Press Report

Diena, Neatkariga, Chas, Vesti Segodnja: Ex Riga Mayor Argalis left FF/LNNK.

Neatkariga, Diena, Lauku Avize

when looking back to the biggest events of the last year rate the closure of the OSCE Mission to Latvia as one of Latvias greatest achievements. when looking back to the biggest events of the last year rate the closure of the OSCE Mission to Latvia as one of Latvia’s greatest achievements. In its turn,

In its turn, Chas rates Public Awareness and Citizenship Promotion Campaign as the 8th most important event of the year.

Panorama Latvii

interviews attorney of Podkolzina and Zdanok at Human Rights Court in Strasbourg professor W.Bowring about the situation concerning the rights of national minorities in Latvia. interviews attorney of Podkolzina and Zdanok at Human Rights Court in Strasbourg professor W.Bowring about the situation concerning the rights of national minorities in Latvia.

Press Report

Neatkarigas editorial on OSCE Mission to Latvia closing. Columnist Balode states that despite of the large number of non-citizens and the increasing number of those, who think that they do need neither the local language nor culture, it is evident that Latvia has done enough to close the OSCE Mission. International reaction on this event was different – the USA expressed its satisfaction, Russia – criticised it. In Washington they stressed that Missions activities were very important for the USA, and the mandate of the Mission to assist in strengthening Latvian authorities, to manage that these institutions would have certain skills and consider needs and requests of local population – had been fulfilled. Russian government was consequent in its policy stating that its task was to protect interests of Russian-speaking population in Latvia. Balode states that with closing the Mission Latvia has as if received an advance payment – there is still a problem with language norms in the election law. It is a home task that Latvia will still have to fulfil.

Chas, Vesti Segodnja, Telegraf

: 27 December the Government adopted the EU Convention on Citizenship. The newspaper writes that the reservations, in particular regarding Article 6 of the Convention, introduced by the Latvian Government makes the Convention senseless. : 27 December the Government adopted the EU Convention on Citizenship. The newspaper writes that the reservations, in particular regarding Article 6 of the Convention, introduced by the Latvian Government makes the Convention “senseless”. This past December President Vaira Vike-Freiberga was again the most popular politician in Latvia. Saeima Chairman Janis Straume was the second most popular politician. The rating of soon-to-be party leader Einars Repse was 2.4 points up from November. According to the poll, Tatjana Zdanoka, co-chairwoman of the left-wing Equal Rights Party was the least popular again. Second from the bottom, Andris Skele, chairman of the People’s Party, but the third least popular - Alfreds Rubiks, the head of the Latvian Socialistic Party. The most popular party this month was again Repse’s to-be-established party leaving behind Social Democrats, People’s Party, Latvia’s Way, FF/LNNK and FHRUL.

This past December President Vaira Vike-Freiberga was again the most popular politician in Latvia. Saeima Chairman Janis Straume was the second most popular politician. The rating of soon-to-be party leader Einars Repse was 2.4 points up from November. According to the poll, Tatjana Zdanoka, co-chairwoman of the left-wing Equal Rights Party was the least popular again. Second from the bottom, Andris Skele, chairman of the Peoples Party, but the third least popular - Alfreds Rubiks, the head of the Latvian Socialistic Party. The most popular party this month was again Repses to-be-established party leaving behind Social Democrats, Peoples Party, Latvias Way, FF/LNNK and FHRUL.

Press Report

Segodnja, Telegraf: Russias TV channel aired Russian President V.Putin discussion with the people of Russia. The people could send their questions via e-mail. The majority of the questions were about social guarantees and economic situation in Russia, however, there was also a question whether Russia is going to protect the rights of its compatriots in the Baltic Countries, Middle Asia not only in words but also in reality. The Russian President replied that lately the Government has taken more active stance regarding the protection of the rights of Russians residing abroad. Afterwards he voiced that there is an example in Europe [Macedonia] which should be followed.

Press Report

Neatkariga, Diena: The Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry yesterday expressed regret over the OSCE's "technically" not extending the mandate for the OSCE mission in Latvia and Estonia. The ministry's statement says that an efficient mechanism has been dissembled which provided international monitoring on how Estonian and Latvian authorities had been fulfilling their commitments in the sector of human rights of minorities and approximation of legislation according to European standards. The OSCE mission's standards were not exhausted yet since serious tasks for guaranteeing the rights of Russian-speaking population in the education sector of both countries were not solved, as well as issues pertaining to language policy and social integration. The number of non-citizens is still high there, the pace of naturalization process has dropped, election and social rights have been violated as well as rights to culture and education for almost one-third of Latvian and Estonian residents, the statement says. The closure of the mission has been conducted despite the objections of Russian-speaking residents and their associations. The announcement warns that those who actually promoted the closure of OSCE missions in Latvia and Estonia have resumed responsibility for the future of minorities here.

LETA

: The OSCE Permanent Councils recent decision to close its mission in Latvia was carefully weighed, told by Prime Minister Andris Berzins' press secretary, quoting the premier. "Without a doubt, the OSCE nations knew what they were doing ... we know just as well that the evaluation of the situation was adequate", said Lapins. Lapins added that the prime minister has no comment on the "marginal opinion" of Russia and Belarus on this issue, released Friday. : The OSCE Permanent Council’s recent decision to close its mission in Latvia was carefully weighed, told by Prime Minister Andris Berzins' press secretary, quoting the premier. "Without a doubt, the OSCE nations knew what they were doing ... we know just as well that the evaluation of the situation was adequate", said Lapins. Lapins added that the prime minister has no comment on the "marginal opinion" of Russia and Belarus on this issue, released Friday.

Panorama Latvii:

Y.Pliner and V.Buhvalov about the education reform in 2004. The authors argue against the transfer to secondary education with the Latvian language as the only instruction language. They write that already now the level of knowledge of students from Latvia is much lower than students from Russia and that after the transfer it would decrease even more. The contributors ask for the choice of freedom for the students of national minorities. Y.Pliner and V.Buhvalov about the education reform in 2004. The authors argue against the transfer to secondary education with the Latvian language as the only instruction language. They write that already now the level of knowledge of students from Latvia is much lower than students from Russia and that after the transfer it would decrease even more. The contributors ask for the choice of freedom for the students of national minorities.

SUMMARY OF LATVIAN MEDIA REVIEW

SUMMARY OF LATVIAN MEDIA REVIEW

Lauku Avize views Presidents initiative to abolish language requirement for election candidates as a publicly given permission to all political parties to work with non-Latvian electorate. The contributor also refers to other statements made by the President previously regarding the rights and life of other national minorities in Latvia and he concludes that the initiative was nothing sudden as these tendencies were left unnoticed in other statements made by the President. In the opinion of the columnist, it will lead to appearance of new faces from non-Latvian circles.

Diena, Neatkariga

: Juta Mencena's petition to the European Court of Human Rights complaining about violating her rights in the Latvianization of her surname which she had obtained after marriage, has been accepted by the Court. The Latvian Constitutional Court admits that the norms in the State Language Law pertaining to Latvianization of foreigners' surnames are in approximation with the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia and the surname of Juta Mencena (of the German Mentzen) in her passport has been written lawfully. The spelling of the surname of Mencena will remain the same for the time being. However, changes could be introduced in writing surnames with new passports when original writing of the surnames will be shown on the 3rd page of new passports. : Juta Mencena's petition to the European Court of Human Rights complaining about violating her rights in the Latvianization of her surname which she had obtained after marriage, has been accepted by the Court. The Latvian Constitutional Court admits that the norms in the State Language Law pertaining to Latvianization of foreigners' surnames are in approximation with the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia and the surname of Juta Mencena (of the German Mentzen) in her passport has been written lawfully. The spelling of the surname of Mencena will remain the same for the time being. However, changes could be introduced in writing surnames with new passports when original writing of the surnames will be shown on the 3rd page of new passports.

Panorama Latvii

: Russian Embassy to Latvia organised unofficial meeting with the representatives of Latvias means of mass media. : Russian Embassy to Latvia organised unofficial meeting with the representatives of Latvia’s means of mass media.