• Representative of the National Radio and Television  Council (NRTC) has stated that there is a theoretical possibility to stop broadcasting of Russian TV channels in Latvia
• Council of Jewish Communities in Latvia is planning to sue the Latvian National Television and authors of a broadcast “De Facto” for dissemination of lies and slander against Jewish community
• Tomorrow, the government will review a proposal of the LAShOR to introduce mandatory exam on native language and literature for graduates of minority education programmes
• Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the head of the Arab Cultural Centre Hosams Abu Meri

Representative of the National Radio and Television  Council (NRTC) has stated that there is a theoretical possibility that broadcasts of Russian TV channels in Latvia could be stopped. According to the executive director of the Association of Broadcasting Organisations, the NRTC has no legal grounds to stop broadcasting of Russian channels in Latvia, while such statement proves that there are political forces in Latvia who want to split the society into those who support Georgia and Russia in their conflict. According to political scientist Ivars Ijabs, although Russian TV channels do not have positive impact on integration process in Latvian society, the ban of the broadcasts will not solve the problem. Mr. Ijabs believes that there should be more active dialogue with Russian speaking residents. According to Mr. Ijabs, statements such as possible ban on broadcasts from Russia are politically motivated. Chas

The Council of Jewish Communities in Latvia is planning to sue the Latvian National Television and authors of a broadcast “De Facto” for dissemination of lies and slander against Jewish community. The broadcast “De Facto” has showed a plot according to which the Jewish community has made new demands for Latvia to compensate the properties lost during the Holocaust and raised the sum of compensation from LVL 32 to 150 millions. The Council of Jewish Community considers that “De Facto” disseminated not only lies but also provoked surge of xenophobia and anti-Semitism in the society. Chas, Telegraf

Chas reports that tomorrow the government will review a proposal of the Latvian Association for Support of Schools with Russian Language of Instruction (LAShOR) to introduce mandatory exam on native language and literature for graduates of minority education programmes. According to the head of LAShOR Igors Pimenovs, the mandatory exam would increase motivation of students in minority schools to learn more about bases of their cultural identity.

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the head of the Arab Cultural Centre Hosams Abu Meri who was granted Latvian citizenship by the Saeima for special merits. Hosams Abu Meri has received medical education in Latvia, got married with Latvian woman and learned Latvian language. Mr. Abu Meri states that he is Latvian patriot and respects its language, law and nation.