• For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM and New Era call on Peoples Party to form a new coalition
• Russian language newspapers on results of the European Parliament election
• Interview with the chairperson of the board of the Latvian Integration Movement ‘Runa (The Speech) Marina Romanenko
• Poet Mara Zalite about protest actions against the education reform
• Organisation Visu Latvijai! plans to organise a picket on the Commemoration Day of Latvias Occupation

After success at the European Parliament election, parties For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM and the New Era have called on the People’s Party to support resignation of the Indulis Emsis’s government in order to form a new, right-wing coalition. The vote of non-confidence to the current government is scheduled already for Thursday’s session of the Saeima.

After success at the European Parliament election, parties For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM and the New Era have called on the Peoples Party to support resignation of the Indulis Emsiss government in order to form a new, right-wing coalition. The vote of non-confidence to the current government is scheduled already for Thursdays session of the Saeima. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss, Telegraf

Russian-language newspapers feature opinions of the state officials, experts and business executives about results of the European Parliament election. ‘Because of the education reform implementation, and the protest actions it caused, we have reached an unprecedented confrontation in the society, which ensured victory of the ultra-radical political forces in the EP elections,’ says the Riga vice-mayor Sergejs Dolgopolovs in his interview to

Russian-language newspapers feature opinions of the state officials, experts and business executives about results of the European Parliament election. ‘Because of the education reform implementation, and the protest actions it caused, we have reached an unprecedented confrontation in the society, which ensured victory of the ultra-radical political forces in the EP elections, says the Riga vice-mayor Sergejs Dolgopolovs in his interview to Vesti Segodnya. MP Boris Tsilevitch regards election results as a failure of not only the Peoples Harmony Party, but of all opposition of the human rights defenders. Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the chairperson of the board of the Latvian Integration Movement ‘Runa (The Speech) Marina Romanenko about implementation of the education reform and possible establishment of Russian national school in Latvia. Marina Romanenko believes that all so called Russian Schools in Latvia are in reality post-soviet schools, which do not provide deep and essential contact with the Russian culture. According to the chairperson, her organisation is planning to submit for accreditation to the Ministry of Education and Science an educational programme of the Russian national school, which includes 14 extra-curriculum courses, designed for maintenance of the ethnic and cultural identity, in addition to the compulsory subjects.

Latvijas Avize features an interview with the poet Mara Zalite about protest actions against the education reform. Mara Zalite expresses incomprehension of the fact that representatives of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools still have an opportunity to incite hate in the society, while state officials fail to qualify their actions as incitement to hate.

Extreme national organisation Visu Latvijai! is planning to organise a picket near the embassy of Russia in Latvia on 17 June, the Commemoration Day of Occupation of the Republic of Latvia.

Extreme national organisation Visu Latvijai! is planning to organise a picket near the embassy of Russia in Latvia on 17 June, the Commemoration Day of Occupation of the Republic of Latvia. Latvijas Avize, Telegraf

 

• European Parliament elections in Latvia
• Approximately 40 people participate at the picket against discrimination of non-citizens
• The Wall Street Journal about the European Unions Russian Party
• Interview with the former Prime Minister of Latvia Ivars Godmanis about society integration issues

Only 41,2% citizens of Latvia participated in the European Parliament (EP) elections. According to the provisional results announced yesterday by the Central Election Commission, 29,82% of citizens gave their votes to the party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM, 19,68% – to the New Era, 10,71% – to the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia, 6,65% – to the People’s Party and 6,52% – to the Latvian Way.

Only 41,2% citizens of Latvia participated in the European Parliament (EP) elections. According to the provisional results announced yesterday by the Central Election Commission, 29,82% of citizens gave their votes to the party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM, 19,68% – to the New Era, 10,71% – to the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia, 6,65% – to the Peoples Party and 6,52% – to the Latvian Way. Chas and Telegraf print comments of political scientists and politicians on the outcome of elections. For example, political scientist Janis Ikstens believes that results are indicative of the residents dissatisfaction with the work of the current government. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Approximately 40 people participated in the picket against discrimination of the non-citizens, which was organised by the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia and took place on Saturday near one of the poll-stations. Picketers called the state to grant rights to participate in the elections to non-citizens.

Approximately 40 people participated in the picket against discrimination of the non-citizens, which was organised by the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia and took place on Saturday near one of the poll-stations. Picketers called the state to grant rights to participate in the elections to non-citizens. Chas

The Wall Street Journal has compared the European Union’s Russian Party, which is being established by the Russian-speaking representatives of the six EU states, with the pro-Soviet Interfront movement in the Baltics during the period of regaining state independence. Author of the article, representative of the Jamestown Foundation Vladimir Socor, observes that although majority of Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian residents are looking forward to the future, there are people among them that are trying to bring along ‘relicts from the Soviet past’ into the heart of the European Union. 

The Wall Street Journal has compared the European Unions Russian Party, which is being established by the Russian-speaking representatives of the six EU states, with the pro-Soviet Interfront movement in the Baltics during the period of regaining state independence. Author of the article, representative of the Jamestown Foundation Vladimir Socor, observes that although majority of Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian residents are looking forward to the future, there are people among them that are trying to bring along ‘relicts from the Soviet past into the heart of the European Union. Latvijas Avize

Chas features an interview with the former Prime Minister of Latvia Ivars Godmanis about society integration issues. Ivars Godmanis stresses that it is impossible to start negotiations until extent of the other sides demands is not clear. He believes that as long as Russian-speakers continue to increase their demands for education and language rights, ethnic Latvians will feel as if the final goal of the process is to join Latvia to the Russian Federation. And, says Godmanis, there are always radical politicians around who are ready to feed these suspicions.

• Latvia becomes a full-fledged member of the Holocaust Task Force
• Latvijas Avize about an unapproved protest action against the education reform
• Deputy Director of the Second European department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Mikhail Demurin on preconditions of the good relationship between Latvia and Russia
• Headquarters for the Defence of the Russian-language Schools express support to the youth organizations which have signed appeal on the establishment of moratorium on the education reform

Latvia has become a full-fledged member of the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research. According to the state secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry Andris Teikmanis, this serves as a confirmation of Latvia’s ability to evaluate its history objectively, and of the strength of the country’s democratic structures.

Latvia has become a full-fledged member of the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research. According to the state secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry Andris Teikmanis, this serves as a confirmation of Latvias ability to evaluate its history objectively, and of the strength of the countrys democratic structures. Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize features an article about an unapproved protest action against the education reform, which is taking place for a fourth day in a row. The protest action is organised by the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools and the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia.

Solving problems of the Russian-speakers in Latvia and Estonia is a prerequisite for improvement of relations between Russia and these states, said the Deputy Director of the European II department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Mikhail Demurin during the seminar dedicated to Russia’s policy towards the European Union.

Solving problems of the Russian-speakers in Latvia and Estonia is a prerequisite for improvement of relations between Russia and these states, said the Deputy Director of the European II department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Mikhail Demurin during the seminar dedicated to Russias policy towards the European Union. Vesti Segodnya

Headquarters for the Defence of the Russian-language Schools made a statement, expressing support to the youth organization of the Latvian Social Democratic Labour Party (LSDLP) and Organization of the Working Youth. These organizations, in collaboration with the young representatives of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools, have appealed to the government to establish a moratorium on the education reform. Latvian Social Democratic Labour Party is allegedly planning to expel those LSDLP youth organization’s representatives, who have signed this appeal, from the party.

Headquarters for the Defence of the Russian-language Schools made a statement, expressing support to the youth organization of the Latvian Social Democratic Labour Party (LSDLP) and Organization of the Working Youth. These organizations, in collaboration with the young representatives of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools, have appealed to the government to establish a moratorium on the education reform. Latvian Social Democratic Labour Party is allegedly planning to expel those LSDLP youth organizations representatives, who have signed this appeal, from the party. Vesti Segodnya

• Party New Era demanded resignation of the government
• Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics discusses education reform with the representatives of the expert group formed by the Peoples Harmony Party
• Russia State Council accuses Latvia and Estonia of Russian-speakers rights violations
• Unapproved protest action against the education reform
• Administrative Court cancels ban on organising a protest action against the education reform at Ratslaukums, Maris Tralmaks plans to appeal
• Interview with the ambassador of Russia to Latvia Igor Stoudennikov
• Boris Tsilevitch about his plans in case he gets elected to the European Parliament
• Sweden newspaper Dagens Nyheter about non-citizens rights in Latvia

Party New Era has demanded resignation of the government of Indulis Emsis. According to the New Era, Saeima’s yesterday decision not to pass proposal for the budget amendments, prepared by opposition, was the reason behind it. Proposed amendments stipulate raise of teachers’ salaries and pension index. Prime minister has said to the press that government is planning to evaluate budget amendments in September.

Party New Era has demanded resignation of the government of Indulis Emsis. According to the New Era, Saeimas yesterday decision not to pass proposal for the budget amendments, prepared by opposition, was the reason behind it. Proposed amendments stipulate raise of teachers salaries and pension index. Prime minister has said to the press that government is planning to evaluate budget amendments in September. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Chas

Following initiative of the Prime Minister Indulis Emsis, yesterday Minister for Education and Science Juris Radzevics met with the representatives of the expert group formed by the People’s Harmony Party (PHP). During discussion on the education reform, representative of the PHP group Vladilens Dozorcevs has pointed to the necessity of amending the Law on Education, stipulating that the instruction in the state schools take place in the state language or in minorities’ languages. Party representatives believe that if the law cannot be opened, then a moratorium on the reform should be established. According to the PHP, the state should control only the quality of Latvian language instruction at minority schools, but the minorities’ schools should be able to choose educational programmes.

Following initiative of the Prime Minister Indulis Emsis, yesterday Minister for Education and Science Juris Radzevics met with the representatives of the expert group formed by the Peoples Harmony Party (PHP). During discussion on the education reform, representative of the PHP group Vladilens Dozorcevs has pointed to the necessity of amending the Law on Education, stipulating that the instruction in the state schools take place in the state language or in minorities languages. Party representatives believe that if the law cannot be opened, then a moratorium on the reform should be established. According to the PHP, the state should control only the quality of Latvian language instruction at minority schools, but the minorities schools should be able to choose educational programmes. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Statement to the European Parliament, adopted by the Russia State Council, accuses Latvia and Estonia of violations of the Russian-speakers rights. The statement points to the fact that half a million of Latvian residents cannot participate in the European Parliament elections. It also says that there is obvious ethnic discrimination in Latvia, because while 99,6% of ethnic Latvians are citizens, only 47,4%  of Russians, 27,3% of Belarussians and 16,3% of  Ukrainians living in Latvia possess Latvian citizenship.

Statement to the European Parliament, adopted by the Russia State Council, accuses Latvia and Estonia of violations of the Russian-speakers rights. The statement points to the fact that half a million of Latvian residents cannot participate in the European Parliament elections. It also says that there is obvious ethnic discrimination in Latvia, because while 99,6% of ethnic Latvians are citizens, only 47,4% of Russians, 27,3% of Belarussians and 16,3% of Ukrainians living in Latvia possess Latvian citizenship. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Yesterday representatives of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) organised a protest action against the education reform despite refusal of the executive director of the Riga City Council Maris Tralmaks to authorise this event. One of the leaders of the union Tatjana Zdanoka says that FHRUL is planning to challenge Maris Tralmaks’s decision at the court.

Yesterday representatives of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) organised a protest action against the education reform despite refusal of the executive director of the Riga City Council Maris Tralmaks to authorise this event. One of the leaders of the union Tatjana Zdanoka says that FHRUL is planning to challenge Maris Tralmakss decision at the court. Rigas Balss, Chas

Administrative Court cancelled the ban on organising a protest action against the education reform on 1 June at Ratslaukums.  Executive director of the Riga City Council Maris Tralmaks has previously refused to authorise the meeting on the grounds that Ratslaukums is not suitable for the events with the large numbers of participants. Maris Tralmaks is planning to appeal.

Administrative Court cancelled the ban on organising a protest action against the education reform on 1 June at Ratslaukums. Executive director of the Riga City Council Maris Tralmaks has previously refused to authorise the meeting on the grounds that Ratslaukums is not suitable for the events with the large numbers of participants. Maris Tralmaks is planning to appeal. Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with the ambassador of Russia to Latvia Igor Stoudennikov. Ambassador believes that expulsion of the Russian diplomat and refusal to issue an entry visa to Latvia to another Russian diplomat, Mikhail Demurin, do not promote good relations between the two states.

Chas prints an interview with the European Parliament candidate Boris Tsilevitch (Peoples Harmony Party) about his plans in case of being elected. According to Boris Tsilevitch, PHP wants to ask the European Commission to deal with minority rights ‘not only on the level of political decisions, which Latvia tends to ignore, but on the level of legal acts, which would guarantee rights for minorities.

Diena reprints fragments of the article about the non-citizens rights in Latvia, published by the Sweden newspaper Dagens Nyheter. Newspaper stresses that 481,000 Russian-speakers have no rights to participate at the European Parliament election. Dagens Nyheter also interviews two Latvian non-citizens about their attitude towards naturalisation. Diena

• Society Integration Foundation allocates more than 150,000 lats to ethnic integration projects
• 500, 000 euro per year from the European Fund for Refugees will be available for Latvia from 2005 till 2007
• Prime Minister Indulis Emsis condemns attempts of political parties to use education issues in selfish interests
• Special Tasks Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks informs Brussels about society integration process in Latvia
• Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics discusses the education reform implementation with the representatives of the For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM parliamentary group
• Saeima Legal Affairs Committee rejects amendments to the Constitution of Latvia, which stipulate additional rights for non-citizens
• Newspapers write about discussion at Saeima Legal Affairs Committee on opening of the files of the former agents of the State Security Committee
• Parliamentary secretary of the Special Tasks Ministers for Society Integration Secretariat Aleksandrs Brandavs on society integration issues
• Leader of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools Jurijs Petropavlovskis gets fined for organisation of the unapproved protest action against the education reform
• Russia plans to submit statement about violations of the Russian-speakers rights in the Baltic States to the European Parliament
• Memorial wall dedicated to the victims of the Holocaust and Gulag was unveiled yesterday in Liepaja
• Interview with the former Minister for Education and Science Karlis Sadurskis
• Interview with the Russia State Councils deputy Viktor Alksnis about Russian policy towards Latvia

Society Integration Foundation (SIF) has allocated more than 150,000 lats to forty-five different projects in the area of ethnic integration.

Society Integration Foundation (SIF) has allocated more than 150,000 lats to forty-five different projects in the area of ethnic integration. Telegraf

EU interior ministers decided that  500,000 euro per year from the European Fund for Refugees will be available for Latvia from 2005 until 2007. This financial assistance is provided for activities aimed at improvement of the living conditions of refugees in the host countries, as well as for their integration into society, and repatriation to the native country. Latvia is obliged to provide co-financing in the amount of 125,000 euro.

EU interior ministers decided that 500,000 euro per year from the European Fund for Refugees will be available for Latvia from 2005 until 2007. This financial assistance is provided for activities aimed at improvement of the living conditions of refugees in the host countries, as well as for their integration into society, and repatriation to the native country. Latvia is obliged to provide co-financing in the amount of 125,000 euro. Diena

Prime Minister Indulis Emsis expressed incomprehension and indignation about  attempts of several political parties to use education issues in their own selfish interests. According to Indulis Emsis, one of the leaders of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) Tatjana Zdanoka is doing all possible to prevent development of a constructive dialogue between the government and minorities in the area of the education reform.

Prime Minister Indulis Emsis expressed incomprehension and indignation about attempts of several political parties to use education issues in their own selfish interests. According to Indulis Emsis, one of the leaders of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) Tatjana Zdanoka is doing all possible to prevent development of a constructive dialogue between the government and minorities in the area of the education reform. Latvijas Avize, Chas

Special Tasks Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks has been informing the EU officials about society integration process in Latvia during his visit to Brussels. He has met with the Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs Antonio Vitorino, Director-General for Employment and Social Affairs Odile Quintin, and  diplomats responsible for relations with Russia.

Special Tasks Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks has been informing the EU officials about society integration process in Latvia during his visit to Brussels. He has met with the Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs Antonio Vitorino, Director-General for Employment and Social Affairs Odile Quintin, and diplomats responsible for relations with Russia. Diena

Newspapers write about the meeting of the Minister for Education and Science Juris Radzevics with representatives of the For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM parliamentary group in order to discuss implementation of the education reform. Minister confirmed that there are no plans to open the Law on Education for changes in the process of the reform implementation. Juris Radzevics also recognized that several minority schools are not ready for reform implementation, and stressed that  they will get additional support from the ministry.

Newspapers write about the meeting of the Minister for Education and Science Juris Radzevics with representatives of the For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM parliamentary group in order to discuss implementation of the education reform. Minister confirmed that there are no plans to open the Law on Education for changes in the process of the reform implementation. Juris Radzevics also recognized that several minority schools are not ready for reform implementation, and stressed that they will get additional support from the ministry. Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss, Chas, Telegraf

Saeima Legal Affairs Committee has rejected proposal, submitted by MP Jurijs Sokolovskis (FHRUL), to amend the Constitution of Latvia stipulating rights for non-citizens to participate at the municipal elections and rights not to be extradited to a foreign country.

Saeima Legal Affairs Committee has rejected proposal, submitted by MP Jurijs Sokolovskis (FHRUL), to amend the Constitution of Latvia stipulating rights for non-citizens to participate at the municipal elections and rights not to be extradited to a foreign country. Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Newspapers write about discussion at the Saeima Legal Affairs Committee on  making files on former agents of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia publicly available, and inform that MPs were not able to agree on the possible mechanism of opening the files.

Newspapers write about discussion at the Saeima Legal Affairs Committee on making files on former agents of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia publicly available, and inform that MPs were not able to agree on the possible mechanism of opening the files. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss, Vesti Segodnya

Vetsi Segodnya features opinion of the parliamentary secretary of the Special Tasks Ministers for Society Integration Secretariat Aleksandrs Brandavs on society integration issues and activities of the education reforms opponents.

Riga Central Court imposed a 150 lats fine on the leader of the Headquarters for the Defences of Russian-language Schools Jurijs Petropavlovskis for organising an unapproved protest action against the education reform. Jurijs Petropavlovskis has not pleaded guilty, arguing that he was  only accompanying his under-aged daughter, who participated in the protest action.

Riga Central Court imposed a 150 lats fine on the leader of the Headquarters for the Defences of Russian-language Schools Jurijs Petropavlovskis for organising an unapproved protest action against the education reform. Jurijs Petropavlovskis has not pleaded guilty, arguing that he was only accompanying his under-aged daughter, who participated in the protest action. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Russia is planning to submit  a statement on violations of the Russian-speakers’ rights in the Baltic States to the European Parliament,  said representative of the Russia State Council’s parliamentary group Yedinaya Rossiya (United Russia) Konstantin Zatulin. Russian official has pointed to the fact that, although Russian-speakers constitute one third of Latvian residents, and fifteen percents of Estonian residents, they are deprived of the right to participate in the European Union elections, and therefore to be represented in the European Parliament.

Russia is planning to submit a statement on violations of the Russian-speakers rights in the Baltic States to the European Parliament, said representative of the Russia State Councils parliamentary group Yedinaya Rossiya (United Russia) Konstantin Zatulin. Russian official has pointed to the fact that, although Russian-speakers constitute one third of Latvian residents, and fifteen percents of Estonian residents, they are deprived of the right to participate in the European Union elections, and therefore to be represented in the European Parliament. Neatkariga Rita Avize

Memorial wall, dedicated to the victims of the Holocaust and Gulag, was unveiled yesterday in  Liepaja, in the Western part of Latvia. More than 6,400 victims’ names  are engraved upon the wall. Only three percents of Liepaja’s Jews have survived through the Soviet and Hitler occupations and the World War II.

Memorial wall, dedicated to the victims of the Holocaust and Gulag, was unveiled yesterday in Liepaja, in the Western part of Latvia. More than 6,400 victims names are engraved upon the wall. Only three percents of Liepajas Jews have survived through the Soviet and Hitler occupations and the World War II. Latvijas Vestnesis, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Telegraf

Chas features an interview with the former Minister for Education and Science Karlis Sadurskis about implementation of the education reform and activities of the reforms opponents.

Chas prints an interview with the deputy of the Russia State Council Viktor Alksnis about relations between Russia and Latvia. Russian MP believes that Russia should have her own ‘tough policy towards Latvia, and that there is no need in coordinating this policy with the European Union.