Statement on adoption of amendments to Latvian election laws

THE HAGUE, 10 May 2002 - The following statement was issued by the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Rolf Ekéus, today:

"I welcome the adoption today by the Saeima (Latvian Parliament) of bills 1258 and 1259 by which the requirement of Latvian language proficiency has been abolished for persons standing for elections at the national and municipal levels."