Latvia's Foreign Minister, Artis Pabriks, to open conference on protection of minorities' rights

On 29 November 2005, at the Reitern's House in Riga, the Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Artis Pabriks, will be opening the conference on the implementation of the Council of Europe's Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

The Council of Europe's Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities took effect as of 1 February 1998 and was ratified in Latvia on 6 June 2005. The Latvian Foreign Minister had set the ratification of the convention as one of his priorities.

At the conference, the representatives from a number of countries will share their experience of implementing the Framework's Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in the Baltic States.

The conference is organized by the Information Office of the Council of Europe, the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies, the Human Rights Institute of the University of Latvia in conjunction with the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration.

Invited to participate in the conference are representatives from the minority non-governmental organizations, foreign diplomats as well as members of the Saeima (the Latvian parliament) and representatives from the ministries.

The conference will be held from 10 am till 4.30 pm at the Reitern's House at 2/4 Marstalu street.

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