HEADLINES
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities visits Latvia On 20-21 April 2006, the High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Rolf Ekeus, was on a working visit to Latvia. During the visit, the High Commissioner met with the Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga; the Speaker of the Saeima, Ingrida Udre; Foreign Minister Artis Pabriks; the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, Karina Petersone; the Minister of Education and Science, Baiba Rivza; the Head of the Naturalization Board, Eizenija Aldermane; and other state officials as well as directors and teachers from a number of educational establishments. The discussion focused on societal integration processes, and the issues related to the implementation of education reform and the process of naturalisation. During his meeting with the Latvian Foreign Minister Artis Pabriks, Mr Ekeus noted that Latvia's experience in the area of social integration may be useful as a model for other countries. Experts from Latvia are operating successfully in OSCE projects in a number of countries, and the OSCE High Commissioner will continue to recommend Latvian experts for the realisation of social integration projects elsewhere, initially in Georgia, Moldova and the Central Asian countries. Commissioner Ekeus briefed Mr Pabriks on the elaborate studies carried out by OSCE experts in connection with social integration issues in Western Europe, and noted that Latvia's positive experience might be useful for resolving the problems existing in these countries. During the meeting, Minister Pabriks informed High Commissioner Ekeus that parallel to the rapid economic growth in Latvia there is also a positive tendency with respect to the number of naturalisation applications and this makes our country unique. The OSCE High Commissioner expressed his approval at the positive trends and encouraged the continuation of this process. Mr Ekeus evaluated Latvia's achievements in the area of societal integration through education as positive and considered that this experience should be "exported" to other countries. Foreign Affairs Ministry, Current News (20.04.2006) Foreign Affairs Ministry, Current News (21.04.2006) LETA (21.04.2006)
Experts discuss Islamophobia and anti-Semitism in a scientific conference On 5 April 2006, the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration and the Latvian Bible Society organized an expert seminar on the topic Facing Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism in Latvia. The participants of the seminar discussed the origins and the interpretation of these phenomena. The conference was opened by the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, Ainars Latkovskis, who stated that a lack of awareness on religious minorities leads to intolerance towards them. The main objective of the conference was to inform the residents of Latvia or, in the words of Mr Latkovskis, to participate in the healing of society. The Co-president of the Latvian Christian-Jewish Council, Ruvins Ferbers, stressed that the best way to promote tolerance is through the recognition of positive aspects of a common history. He invited his audience to remember the many cases in history when Latvians, Germans and Jews could get along well. The Chairperson of the Riga Muslim Congregation, Rufi Shevirev, explained that the name of Islam is used to create insurgencies by various groups in Europe but it is in fact a religion directed towards peace. During the conference the Secretary General of the Latvian Bible Society, religion scholar, Mr Valdis Teraudkalns, presented his paper on Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism in Today's Socio-Political Context while historian Ilga Apine gave a lecture on the topic of Tolerance in Latvian Society. In the second part of the conference representatives of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights also spoke about Islamophobia in the context of the European Union, and representatives from Daugavpils University spoke about anti-Semitic propaganda in the press during the period 1940 to 2005. In the third part of the conference the poet Uldis Berzins gave a lecture on Islam and Tolerance,theology scholar Valts Apinis spoke about the questions of tolerance in Judaism and Dr Deniss Hanovs representing the Social Integration Secretariat read his paper entitled The Noble Enemy – Images of Muslim Culture in European Opera. The conference was organised as part of the European Commission project: Latvia – Equality in Diversity which is a continuation of the work on the strengthening of inter-religious dialogue started by the National Programme for the Promotion of Tolerance and financed by the grant scheme of the European Commission. BNS (05.04.2006) Secretariat of Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (03.04.2006) Latvian Centre for Human Rights (13.04.2006)
Moldovan delegation learns about Latvia's experience in the promotion of civic participation From 3 to 7 April 2006, a high level delegation from Moldova arrived in Riga to learn more about Latvia's experience in the promotion of participation within civil society, and about Latvia's regional reform experiences and future challenges. The delegation was made up of representatives from Moldova's Parliament, various Ministries, Local Municipalities of Chisinau and other regions, the non-governmental sector and from the media. During the visit the delegation learned about how civic society in Latvia involves itself in the work of the state administration and local municipalities and in the decision-making process. The delegation also met with representatives of the Latvian Parliament, the Ministry of Regional Development and Local Governments, the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, the State Chancellery, the Riga City Council and NGOs. During their visit to the Parliament the Moldovan representatives were informed about how the information about the decisions adopted by the Parliament is disseminated and how co-operation with NGOs is organised. Latvian NGOs shared their experience of participation in the consultative councils and in co-operating with state and local municipalities. This exchange of experiences with Moldova was organised by the Soros Foundation – Latvia and the Latvian Platform for Development Co-operation (LAPAS) together with experts from Latvia and the Soros Foundation – Moldova. LAPAS unites 24 NGOs, and its aim is to ensure a favourable environment for NGOs in Latvia and possibilities for development co-operation on the national, as well as international level. LETA (27.03.2006) Soros Foundation - Latvia (03.04.2006)
National Programme for Latvian Language Learning launched The Agency for Vocational Education Development, the Ministry of Education and Science and the National Agency for Latvian Language Training have signed a tri-partite agreement on the implementation of the National Programme Latvian Language Training of the European Social Fund (ESF). The programme has been developed with the aim to promote completion of the Latvian education concept and the reform of education content in secondary schools. The National Agency for Latvian Language Training will implement the project Teaching of Latvian Language as the State Language at Secondary Education Level as part of the national programme. The project will last for three years (from 2006 to 2008), and provide for the development of a methodological support system in order to promote integrated acquisition of the study material and the Latvian language in those national minority secondary schools, which implement study programmes in Latvian language. . The programme also foresees further education for teachers and development of a methodological basis of studies for qualitative and integrated study content and language training in secondary education. In three years time it is planned to develop 16 schools co-operation models and to implement several co-operation projects (including camps promoting co-operation) between various schools in Latvia. In order to provide a harmonised and qualitative Latvian language training throughout the whole country, it is also planned to publish 28 textbooks, teaching aids and handbooks for teachers, as well as to work out 10 further education programmes. During the project 32% of all secondary school teachers will have acquired skills in the teaching of Latvian as the state language in secondary schools. The cost of implementation of this national programme is estimated at LVL 990,000, of which 75% comes from the ESF and 25% - from state budget resources. LETA (26.04.2006)
Consultative group of experts on national minorities to be formed In order to stimulate participation of national minorities in the development of the national policy, the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration plans to form a consultative group of experts on national minorities in June. The main task of this group of experts will be to provide consultations, suggestions and information on ethno-politics and the rights of national minorities in Latvia. It is planned to involve the group in preparing the Report on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The Secretariat has invited national minority and inter-ethnic non-governmental organisations to delegate experts for participation in this experts' commission, which will be appointed for a period of one year. LETA (29.04. 2006)
Russian culture days organised in Rezekne On 24 April 2006, the Russian cultural festivities commenced in the city of Rezekne. During these festivities the cityfolk had an opportunity to attend performances by local and visiting groups. The cycle of activities started with a concert given by the Riga Old Believers' amateur choir Grezn. During the festivities a concert was also given by ensembles of the Russian Culture Society Rodnik. A literary musical composition about the works of the poet Yevgeny Shesholin and a presentation of his book took place as well. Concluding the Russian culture days a performance was staged of the play About Pop and His Labourer Bald, which is based on ideas from Alexander Pushkin's fairy-tale, and presented by the studio theatre Jorick. The Riga Russian song ensemble Garmonika performed ancient folk-songs and songs by modern authors. BNS (24.04.2006) For more information:
Newsletter "Societal Integration in Latvia: Towards Mutual Understanding and Cooperation" is a compilation of press releases and news reports drawn from the mass media and official sources. Not all of the views published reflect the official position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. |
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