Foreign Minister briefs OSCE High Commissioner about government's naturalisation campaigns

 

At a meeting on April 21 with Knut Vollebaek, the High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins emphasised that Latvia has adopted legislation on naturalisation and citizen's rights which complies with international standards.

During the meeting the officials discussed social integration in Latvia, the progress of naturalisation, and educational opportunities for ethnic minorities. Minister Riekstins noted that the legal basis adopted in Latvia opens vast opportunities for non-citizens to become Latvian nationals. Mr Riekstins informed the High Commissioner that the government organises frequent information campaigns on naturalisation possibilities. For example, this year, in association with the EU, a project Citizenship – my Responsibility, Rights and Opportunities is being implemented in numerous municipalities of Latvia. As part of the project, non-citizens receive information on how to obtain Latvian citizenship. 

During the talks, the officials touched upon the issue that the pace of naturalisation has decreased over the last year. The Minister informed that a study on the causes of this trend will be published this summer.

The implementation of education reform was also briefly considered at the meeting. Minister Riekstins stressed that the reform of the education of ethnic minorities is progressing successfully. "The reform gives national minorities the opportunity to study in their mother tongue; however, the emphasis is on teaching Latvian, the knowledge of which is essential in order to prepare for the labour market, where proficiency in the official language is highly significant," noted the Foreign Minister. 

At the close of the conversation, High Commissioner Vollebaek commended the achievements in providing information to the public on the process of naturalisation. 

 
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