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Today, March 22, Aigars KalvÄ«tis, Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia, met Adrian Severin, Rapporteur of the Committee of Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), who has come to Latvia to see the situation of minorities and to prepare a report on protection of national minorities in Latvia. Aigars KalvÄ«tis and Adrian Severin discussed measures for protection of national minorities in Latvia, particularly focusing on the integration process. The Prime Minister informed on the work performed by the government in adopting legislation and establishing institutions, the extensive opportunities for dialogue and cooperation between representatives of ethnic minorities and the government of Latvia, progress in the education reform, which promotes studying of the Latvian language at schools. Governments of Latvia work on supporting the naturalization process and ensuring successful inclusion of non-citizens in LatviaâÀ™s multicultural society. The aim of the government is to reduce the number of non-citizens by using the naturalization process, which complies with international standards. Aigars KalvÄ«tis noted the positive effect of LatviaâÀ™s accession to the European Union on the naturalization process, which has become much more active after 1 May 2004, and the growing number of non-citizens who are willing to become Latvian citizens after recognizing the benefits and opportunities enjoyed by citizens of the EU. Adrian Severin positively assessed the work done by the government in integration of national minorities. The EPPA Rapporteur recommended that, for uniting the society, aims shared by different groups of the society should be used more extensively and minorities should be involved in implementing common projects, as well as to address national minorities more actively through mass media, and to pay particular attention to young people.
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