• Government has accepted the draft law on granting of about LVL 32, 000 000 to the Jewish Community of Latvia
• The candidate for the Minister of Justice outlines restriction of the naturalisation process as one of priority tasks
• Vesti Segodnya features an article about a daughter of ex-soviet militarist who has been deported to Russia

Yesterday, the government has approved a draft law on the granting of about LVL 32 000 000 (EUR 45 531 897) to the Jewish Community of Latvia during the upcoming ten years’ period. The funding is to be granted as a compensation for the lost property during the Holocaust. According to the draft law, the state will support the renewal and preservation of the Jewish cultural heritage, the development of the Jewish community, funding of cultural, educational and others public events, social assistance to the Holocaust’s victims, and the organisation of commemorative events. The government is planning to submit the draft law to the parliament.

Yesterday, the government has approved a draft law on the granting of about LVL 32000 000 (EUR 45 531 897) to the Jewish Community of Latvia during the upcoming ten years period. The funding is to be granted as a compensation for the lost property during the Holocaust. According to the draft law, the state will support the renewal and preservation of the Jewish cultural heritage, the development of the Jewish community, funding of cultural, educational and others public events, social assistance to the Holocausts victims, and the organisation of commemorative events. The government is planning to submit the draft law to the parliament. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize, NRA

The candidate for the post of the new Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins from the party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM has stated that one of the priorities of his activities will be restriction of the naturalisation process. In the interview with

The candidate for the post of the new Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins from the party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM has stated that one of the priorities of his activities will be restriction of the naturalisation process. In the interview with Telegraf, Gaidis Berzins has pointed to the need to introduce stricter criteria for granting citizenship in order to stop mass naturalisation. Telegraf, Chas, Vesti Segodnya. Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya prints an article on Svetlana Venevceva, a daughter of ex-soviet militarist arrived to Latvia in 1972. In 1996, the Office of Citizenship and Migration has deprived her of her passport and personal code and demanded to leave Latvia. Although Svetlana Venevceva appealed the decision to the court, she was deported to Russia in 2004 due to insufficient time and funds to renew personal documents. Presently Svetlana Venevceva is trying to get a long-term residence permit in order to live with her mother and 12 years old daughter in Latvia.

• Russian Minister of Interior: EU has to demand to solve the situation regarding a massive number of non-citizens in Latvia and Estonia
• Saeima has provided funding for development of the Roma cultural – educational centre in Jelgava
• Representatives of the Russian community from Latvia took part in a reception held by the Russian President in Moscow
• Latvijas Avize prints an article on Romani song festival in Sabile

The Russian Minister of Interior Sergey Lavrov has stated that the European Union has to demand Latvia and Estonia to solve the situation concerning the massive number of non-citizens in Latvia and Estonia. Sergey Lavrov also stated that Russia will insist on inclusion of a paragraph on the protection of ethnic minorities in the new agreement between Russia and the EU.

The Russian Minister of Interior Sergey Lavrov has stated that the European Union has to demand Latvia and Estonia to solve the situation concerning the massive number of non-citizens in Latvia and Estonia. Sergey Lavrov also stated that Russia will insist on inclusion of a paragraph on the protection of ethnic minorities in the new agreement between Russia and the EU.

Telegraf reports that the Saeima has provided funding for the development of the Roma cultural – educational centre in Jelgava. It will be the only such centre in Latvia.

Newspapers

Newspapers report that several politicians and representatives of the Russian community from Latvia took part in a reception held by the Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on the Day of National Solidarity. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Latvijas Avize prints an article on the Romani song festival in Sabile (town in the North part of Latvia) on Saturday

• For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK joins the governing coalition
• New coalition nominates ministers

Newspapers report that three parties which are forming the new governing coalition (People’s Party, the Union of Greens and Farmers, and the union of Latvia’s First Party / Latvia’s Way) have invited FF/LNNK to join  the coalition as a fourth partner.   The columnist of

Newspapers report that three parties which are forming the new governing coalition (Peoples Party, the Union of Greens and Farmers, and the union of Latvias First Party / Latvias Way) have invited FF/LNNK to join the coalition as a fourth partner. The columnist of Chas argues that not inclusion of the so-called pro-Russian party The Concord Centre, which received 17% of votes in the Saeima elections, in the government shows that Latvian parties are not ready to accept pro-Russian parties. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Diena, Latvijas Avize, NRA

Newspapers report that the new government has nominated Oskars Kastens for the post of Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (Latvia’s First party).

Newspapers report that the new government has nominated Oskars Kastens for the post of Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (Latvias First party). Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Diena, Latvijas Avize, NRA

• Newspapers report on the formation of a new government
• Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kalyuzniy criticizes possible inclusion of the FF/LNIM into the governing coalition
• Aleksandr Kazakov has appealed Courts decision rejecting to review his complaint against the ex-Prime Minister Indulis Emsis

Newspapers report that today three parties – the People’s Party, the Union of Greens and Farmers, and the union of Latvia’s First Party/ Latvia’s Way - which are forming the new government, will hold a meeting with representatives of the party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM  (FF/LNIM) to discuss a possible joining of this party to the governing coalition.

Newspapers report that today three parties – the Peoples Party, the Union of Greens and Farmers, and the union of Latvias First Party/ Latvias Way - which are forming the new government, will hold a meeting with representatives of the party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) to discuss a possible joining of this party to the governing coalition. Diena also notes that one of the key points in the governments declaration is implementation of the policy aimed at promotion of integration of various social, ethnic, religious and other minority groups. Diena, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize, NRA

Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with the Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kalyuzniy. The Ambassador criticizes a possible inclusion of the right wing party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) into the governing coalition due to its nationalistic policy. Viktor Kalyuzniy stated that if the FF/LNIM is in the coalition the relations between Latvia and Russian might become worse.

The activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Language schools Aleksandr Kazakov has appealed the decision of the Riga Regional Court which rejected revision of Kazakov’s complaint against the ex-Prime Minister Indulis Emsis. As reported, Aleksandr Kazakov asked to recall the Emsis’ public statements that Russia has sent Kazakov to Latvia to organise mass protests against the minority education reform in 2004.

The activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Language schools Aleksandr Kazakov has appealed the decision of the Riga Regional Court which rejected revision of Kazakovs complaint against the ex-Prime Minister Indulis Emsis. As reported, Aleksandr Kazakov asked to recall the Emsis public statements that Russia has sent Kazakov to Latvia to organise mass protests against the minority education reform in 2004. Vesti Segodnya

• President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga will nominate Aigars Kalvitis (Peoples Party) for new Prime Minister

The President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga has stated that the outgoing Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis (People’s Party) will be officially nominated as a new head of the next government. Aigras Kalvitis announced that the coalition probably will include four parties. Three parties are members of the existing government - People’s Party, the Union of Greens and Framers, the union of Latvian First Party and Latvia’s Way. The name of the fourth partner has not been revealed yet. The media speculates that most likely it will be For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM or “The Concord Centre”.

The President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga has stated that the outgoing Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis (Peoples Party) will be officially nominated as a new head of the next government. Aigras Kalvitis announced that the coalition probably will include four parties. Three parties are members of the existing government - Peoples Party, the Union of Greens and Framers, the union of Latvian First Party and Latvias Way. The name of the fourth partner has not been revealed yet. The media speculates that most likely it will be For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM or The Concord Centre. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Diena, NRA, Latvijas Vestnesis