• Periodical of Armenian community “Ararat” celebrates 10 years anniversary

Vesti Segodnya reports about a 10 years anniversary a periodical of Armenian community “Ararat” edited in Riga. According to an editor of the periodical, its aim is to unite Armenians, inform about the life of the community in Latvia and other parts of the world, and to popularise Armenian culture. According to the Register of Residents, there are about 3,000 ethnic Armenians residing in Latvia.

• Security Police: number of cases on incitement to ethnic hatred has significantly grown
• Latvijas Avize: granting residence permits to foreign investors is not profitable

According to the Security Police, number of cases on incitement to ethnic hatred has significantly grown since 2008. 15 criminal cases on incitement to ethnic hatred got initiated during the first half of 2012, comparing to 33 criminal cases initiated during the past 3 years. The most often incitement to ethnic hatred occurs in the Internet comments as insulting statements towards representatives of particular ethnic groups. Some comments contain threat of violence. There are very few registered cases of violent attacks motivated by ethnic animosity; however, it is possible that such attacks are not reported. The Security Police warns that if no measures are taken to limit hate speech, the number of such crimes will continue to grow. Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize prints an article asserting that granting residence permits to foreign investors is not profitable. According to the newspaper, instead of making large investments in local enterprises, the majority of foreigners buy expensive real estate in Latvia. Thus, such investments do not develop Latvia’s economy, believes the Doctor of Economics Raita Karnite. The majority of investors are from Russia and eastern countries.

• Saeima supported 15-fold increase of the number of signatures required for initiation of the national referendum
• Chas interviews the MP, linguist Ina Druviete

Yesterday, the majority of the Saeima supported draft amendments stipulating 15-fold increase of the number of signatures required for initiation of the national referendum. According to the supported amendments, until 2015, it is required to collect at least 30,000 of signatures for support of an initiative during the first stage of referendum. Then the Central Elections Committee will initiate state funded collection of signatures. However, after 2015, the two-stage system of initiation of referendum will be cancelled and the initiators of a referendum will have to collect 10% of the voter’s signatures (about 154,000) on their own. If the required amount of signatures is collected, the Central Election Committee will initiate the national referendum. The draft amendments now have to be proclaimed by the President of Latvia Andris Berzins who already returned the draft amendments for repeated revision back to the Saeima twice. The oppositional parties are planning to turn to the President asking not to proclaim the draft amendments as those significantly limit democratic participation of citizens. According to effective legal norms, it is required to collect at least 10,000 of signatures during the first stage. Telegraf, Chas, Diena, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Neatkariga

According to the MP, linguist Ina Druviete, every Latvian resident has to perceive Latvian language as a value and take part in its preservation. Mrs Druviete also stresses that ethnic minority languages are also a value and ethnic Latvians should take care preserving those. At the same time, Mrs Druviete believes presence of Russian language in informative space in Latvia is proportionally too big. Therefore she supports the legal regulation limiting usage of foreign languages in official communication or provision of information by state institutions. Chas

• LTV7 will broadcast a ceremonial military parade on 11 November in Russian

TV channel LTV7 will broadcast a ceremonial military parade on 11 November (the day of commemoration of warriors for Latvia’s freedom) in Russian language. Funding for translation of the broadcast into Russian language is allocated from the program on consolidation of society. It is also planned to translate broadcasts reporting about events on the Independence Day on 18 November.

• Minister of Education and Science Roberts Kilis moves forward the draft amendments stipulating wider usage of foreign language in higher education establishments

The Minister of Education and Science Roberts Kilis moves forward the draft amendments to the Law on Higher Education Establishments and other legal acts concerning wider usage of foreign language in education process. The Minister believes wider usage of English in study programs of Latvian higher education establishments would raise their international competitiveness. It is planned to allow to organise part of study programs fully in one of the EU official languages, but not less than half of programs for bachelors and masters degree should be in Latvian language. The study program for PhD could be fully composed in foreign language. Latvijas Avize