Press Report

Latvian parliament in yesterday’s vote did not change the current requirement for 200 citizens to start a party. Signature of every founder will have to be confirmed by a notary.

Latvian parliament in yesterdays vote did not change the current requirement for 200 citizens to start a party. Signature of every founder will have to be confirmed by a notary. Neatkariga, Diena

12 candidates have been nominated for the Award of Public Accord announced by the Soros Foundation. Nominees can be people who have done special work in bringing closer national and ethnic groups in Latvia, facilitating integration process and human values.

12 candidates have been nominated for the Award of Public Accord announced by the Soros Foundation. Nominees can be people who have done special work in bringing closer national and ethnic groups in Latvia, facilitating integration process and human values. Neatkariga

Saeima’s Chechen support group will rally by the Russian embassy in Riga to protest Russia’s military activities in Chechnya.

Saeimas Chechen support group will rally by the Russian embassy in Riga to protest Russias military activities in Chechnya. Neatkariga

Saeima’s autumn session will close on December 20, the winter session will start next January 10.

Saeimas autumn session will close on December 20, the winter session will start next January 10. Neatkariga

Due to political sensitivity Latvia has not joined the European Convention on Citizenship although there are no substantial legal obstacles for that. The conclusion was made in a yesterday’s seminar of the Council of Europe and local experts.

Due to political sensitivity Latvia has not joined the European Convention on Citizenship although there are no substantial legal obstacles for that. The conclusion was made in a yesterdays seminar of the Council of Europe and local experts. Diena

Next Tuesday Saeima’s Committee on Education will adopt the final version of the draft Language Law to pass it over for the Saeima’s vote.

Next Tuesday Saeimas Committee on Education will adopt the final version of the draft Language Law to pass it over for the Saeimas vote. Chas interviewed the Committee Head Dzintars Abikis, who said that the formulation of the articles under discussion will most likely satisfy Europe but currently the Legal Office is still working on the text.

Press Report

Andrejs Pozarnovs from Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK informed the press yesterday that the party does not support the amending of the Language Law and will invite the People’s Party to support the law without changes.

Andrejs Pozarnovs from Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK informed the press yesterday that the party does not support the amending of the Language Law and will invite the Peoples Party to support the law without changes. Diena

Neatkariga informs that FF/LNNK is disappointed with the behaviour of the People’s Party - after Pozarnovs, during the Education Commission’s meeting with the President Freiberga Dzintars Abikis had said that People’s Party and Latvia’s Way have reached agreement on Language Law. Abikis commented that he had expressed an assumption that Latvia’s Way and People’s Party could support the proposals made by the President. Kristiana Libane from Latvia’s Way said that the leaders of the ruling factions could possibly meet before the final reading in case the version supported by the Commission differs from the position of the factions.

Neatkariga informs that FF/LNNK is disappointed with the behaviour of the Peoples Party - after Pozarnovs, during the Education Commissions meeting with the President Freiberga Dzintars Abikis had said that Peoples Party and Latvias Way have reached agreement on Language Law. Abikis commented that he had expressed an assumption that Latvias Way and Peoples Party could support the proposals made by the President. Kristiana Libane from Latvias Way said that the leaders of the ruling factions could possibly meet before the final reading in case the version supported by the Commission differs from the position of the factions.

Diena

runs a comment by an MP from the Peoples Party Aleksandrs Kirsteins entitled Is the Latvian language really not dying out? runs a comment by an MP from the People’s Party Aleksandrs Kirsteins entitled “Is the Latvian language really not dying out?” The potential Education Minister Gundars Berzins has said in the interview to Latvian Radio that the Education Ministry is the weakest among ministries and should be started anew. President Freiberga has mentioned that the new Education Minister should be a professional, “some scientist or academician”.

The potential Education Minister Gundars Berzins has said in the interview to Latvian Radio that the Education Ministry is the weakest among ministries and should be started anew. President Freiberga has mentioned that the new Education Minister should be a professional, some scientist or academician. Neatkariga, Chas, Jauna avize

The Saeima Speaker Janis Straume in the interview to

The Saeima Speaker Janis Straume in the interview to Latvijas Vestnesis said he agrees to the President Freiberga that the language law can be passed in the way that it complies with the Constitution, national interests and OSCE recommendations.

Panorama Latvii

prints a comment in response to the letter of the Commission of Experts of the Latvian Language published in yesterdays Latvijas Vestnesis. The comment compares the views expressed in the letter to Nazi policy in Germany. prints a comment in response to the letter of the Commission of Experts of the Latvian Language published in yesterday’s Latvijas Vestnesis. The comment compares the views expressed in the letter to Nazi policy in Germany.

Press Report

Latvian Foreign Ministry has stated that the agreement on Conventional Forces in Europe is good for Latvia’s security since the agreement does not allow increasing the volume of forces by the state border.

Latvian Foreign Ministry has stated that the agreement on Conventional Forces in Europe is good for Latvias security since the agreement does not allow increasing the volume of forces by the state border. Diena

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Skele accepted the resignation paper of the Education Minister Silva Golde. Skele has asked her to stay in the position until the state budget for the next year is passed to ensure that a competent person to defend the field of education.

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Skele accepted the resignation paper of the Education Minister Silva Golde. Skele has asked her to stay in the position until the state budget for the next year is passed to ensure that a competent person to defend the field of education. Diena, Neatkariga, Jauna Avize, BB, Chas, Panorama Latvii

Today, the strike committee of the teachers’ trade union will discuss delaying of the strike scheduled for November 26 as the meeting with Andris Skele to seek compromise will take place on that date.

Today, the strike committee of the teachers trade union will discuss delaying of the strike scheduled for November 26 as the meeting with Andris Skele to seek compromise will take place on that date. Diena, Chas, Neatkariga

113,000 of Latvia’s residents as of Nov. 1 did not exchange their old USSR passports for non-citizen’s passport. After the deadline of January 1 passports will be exchanged only after presenting a good reason for not managing to get the new passport in time.

113,000 of Latvias residents as of Nov. 1 did not exchange their old USSR passports for non-citizens passport. After the deadline of January 1 passports will be exchanged only after presenting a good reason for not managing to get the new passport in time. Diena, Neatkariga, Jauna Avize, BB, Panorama Latvii

The EU summit in Helsinki in December will be attended by the Latvian Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and leader of accession negotiations.

The EU summit in Helsinki in December will be attended by the Latvian Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and leader of accession negotiations. Diena

Editor of the content of the concept of Society Integration Program Elmars Vebers has a comment concerning the main principle behind concept – the state values – versus the Latvian values brought up in October in a comment by A. Kimenis.

Editor of the content of the concept of Society Integration Program Elmars Vebers has a comment concerning the main principle behind concept – the state values – versus the Latvian values brought up in October in a comment by A. Kimenis. Diena

Yesterday, Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga met the Saeima’s Committee on Education do discuss the state of the amendments to the Language Law. Committee head D. Abikis said that compromise has still not been reached on the issue of language in public information. The decision will be made next week by a vote.

Yesterday, Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga met the Saeimas Committee on Education do discuss the state of the amendments to the Language Law. Committee head D. Abikis said that compromise has still not been reached on the issue of language in public information. The decision will be made next week by a vote. Neatkariga, Diena, Vesti, Jauna Avize, Chas, BB, Panorama Latvii, Latvijas Vestnesis

Vilis Seleckis in his article in

Vilis Seleckis in his article in Jauna Avize states that it is not a tough law that could help to improve the language situation, the fate of the language will be decided by education system and teachers.

Latvian Foreign Minister Indulis Berzins thinks that even in case the Russian State Duma adopts the law on economic sanctions against Latvia, it will not get through the Federation Council and will not be supported by the President of Russia.

Latvian Foreign Minister Indulis Berzins thinks that even in case the Russian State Duma adopts the law on economic sanctions against Latvia, it will not get through the Federation Council and will not be supported by the President of Russia. BB

Daugavpils mayor Aleksey Vidavsky hopes that the President of Russia will not sign the above law. Daugavpils largely depends on trade with Russia.

Daugavpils mayor Aleksey Vidavsky hopes that the President of Russia will not sign the above law. Daugavpils largely depends on trade with Russia. Chas

Latvijas Vestnesis runs the answer of the commission of Latvian language experts to the notes from the office of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities.

Latvijas Vestnesis runs the answer of the commission of Latvian language experts to the notes from the office of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities.

Press Report

Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga signed the amendments to the Pension Law passed on August 5 that were the subject for the recent referendum as well as the alternative amendments passed November 5.

Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga signed the amendments to the Pension Law passed on August 5 that were the subject for the recent referendum as well as the alternative amendments passed November 5. Diena, Jauna Avize, Neatkariga, BB

Teachers plan to start a week-long strike this Friday since the Prime Minister Andris Skele is not ready to comply with the demands of the TeachersТ Trade Union to allot 14 million lats as of next January 1 for salary increase instead of the currently promised 8 million.

Teachers plan to start a week-long strike this Friday since the Prime Minister Andris Skele is not ready to comply with the demands of the TeachersТ Trade Union to allot 14 million lats as of next January 1 for salary increase instead of the currently promised 8 million. Diena, Neatkariga, Jauna Avize, BB, PL

In an interview to LNT TV channel Head of the PeopleТs Party Saeima faction Gundars Bзrziтр said that the education minister would definitely be from the PeopleТs Party and he himself would agree to take the position if the prime minister accepts resignation of the current minister Golde.

In an interview to LNT TV channel Head of the PeopleТs Party Saeima faction Gundars Bзrziтр said that the education minister would definitely be from the PeopleТs Party and he himself would agree to take the position if the prime minister accepts resignation of the current minister Golde. Neatkariga

After survey carried out by SKDS the number of patriotes of Latvia has grown to 70.4% compared to last yearТs 66.1%. 81.9% of Latvians and 55.7% of non-Latvians consider themselves patriotes of Latvia.

After survey carried out by SKDS the number of patriotes of Latvia has grown to 70.4% compared to last yearТs 66.1%. 81.9% of Latvians and 55.7% of non-Latvians consider themselves patriotes of Latvia. Neatkariga, Diena, Jauna Avize

Yesterday the Consul General of Russia in Liepaja Mr. Kurochkin had farewell ceremony. He will be replaced by Valery Polyakov from the Russian Embassy in Vilnius.

Yesterday the Consul General of Russia in Liepaja Mr. Kurochkin had farewell ceremony. He will be replaced by Valery Polyakov from the Russian Embassy in Vilnius. Chas

Latvijas Vestnesis runs the speech Andris Skele gave at OSCE Istanbul summit.

DienaТs

columnist Aivars Ozolins writes about the Istanbul summit as the turning point when Russia refused to become a civilized and democratic country and decided to take its У special roadФ. columnist Aivars Ozolins writes about the Istanbul summit as the turning point when Russia refused to become a civilized and democratic country and decided to take its У special roadФ.

Diena

interviews director of the French magazine Geoeconomics in connection with the autumn edition of the magazine devoted to the Baltics. He thinks that the presence of the ethnic minorities in the Baltics is an underestimated advantage: in 20-30 years when Russia becomes an economic superpower Latvia and Estonia could be a vangard of the EU in Russia's direction thanks to their Russian minorities. interviews director of the French magazine Geoeconomics in connection with the autumn edition of the magazine devoted to the Baltics. He thinks that the presence of the ethnic minorities in the Baltics is an underestimated advantage: in 20-30 years when Russia becomes an economic superpower Latvia and Estonia could be a vangard of the EU in Russia's direction thanks to their Russian minorities. Lauku Avize asks the opinion of parliamentarians on the fact that Skele has not mentioned Russia's move of trying to introduce economic sanctions against Latvia at the OSCE summit.

Lauku Avize asks the opinion of parliamentarians on the fact that Skele has not mentioned Russia's move of trying to introduce economic sanctions against Latvia at the OSCE summit.

Vaira Vike-Freiberga told the newspaper Argumenti I Fakti that there is a potential risk for Latvia that the Russian speaking residents may become the fifth column. She added that this threat will disappear in near future "when we will make the life in Latvia better than in other places."

Vaira Vike-Freiberga told the newspaper Argumenti I Fakti that there is a potential risk for Latvia that the Russian speaking residents may become the fifth column. She added that this threat will disappear in near future "when we will make the life in Latvia better than in other places." Lauku Avize

Press Report

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Skele has mentioned Gundars Berzins, chairman of the People’s Party parliament faction as one of the candidates for the position of the Education Minister if the current Minister Silva Golde’s resignation is accepted.

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Skele has mentioned Gundars Berzins, chairman of the Peoples Party parliament faction as one of the candidates for the position of the Education Minister if the current Minister Silva Goldes resignation is accepted. Diena

“We should not comfort ourselves that we are not Yugoslavia and nothing like that can happen here.” A comment by Abrams Kleckins on why Latvia needs an integrated society.

We should not comfort ourselves that we are not Yugoslavia and nothing like that can happen here. A comment by Abrams Kleckins on why Latvia needs an integrated society. Diena

Vesti Segodna

prints a short interview with the Education Minister. Among other things there is a question about bilingual instruction. The minister tells about the several models offered and says that bilingual education leads to integration but the reporters comment is that after such instruction the child will speak neither good Latvian nor Russian. prints a short interview with the Education Minister. Among other things there is a question about bilingual instruction. The minister tells about the several models offered and says that “bilingual education leads to integration” but the reporter’s comment is that after such instruction the child will speak neither good Latvian nor Russian.