• President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers: there are no social differences between Latvian citizens and non-citizens
• New schools premises given to the Riga Jewish school

The President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers in an interview with

The President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers in an interview with Vesti Segodnya states that naturalisation does not give any material advantages and there are no social differences between Latvian citizens and non-citizens. The President believes that higher level of patriotism will promote naturalisation. The President also believes that integration or consolidation process among young people goes successfully.

Newspapers report about new school’s premises given by municipality to the Riga Jewish school. The new premises will allow to increase number of students from 200 to 350. So far, the Jewish school was divided on two premises situated in different Riga’s districts.

Newspapers report about new schools premises given by municipality to the Riga Jewish school. The new premises will allow to increase number of students from 200 to 350. So far, the Jewish school was divided on two premises situated in different Rigas districts. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

• Radical nationalist Aivars Slucis believes that for Latvia the war has not ended yet and calls to move about 500,000 ethnic Russians from Latvia to Russia

Radical nationalist Aivars Slucis (ethnic Latvian residing in U.S.A.) published paid article in newspapers

Radical nationalist Aivars Slucis (ethnic Latvian residing in U.S.A.) published paid article in newspapers Diena and Neatkariga named Affirmative Action calling to move about 500,000 ethnic Russians from Latvia to Russia. Mr. Slucis believes that ethnic Latvians have been terrorized, discriminated and plundered by Russians since 1940 and now it is time to stop it. According to Mr. Slucis, the war has not ended for Latvia yet and Russia should assume responsibility for Stalinist repressions. Mr. Slucis also states that if he was living in Latvia, as a doctor he does not know whom he would choose to treat at the first place: ethnic Latvians or ethnic Russians. Therefore, in order to prevent mistakes I preferred to stay and reside in the U.S.A. – states Aivars Slucis. Diena, Neatkariga (3.12) Chas

• Minister of Foreign Affairs Girts Valdis Kristovskis informed the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Knut Vollebaek about ethnic integration tendencies
• State Language Centres inspectors revealed 88 fake state language proficiency certificates in Daugavpils hospital
• President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers will visit Russia with official visit on 19-21 December

Latvijas Avize reports that the Minister of Foreign Affairs Girts Valdis Kristovskis during the OSCE summit held a conversation with the High Commissioner on National Minorities Knut Vollebaek. The Minister informed the High Commissioner about ethnic integration tendencies in Latvia and positive results of education reformation. Mr. Kristovskis argued that number of graduates of Russian language schools who receive Latvian citizenship grows and state language proficiency level among students improves. Mr. Vollebaek, in his turn, called Latvia to grant non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections and ease naturalisation.

The State Language Centre’s inspectors revealed that 88 staff personnel of Daugavpils (city in Eastern part of Latvia) hospital have fake state language proficiency certificates. The majority of fake certificates belongs to nurses and technical personnel and were acquired during the early 90’. The persons with fake certificates are given six months period to receive valid certificates.

The State Language Centres inspectors revealed that 88 staff personnel of Daugavpils (city in Eastern part of Latvia) hospital have fake state language proficiency certificates. The majority of fake certificates belongs to nurses and technical personnel and were acquired during the early 90. The persons with fake certificates are given six months period to receive valid certificates. Latvijas Avize, Diena

The President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers will visit Russia with official visit on 19-21 December. This is the first official visit of Latvian President to Russia for the past 16 years.

The President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers will visit Russia with official visit on 19-21 December. This is the first official visit of Latvian President to Russia for the past 16 years. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize, Diena, Neatkariga

• Leonid Raihman: UN Human Rights Committees decision is a positive precedent

Chas prints an interview with Leonid Raihman who recently won a case against Latvia in the UN Human Rights Committee objecting the Latvianisation of his name. As reported, the Committee decided that the Latvianisation of non-Latvian names and surnames (adding ending -s) in official documents issued in Latvia is interference in private life. Mr. Raihman believes that this decision is a positive precedent by international bodies.

• MP Gaidis Berzins: legal norms stipulating easier procedure on granting residence permits to big foreign investors must be cancelled
• Turkey agreed to issue Latvian non-citizens visas at the border

Member of the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!- For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM, MP Gaidis Berzins in an interview with

Member of the nationalists union All for Latvia!- For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM, MP Gaidis Berzins in an interview with Latvijas Avize states that his faction is planning to elaborate draft amendments to the Immigration Law which would cancel legal norms stipulating easier procedure on granting residence permits to big foreign investors. Mr. Berzins considers that effective legal norms stipulating that foreigners can buy residence permit did not justify themselves because did not bring investments in the national economy.

Turkey came to an agreement with the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue Latvian non-citizens visas at the border. As reported, the new order on issuing visas to Turkey for non-EU nationals, including Latvian non-citizens, stipulated that persons should apply for visas only in the embassy eight weeks before the departure.

Turkey came to an agreement with the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue Latvian non-citizens visas at the border. As reported, the new order on issuing visas to Turkey for non-EU nationals, including Latvian non-citizens, stipulated that persons should apply for visas only in the embassy eight weeks before the departure. Chas, Vesti Segodnya