• Minister of Foreign Affairs Maris Riekstins: Latvia is not planning to ratify the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
• Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens about the Guidelines for Social Integration Policy 2008-2018

Chas reports that the Minister of Foreign Affairs Maris Riekstins has replied to the appeal of several ethnic minority NGOs who have asked to ratify the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and to withdraw the reservations made to the Framework Convention for Protection of National Minorities. The Minister has stated that Latvia is not planning to ratify the Language Charter, while, discussion on withdrawal of the reservations to the Framework Convention is not worthwhile because the opinion of the Consultative Council on Implementation of the Framework Convention is not known yet.

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens about the Guidelines for Social Integration Policy 2008-2018. According to the Minister, the aim of the document is to make sure that all people regardless of ethnicity or culture feel that Latvia needs them and that they belong to this country. Mr. Kastens considers that the Guidelines do not promote or legalise multiculturalism but stresses that development of cultural diversity is not sufficiently recognized, promoted and valued.