• Weekly magazine Sestdiena prints an article on guest workers in Latvia
• Academician Janis Priedkalns: Latvian language should remain the only official language in Latvia

Weekly magazine

Weekly magazine Sestdiena prints an article on guest workers in Latvia. According to the article, the majority of guest workers arrive to Latvia from Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Armenia and Uzbekistan. There has also been a regular inflow of workers from Rumania and Bulgaria to Latvia as they do not need working permits. According to a representative of the State Labour Inspectorate, guest workers are predominantly employed in construction work, transport and communications sector, and in manufacturing industry. Russian is the language of communication or the majority of guest workers.

Academician Janis Priedkalns has stated that Latvian language should remain the only official language in Latvia. Mr. Priedkalns considers that granting Russian the status of a minority  language would endanger the position and preservation of the Latvian language.

Academician Janis Priedkalns has stated that Latvian language should remain the only official language in Latvia. Mr. Priedkalns considers that granting Russian the status of a minority language would endanger the position and preservation of the Latvian language. NRA

• General Prosecutors Office reopened criminal proceedings against neo-Nazi Andris Jordans
• State Language Committee refused a proposal of the MP Ina Druviete to grant Russian the official status of ethnic minorities language in Latvia
• Telegraf: non-citizens will be able to cross internal borders of Shengen area without border control
• TV journalist Janis Domburs: political parties in Latvia should not be divided along ethnic lines

Chas reports that the MPs Vladislavs Rafalskis and Viktors Gluhovs have received a reply from the General Prosecutors Office regarding the case of neo-Nazi Andris Jordans. The General Prosecutors Office informs that the decision of the Prosecutor of the Riga Regional Court to terminate Jordans case is revoked and criminal proceedings on incitement to ethnic hatred are reopened. As reported, neo-Nazi Andris Jordans, has publicly stated that Jews and Roma people are ‘non-humans and it would be preferable to exterminate them.

The State Language Committee has refused a proposal of the MP Ina Druviete to grant Russian and other languages of traditional minorities the official status of ethnic minorities’ languages in Latvia. According to the Committee, Latvian language must remain the only official language of the country.

The State Language Committee has refused a proposal of the MP Ina Druviete to grant Russian and other languages of traditional minorities the official status of ethnic minorities languages in Latvia. According to the Committee, Latvian language must remain the only official language of the country. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

Telegraf reports that since 21 December 2007, when Latvia joins the Shengen Agreement, all persons who legally reside in Latvia, including Latvian non-citizens will be able to cross internal borders of the Shengen area without border control.

In an interview with

In an interview with Telegraf, one of the leading Latvian TV journalists Janis Domburs has stated that political parties in Latvia should not be divided into Russian speaking and Latvian speaking ones, but should be opened for everyone.

• MEP from Latvia Tatyana Zdanoka proposes to apply the status of European citizen to non-citizens and permanent residents of the EU
• Chas prints an interview with the MP Ina Druviete
• Diena prints an article on tolerance and the Year of Equal Opportunities in Latvia

Chas reports that the MEP from Latvia Tatyana Zdanoka has appealed to the European Commission asking to elaborate common policy on rights of ethnic minorities in Europe. Mrs. Zdanoka also has proposed to introduce a notion of European citizenship which would apply to the EU citizens and permanent residents, including non-citizens.

Chas prints an interview with the MP Ina Druviete. Mrs. Druviete has stated that granting Russian language status of ethnic minorities language in Latvia does not mean that Russian will be granted any extra functions which could harm positions of state language. Mrs. Druviete considers that Latvian language in Latvia is endangered because it constantly competes with two other languages - English which is dominating in economical sphere, higher education and science and with Russian which has wide usage in non-formal communication. Therefore, Ina Druviete has stated that Russian language should not be used in politics and state institutions.

Diena prints an article by director of human rights and social integration program of the Soros Foundation in Latvia Liesma Ose on tolerance and the Year of Equal Opportunities in Latvia. According to the article, the aim of the Year of Equal Opportunities is to promote societys awareness and knowledge about equal opportunities; launch a discussion on social advantages of diversity; and to prevent discrimination. Liesma Ose believes that this year provides good opportunity for every person to contemplate on how often we follow various stereotypes in communication with others.

• MP Ina Druviete: granting Russian language status of language of ethnic minorities in Latvia would strengthen positions of Latvian as state language

According to the MP Ina Druviete (the New Era), granting Russian language status of language of ethnic minorities in Latvia would strengthen positions of Latvian as state language because it would clarify position of Russian language and help to avoid such speculations as granting Russian status of official state language. The MP Boriss Cilevics (the Concord Centre) considers that granting Russian language status of ethnic minorities’ language would mean official recognition of real situation when Russian is used as ethnic minority language in Latvia daily. The MP Jurijs Soklovskis (the FHRUL) considers that change in Russian language’s status will not solve problems of Russian speakers in Latvia because it will not authorise usage of language in state institutions.

According to the MP Ina Druviete (the New Era), granting Russian language status of language of ethnic minorities in Latvia would strengthen positions of Latvian as state language because it would clarify position of Russian language and help to avoid such speculations as granting Russian status of official state language. The MP Boriss Cilevics (the Concord Centre) considers that granting Russian language status of ethnic minorities language would mean official recognition of real situation when Russian is used as ethnic minority language in Latvia daily. The MP Jurijs Soklovskis (the FHRUL) considers that change in Russian languages status will not solve problems of Russian speakers in Latvia because it will not authorise usage of language in state institutions. Chas, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize

• MP Ina Druviete: Russian language might be granted official status of ethnic minorities language in Latvia
• Committee of the Cabinet of Ministers has supported draft amendments to the Administrative Violations Code stipulating reduced penalties for repeated violation of the State Language Law at work
• Ministry of Regional Development and Local Government has sent instruction to all local governments in Latvia to stop discrimination of non-citizens
• Telegraf features an interview with the head of the Council of Jewish Communities in Latvia Arkadijs Suharenko
• Diena prints an article on dual citizenship in Latvia

At a forum on language policy in the EU member countries held in Riga, the Vice President of the European Federation of National Institutions for Language, MP Ina Druviete (the New Era) has stated that in the future, Russian language might be granted official status of ethnic minorities’ language in Latvia. Ina Druviete considers that several languages in one country can have different legal status but similar sociolinguistic status. The Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins (the FF/LNIM) criticized the statement of Ina Druviete and stated that Latvian language should be the only official language in Latvia.

At a forum on language policy in the EU member countries held in Riga, the Vice President of the European Federation of National Institutions for Language, MP Ina Druviete (the New Era) has stated that in the future, Russian language might be granted official status of ethnic minorities language in Latvia. Ina Druviete considers that several languages in one country can have different legal status but similar sociolinguistic status. The Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins (the FF/LNIM) criticized the statement of Ina Druviete and stated that Latvian language should be the only official language in Latvia. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize

Yesterday, the Committee of the Cabinet of Ministers has supported draft amendments to the Administrative Violations Code proposed by the Ministry of Justice which stipulate reduced penalties for repeated violation of the State Language Law at work. The Ministry of Justice considers that penalties should be reduced so that persons with low income would be able to pay it.

Yesterday, the Committee of the Cabinet of Ministers has supported draft amendments to the Administrative Violations Code proposed by the Ministry of Justice which stipulate reduced penalties for repeated violation of the State Language Law at work. The Ministry of Justice considers that penalties should be reduced so that persons with low income would be able to pay it. Chas, Telegraf

The Ministry of Regional Development and Local Government has sent instruction to all local governments in Latvia to stop discrimination of non-citizens. As reported, the political party For Human Rights in United Latvia has appealed to the Ministry asking to explain why in several local governments non-citizens are forbidden to work in local committees and take part in public surveys.

The Ministry of Regional Development and Local Government has sent instruction to all local governments in Latvia to stop discrimination of non-citizens. As reported, the political party For Human Rights in United Latvia has appealed to the Ministry asking to explain why in several local governments non-citizens are forbidden to work in local committees and take part in public surveys. Chas, Telegraf

Telegraf features an interview with the head of the Council of Jewish Communities in Latvia Arkadijs Suharenko. Mr. Suharenko has stated that recently issued book Scaffold written by a well-known Latvian lawyer Andris Grutups is anti-Semitic and glorifies Nazism. Mr. Suharenko considers that manifestations of anti-Semitism become more evident in Latvia, while activities of Andris Grutups and dissemination of his ideas promote it.

Diena prints an article on dual citizenship in Latvia. According to the author of the article, dual citizenship should be granted to children of Latvian citizens and foreign citizens in order to maintain connection between Latvia and these children. Dual citizenship also should be granted to those individuals and their descendants who have departed from Latvia as refugees because Latvia has lost its independence in 1940 and became citizens of other countries.