• Ministers from the Saeimas faction For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM are planning to come against the draft migration concept
• Vesti Segodnya prints various opinions on statements regarding Russian speaking residents made by the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers
• Latvijas Avize and Diena report on an international conference Ethics in Democracy held in Riga
• MEP from Latvia Tatyana Zdanoka has discussed situation and problems of Russians residing outside of Russia with the President of Russia Vladimir Putin
• State Language Centre has received and reviewed 453 complaints on possible violations of the State Language Law

Today, at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, Ministers from the Saeima’s faction For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM are planning to come against the draft migration concept which stipulates simplifying procedures for the influx of guest workers to Latvia. According to the Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins and Special Assignments Minister for Administration of European Union Funds Normunds Broks, opening of labour market is insufficiently studied and might cause undesirable social and ethnic consequences.

Today, at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, Ministers from the Saeimas faction For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM are planning to come against the draft migration concept which stipulates simplifying procedures for the influx of guest workers to Latvia. According to the Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins and Special Assignments Minister for Administration of European Union Funds Normunds Broks, opening of labour market is insufficiently studied and might cause undesirable social and ethnic consequences. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya prints various opinions on a statement made by the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers that Russians in Latvia are the best Russians in the world and other statements regarding Russian speaking residents. Head of the NGO Prata Speks Igors Kuzmuks considers that such statements show that Valdis Zatlers could finally be the President who represents all residents of Latvia. Politician Aleksandrs Brandavs believes that the President could take an initiative on consolidation of the society because he speaks Russian language, have lived in Latvia all his life, knows problems of the countrys population and is familiar with mentality of ethnic minorities.

Latvijas Avize and Diena report on an international conference Ethics in Democracy held by Ethics Research Centre in the University of Montréal, the Canadian Embassy to Latvia and the Latvian Centre for Human Rights in Riga on 5 and 6 November. Representative of the Ombudsman Office Liga Biksiniece has stated that intolerance exists in Latvia despite legal acts which prohibit it. According to Ms. Biksiniece, the Ombudsman Office has received almost 90 complaints on discriminating attitude based on gender, disability or ethnic background during 9 months of 2007 and half of these complaints were recognized as valid.

Russian language newspapers report about an assembly “Russian World” held in Moscow. Representatives of Latvia have also taken part. The MEP from Latvia and co-chairman of the political party For Human Rights in United Latvia Tatyana Zdanoka in an interview with the newspapers has told she had an opportunity to discuss situation and problems of Russians residing outside of Russia with the President of Russia Vladimir Putin.

Russian language newspapers report about an assembly Russian World held in Moscow. Representatives of Latvia have also taken part. The MEP from Latvia and co-chairman of the political party For Human Rights in United Latvia Tatyana Zdanoka in an interview with the newspapers has told she had an opportunity to discuss situation and problems of Russians residing outside of Russia with the President of Russia Vladimir Putin. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

The State Language Centre (SLC) has received and reviewed 453 complaints on possible violations of the State Language Law in time period from January till October 2007. In 2006 the SLC has received 414 complaints in total.

The State Language Centre (SLC) has received and reviewed 453 complaints on possible violations of the State Language Law in time period from January till October 2007. In 2006 the SLC has received 414 complaints in total. Latvijas Avize

• Head of The Concord Centre Nils Usakovs: Russian speaking residents should take part in national manifestations
• President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers: Russian residents of Latvia should remain Russian
• Columnist of Chas: the only way for non-citizens to solve their problems is to become naturalised

Newspapers report on demonstration “For Law-Governed State! For Honest Policy!” held against the present course of the government on 3 November in Riga. The head of political party The Concord Centre Nils Usakovs in an interview with

Newspapers report on demonstration For Law-Governed State! For Honest Policy! held against the present course of the government on 3 November in Riga. The head of political party The Concord Centre Nils Usakovs in an interview with Vesti Segodnya has stated that members of the party were probably the only representatives of Russian speakers at the demonstration. Nils Usakovs believes that Russian speaking residents should take part in such national manifestations held against corruption, cynicism of governing authorities, economical and social crisis.

Vesti Segodnya features an interview the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers. Mr. President has stated that Russian residents of Latvia should remain Russian while Latvians should remain Latvian. However, Mr. Zatlers believes that two-community state is not a good state model because it carries problems which will last for centuries. Mr. Zatlers also does not support granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections and believes that Latvia has successful experience in naturalisation.

Columnist of

Columnist of Chas considers that the only way for Latvian non-citizens to solve their problems is to become naturalised and to vote in the Saeimas elections for those who truly would be able to change situation.

• Ombudsman has initiated an investigation on the list of differences in rights of citizens and non-citizens prepared by the MP Vladimirs Buzajevs
• Chas prints two articles with arguments why Russian speaking residents of Latvia should or should not take part in a demonstration For Law-Governed State! For Honest Policy! on 3 November in Riga

The Ombudsman has initiated an investigation on the list of differences in rights of citizens and non-citizens prepared by the member of the Latvian Human Rights Committee, MP from the political party For Human Rights in United Latvia Vladimirs Buzajevs. The list describes 80 existing and 51 already canceled differences in rights between citizens and non-citizens as well as cases when not only Latvian citizens but also citizens of other EU countries in Latvia have advantages over Latvian non-citizens. The majority of differences refer to prohibition for occupation of certain professions.

The Ombudsman has initiated an investigation on the list of differences in rights of citizens and non-citizens prepared by the member of the Latvian Human Rights Committee, MP from the political party For Human Rights in United Latvia Vladimirs Buzajevs. The list describes 80 existing and 51 already canceled differences in rights between citizens and non-citizens as well as cases when not only Latvian citizens but also citizens of other EU countries in Latvia have advantages over Latvian non-citizens. The majority of differences refer to prohibition for occupation of certain professions. Vesti Segodnya

Chas prints two articles with arguments why Russian speaking residents of Latvia should or should not take part in a demonstration For Law-Governed State! For Honest Policy! which is planned to be held on 3 November in Riga. The aim of the demonstration is to show the government that Latvian residents disagree with its present course. Author of one article - a member of the political party For Human Rights in United Latvia Aleksandrs Gilmans, - considers that Russian speakers should not take part in the demonstration because the government will not take into account problems and needs of ethnic minorities anyway. Author of another article - the head of the NGO Humanitarian Perspective Elizabete Krivcova, - considers that Russians and other ethnic minorities must take part in the demonstration to show that they are interested in building dialogue with ethnic Latvians to discuss principles of possible co-existence and co-operation. Ms. Krivcova believes that by participating in the demonstration ethnic minorities can show that they are involved in political life and that their interests must be taken into account.

• Director of Simon Wiesenthal Centre Efraim Zuroff criticizes Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia

Vesti Segodnya reports that the director of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre Efraim Zuroff has criticized Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia for the fact that no Nazi criminals were prosecuted or sentenced during the past years in these countries.

 

• Chas reports on a conference Participation of Latvia Non-citizens in Municipal Elections as a Stimulus for Integration and Naturalisation
• MP Augusts Brigmanis: Union of Greens and Farmers does not support granting all non-citizens Latvian citizenship or granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections
• Russia is planning to establish Russian-European institute of freedom and democracy which would monitor situation of Russian speakers in Latvia and Estonia

Chas reports on a conference Participation of Latvia Non-citizens in Municipal Elections as a Stimulus for Integration and Naturalisation held by NGOs the Russian Community in Liepaja, the Union of Citizens and Non-citizens and the Humanitarian Perspective on 28 October in Liepaja. Representatives of Russian NGOs in Latvia and state officials have taken part in the conference. The aim of the conference was to form a delegation who would forward to the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers the draft amendments to Latvian legal acts which stipulate granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections. According to the director of the Humanitarian Perspective Elizabete Krivcova, naturalisation in Latvia will move forward only when government will acknowledge rights of non-citizens by certain activities such as granting them rights to participate in municipal elections.

Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with the head of the Saeimas faction Union of Greens and Farmers, MP Augusts Brigmanis. Mr. Brigmanis has stated that Union of Greens and Farmers does not support granting all non-citizens Latvian citizenship or granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections. However, Mr. Brigmanis believes that naturalisation procedure could be simplified for all those who want to become citizen of Latvia.

Vesti Segodnya reports that at the Russia-EU Summit, the President of Russia Vladimir Putin has informed about the plans to establish Russian-European institute of freedom and democracy. Among the aims of the institute would be monitoring situation of ethnic minorities and migrants in the EU and Russia. In an interview with the newspaper, the member of the Russias Presidential Council Sergey Markov has stated that situation of non-citizens and Russian speakers in Latvia and Estonia are among core issues on which Russia will continue to draw attention of the EU.