HEADLINES
Project Promoting Inter-Cultural Understanding and Civic Participation in Local Governments concluded On 16 August 2006, the year-long project on Promoting Inter-Cultural Understanding and Civic Participation in Local Governments of the Latvian Adult Education Association (LAEA) was concluded. The aim of the project had been to promote mutual understanding and co-operation between the youth of various nationalities by informing them about the cultures and civic participation of various ethnic groups and by offering an opportunity to gain practical experience. During the project the young people acknowledged that they each live in their own environment, however, in fulfilling the tasks of the project, they concluded that they can also find a common language and that they have similar interests. A conclusion of the project was that there are presently no qualified people in local government who are capable of working with the young people from the different ethnic groups. Therefore, the LAEA has invited the leaders of local government to find solutions to this issue. LETA (13.08.2006)
Latvia to co-operate with Northern countries in integration matters On 7 August 2006, the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, Karina Petersone, met with Imants Gross, the Director of the Nordic Council of Ministers' Office in Latvia. The parties agreed to co-operate on societal integration issues. Ms Petersone acknowledged that it would be useful to learn how the Northern countries deal with these issues, and to learn how co-operation with the NGOs for the prevention of discrimination takes place. The Minister and Mr Gross agreed on an eventual partnership between Latvia and the Northern countries in promoting naturalization, strengthening the NGO sector and in promoting tolerance. The Minister also acquainted her guests with the main directions of Latvia's integration policy and the tasks of her secretariat, especially emphasizing the work of the secretariat in the National Programme for the Promotion of Tolerance, which could be interesting to observe also for the relevant government institutions in the Northern countries. LETA (07.08.2006)
Research on integration practice and prospects presented On 30 August 2006, the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences presented its research findings on Integration Practice and Prospects. The research was carried out by studying societal integration processes and the factors which influence them. It incorporated five areas of focus: the role of the press in designing collective identities; NGOs as societal integration agents; political integration dynamics; the attitude of the political elite towards the societal integration issues; and integration processes in society. The research also looked at five aspects of integration – integration, assimilation, separation, merging and marginalization strategies. According to the research results, 80% of Latvians, 83% of Russians and 81% of foreigners support the choice of integration strategy. It suggests that individuals highly value the preservation of their culture and attempts to maintain close contact with the other culture, which means that the national minorities living in Latvia maintain their culture, but at the same time they also feel that they belong to Latvia and to its society, and that they speak the Latvian language freely. A theory of the political scientist, John Berry, suggests that an integration strategy is considered to be optimal when it ensures the ethnic concordance within a society. The research also concluded that the majority of Latvians are open to an integration strategy towards the Russian-speaking residents of Latvia. It was carried out by forming 18 focus groups in various regions of Latvia and by doing a representative public opinion poll with 1000 respondents. The research project received financial support from the EU and the government of Latvia, and was co-financed by the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences. LETA (23.08.2006) LETA (30.08.2006)
Role of cultural activities in communication with national minorities acknowledged On 30 August 2006, the authors of a research project on the cultural activities and national integration of youth was presented to the media. Representatives of culture and of the media acknowledged that young people must be encouraged to participate in cultural life more actively because this is the way to develop a positive communication with national minorities. The director of the project and Professor of Social Sciences, Aivars Tabuns, said that the research had been done over a period of one and a half years and that it studied the cultural space of Latvia on the whole, as well as the possibilities to improve the communication with national minorities in Latvia. Professor Tabuns also stressed the topicality of the research by explaining that cultural environment and initiatives are of high importance as they form the basis for communication and tolerance among different ethnic youth groups. The project was implemented in order to explore the information environment in Latvia and to analyse how cultural events and artists are reflected on national radio, television, in the press and on the various Internet portals. Another aim of the project was to attempt to determine student cultural values and consumer patterns, youth cultural initiatives, accomplishments, obstacles for development, as well as the role of these initiatives in the process of societal integration. The research on cultural activities and national integration of youths has been documented in the book Cultures. Youth. Media which was published by the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Latvia. BNS (30.08.2006)
Project to popularise national minority cultures concluded in Vidzeme On 5 August 2006, the Vidzeme Development Agency (VDA) organised the closing event of the project on Cultural Initiatives for Vidzeme Society Integration. A fete took place at Vecate in the Valmiera district. Guests were entertained with the singing and dancing of national minority culture groups from the various Vidzeme municipalities which had engaged in the project. The participants of the fete were addressed by representatives of the Valmiera District Council, the Vecate rural municipality, the Vidzeme Development Agency and from the Secretariat of Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration. After the festive concert, people who had taken part in the project shared their impressions about the course of the project and about possibilities to popularise the culture of national minorities and to highlight this aspect in the future as well. Activities of the project included the publishing of a booklet on the Culture of National Minorities in Vidzeme, as well as training the leaders of national minority associations and centres in Riga and in Daugavpils. Also, national minority cultural centres were established and equipped in all seven of the rural municipalities which participated in the project. The project was implemented by the VDA and co-financed by the EU Phare Grant Programme for the Promotion of Societal Integration in Latvia. The aim of the project was to promote cultural dialogue between the different nationalities in Vidzeme and to improve residents' knowledge and understanding of cultures of those national minorities who live in Vidzeme, as well as to demonstrate the cultural diversity of Vidzeme in an interesting and attractive manner. LETA (05.08.2006)
5th National Minorities Music Festival organised On 18 and 19 August, the 5th National Minorities Music Festival Latvijas Vainags (Latvia's crown) took place at Indra, a rural municipality. The festival gathered local ensembles, guests from Ukraine, Lithuania and from neighbouring regions of Latvia. The main concert took place in the evening of 19 August, when 26 artistic ensembles presented their performances. These were ensembles of Polish, Russian, Belarusian, Ukrainian and other nationalities. The festival closed with a fireworks display and a ball. LETA (18.08.2006)
Liv children's and youth camp opened On 30 July 2006, a creative camp Mierlinkizt for the children and youth of Liv (Livonian) origin was opened in Mazirbe. The camp united 30 participants, teachers of the Liv language as well as experts and cultivators of the Liv traditions, in order to mutually continue to better understand the Liv culture and its language and to pass on the Liv heritage to the newer generation. The camp was organized by the Secretariat of Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration in co-operation with the Liv association Livod It and with support of the State Culture Capital Foundation. The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, Karina Petersone, took part in the closing event of the camp – an evening of Liv festivity – on 4 August. On 5 August, the Minister congratulated all participants of the festivities in the closing ceremony. The aim of the Mierlinkizt is to introduce the next generation with Liv language basics, its history and traditions. Each day of the camp was dedicated to a particular topic – Liv history, language, culture and art, as well as to a Liv-style "Olympic games". The programme also included such culturally informative activities as Liv language teaching, the acquisition of Liv musical heritage, folklore and traditions, basic truths about the Liv culture and its history, practical and creative activities based on the acquisition of Liv cultural and historical heritage. At the end of the camp a prize was given to the best Liv – a ribbon painted in the colours of the Liv flag with the inscription "The Best Liv Mierlinkizt 2006". Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (27.07.2006) DVD Ethnos presented to representatives of national minorities On 29 August 2006, DVDs containing all broadcasts of the cycle Ethnos were presented as gifts to representatives of the national minorities by the Secretariat of Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration. Starting on 5 November 2005, Latvian Television broadcast the cycle of the cultural programme Ethnos, which was made by the NGO Project Visual Latvia. The broadcasts presented more than 150 ethnos, the representatives of which live in Latvia. They relate the force and beauty of creative expression in the individual, and reflect the vitality as a value irrespective of nationality. The director of Ethnos, Raitis Vulfs, stated that the project was successful, because it allowed Latvians to become better acquainted with the representatives of other nationalities living side by side with them. The project was financed by the EU Phare Grant Programme and from the government budget. LETA (29.08.2006)
Almost 114 thousand non-citizens naturalized since 1995 Since the beginning of the naturalization process on 1 February 1995, and by decree of the government, 113,972 residents, including 12,852 minors, have now been granted Latvian citizenship. During this period the Naturalization Board (NB) has received 117,886 applications for naturalization, in which 130,663 residents express their desire to become Latvian citizens. Since the beginning of the naturalization process the NB has also received 5,757 applications for the granting of citizenship to the children of non-citizens and of stateless persons, born after Latvia regained its independence. BNS (17.08.2006)
Latvian language examinations procedures amended On 8 August 2006, the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers approved legislative amendments regulating the procedures for the conducting of Latvian language examinations for the purpose of obtaining Latvian citizenship. Also approved were amendments to the legislation on the receipt and review of applications for naturalisation, on Latvian language proficiency requirements and the test of knowledge of the Latvian Constitution, of the National Anthem, and a knowledge of Latvia's history. Specialists consider that these amendments will require applicants to demonstrate a greater responsibility towards the test of language and knowledge, and towards the citizenship acquisition process itself. Ministry of Justice (08.08.2060)
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. |
|
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
