Doc. 9501

27 June 2002

Reopening of monitoring procedure in respect to Latvia

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mr Rogozin and others

1.       In its Resolution 1236 (2001)on the honouring of obligations and commitments by Latvia, the Assembly clearly defined the steps to be undertaken by Latvia to pursue a policy towards consolidation of democratic reforms and social integration.

2.       The Assembly notes that despite certain measures such as relaxing the language requirements for candidates in the elections adopted after the relevant decision of the European Court of Human Rights, Latvia has failed to honour most of the Assembly recommendations:

-       Latvia is the only Baltic country that has not yet ratified the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities;

-       the Laws on Language and Education have not been amended in accordance with the provisions and the spirit of the Framework Convention;

-       the number of citizens who were granted citizenship through naturalisation decreased from 15,000 in 2000 down to 10,000 in 2001;

-       a law on the protection of national and language minorities has not been adopted.

3.       The Latvian authorities have not engaged in an open dialogue with the non-Latvians on the implementation of the Law on Education as Resolution 1236 requires and the access of national minorities to education in their mother tongue has been decreasing as a result.

4.       The Law on Radio and Television establishes a 25% quota for broadcasting in non-Latvian languages, thus violating the right to the freedom of information. In 2002 there was a precedent when a radio station which broadcasts in a minority language was closed.

5.       On 30 April 2002 the Latvian Parliament adopted amendments to the Constitution which exclude the use of minority languages by the legislative and executive authorities of any level, including the authorities of those areas where national minorities make up the majority of the population. These amendments violate the Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities and the European Charter on Regional or Minority Languages and make their ratification almost impossible.

6.       The Latvian authorities continue the practice of political trials against participants in the anti-fascist movements which is clearly against the aims and standards of the Council of Europe.

7.       Taking into account Latvia’s failure to honour the commitments and recommendations, its lack of progress in observing the rights of national minorities and the necessity to receive explanations to that end, the Assembly, in accordance to paragraph 9 of Resolution 1236 (2001) and Resolution 1115 (1997), decides to reopen monitoring procedures in respect to Latvia.

Signed : ¹

Rogozin, Russia, EDG

Christodoulides, Cyprus, UEL

Dmitrijevas, Lithuania, SOC

Grachev, Russia, EPP

Hancock, United Kingdom, LDR

Laakso, Finland, UEL

Neguta, Moldova, UEL

Nessa, Italy, EPP

Rustamyan, Armenia, SOC

Slutsky, Russia, SOC

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group