• Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis: government has to look for new alternatives to provide compensation to the Jews
• Microsoft Latvia has granted LVL 20,000 (EUR 28,475) to computer training for the Roma

The Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis stated that the government has to look for new ways how to provide compensation to the Jews for the lost properties during the Holocaust. As reported, the Saeima declined the draft law, which among other stipulated granting compensation in amount of LVL 32,000,000 (EUR 45,531,897) to the Jewish Community of Latvia. Aigars Kalvitis stated that draft law is a political compromise; however, it contradicts Latvian legal norms.

The Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis stated that the government has to look for new ways how to provide compensation to the Jews for the lost properties during the Holocaust. As reported, the Saeima declined the draft law, which among other stipulated granting compensation in amount of LVL 32,000,000 (EUR 45,531,897) to the Jewish Community of Latvia. Aigars Kalvitis stated that draft law is a political compromise; however, it contradicts Latvian legal norms. Chas

Latvijas Avize reports that the enterprise Microsoft Latvia in cooperation with the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration and Latvian Roma Union Nevo Drom has granted funding in amount of LVL 20,000 (EUR 28,475) aimed at providing computer training for the Roma. The project will be implemented in the framework of the National Action Plan for integration of Roma in Latvia 2007- 2009.

• Saeima has declined the draft law on granting compensation to the Jewish Community of Latvia to deal with injustices of WW II
• Saeima has forwarded draft amendments to the Criminal Law to its committees
• Saiema has declined a proposal of the FHRUL to transfer the Naturalisation Board under the auspices of the IUMSILS

Yesterday, the Saeima has declined the draft law, which among other stipulated granting of LVL 32,000,000 (EUR 45,531,897) to the Jewish Community of Latvia as a compensation for the lost properties during the WW II in Latvia. The Council of Jewish Communities of Latvia responded that if the Saeima does not adopt the draft law Latvia also becomes partly responsible for the Holocaust and crimes of the totalitarian regimes.

Yesterday, the Saeima has declined the draft law, which among other stipulated granting of LVL 32,000,000 (EUR 45,531,897) to the Jewish Community of Latvia as a compensation for the lost properties during the WW II in Latvia. The Council of Jewish Communities of Latvia responded that if the Saeima does not adopt the draft law Latvia also becomes partly responsible for the Holocaust and crimes of the totalitarian regimes. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Diena, Latvijas Avize, NRA

Vesti Segodnya reports, that the Saeima has supported the draft amendments to the Criminal Law, which foresee criminal liability for offences related to discrimination. An inter-institutional working group which developed the draft amendments agreed that the draft amendments should include not only sanctions for discrimination on ethnic/racial grounds but also for discrimination on other grounds, including sex, age, religious beliefs, political and other affiliation, education, social origin, social and welfare status, profession, health or sexual orientation. However, the draft amendments distinguish criminal liability for offences related to discrimination and criminal liability for instigation of ethnic and racial hatred.

Yesterday, the Saeima has declined the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law proposed by the political party For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL). As reported, the FHRUL has proposed to transfer the Naturalisation Board under the auspices of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (IUMSILS in its Latvian acronym). Presently the Naturalisation Board is under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice headed by Gaidis Berzins, the member of the right wing party FF/LNIM.

Yesterday, the Saeima has declined the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law proposed by the political party For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL). As reported, the FHRUL has proposed to transfer the Naturalisation Board under the auspices of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (IUMSILS in its Latvian acronym). Presently the Naturalisation Board is under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice headed by Gaidis Berzins, the member of the right wing party FF/LNIM. Chas

• Chas prints an interview with the Parliamentary Secretary of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Vjaceslavs Stepanenko
• Seminars Myths and Truth about Oriental World will be held on 25 November - 3 December in various Latvian towns
• Today the Saeima will review the draft law on granting compensation to the Jewish Community of Latvia
• Vesti Segodnya prints an article on the documentary The Others? about Russian speaking residents of Latvia

Chas prints an interview with the Parliamentary Secretary of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, MP Vjaceslavs Stepanenko (Latvias First Party/ Latvias Way). Vjaceslavs Stepanenko believed that the proposal of the political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM to halt naturalisation will not be supported by the majority of the MPs.

A series of seminars “Myths and Truth about Oriental World” organised by the Centre of Oriental Culture will be held on 25 November to 3 December in various Latvian towns. The aim of the seminars is to establish an intercultural dialogue between Latvian and Oriental cultures.

A series of seminars Myths and Truth about Oriental World organised by the Centre of Oriental Culture will be held on 25 November to 3 December in various Latvian towns. The aim of the seminars is to establish an intercultural dialogue between Latvian and Oriental cultures. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

Newspapers report that today the Saeima will review the draft law on granting a compensation in the amount of LVL 32,000,000 (EUR 45,531,897) to the Jewish Community of Latvia for the property lost during the Holocaust. Newspapers speculate that discussions in the yesterday’s meeting of the ruling coalition show that members of the governing coalition have already decided to vote against the draft law or to abstain from voting. The MP Maris Kucinskis (People’s Party) in an interview with

Newspapers report that today the Saeima will review the draft law on granting a compensation in the amount of LVL 32,000,000 (EUR 45,531,897) to the Jewish Community of Latvia for the property lost during the Holocaust. Newspapers speculate that discussions in the yesterdays meeting of the ruling coalition show that members of the governing coalition have already decided to vote against the draft law or to abstain from voting. The MP Maris Kucinskis (Peoples Party) in an interview with Diena has stated that the draft law cannot be supported because of its legal deficiencies. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Diena, NRA

Vesti Segodnya prints an article on a documentary The Others? about Russian speaking residents of Latvia. The director of the documentary Antra Cilinska in an interview with the newspaper has told that the film tells about lives of Russians in Latvia, but the target audience of the documentary is Latvians.

• Representative of Latvia in the PACE Boriss Cilevics on the recent Councils of Europe resolution on rights of ethnic minorities in Latvia
• Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane disagrees with a proposal of the FHRUL to transfer the Board under the auspices of the IUMSILS

Newspapers report that yesterday the MP, representative of Latvia in the PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe) Boriss Cilevics (The Concord Centre) held a press conference on a recent resolution on rights of ethnic minorities in Latvia adopted by the PACE Standing Committee. Boriss Cilevics has stated that although the resolution is not legally binding, the document is of high importance as it clearly defines the position of the Council of Europe concerning protection of minority rights in Latvia and identifies issues which needs to be addressed.

Newspapers report that yesterday the MP, representative of Latvia in the PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe) Boriss Cilevics (The Concord Centre) held a press conference on a recent resolution on rights of ethnic minorities in Latvia adopted by the PACE Standing Committee. Boriss Cilevics has stated that although the resolution is not legally binding, the document is of high importance as it clearly defines the position of the Council of Europe concerning protection of minority rights in Latvia and identifies issues which needs to be addressed. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Latvijas Avize prints an article on the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law proposed by the parliamentary faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL). As reported, the FHRUL proposed to transfer the Naturalisation Board (NB) under the auspices of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (IUMSILS in its Latvian acronym). Presently, the Naturalisation Board works under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice headed by Gaidis Berzins (FF/LNIM). The Head of the NB Eizenija Aldermane in an interview with the newspaper has criticized the proposal and argued that in no way it would contribute to improvement of NBs work.

• Peteris Tabuns (FF/LNIM) elected as the Head of the Saeimas Citizenship Law Implementation Committee
• FHRUL will draw attention of the NATO member countries to the situation with non-citizens in Latvia
• Chas reports that the Consultative Council of Ethnic Minorities has held its first meeting

Yesterday, Peteris Tabuns MP, member of the nationalist party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM was elected as the Head of the Saeima Citizenship Law Implementation Committee. As reported, pre-election program of the FF/LNIM included calls for suspension of naturalisation, reduction of the number of applicants for citizenship, withdrawal of citizenship from disloyal persons, and facilitation of deportation of persons who are not willing to be integrated into Latvian society. Despite the protests of human rights experts Janis Smits, MP, member of Latvia’s First Party/ Latvia’s Way coalition, notorious for his homophobic statements, was elected as the Head of the Human Rights Committee.

Yesterday, Peteris Tabuns MP, member of the nationalist party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM was elected as the Head of the Saeima Citizenship Law Implementation Committee. As reported, pre-election program of the FF/LNIM included calls for suspension of naturalisation, reduction of the number of applicants for citizenship, withdrawal of citizenship from disloyal persons, and facilitation of deportation of persons who are not willing to be integrated into Latvian society. Despite the protests of human rights experts Janis Smits, MP, member of Latvias First Party/ Latvias Way coalition, notorious for his homophobic statements, was elected as the Head of the Human Rights Committee. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Diena

On the eve of the NATO summit in Riga, the Saeima faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) is planning to send letters of appeal to the Embassies of NATO Member States to draw their attention on deprivation of rights and discrimination of non-citizens and Russian speaking residents of Latvia.

On the eve of the NATO summit in Riga, the Saeima faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) is planning to send letters of appeal to the Embassies of NATO Member States to draw their attention on deprivation of rights and discrimination of non-citizens and Russian speaking residents of Latvia. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Chas reports that the Advisory Council of Ethnic Minorities of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration has held its first meeting. The Council includes 20 representatives of Russian, Belorussian, Ukrainian, German, Roma, Estonian, Lithuanian, Uzbek, Arab and other minority groups. The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens has stated that the first main task of the Council will be presentation of the official report on implementation of the Framework Convention for Protection of National Minorities.