints an interview with the leader of party Equality Tatjana Zdanoka about status of Russian language in the European Union. According to Tatjana Zdanoka, it is very possible that status of the official EU language will be granted to the Russian language, because it already has weight on the global political arena as an official language of the United Nations.

A monument for the righteous, who helped to save the lives of Jews during the World War II, will be unveiled at the commemoration site for the Holocaust’s victims in Riga on 4 July 2005.

A monument for the righteous, who helped to save the lives of Jews during the World War II, will be unveiled at the commemoration site for the Holocausts victims in Riga on 4 July 2005. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

 

• About the call of the group of intellectuals to state officials on the implementation of the education reform
• Article by Ineta Ziemele about the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decision in the case of Tatjana Zdanoka
• 12,000 non-citizens of Latvia have not replaced the former USSR passports with the non-citizens passports of Latvia
• Prosecutors office dismisses a criminal case against National Bolsheviks, accused of calling for the overthrow of state authority
• Commentary about the role of the European Unions Russian Party
• Events connected to the world reunion of Estonians, who live outside Estonia, taking place in Riga

Newspapers continue to write about the call by the group of intellectuals to the state officials regarding the implementation of the minority education reform.

Newspapers continue to write about the call by the group of intellectuals to the state officials regarding the implementation of the minority education reform. Neatkariga Rita Avize features the fragments of the appeal. Telegraf prints the opinions of several intellectuals, who have signed this appeal, most of whom stress that they are not appealing against the goal of the education reform, but against the methods of its implementation.

Diena features an article by Dr. iur. Ineta Ziemele about the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decision in the case of Tatjana Zdanoka. The author states that the concrete activities and expressed statements of the plaintiff have not been analysed in the context of the post-occupation context of a democratically immature and ethnically sensitive society. Ineta Ziemele also believes that the case of Tatjana Zdanoka should be retained in the competence of the state, at the same time she stresses that this does not mean that it is not necessary to cancel the restrictions for the former agents of the Sate Security Committee and those persons, who were members of the Communist Party after 13 January 1991. In truth, the ECHR does not have experience in reviewing such cases and it would be worthwhile to enable it to re-analyse the circumstances of this case and the arguments of the parties, concludes the jurist.

According to the information of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA), 12,000 non-citizens of Latvia have not replaced their former USSR passports with the non-citizens’ passports of Latvia until the 1 June 2004. OCMA’s press secretary Inga Saleniece believes that a large part of these persons most probably do not live in Latvia anymore, but has emigrated from the state during the early 1990ies, when such information was not fixed in the registers.

According to the information of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA), 12,000 non-citizens of Latvia have not replaced their former USSR passports with the non-citizens passports of Latvia until the 1 June 2004. OCMAs press secretary Inga Saleniece believes that a large part of these persons most probably do not live in Latvia anymore, but has emigrated from the state during the early 1990ies, when such information was not fixed in the registers. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Rigas Balss

The Prosecutor’s office has dismissed a criminal case against the three National Bolsheviks, previously accused of issuing a call to overthrow the state authority, due to lack of evidence.

The Prosecutors office has dismissed a criminal case against the three National Bolsheviks, previously accused of issuing a call to overthrow the state authority, due to lack of evidence. Diena

Latvijas Avize features a commentary of the journalist Modris Ziemins about the role of the European Unions Russian Party, which is in the process of being established by the Russian-speaking representatives of the six EU states. The journalist believes that ‘the leading hand of Moscow can be seen behind the establishment of this party, because the basic programmatic position of this formation corresponds to the policy on the strengthening the status of the Russian language in the EU and the defence of the rights of all the Russian-speakers who live in the EU, rights, which is also advocated by the Kremlin.

Newspapers feature articles about the events connected to the world reunion of Estonians, who live outside Estonia, which is taking place in Riga.

Newspapers feature articles about the events connected to the world reunion of Estonians, who live outside Estonia, which is taking place in Riga. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss, Latvijas Vestnesis, Vesti Segodnya,Chas

• Latest ratings of the political parties
• Appeal to the state officials due to the implementation of the education reform
• Deputy Speaker of the Russia State Council Dmitry Rogozin calls the European Parliaments MPs to exert a pressure on the new MPs from Latvia on the observation of minority rights
• Neatkariga Rita Avize writes about the naturalisation exams
• Russian language newspapers write about the future of the NGO Cita Politika
• World reunion of Estonians, who lives outside the Estonia, is taking place in Riga

The latest

The latest Latvijas Fakti opinion poll indicates that in June the most popular party still is New Era with the rating 18,9%. A dramatic increase in the ratings of: For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM, which rates14%. Other ratings are: For Human Rights in United Latvia – 8,6%, Peoples Party – 6% and Union of Greens and Farmers – 5,7%, Peoples Harmony Party – 3,2% and Latvias First Party – 2,9%. Diena, Telegraf

Newspapers continue to write about the call to the state officials, issued by the group of intellectuals due to the implementation of the education reform.

Newspapers continue to write about the call to the state officials, issued by the group of intellectuals due to the implementation of the education reform. Diena features the main statements of this document and some comments. Latvijas Avize prints the statements of several persons, who have signed this document, about the education reform. For example, former Prime Minister Andris Berzins believes that the reform must be implemented only in those schools, which are ready for it. According to him, it is also necessary to prepare a transitional formula, providing possibilities for municipalities to schedule when each of its schools will be able to implement the education reform. Cardinat Janis Pujats also states that he is not for the elimination of the reform but against the creation of ethnic tensions. Diena, Latvijas Avize

Deputy Speaker of the Russia State Council Dmitry Rogozin (Rodina) has called on the MPs of the European Parliament to exert a pressure on the new MPs elected from Latvia in order to attain the granting of the civic and political rights for all the residents of Latvia in irrespective of their ethnic identity. At the same time Dmitry Rogozin in the statement, spread to the Russian mass media, is appealing to the Russian government, calling on it to adopt political and economic measures in order to help enforce the observance of human rights in Latvia.

Deputy Speaker of the Russia State Council Dmitry Rogozin (Rodina) has called on the MPs of the European Parliament to exert a pressure on the new MPs elected from Latvia in order to attain the granting of the civic and political rights for all the residents of Latvia in irrespective of their ethnic identity. At the same time Dmitry Rogozin in the statement, spread to the Russian mass media, is appealing to the Russian government, calling on it to adopt political and economic measures in order to help enforce the observance of human rights in Latvia. Chas features an interview with Dmitry Rogozin. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Neatkariga Rita Avize writes about the naturalisation exams, featuring the opinion of the deputy head of the Naturalisation Boards Examination and Methodological Centre Lilita Danga about the level of difficulty of the exams.

Russian language newspapers

Russian language newspapers write about the forthcoming change of the NGO Cita Politika (The Other Policy) into a political party. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Newspapers write about the

Newspapers write about the world reunion of Estonians, who lives outside Estonia, which is taking place in Riga from 26 till 30 June. Neatkariga Rita Avize features an interview with the head of the Latvian Estonian Cultural Society Parja Svarpstina, according to whom there are approximately 3,000 Estonians living in Latvia. Vesti Segodnya, Neatkariga Rita Avize

 

• Leader of Peoples Harmony Party on future support to the present government
• Newspapers write about the call to the state officials to actively engage in supporting a compromise regarding the minority education reform
• Vesti Segodnya features the opinion of Tatjana Zdanokas lawyer William Bowring about the implementation of the European Court of Human Right decision
• Riga Ziemelu Court judgement in the administrative case of the MP Jakovs Pliners
• NGO Cita Politika (Other Policy) would fuse into a political party
• Former head of the Saeima Legal Affairs Committee Linards Mucins about the opening of the former agents of the State Security Committee files
• World reunion of Estonians living outside the Estonia is taking place in Riga

“People’s Harmony Party (PHP) will continue to support the present government until there will be a hope that it is possible to make the education reform acceptable for all in a civilised way,” stated the PHP leader Janis Jurkans during an interview to the Russian news agency Regnum.ru.

Peoples Harmony Party (PHP) will continue to support the present government until there will be a hope that it is possible to make the education reform acceptable for all in a civilised way, stated the PHP leader Janis Jurkans during an interview to the Russian news agency Regnum.ru. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Newspapers

Newspapers write about the call, issued by a group of intellectuals and well-known individuals representing both Latvians and minorities, inviting the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, the Saeima Speaker Ingrida Udre and the Prime Minister Indulis Emsis to actively engage in supporting a compromise regarding the minority education reform. While Latvijas Avize features some main statements of this document, Vesti Segodnya prints a critical article, asserting that the proposals of this document are copied from the package of proposals, repeatedly submitted to Saeima by the union For Human Rights in United Latvia. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya continues discussion on the ECHR judgement in favour of Tatjana Zdanoka, featuring the opinion of her lawyer William Bowring. According to the lawyer, the parliament of Latvia will be obliged not only to ensure the observation of Tatjana Zdanokas rights, but also to remove from law all the restrictions of the political rights for former communists.

Riga Ziemelu Court has decided to not issue administrative sanctions to the MP Jakovs Pliners (For Human Rights in the United Latvia) due to the absence of evidence. Previously representatives of the State Police drew up a report about the conduct of the MP, who allegedly organised and lead the unapproved protest action against the education reform in spite of police warnings on 16 April.

Riga Ziemelu Court has decided to not issue administrative sanctions to the MP Jakovs Pliners (For Human Rights in the United Latvia) due to the absence of evidence. Previously representatives of the State Police drew up a report about the conduct of the MP, who allegedly organised and lead the unapproved protest action against the education reform in spite of police warnings on 16 April. Latvijas Avize, Chas

NGO “Cita Politika” (Other Policy) would fuse into a political party in August or September of this year, stated member of the NGO’s board Valdis Lauskis, who also believes that “Cita Politika” would unite members with various ethnic backgrounds. The elimination of the prolonged ethnic cleavage and social stratification has been declared as the main tasks of the upcoming party.

NGO Cita Politika (Other Policy) would fuse into a political party in August or September of this year, stated member of the NGOs board Valdis Lauskis, who also believes that Cita Politika would unite members with various ethnic backgrounds. The elimination of the prolonged ethnic cleavage and social stratification has been declared as the main tasks of the upcoming party. Latvijas Avize, Chas

Latvijas Avize features an article by the former head of the Saeima Legal Affairs Committee Linards Mucins about the necessity to open the former agents of the State Security Committee of Soviet Latvia files. According to the author, Legal Affairs Committee would have to weight to what degree only the files are the evidence of the persons collaboration with the Security Committee.

A world reunion of Estonians living outside the Estonia ESTO 2004 is taking place in Riga from 26 till 30 June.

A world reunion of Estonians living outside the Estonia ESTO 2004 is taking place in Riga from 26 till 30 June. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Rigas Balss

• Group of intellectuals and well-known individuals call for constructive compromise in the area of the education reform
• Russia Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov on observation of Russian-speakers rights in the Baltic States
• Article by the former director of the State Language Centre Dzintra Hirsa about the possible ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in Latvia
• State Language Centre will seek to identify the town, which is friendliest to Latvian language

A group of intellectuals and well-known individuals representing both Latvians and minorities have issued a call to the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, the Saeima Speaker Ingrida Udre and the Prime Minister Indulis Emsis, inviting them to actively engage in supporting a compromise regarding the minority education reform. The appeal for rational discourse and compromise is based on the concern that the reform issue and polarization over it has become a threat to the cohesion of society.  The document stresses the need for strengthening the role of the Latvian language in society, while allowing discussion of the means to achieve this.  The signatories stress that the division of responsibility between the ministry of education and schools should be shifted:  minority schools should be given greater freedom in choosing teaching models without determining the proportions of language of instruction, but being fully responsible for the end result – the Latvian language proficiency of graduates, which should be attested to by final Latvian language exams for all, without which graduation is not possible.  The call is also made for direct participation by minority representatives in questions relating to minority education and the establishment of a department within the Ministry of Education that would be responsible for all minority education issues, not only the language of instruction, and calls for the elaboration of a government strategy to overcome the segregation of schools and promoting tolerance and common civic values.

A group of intellectuals and well-known individuals representing both Latvians and minorities have issued a call to the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, the Saeima Speaker Ingrida Udre and the Prime Minister Indulis Emsis, inviting them to actively engage in supporting a compromise regarding the minority education reform. The appeal for rational discourse and compromise is based on the concern that the reform issue and polarization over it has become a threat to the cohesion of society. The document stresses the need for strengthening the role of the Latvian language in society, while allowing discussion of the means to achieve this. The signatories stress that the division of responsibility between the ministry of education and schools should be shifted: minority schools should be given greater freedom in choosing teaching models without determining the proportions of language of instruction, but being fully responsible for the end result – the Latvian language proficiency of graduates, which should be attested to by final Latvian language exams for all, without which graduation is not possible. The call is also made for direct participation by minority representatives in questions relating to minority education and the establishment of a department within the Ministry of Education that would be responsible for all minority education issues, not only the language of instruction, and calls for the elaboration of a government strategy to overcome the segregation of schools and promoting tolerance and common civic values. Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Russia intends to defend the interests of Russian-speakers in all the Baltic States, stated the Russia Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov during the meeting of the Council of the Baltic Sea States in Estonia.

Russia intends to defend the interests of Russian-speakers in all the Baltic States, stated the Russia Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov during the meeting of the Council of the Baltic Sea States in Estonia. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize features an article by the former director of the State Language Centre Dzintra Hirsa about the possible ratification of the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in Latvia. Dzintra Hirsa believes that Russians cannot be regarded as a national minority in Latvia because a new quasi-minority of 34 percents has been politically created during the Soviet occupation on the basis of the historical Russian minority of 8 percent. According to Hirsa, this quasi-minority is pretending to the name of the historical minority at the same time not identifying themselves as a minority. ‘There are only some humanitarian mechanisms for weakening the consequences of the occupation, i.e., education reform, language policy and not granting the various rights to those who are not entitled to them, says the author. By ratifying the Convention, Latvia would recognise that Russians are a national minority in Latvia and that the consequences of the occupation have been successfully overcome during the last 14 years, concludes Dzintra Hirsa.

State Language Centre is planning to organise an action in order to clarify the towns, which are friendliest to Latvian language. The friendliness of the town will be evaluated in several categories, for example, the linguistic quality of the language use in information, provided by the municipality, as well as the language usage on information panels and in private companies etc.

State Language Centre is planning to organise an action in order to clarify the towns, which are friendliest to Latvian language. The friendliness of the town will be evaluated in several categories, for example, the linguistic quality of the language use in information, provided by the municipality, as well as the language usage on information panels and in private companies etc. Latvijas Avize