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OSCE welcomes adoption of amendments to Latvian citizenship law
HAGUE 23 June 1998
THE HAGUE, 23 June 1998 - The following statement was issued today by the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Max van der Stoel:
"I greatly welcome the adoption by the Saeima of the amendments to the Law on Citizenship proposed by the Latvian Government.
"As a result, the age limitations on those eligible to apply for citizenship will disappear and naturalisation requirements for elderly people and for stateless children born in Latvia since August 1991 will be eased.
"Once the Law has come into force - and I hope this will be the case next week - the key elements of my recommendations regarding citizenship and naturalisation will have been fulfilled.
"Together with the implementation of the National Language Programme, these steps can serve to promote the process of integration which is presently under discussion in Latvia."
"I greatly welcome the adoption by the Saeima of the amendments to the Law on Citizenship proposed by the Latvian Government.
"As a result, the age limitations on those eligible to apply for citizenship will disappear and naturalisation requirements for elderly people and for stateless children born in Latvia since August 1991 will be eased.
"Once the Law has come into force - and I hope this will be the case next week - the key elements of my recommendations regarding citizenship and naturalisation will have been fulfilled.
"Together with the implementation of the National Language Programme, these steps can serve to promote the process of integration which is presently under discussion in Latvia."