• Representatives of the EU and CIS held a discussion at a Russian school in Latvia
• European Committee will continue the proceeding of Yuriy Petropavlovskiy in February
• 700 EU citizens have arrived to Latvia on work permissions during past 10 months

The conference “East-West Network” was launched at the Riga Secondary School No 17 on Friday. Representatives of the EU and CIS took part in the conference. The main issues of discussion were the situation of Russian and Latvian communities and the minority education reform.

The conference East-West Network was launched at the Riga Secondary School No 17 on Friday. Representatives of the EU and CIS took part in the conference. The main issues of discussion were the situation of Russian and Latvian communities and the minority education reform. Vesti Segodnya

The European Committee has recommended the European Parliament to close the case on the refusal of the grant of Latvian citizenship to activist of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian Language Schools Juriy Petropavlovskiy. According to a press officer, the European Committee has stated that there are no justified grounds for a complaint, as the status of minorities is the internal issue of a state. However, the Petition Committee of the European Parliament did not support the recommendation and will review the case in January. As reported, the Cabinet of Ministers refused to grant him Latvian citizenship although he had passed naturalization exams. The Cabinet of Ministers argued that he is not a loyal citizen because of his activities (as a member of the Headquarters).

The European Committee has recommended the European Parliament to close the case on the refusal of the grant of Latvian citizenship to activist of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian Language Schools Juriy Petropavlovskiy. According to a press officer, the European Committee has stated that there are no justified grounds for a complaint, as the status of minorities is the internal issue of a state. However, the Petition Committee of the European Parliament did not support the recommendation and will review the case in January. As reported, the Cabinet of Ministers refused to grant him Latvian citizenship although he had passed naturalization exams. The Cabinet of Ministers argued that he is not a loyal citizen because of his activities (as a member of the Headquarters). Chas

About 700 EU citizens, mainly from Estonia and Lithuania, have arrived  to Latvia on work permissions during past 10 months. besides guest workers from the above mentioned countries, there are guest workers from Germany, Sweden, Finland, Dania, United Kingdom, Poland, Italy, and France.

About 700 EU citizens, mainly from Estonia and Lithuania, have arrived to Latvia on work permissions during past 10 months. besides guest workers from the above mentioned countries, there are guest workers from Germany, Sweden, Finland, Dania, United Kingdom, Poland, Italy, and France. Vesti Segodnya, Chas

• Head of Minority Rights Group: Latvia is on the right way
• Russian delegation in the PACE insists on the continuation of the post-monitoring dialog with Latvia
• UCRCL will hold a meeting in Rezekne
• Deputies from left-wing parties submitted an application to the Constitutional Court
• Project Culture Mosaic of Different Nations in Liepaja

The Head of Minority Rights Group in an interview with

The Head of Minority Rights Group in an interview with Chas stated that Latvia is dealing very well with issues concerning ethnic minorities. He believes that citizenship should not be granted to a person who does not know the state language. However, he believes that the dialogue between Russians and Latvians should be more civilized.

Yesterday the Head of the Russian delegation in PACE Konstantin Kosachev stated, that Moscow will demand the continuation of the post-monitoring dialog with Latvia.

Yesterday the Head of the Russian delegation in PACE Konstantin Kosachev stated, that Moscow will demand the continuation of the post-monitoring dialog with Latvia. Segodnya, Latvijas Avize,

The board of the United Congress of the Russian Community in Latvia will hold a meeting in Rezekne (a city in the eastern part of Latvia) on Saturday.

The board of the United Congress of the Russian Community in Latvia will hold a meeting in Rezekne (a city in the eastern part of Latvia) on Saturday. Vesti Segodnya

According to Russian language newspapers, the quality of education and level of academic attainments among students of 10

According to Russian language newspapers, the quality of education and level of academic attainments among students of 10th grades of Russian schools have dropped since the inception of the minority education reform. The newspapers report on the situation in the school in Bolderaja (a district in Riga), where a teacher wanted to discuss poor results of students in one of subjects taught bilingually with parents and also representatives of the media and MPs. However, according to the newspapers, the school administration explains that poor results is normal practice in the first half of the semester when students are getting accustomed to the new system. Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Yesterday the deputies from left-wing parties submitted an application to the Constitutional Court challenging some authorities of the State Language Centre set by regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers. As reported, the Harmony Centre believes that the authority of the State Language Centre to conduct examinations of staff’s actual state language skills at different organisations results in provocations and unjustified administrative penalties.

Yesterday the deputies from left-wing parties submitted an application to the Constitutional Court challenging some authorities of the State Language Centre set by regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers. As reported, the Harmony Centre believes that the authority of the State Language Centre to conduct examinations of staffs actual state language skills at different organisations results in provocations and unjustified administrative penalties. Telegraf, Latvijas Avize

Today the Puppet Theatre of Liepaja in collaboration with the Art Centre “Peda,” with the financial support of the Society Integration Foundation, starts a project art festival “Culture Mosaic of Different Nations.”. The programme of the festival will be very diverse – including theatre performances and presentations national foods.

Today the Puppet Theatre of Liepaja in collaboration with the Art Centre Peda, with the financial support of the Society Integration Foundation, starts a project art festival Culture Mosaic of Different Nations.. The programme of the festival will be very diverse – including theatre performances and presentations national foods. Latvijas Avize

• PACE stopped the post-monitoring dialogue with Latvia
• Head of Saeimas Foreign Affair Committee: Latvia should remain Latvian forever
• Latvian politicians comment on a possibility to hold a national referendum on amendments to the Citizenship Law

Yesterday, the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), after listening to the report of the Head of the Monitoring Committee, stopped the post-monitoring dialogue with Latvia on the situation of minorities in the country despite the Head’s petition to continue the monitoring. Latvian high officials, including the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, believe that the closure of post-monitoring is a clear sign that Latvia corresponds to all European democracy criteria. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks stated that the closure of the post-monitoring dialogue is a victory of Latvian diplomacy. However,

Yesterday, the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), after listening to the report of the Head of the Monitoring Committee, stopped the post-monitoring dialogue with Latvia on the situation of minorities in the country despite the Heads petition to continue the monitoring. Latvian high officials, including the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, believe that the closure of post-monitoring is a clear sign that Latvia corresponds to all European democracy criteria. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks stated that the closure of the post-monitoring dialogue is a victory of Latvian diplomacy. However, Vesti Segodnya notes that although the post-monitoring has been cancelled, Latvia will have to account for the implementation of the Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities. Latvijas. Vestnesis, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize, Diena, NRA

The Head of Saeima’s Foreign Affair Committee Vaira Paegle in an interview with

The Head of Saeimas Foreign Affair Committee Vaira Paegle in an interview with Latvijas Vestnesis said that Latvia has a good experience in integration of immigrants. However, she is convinced that the number of immigrants should be limited and Latvia should remain Latvian forever. Vaira Paegle expressed her concern about increasing intolerance towards the other in the Latvian society. She believes that the society should become more tolerant as intolerance brings harm to all members of the society.

Chas asked Latvian politicians to comment an intention of the faction For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM to discuss amendments to the Citizenship Law at a national referendum. Yuriy Sokolovskiy (FHRUL) considers that the referendum would be only a PR action in FF/LNIMs pre-election campaign. Andris Berzins (Latvias Way) thinks that FF/LNIM wants to split Latvian society into two parts. Augusts Brigmanis (Union of Greens and Farmers) believes that Latvia does not need the referendum, because naturalization goes on according to all European norms and rules. Valeriy Ageshin (Harmony Centre) said that FF/LNIM wants to bring about ethnic tension, arguing that the proposed amendments would hamper ethnic integration.

• Latvia may hold a national referendum on amendments to the Citizenship Law
• Guest workers might be invited to Latvia in four or five years
• Security Police initiate cases against members of National Bolsheviks and the Union of National Forces
• 534 new naturalized citizens of Latvia
• Baltic Forum will organise discussions on integration issues
• Members of East-West Network conference will attend a Russian school

The representatives of the Saeima’s faction For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM in an interview with

The representatives of the Saeimas faction For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM in an interview with Chas stated that the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law developed by FF/LNIM might be discussed at a national referendum. As reported, among other the draft amendments provide that persons, who arrived to Latvia during the USSRs regime, should not have the right to naturalization, while those, entitled to naturalization, should present guarantees of their loyalty provided by two Latvian citizens. One of the leaders of the Latvias First Party Ainars Slesers, in an interview with Vesti Segodnya, stated that he believes that there should not be any restrictions on naturalization and his party will not support the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law.

Yesterday, deputy head of the Saeima’s Human Rights and Social Affairs Committee Augusts Brigmanis, stated that Latvia may face the acute need in guest workers from Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine after four or five years, arguing that the increasing number of local work force leaves the country. However, the Prime Minister of Latvia Aigars Kalvitis believes that the situation is not so serious and there will be no need to make the Latvian job market more open.

Yesterday, deputy head of the Saeimas Human Rights and Social Affairs Committee Augusts Brigmanis, stated that Latvia may face the acute need in guest workers from Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine after four or five years, arguing that the increasing number of local work force leaves the country. However, the Prime Minister of Latvia Aigars Kalvitis believes that the situation is not so serious and there will be no need to make the Latvian job market more open. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Yesterday the Security Police initiated a criminal case against three National Bolsheviks, who hung out a banner “Burial of Freedom” from the window of the Hotel de Rome on the Latvian Independence Day. Another criminal case was initiated against a member of the ultra-right organization the Union of National Forces for incitement to ethnic hatred in a TV show in May of 2005. The member of the Union of National Forces called to create conditions for repatriation of people who came to Latvia during the USSR’s regime to their ethnic homeland.

Yesterday the Security Police initiated a criminal case against three National Bolsheviks, who hung out a banner Burial of Freedom from the window of the Hotel de Rome on the Latvian Independence Day. Another criminal case was initiated against a member of the ultra-right organization the Union of National Forces for incitement to ethnic hatred in a TV show in May of 2005. The member of the Union of National Forces called to create conditions for repatriation of people who came to Latvia during the USSRs regime to their ethnic homeland. Chas, Diena

534 persons, including 42 children, were naturalized yesterday in Latvia.

534 persons, including 42 children, were naturalized yesterday in Latvia. Vesti Segodnya

The Head of the Baltic Forum Janis Urbanovics is planning to organize discussions on  integration issues in the end of November. 20 well known persons were asked to answer the following question “What measures should be taken by Latvians and Russian speaking residents to unite the two groups and improve mutual relations.” One of the surveyed persons Dzintra Hirsa, former head of the State Language Centre, in an interview with

The Head of the Baltic Forum Janis Urbanovics is planning to organize discussions on integration issues in the end of November. 20 well known persons were asked to answer the following question What measures should be taken by Latvians and Russian speaking residents to unite the two groups and improve mutual relations. One of the surveyed persons Dzintra Hirsa, former head of the State Language Centre, in an interview with Latvijas Avize stated that there will be no integration if there is no common understanding of history in the society. Dzintra Hirsa also believes that Latvians should not yield to Russians. Latvijas Avize

An international conference “East-West Network” will be organized in Riga on 25 and 26 November. Before the conference, its guests from Europe and CIS countries will attend a Russian school and hold discussions with Russian students about the implementation  and problems of the minority school reform launched in 2004.

An international conference East-West Network will be organized in Riga on 25 and 26 November. Before the conference, its guests from Europe and CIS countries will attend a Russian school and hold discussions with Russian students about the implementation and problems of the minority school reform launched in 2004. Chas

• Harmony Centre collects signatures to challenge authority of the State Language Centre at the Constitutional Court
• Russian Community in Latvia held a conference
• Headquarters discuss the future of the organization
• About 100 Russian organisations in Latvia could claim funding from Russia

The Harmony Centre began the collection of signatures required to submit an application with the Constitutional Court. The party plans to challenge authorities of the State Language Centre set by regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers. The regulations stipulate that the State Language Centre has authority to conduct examinations of staff’s actual state language skills at organisations, institutions and companies. Leader of the party Andreys Klementyevs believes that examinations of actual language skills result in provocations and unjustified administrative penalties.

The Harmony Centre began the collection of signatures required to submit an application with the Constitutional Court. The party plans to challenge authorities of the State Language Centre set by regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers. The regulations stipulate that the State Language Centre has authority to conduct examinations of staffs actual state language skills at organisations, institutions and companies. Leader of the party Andreys Klementyevs believes that examinations of actual language skills result in provocations and unjustified administrative penalties. Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Latvijas Avize

The Russian Community in Latvia held a conference on the activities of the community and the situation of the Russian speaking residents in the country in 2005. The Community criticized the government of Latvia for not granting equal rights to Russians in Latvia according to international standards. The Community also submitted five proposals on the development of civil society to the member of the Saeima Vladimir Buzajev (FHRUL). The Community offers that, firstly, the Riga City Council  creates a unit which would deal with ethnic minority issues. Secondly, it is suggested that the Ministry of Culture forms an Advisory Council on National Minority Cultures. The third proposal is addressed to the President of Latvia and relates to resuming the work of the National Minority Council. And the last, to offer the President of Russia to create the Public Council of Compatriots.

The Russian Community in Latvia held a conference on the activities of the community and the situation of the Russian speaking residents in the country in 2005. The Community criticized the government of Latvia for not granting equal rights to Russians in Latvia according to international standards. The Community also submitted five proposals on the development of civil society to the member of the Saeima Vladimir Buzajev (FHRUL). The Community offers that, firstly, the Riga City Council creates a unit which would deal with ethnic minority issues. Secondly, it is suggested that the Ministry of Culture forms an Advisory Council on National Minority Cultures. The third proposal is addressed to the President of Latvia and relates to resuming the work of the National Minority Council. And the last, to offer the President of Russia to create the Public Council of Compatriots. Vesti Segodnya

Members of the Headquarters for the Defence of the Russian Speaking Schools held the discussion on the future of the organization. Participants discussed successes and failures in the past activities and protest actions. The Headquarters acknowledged that their activities regarding the minority education reform  have failed. However, it was stated that they will continue the activities, because it is the only way to preserve the Russian culture and community in Latvia.

Members of the Headquarters for the Defence of the Russian Speaking Schools held the discussion on the future of the organization. Participants discussed successes and failures in the past activities and protest actions. The Headquarters acknowledged that their activities regarding the minority education reform have failed. However, it was stated that they will continue the activities, because it is the only way to preserve the Russian culture and community in Latvia. Vesti Segodnya

About 100 Russian organisations in Latvia could claim funding from Russia. As reported, Russia is planning to provide 17.5 million dollars for non-profit public organizations in those countries which violate the rights of Russia’s citizens. A representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Russia clarified that the funding will be provided to the Russian Embassies in these countries, and not directly to organizations, then embassies will decide on the further distribution of finances.

About 100 Russian organisations in Latvia could claim funding from Russia. As reported, Russia is planning to provide 17.5 million dollars for non-profit public organizations in those countries which violate the rights of Russias citizens. A representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Russia clarified that the funding will be provided to the Russian Embassies in these countries, and not directly to organizations, then embassies will decide on the further distribution of finances. Telegraf