OSCE High Commissioner discusses naturalization, education reform in Latvia

RIGA, 23 April 2008 - The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Knut Vollebaek, commended the Latvian authorities and national minority communities today for taking a solution-oriented approach to tackling the country's integration challenges. 

"I was struck by the openness of officials and national minorities about the integration challenges Latvia faces, and the awareness of the need for continued dialogue on these issues," Vollebaek said.

In meetings in Riga with the Speaker of Saema (Parliament), the Foreign Minister, the Education Minister as well as other members of the Government and representatives of various minorities, Ambassador Vollebaek pointed out that many people of minority background - some 372,000 - are not yet Latvian citizens. He said his talks with the Latvian authorities on how to improve the naturalization process will continue.

"On the naturalization process, I am urging the public authorities and non-citizens to persevere as naturalization can make a significant contribution to the integration of minorities into Latvian society," said the High Commissioner.

He recommended that the Latvian Government grant the right to take part in local elections to non-citizens.

"Having a stake in and a voice on municipal matters could in fact stimulate greater interest amongst non-citizens in the public debate on the national level and to naturalise," he said.

During his trip Ambassador Vollebaek also visited a minority language school in the south-eastern city of Daugavpils. In talks with the teachers and students, he focused on the quality of education following the earlier reforms and praised the local school authorities' work towards achieving a bilingual school system.

"A good command of the State language will be an asset to you in the labour market," he stressed. "Teaching a part of the curriculum in the State language will help you learn Latvian. It is, however, important to monitor the quality of education and to have subjects taught through the medium of minority languages as well to preserve minority identity."