New Latvian language draft law

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From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1998 22:15:53 +0200 (EET)
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Subject: New Latvian language draft law

From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>

New Latvian language draft law


On December 10, 1998 Latvian Saeima (parliament) decided to continue
work on the Language draft law considered earlier by the previous
composition of the parliament. 

The decision was taken upon proposal made by the radical nationalist
"For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM" faction. All factions except
oppositional pro-minority "For equal rights in integrated Latvia" (a
coalition led by the Popular Concord Party), voted in favour of
continuing consideration of this draft. The draft is notorious for its
striking contradiction to international minority rights standards, it
was severely criticised by the experts from the OSCE High Commissioner
on National Minorities' office and the Council of Europe (for further
details see MINELRES archive - brief description on this matter was
made in the message sent on 21/03/98,
http://www.riga.lv/minelres/archive/03211998-17:26:57-2510.html, and
10/09/98,
http://www.riga.lv/minelres/archive/09101998-15:19:00-22896.html).
However, the draft was accepted with no serious changes, and according
to parliamentary rules today's vote equals to the adoption of the
draft in the first reading. Mr Abikis, Head of the Parliamentary
committee on Education, Culture and Science, said to journalists that
he managed to persuade the OSCE representatives to put up with the
content of the draft, taking into account "the unique situation in
Latvia". 

Ironically, Latvian parliament adopted the draft Language law
precisely at the day of the 50th anniversary of the Universal Human
Rights Declaration... 

Boris

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