• Vesti Segodnya reports about a conference Institute of Citizenship in Baltic Countries
• Naturalisation Board reduces its staff and closes a number of branches in order to save state funds
• Latvijas Avize reports on public discussions of the draft project of integration guidelines for 2009-2013 held in the biggest Latvian cities

Vesti Segodnya reports about a conference Institute of Citizenship in Baltic Countries held by the Naturalisation Board in co-operation with the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities at a conference represented by Brendan Moran, the Director of the office of High Commissioner. Officials from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Denmark, Norway and Finland took part in the conference. The participants shared their experience and informed each other about naturalisation terms, requirements for applicants, structure of examination and dynamics of naturalisation figures. Mr. Moran in an interview with the newspaper stated that number of non-citizens in Latvia is disproportionate to its population, therefore, it is recommended for Latvian government to do something to improve the situation because it is not normal for any state in the world.

Telegraf reports that the Naturalisation Board (NB) reduces its staff and closes a number of branches in order to save state funds. However, according to a representative of the NB, the Ministry of Justice might assign a new function to the NB, but the final decision is not taken yet.

Latvijas Avize reports on public discussions of the draft project of integration guidelines for 2009-2013 held in the biggest Latvian cities. According to the newspaper, all the discussions were poorly attended and neither experts nor representatives of working group have considerable objections for the documents content. It is planned that the document will be submitted to the government for revision by 15 December 2008.

• Baltic regional group on education in Russian language and culture launches work on elaboration of education programme Russian Culture in Russian School

Baltic regional group on education in Russian language and culture (formed by Russian linguists and teachers), launches work on elaboration of education program “Russian Culture in Russian School.” The aim of the initiative is to elaborate education programme which would define proportion of Russian language and Latvian language in schools with Russian language of instruction in a way which would provide high-quality education in subjects taught in Russian and Latvian language and in subjects which help learning about Russian and Latvian cultures. The initiators of the group appeal to all teachers in Russian language schools in Latvia to join the elaboration of the program.

Baltic regional group on education in Russian language and culture (formed by Russian linguists and teachers), launches work on elaboration of education program Russian Culture in Russian School. The aim of the initiative is to elaborate education programme which would define proportion of Russian language and Latvian language in schools with Russian language of instruction in a way which would provide high-quality education in subjects taught in Russian and Latvian language and in subjects which help learning about Russian and Latvian cultures. The initiators of the group appeal to all teachers in Russian language schools in Latvia to join the elaboration of the program. Vesti Segodnya

• State Language Centre fined 11 bus drivers for insufficient Latvian language proficiency

In November, the State Language Centre fined 11 bus drivers for disuse of Latvian language at work Bus drivers were fined with LVL 40 (EUR 57) and LVL 50 (EUR 71).

In November, the State Language Centre fined 11 bus drivers for disuse of Latvian language at work Bus drivers were fined with LVL 40 (EUR 57) and LVL 50 (EUR 71). Chas

• Newspaper DDD calls ethnic non-Latvians to leave the country
• Latvijas Avize prints an interview with social-linguist, the MP Inna Druviete (Civil Union) on state language policy in Latvia
• Leader of the political party Concord Centre Janis Urbanovics complains about the Presidents Chancellery which did not send invitations to partys representatives to celebration events devoted to 90th anniversary of Latvian independence

Vesti Segodnya reports about a new issue of radical newspaper DDD edited by Latvian nationalist Aivars Garda. The newspaper contains such slogans as Occupants should get away and a number of articles which call ethnic non-Latvians who arrived during the Soviet times to leave the country alleging they reside in Latvia illegally.

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with social-linguist, the MP Inna Druviete (Civil Union) on state language policy in Latvia. According to Mrs. Druviete, an ethnic Latvian has full rights to use only Latvian language in all spheres in Latvia including communication with other people of the country. Inna Druviete believes that the biggest mistake of integration policy is that Latvian politicians and mass media are presenting bilingual society as an acceptable model. Mrs. Druviete also considers that legal acts should stipulate usage of state language as one of the obligatory duties of state officials.

The leader of the political party Concord Centre Janis Urbanovics complains about the President’s Chancellery which did not send invitations to the party’s deputies representing various Latvian cities and regions when celebration events devoted to 90

The leader of the political party Concord Centre Janis Urbanovics complains about the Presidents Chancellery which did not send invitations to the partys deputies representing various Latvian cities and regions when celebration events devoted to 90th anniversary of Latvian independence were held. According to Mr. Urbanovics, the fact that representatives of other parties did receive the invitations shows that the Concord centre is intentionally ignored and discriminated. Telegraf

• Chas: study kits for highest state language proficiency category examinations are hardly available
• State Border Guard Service has detained two citizens of Moldova residing in Latvia with expired visas
• Chas reports about an exhibition Russians in Latvia held in Riga

According to

According to Chas, study kits for highest state language proficiency category examinations are hardly available for persons willing to pass the language examinations. People also complain that the existing study kits do not comply with the requirements of the highest state language proficiency category, and therefore, persons are forced to attend language courses.

The State Border Guard Service has detained two citizens of Moldova residing in Latvia with expired visas. Both persons are placed in the camp for illegal immigrants in Olaine.

The State Border Guard Service has detained two citizens of Moldova residing in Latvia with expired visas. Both persons are placed in the camp for illegal immigrants in Olaine. Vesti Segodnya

Chas reports about an exhibition Russians in Latvia held in Riga. The exhibition shows the history of Russian population living in Latvia from XI century till the present time.