1994-11-12
Latvian President Visits Cleveland
(APW_ENG_19941112.0248)
1) The president of Latvia said his country has had plenty of problems since winning its independence from the former Soviet Union.
2) But President Guntis Ulmanis said during a visit on Friday that his government was still managing to forge strong economic ties with western Europe and the United States.
3) Ulmanis was in the city to promote trade, mingle with the Latvian-American community and talk about the future of his country.
4) ``Latvia has excellent links by land, sea and air with western and central Europe, the former Soviet Union, as well as other parts of the world,'' Ulmanis said.
5) Latvia is undergoing a comprehensive program of economic reform, including an open-market economy. It offers a well-educated and skilled work force, he said.
6) About 2.6 million people live in Latvia, about the same number that reside in West Virginia. More than one-third of the country's residents -- about 906,000 -- are native Russians forced on the nation by the Soviet Union.
7) The Soviet goal was to kill Latvian nationalism and culture by ``Russifying'' the country, Ulmanis said.
8) ``Ten more years of Russian occupation, and they would have accomplished it,'' he said.
9) About 300,000 ethnic Russians and their children are citizens because they lived in Latvia before World War II. Now 606,000 more Russians want to become citizens; and 300,000 ethnic Ukrainians, Poles and Lithuanians in Latvia also want citizenship.
10) All will receive the right to vote when they learn to speak Latvian and pledge loyalty to the nation. The Soviets had tried to replace Latvia's language with Russian, Ulmanis said.
11) Latvia split from the Soviet Union in 1991. Until then, Russia had treated it as a colony since 1710, except during a brief period of freedom after World War I. The last Russian troops left Latvia on Aug. 31.
12) The Latvian government is working on a plan to provide financial incentives for Russians to repatriate.
13) ``The ethnic Russians have no money to go home even if they wanted to,'' Ulmanis said.
1995-04-05
Despite Outrage, Latvia Still Adamant About Ousting Refugees
(APW_ENG_19950405.0334)
1) Despite mounting international criticism, Latvia on Wednesday appeared ready to renew efforts to expel more than a hundred refugees being held a train near the border with Russia.
2) The refugees, most of them from the Middle East, have been living in two railroad cars on a siding for more than a week. Before that, they spent days bouncing between border posts in Latvia, Russia and Lithuania.
3) All three former Soviet republics have refused to take in the asylum seekers and Latvia won't let them off of the train. Latvia says it fears becoming a magnet for Europe-bound refugees.
4) ``Russia should take them because Latvia can prove that the refugees formerly resided at a camp near Moscow,'' Latvian Interior Minister Janis Adamsons told a press conference in Riga Wednesday. ``We're trying to get an agreement with Russia.''
5) But Latvia's eastern neighbor has rejected such claims in the past and Adamsons said he didn't know if or when Moscow might change its position.
6) In the meantime, he said the refugees would stay on the train.
7) Local Red Cross officials have complained about not being given easy access to the 104 refugees, including many women and children, who share just two bathrooms and have only occasional hot water.
8) Adamsons said there was a chance the refugees could move to a nearby camp. But he said upgrading the facility would take time and cost up to dlrs 800,000 -- money Latvia says it doesn't have.
9) On Tuesday, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said it has found many potentially qualified asylum seekers among the refugees.
10) UNHCR spokesman Ron Redmond said the poor conditions were starting to cause health problems and that it was time for Latvia to provide better accommodations.
11) The people on the train tried to reach Sweden by ship in December but were turned back by bad weather.
12) Estonia sent them to Latvia. They have been turned back six times from entering Russia since then and also have been sent back to Latvia from Lithuania.
13) The refugees say they want asylum in Sweden, but Redmond said Latvia put them on the train and should take responsibility for them first.
14) UNHCR has ask Scandinavian governments to help the Baltics cope with a growing tide of refugees traveling across Russia, but appropriate procedures need to be established, Redmond said.
15) ``It is unacceptable for these people to be treated like cattle, shuttling back and forth in railway cars,'' Redmond has said.
Despite Outrage, Latvia Still Adamant About Ousting Refugees
(APW_ENG_19950405.0336)
1) Despite mounting international criticism, Latvia on Wednesday appeared ready to renew efforts to expel more than a hundred refugees being held a train near the border with Russia.
2) The refugees, most of them from the Middle East, have been living in two railroad cars on a siding for more than a week. Before that, they spent days bouncing between border posts in Latvia, Russia and Lithuania.
3) All three former Soviet republics have refused to take in the asylum seekers and Latvia won't let them off of the train. Latvia says it fears becoming a magnet for Europe-bound refugees.
4) ``Russia should take them because Latvia can prove that the refugees formerly resided at a camp near Moscow,'' Latvian Interior Minister Janis Adamsons told a press conference in Riga Wednesday. ``We're trying to get an agreement with Russia.''
5) But Latvia's eastern neighbor has rejected such claims in the past and Adamsons said he didn't know if or when Moscow might change its position.
6) In the meantime, he said the refugees would stay on the train.
7) Local Red Cross officials have complained about not being given easy access to the 104 refugees, including many women and children, who share just two bathrooms and have only occasional hot water.
8) Adamsons said there was a chance the refugees could move to a nearby camp. But he said upgrading the facility would take time and cost up to dlrs 800,000 -- money Latvia says it doesn't have.
9) On Tuesday, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said it has found many potentially qualified asylum seekers among the refugees.
10) UNHCR spokesman Ron Redmond said the poor conditions were starting to cause health problems and that it was time for Latvia to provide better accommodations.
11) The people on the train tried to reach Sweden by ship in December but were turned back by bad weather.
12) Estonia sent them to Latvia. They have been turned back six times from entering Russia since then and also have been sent back to Latvia from Lithuania.
13) The refugees say they want asylum in Sweden, but Redmond said Latvia put them on the train and should take responsibility for them first.
14) UNHCR has ask Scandinavian governments to help the Baltics cope with a growing tide of refugees traveling across Russia, but appropriate procedures need to be established, Redmond said.
15) ``It is unacceptable for these people to be treated like cattle, shuttling back and forth in railway cars,'' Redmond has said.
1995-04-28
Russia Livid at Latvian Plans to Blow Up Soviet Radar Installation
(APW_ENG_19950428.0418)
1) Russia's defense ministry blasted Latvia plans to demolish the ``Skrunda monster,'' a huge radar installation at a former Soviet base, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported Friday.
2) Latvia is eager to obliterate this 19-story symbol of Soviet occupation and plans to blow it up on May 4.
3) Russia pulled the last of its troops out of Latvia last August, but has an agreement allowing it to use the Skrunda base, part of an early warning system designed to detect incoming nuclear missiles, until August 1998.
4) The Russian Defense Ministry on Friday warned that the shock waves from the blast might affect equipment at the part of the base it still uses.
5) It said the result could be faulty missile detection, possibly even false alarms that could ``increase international tensions.''
6) The ministry recalled a startling incident in January when Russian Air Defense troops shot down a Norweigan weather research rocket, mistaking it for a missile.
7) The ``Skrunda monster'' is on an open field in a rich farming district about 150 kilometers (90 miles) south of Riga, capital of the Baltic nation. Latvia has hired an American firm to blow it up.
8) ``Latvia will bid another farewell to the 50 years of unwilling existence under Soviet rule and to one of the symbols of the consequences of the Second World War,'' the Latvian Foreign Ministry said Friday.
9) The Soviet Union annexed Latvia in 1940 as a result of a secret pact between Hitler and Stalin.
10) Latvia became the center of the Baltic Military District and the unhappy host to hundreds of Soviet military installations until gaining its independence in 1991.
Russia Livid at Latvian Plans to Blow Up Soviet Radar Installation
(APW_ENG_19950428.0420)
1) Russia's defense ministry blasted Latvia plans to demolish the ``Skrunda monster,'' a huge radar installation at a former Soviet base, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported Friday.
2) Latvia is eager to obliterate this 19-story symbol of Soviet occupation and plans to blow it up on May 4.
3) Russia pulled the last of its troops out of Latvia last August, but has an agreement allowing it to use the Skrunda base, part of an early warning system designed to detect incoming nuclear missiles, until August 1998.
4) The Russian Defense Ministry on Friday warned that the shock waves from the blast might affect equipment at the part of the base it still uses.
5) It said the result could be faulty missile detection, possibly even false alarms that could ``increase international tensions.''
6) The ministry recalled a startling incident in January when Russian Air Defense troops shot down a Norweigan weather research rocket, mistaking it for a missile.
7) The ``Skrunda monster'' is on an open field in a rich farming district about 150 kilometers (90 miles) south of Riga, capital of the Baltic nation. Latvia has hired an American firm to blow it up.
8) ``Latvia will bid another farewell to the 50 years of unwilling existence under Soviet rule and to one of the symbols of the consequences of the Second World War,'' the Latvian Foreign Ministry said Friday.
9) The Soviet Union annexed Latvia in 1940 as a result of a secret pact between Hitler and Stalin.
10) Latvia became the center of the Baltic Military District and the unhappy host to hundreds of Soviet military installations until gaining its independence in 1991.
1995-10-02
Nationalist Party Scores Well In Latvian Parliamentary Election
(APW_ENG_19951002.0278)
1) A fringe party led by an expatriate with links to the extreme right in Germany has come in second place in Latvia's parliamentary elections, stunning the Baltic nation, results showed Monday.
2) Established center-right parties, which were expected to make big gains, did not do as well as anticipated and may have difficulty forming a coalition government.
3) The electoral success of the People's Movement for Latvia, led by extremist Joachim Siegerist, has thrown Latvia into confusion and could lead to political instability.
4) According to preliminary results released Monday, the People's Movement for Latvia won 15.03 percent of the vote and was running neck and neck with two other top vote getters.
5) The German-born Siegerist, who is a dual national, took out Latvian citizenship based on relatives who had lived in the Baltic nation before the Soviet occupation in 1940.
6) Pre-election polls indicated that Siegerist's party would register just over 5 percent, falling well behind the seven mainstream parties.
7) The biggest vote getter in the two-day parliamentary election appears to be Saimneks, a pro-business party advocating a mix of liberal economics and protectionism. It has won 15.33 percent of the votes counted so far.
8) Ruling centrists of the Latvia Way Party, whose popularity has waned during its last two years in power, is in third place with 14.65 percent.
9) The People's Movement for Latvia has been widely shunned by the political establishment and observers say it has virtually no chance of joining any coalition government.
10) The early results show a fragmented political landscape in Latvia, with as many as nine political groups making it into parliament but with none of them holding more than 20 seats in the 100-seat legislature.
11) Any coalition that is stitched together will almost certainly not have a majority in parliament.
12) Combined, the center-right groups, including Fatherland and Freedom and the Latvian National Conservative Party, are projected at around 30 seats and they could still take the lead in forming a government.
Nationalist Party Scores Well In Latvian Parliamentary Election
(APW_ENG_19951002.0280)
1) A fringe party led by an expatriate with links to the extreme right in Germany has come in second place in Latvia's parliamentary elections, stunning the Baltic nation, results showed Monday.
2) Established center-right parties, which were expected to make big gains, did not do as well as anticipated and may have difficulty forming a coalition government.
3) The electoral success of the People's Movement for Latvia, led by extremist Joachim Siegerist, has thrown Latvia into confusion and could lead to political instability.
4) According to preliminary results released Monday, the People's Movement for Latvia won 15.03 percent of the vote and was running neck and neck with two other top vote getters.
5) The German-born Siegerist, who is a dual national, took out Latvian citizenship based on relatives who had lived in the Baltic nation before the Soviet occupation in 1940.
6) Pre-election polls indicated that Siegerist's party would register just over 5 percent, falling well behind the seven mainstream parties.
7) The biggest vote getter in the two-day parliamentary election appears to be Saimneks, a pro-business party advocating a mix of liberal economics and protectionism. It has won 15.33 percent of the votes counted so far.
8) Ruling centrists of the Latvia Way Party, whose popularity has waned during its last two years in power, is in third place with 14.65 percent.
9) The People's Movement for Latvia has been widely shunned by the political establishment and observers say it has virtually no chance of joining any coalition government.
10) The early results show a fragmented political landscape in Latvia, with as many as nine political groups making it into parliament but with none of them holding more than 20 seats in the 100-seat legislature.
11) Any coalition that is stitched together will almost certainly not have a majority in parliament.
12) Combined, the center-right groups, including Fatherland and Freedom and the Latvian National Conservative Party, are projected at around 30 seats and they could still take the lead in forming a government.
Nationalist Party Scores Well In Latvian Parliamentary Election Eds: UPDATES with report that Siegerist cannot speak Latvian,
(APW_ENG_19951002.0294)
1) A fringe party led by an expatriate with links to the extreme right in Germany has come in second place in Latvia's parliamentary elections, stunning the Baltic nation, preliminary results showed Monday.
2) Established center-right parties, which were expected to make big gains, did not do as well as anticipated and may have difficulty forming a coalition government.
3) The electoral success of the People's Movement for Latvia, led by extremist Joachim Siegerist, has thrown Latvia into confusion and could lead to political instability.
4) ``It is very dangerous for democracy if many votes are gained by parties which are newly formed because there is no continuity and stability, the Baltic News Service quoted Gundars Berzinsh, of the Farmers' Party, as saying.
5) According to preliminary results released Monday, the People's Movement for Latvia won 15.03 percent of the vote and was running neck and neck with two other top vote getters.
6) The German-born Siegerist, who is a dual national, took out Latvian citizenship based on relatives who had lived in the Baltic nation before the Soviet occupation in 1940. Siegerist cannot speak Latvian, the Baltic News Service reported.
7) Pre-election polls indicated that Siegerist's party would register just over 5 percent, falling well behind the seven mainstream parties.
8) The biggest vote getter in the two-day parliamentary election appears to be Saimnieks, a pro-business party advocating a mix of liberal economics and protectionism. It has won 15.33 percent of the votes counted so far.
9) Ruling centrists of the Latvia Way Party, whose popularity has waned during its last two years in power, is in third place with 14.65 percent.
10) The People's Movement for Latvia has been widely shunned by the political establishment and observers say it has virtually no chance of joining any coalition government.
11) The early results show a fragmented political landscape in Latvia, with as many as nine political groups making it into parliament but with none of them holding more than 20 seats in the 100-seat legislature.
12) Any coalition that is stitched together will almost certainly not have a majority in parliament.
13) Combined, the center-right groups, including Fatherland and Freedom and the Latvian National Conservative Party, are projected at around 30 seats and they could still take the lead in forming a government.
Nationalist Party Scores Well In Latvian Parliamentary Election Eds: UPDATES with report that Siegerist cannot speak Latvian,
(APW_ENG_19951002.0296)
1) A fringe party led by an expatriate with links to the extreme right in Germany has come in second place in Latvia's parliamentary elections, stunning the Baltic nation, preliminary results showed Monday.
2) Established center-right parties, which were expected to make big gains, did not do as well as anticipated and may have difficulty forming a coalition government.
3) The electoral success of the People's Movement for Latvia, led by extremist Joachim Siegerist, has thrown Latvia into confusion and could lead to political instability.
4) ``It is very dangerous for democracy if many votes are gained by parties which are newly formed because there is no continuity and stability, the Baltic News Service quoted Gundars Berzinsh, of the Farmers' Party, as saying.
5) According to preliminary results released Monday, the People's Movement for Latvia won 15.03 percent of the vote and was running neck and neck with two other top vote getters.
6) The German-born Siegerist, who is a dual national, took out Latvian citizenship based on relatives who had lived in the Baltic nation before the Soviet occupation in 1940. Siegerist cannot speak Latvian, the Baltic News Service reported.
7) Pre-election polls indicated that Siegerist's party would register just over 5 percent, falling well behind the seven mainstream parties.
8) The biggest vote getter in the two-day parliamentary election appears to be Saimnieks, a pro-business party advocating a mix of liberal economics and protectionism. It has won 15.33 percent of the votes counted so far.
9) Ruling centrists of the Latvia Way Party, whose popularity has waned during its last two years in power, is in third place with 14.65 percent.
10) The People's Movement for Latvia has been widely shunned by the political establishment and observers say it has virtually no chance of joining any coalition government.
11) The early results show a fragmented political landscape in Latvia, with as many as nine political groups making it into parliament but with none of them holding more than 20 seats in the 100-seat legislature.
12) Any coalition that is stitched together will almost certainly not have a majority in parliament.
13) Combined, the center-right groups, including Fatherland and Freedom and the Latvian National Conservative Party, are projected at around 30 seats and they could still take the lead in forming a government.
Nationalist Party Scores Well In Latvian Parliamentary Election Eds: UPDATES throughout with background on Siegerist.
(APW_ENG_19951002.0335)
1) A fringe party led by an expatriate with links to the extreme right in Germany has come in second place in Latvia's parliamentary elections, stunning the Baltic nation, preliminary results showed Monday.
2) Established center-right parties, which were expected to make big gains, did not do as well as anticipated and may have difficulty forming a coalition government.
3) The electoral success of the People's Movement for Latvia, led by extremist Joachim Siegerist, 48, has thrown Latvia into confusion and could lead to political instability.
4) ``It is very dangerous for democracy if many votes are gained by parties which are newly formed because there is no continuity and stability, the Baltic News Service quoted Gundars Berzinsh, of the Farmers' Party, as saying.
5) According to preliminary results released Monday, the People's Movement for Latvia won 15.03 percent of the vote and was running neck and neck with two other top vote getters.
6) The German-born Siegerist, who is a dual national, took out Latvian citizenship based on relatives who had lived in the Baltic nation before the Soviet occupation in 1940.
7) Siegerist, whom some Latvians call ``little Hitler'' uses German at his rallies and speaks broken Latvian. He is a member of a conservative group in Hamburg, Germany that raises money for rightwing causes.
8) During the campaign, he hammered home the need for law and order. He also addressed fears that Latvians may become a minority in their own country and has said there are too many ethnic Russians in the former Soviet republic.
9) Pre-election polls indicated that Siegerist's party would register just over 5 percent, falling well behind the seven mainstream parties.
10) The biggest vote getter in the two-day parliamentary election appears to be Saimnieks, a pro-business party advocating a mix of liberal economics and protectionism. It has won 15.33 percent of the votes counted so far.
11) Ruling centrists of the Latvia Way Party, whose popularity has waned during its last two years in power, is in third place with 14.65 percent.
12) The People's Movement for Latvia has been widely shunned by the political establishment and observers say it has virtually no chance of joining any coalition government.
13) The early results show a fragmented political landscape in Latvia, with as many as nine political groups making it into parliament but with none of them holding more than 20 seats in the 100-seat legislature.
14) Any coalition that is stitched together will almost certainly not have a majority in parliament.
15) Combined, the center-right groups, including Fatherland and Freedom and the Latvian National Conservative Party, are projected at around 30 seats and they could still take the lead in forming a government.
Nationalist Party Scores Well In Latvian Parliamentary Election Eds: UPDATES throughout with background on Siegerist.
(APW_ENG_19951002.0336)
1) A fringe party led by an expatriate with links to the extreme right in Germany has come in second place in Latvia's parliamentary elections, stunning the Baltic nation, preliminary results showed Monday.
2) Established center-right parties, which were expected to make big gains, did not do as well as anticipated and may have difficulty forming a coalition government.
3) The electoral success of the People's Movement for Latvia, led by extremist Joachim Siegerist, 48, has thrown Latvia into confusion and could lead to political instability.
4) ``It is very dangerous for democracy if many votes are gained by parties which are newly formed because there is no continuity and stability, the Baltic News Service quoted Gundars Berzinsh, of the Farmers' Party, as saying.
5) According to preliminary results released Monday, the People's Movement for Latvia won 15.03 percent of the vote and was running neck and neck with two other top vote getters.
6) The German-born Siegerist, who is a dual national, took out Latvian citizenship based on relatives who had lived in the Baltic nation before the Soviet occupation in 1940.
7) Siegerist, whom some Latvians call ``little Hitler'' uses German at his rallies and speaks broken Latvian. He is a member of a conservative group in Hamburg, Germany that raises money for rightwing causes.
8) During the campaign, he hammered home the need for law and order. He also addressed fears that Latvians may become a minority in their own country and has said there are too many ethnic Russians in the former Soviet republic.
9) Pre-election polls indicated that Siegerist's party would register just over 5 percent, falling well behind the seven mainstream parties.
10) The biggest vote getter in the two-day parliamentary election appears to be Saimnieks, a pro-business party advocating a mix of liberal economics and protectionism. It has won 15.33 percent of the votes counted so far.
11) Ruling centrists of the Latvia Way Party, whose popularity has waned during its last two years in power, is in third place with 14.65 percent.
12) The People's Movement for Latvia has been widely shunned by the political establishment and observers say it has virtually no chance of joining any coalition government.
13) The early results show a fragmented political landscape in Latvia, with as many as nine political groups making it into parliament but with none of them holding more than 20 seats in the 100-seat legislature.
14) Any coalition that is stitched together will almost certainly not have a majority in parliament.
15) Combined, the center-right groups, including Fatherland and Freedom and the Latvian National Conservative Party, are projected at around 30 seats and they could still take the lead in forming a government.
Nationalist Party Scores Well In Latvian Parliamentary Election Eds: AMs; UPDATES with more background, comment on Siegerist,
(APW_ENG_19951002.0520)
1) Stunning this Baltic nation, a German-born extremist party leader has come in second place in Latvia's parliamentary elections, raising fears of political instability.
2) Preliminary results released Monday also showed that several established center-right parties did not do as well as anticipated and may encounter difficulties forming a coalition government.
3) The unexpected electoral success of the fringe People's Movement for Latvia, led by the 48-year-old Joachim Siegerist, has thrown Latvia into confusion.
4) ``It is very dangerous for democracy if many votes are gained by parties which are newly formed because there is no continuity and stability,'' the Baltic News Service quoted Gundars Berzinsh, of the Farmers' Party, as saying.
5) According to preliminary results, the People's Movement for Latvia won 15.03 percent of the vote, and was running neck and neck with two other top vote getters.
6) ``These are the sort of guys people don't want to say they are voting for,'' said Lars Johannsen, a Western political scientist living in Latvia. ``They always do better in the actual election.''
7) The German-born Siegerist, a dual national, took out Latvian citizenship based on relatives who had lived in the Baltic nation before the Soviet occupation in 1940.
8) Siegerist, whom some Latvians call ``little Hitler,'' uses German at his rallies and speaks broken Latvian. He is a member of a conservative group in Hamburg, Germany that raises money for right-wing causes.
9) During the campaign, he hammered home the need for law and order. His populist rhetoric included promises to bring Latvia billions of dollars in new investments, and to open a special bank that would offer low-interest loans to the country's farmers.
10) Siegerist also addressed fears that Latvians may become a minority in their own country and has advocated strict citizenship quotas, saying there were too too many ethnic Russians among the former Soviet republic's 2.5 million people.
11) Only 300,000 Russian-speakers have Latvian citizenship, and another 700,000 are waiting to go through an extremely slow and cumbersome process of naturalization.
12) Pre-election polls indicated that Siegerist's party would register just over 5 percent, falling well behind the seven mainstream parties.
13) The biggest vote getter in the two-day parliamentary election appeared to be Saimnieks, a pro-business party advocating a mix of liberal economics and protectionism. It has won 15.33 percent of the votes counted so far.
14) Ruling centrists of the Latvian Way Party, whose popularity has waned during its last two years in power, are in third place with 14.65 percent.
15) The early results showed a fragmented political landscape in Latvia, with as many as nine political groups making it into parliament, but with none of them holding more than 20 seats in the 100-seat legislature.
16) Any coalition that is stitched together will almost certainly not have a majority in parliament.
17) Siegerist's People's Movement for Latvia has been widely shunned by the political establishment and observers say it has virtually no chance of joining any coalition government.
18) The Latvian Way earlier had ruled out a coalition with Saimnieks _ a center-left party criticized by potential partners as being dominated by Soviet-era apparatchiks.
19) Combined, the center-right groups, including Fatherland and Freedom and the Latvian National Conservative Party, are projected at around 30 seats and they could still take the lead in forming a government.
Nationalist Party Scores Well In Latvian Parliamentary Election Eds: AMs; UPDATES with more background, comment on Siegerist,
(APW_ENG_19951002.0523)
1) Stunning this Baltic nation, a German-born extremist party leader has come in second place in Latvia's parliamentary elections, raising fears of political instability.
2) Preliminary results released Monday also showed that several established center-right parties did not do as well as anticipated and may encounter difficulties forming a coalition government.
3) The unexpected electoral success of the fringe People's Movement for Latvia, led by the 48-year-old Joachim Siegerist, has thrown Latvia into confusion.
4) ``It is very dangerous for democracy if many votes are gained by parties which are newly formed because there is no continuity and stability,'' the Baltic News Service quoted Gundars Berzinsh, of the Farmers' Party, as saying.
5) According to preliminary results, the People's Movement for Latvia won 15.03 percent of the vote, and was running neck and neck with two other top vote getters.
6) ``These are the sort of guys people don't want to say they are voting for,'' said Lars Johannsen, a Western political scientist living in Latvia. ``They always do better in the actual election.''
7) The German-born Siegerist, a dual national, took out Latvian citizenship based on relatives who had lived in the Baltic nation before the Soviet occupation in 1940.
8) Siegerist, whom some Latvians call ``little Hitler,'' uses German at his rallies and speaks broken Latvian. He is a member of a conservative group in Hamburg, Germany that raises money for right-wing causes.
9) During the campaign, he hammered home the need for law and order. His populist rhetoric included promises to bring Latvia billions of dollars in new investments, and to open a special bank that would offer low-interest loans to the country's farmers.
10) Siegerist also addressed fears that Latvians may become a minority in their own country and has advocated strict citizenship quotas, saying there were too too many ethnic Russians among the former Soviet republic's 2.5 million people.
11) Only 300,000 Russian-speakers have Latvian citizenship, and another 700,000 are waiting to go through an extremely slow and cumbersome process of naturalization.
12) Pre-election polls indicated that Siegerist's party would register just over 5 percent, falling well behind the seven mainstream parties.
13) The biggest vote getter in the two-day parliamentary election appeared to be Saimnieks, a pro-business party advocating a mix of liberal economics and protectionism. It has won 15.33 percent of the votes counted so far.
14) Ruling centrists of the Latvian Way Party, whose popularity has waned during its last two years in power, are in third place with 14.65 percent.
15) The early results showed a fragmented political landscape in Latvia, with as many as nine political groups making it into parliament, but with none of them holding more than 20 seats in the 100-seat legislature.
16) Any coalition that is stitched together will almost certainly not have a majority in parliament.
17) Siegerist's People's Movement for Latvia has been widely shunned by the political establishment and observers say it has virtually no chance of joining any coalition government.
18) The Latvian Way earlier had ruled out a coalition with Saimnieks _ a center-left party criticized by potential partners as being dominated by Soviet-era apparatchiks.
19) Combined, the center-right groups, including Fatherland and Freedom and the Latvian National Conservative Party, are projected at around 30 seats and they could still take the lead in forming a government.
1996-03-05
Estonia and Latvia Bicker Over Fish, Pork
(APW_ENG_19960305.0109)
1) A dispute over fishing rights between two former Soviet republics in the Baltics has flared after Estonian border guards detained a Latvian boat in the Gulf of Riga.
2) The Latvian Foreign Ministry officially protested to the Estonian government after the ``Virsiatis'' fishing boat was detained Sunday night, the Interfax news agency reported Tuesday.
3) The so-called ``fish war'' erupted in 1993 when Estonia passed a law restoring the nautical border that existed in 1940 before the Soviet Union annexed the two countries. Latvia does not recognized the border.
4) The dispute revolves around waters surrounding two islands in the Gulf of Riga that are rich in fish. Latvia considers the area its economic zone, and all efforts to reach a negotiated settlement have failed.
5) The dispute has strained relations between Latvia and Estonia, which normally enjoy good relations and have sought to improve their ties in the post-Soviet era.
6) On Monday, Estonia banned imports of pork and pork products from Latvia, saying the measure was caused by an outbreak of swine fever in Latvia.
1996-10-19
Russia Defends Naval Activity in Latvian Waters
(APW_ENG_19961019.0079)
1) The Russian Foreign Ministry on Saturday said Latvia overreacted to the presence of Russian ships in its waters and called the Latvian complaint a ploy to gain entry into NATO.
2) The Latvian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday summoned Russia's ambassador to express concern about the anchoring of three Russian warships in Latvia's exclusive economic zone.
3) In a statement to the Interfax news agency, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Latvian officials were trying to create an impression of a Russian threat to the Baltic state.
4) The statement said Latvia's aims were clear: ``On the one hand to prepare their own population for raising military expenditures, and on the other hand, to convince NATO that Latvia needs to be admitted to this military-political bloc.''
5) Under international law, the statement said, freedom of the sea includes exclusive economic zones.
1997-05-06
Russian lawmakers urge end to discrimination in Latvia
(APW_ENG_19970506.0305)
1) A Russian parliamentary delegation called Tuesday for an end to discrimination against ethnic Russians living in Latvia if the Baltic nation wants normal relations with Moscow.
2) Moscow claims that ethnic Russians living in Latvia and neighboring Estonia are denied full civil rights. Ethnic Russians and other Russian-speakers number about one-third of Latvia's 2.7 million people, and many of them have settled in the country after World War II.
3) ``If Latvia wants to have good relations with Russia, it must end the discrimination against Russian-speaking people,'' said Mikhail Vakulenko, who heads the delegation from Russia's Duma, parliament's lower house.
4) Latvia and Estonia, which regained independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, have been reluctant to grant full rights to their Russian-speaking minorities. Many ethnic Russians are seen as Soviet-era intruders.
5) The Russian group arrived Monday for a five-day visit devoted to the problem of Russian-speakers and plans to meet with officials from Latvia's Foreign Ministry and the Human Rights Commission of the Latvian parliament, or Sejm.
6) Vakulenko met earlier with Sejm speaker Alfred Cepanis and threatened Latvia with economic sanctions.
7) ``It was intimated to us that unless the situation alters, Russia will resort to economic sanctions and the stream of transit cargoes via Latvia may peter out,'' Cepanis said, adding that the meeting's atmosphere was one of ``political pressure.''
8) Delegation members also said the Duma will not be inclined to ratify a border treaty between Russia and Latvia unless the condition of ethnic Russians improves.
1997-06-05
Latvian, Turkish president call for expanding trade ties
(APW_ENG_19970605.0550)
1) President of Latvia and Turkey praised the prospects of political and economic ties between their countries Thursday and said a free trade agreement would be completed soon, a news agency said.
2) Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, who completed a tour of the former Soviet Baltic nations Thursday, earlier in the week signed similar agreements with two of them, Estonia and Latvia.
3) The signing of the agreement with Latvia was postponed Wednesday because of ministerial objections.
4) Several Latvian ministries objected to some provisions in the draft free trade agreement, in particular those dealing with trade in agriculture and textile products, the Interfax news agency reported.
5) Demirel and Latvian President Guntis Ulmanis said the prospects of the countries' trade and economic relations were ``favorable'' and agreed that the ties need to be expanded as Latvia and Turkey through a planned joint business council, the report said.
6) Demirel expressed support for Latvia's efforts to join NATO, which the Baltic republics view as the only reliable guarantee of their security.
Latvian, Turkish president call for expanding trade ties Eds: UPDATES throughout with Demirel quotes, detail on council
(APW_ENG_19970605.0825)
1) The presidents of Latvia and Turkey praised the prospects of political and economic ties between their countries Thursday and said a free trade agreement would be completed soon.
2) Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, who completed a tour of the former Soviet Baltic nations Thursday, earlier in the week signed similar agreements with two of them, Estonia and Latvia.
3) The signing of the agreement with Latvia was postponed Wednesday because of ministerial objections, news services said.
4) Several Latvian ministries objected to some provisions in the draft free trade agreement, in particular those dealing with trade in agriculture and textile products, the Interfax news agency reported.
5) ``Once these agreements are signed, we can expect our economic relations to improve considerably,'' Demirel said, according to the Baltic News Service.
6) Demirel and Latvian President Guntis Ulmanis said the prospects of the countries' trade and economic relations were favorable and agreed that the ties need to be expanded through a joint business council, which was set up Wednesday.
7) Demirel expressed support for Latvia's efforts to join NATO, which the Baltic republics view as the only reliable guarantee of their security.
8) ``I have made it clear that we fully support Latvia's admission into NATO,'' he said. ``Latvia can count on Turkey's support.''
1997-06-26
Latvia says 27 percent of state investments have been to protect
(APW_ENG_19970626.0686)
1) Cleaning up environmental wastes left behind by Soviet troops is one of the biggest ecological problems facing Latvia, the Baltic country's environmental protection minister said Thursday.
2) ``A serious problem is the cleanup of military sites,'' Minister Anatolijs Gorbunovs told the U.N. Earth Summit. ``At the end of foreign occupation, they are no longer in use and their cleanup will take tremendous time, money and adequate technology.
3) The last soldiers from the former Soviet Union left Latvia on Aug. 31, 1994, ending 54 years of occupation. Up to 200,000 Soviet and later Russian troops were once stationed in the Baltics, making them one of Moscow's primary strategic areas.
4) But the departure of the troops left states of the former Soviet Union with a huge cleanup task.
5) Gorbunovs spoke on the fourth day of the five-day ``Earth Summit Plus 5,'' where leaders of 170 countries are reviewing the progress in implementing the promises made during the first Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
6) Gorbunovs told the gathering that Latvia has made significant investments to improve its environment during the years since Rio.
7) ``Latvia is proud to note that 27 percent of its total investments are aimed at improving the environment, especially through water management and sewage treatment,'' he said.
8) ``Latvia's next step will be to undertake development with the goal of sustainability, primarily through complex cross-sectoral approaches both nationally and locally,'' he added.
9) He thanked the Nordic countries as well as the major international financial institutions for help in participating in a program to identify and clean up 10 ``hot spots'' in the Baltic Sea.
10) ``This successful cooperation was expanded in 1996, when the heads of government of the 11 countries belonging to the Baltic Sea Council, of which Latvia is currently the presiding country, and the president of the European Commission agreed to develop an Agenda 21 for the region, to be called `Baltic 21,''' he said.
11) Gorbunovs said Baltic 21 ``should be adopted at the highest possible political level'' next year as an example of regional cooperation.
12) The minister also Latvia attaches great importance to the issue of forest preservation, since nearly have the country is forested.
13) ``Latvia believes that to ensure the sustainable development of Latvia's and the world's forests, two challenges must be met: to achieve a common understanding on the principles of sustainable forest management and to make a commitment to observe these principles,'' he said.
14) ``Therefore, Latvia supports proposals to start the negotiating process for a global convention on forests,'' he added.
1998-03-07
Russia may impose restrictions on economic ties to Latvia
(APW_ENG_19980307.0120)
1) Russia may limit trade with Latvia in response to the rough treatment given to Russian pensioners living in the Baltic state, a government spokesman said Saturday.
2) Foreign policy advisers to President Boris Yeltsin have recommended that he take steps to limit economic relations with Latvia, presidential spokesman Sergei Yastrzhembsky told the Interfax news agency.
3) The dispute with Latvia began Tuesday when Latvian police used batons to disperse a protest by Russian pensioners, who were blocking a road in the Latvian capital, Riga, to protest poor living conditions.
4) Although no injuries were reported, the incident has become a flashpoint for tensions between Russia and the Baltic nation, which Russians accuse of discriminating against its sizable Russian minority.
5) Imposing restrictions on trade with Latvia would be a ``just'' response, Yastrzhembsky said.
6) Latvia, whose economy relies considerably on Russian energy supplies and resale of Russia resources, should be ``more loyal with regard to Russia's interests,'' the spokesman said.
7) On Friday, Russia's State Duma, parliament's lower house, postponed an official visit of its delegation to Latvia, which was planned for mid-March and lawmakers called for Yeltsin to impose economic and other sanctions.
1998-03-09
Russia complains of Latvian vandalism, says government responsible
(APW_ENG_19980309.1031)
1) Russia complained Monday that a Soviet monument in Latvia had been vandalized with the ``obvious'' sanction of the government, the latest in a series of incidents straining relations between the two former Soviet republics.
2) According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, vandals desecrated a tomb of Soviet soldiers _ mostly Russians, presumably _ who died fighting Nazis in Latvia in World War II.
3) According to the ITAR-Tass news agency, the incident occurred Sunday in the Latvian city of Liepaja. It came on the heels of an incident in which police in Riga, the Latvian capital, used batons to violently disrupt a protest by Russian pensioners living in the Baltic state.
4) The Russian government had said Saturday that it might limit trade with Latvia in response to the rough treatment given the pensioners.
5) Then, Monday, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a sharply worded statement in which it said the Soviet soldiers' tomb was vandalized ``with the obvious connivance of local authorities.''
6) ``At first, Latvian radical nationalists use fists and clubs against defenseless old people and women who have raised their voice to protect their rights and dignity,'' the statement went on.
7) ``Then, several days later, they ... (give) the green light to vandalizing the tombs of those who fought against the Nazis.''
8) Relations between Russia and Latvia have been steadily deteriorating, in part because of reports of Latvian discrimination against the sizable population of Russians living there.
9) Many Latvians resent Russians, who have ruled Latvia more than once in its history, and who largely called the shots during Latvia's tenure as a Soviet state, from 1940 to 1991.
1998-03-18
Russia condemns Latvia again; Latvian minister tries to calm
(APW_ENG_19980318.1011)
1) Russia kept up its scolding of Latvia on Wednesday, even as the Latvian foreign minister tried to patch up a squabble over his country's treatment of ethnic Russians.
2) Latvia ``does not want to take part in the current debate with Moscow,'' Foreign Minister Valdis Birkavs said in Riga, according to the Interfax news agency. He said Latvia would draw up guidelines by June 30 for integrating Russian speakers into the Baltic country's society.
3) In Moscow, Patriarch Alexy II, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, expressed strong objections to Russian-speakers lacking full citizenship rights in Latvia, where they constitute about one-third of the population.
4) The Moscow Municipal Duma, the equivalent of a city council, condemned the use of ``crude force against rightless and helpless old people'' _ a reference to police actions against elderly Russian protesters in Riga two weeks ago.
5) That incident touched off the latest dispute. Among other events fueling it was a march on Monday by former members of the Latvian SS brigade during World War II.
6) That incident prompted the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, to order a committee on Wednesday to consider citing Latvia before the International Human Rights Court in the Hague.
1998-03-19
Kremlin criticizes Western nations for ignoring SS march in Latvia By ANNA DOLGOV
(APW_ENG_19980319.0901)
1) With a rare ardor, the Kremlin on Thursday condemned Western democracies for turning a blind eye to a recent march by former members of an SS brigade in the Baltic state of Latvia.
2) Russia is also considering imposing economic sanctions against Latvia, President Boris Yeltsin's spokesman Sergei Yastrzhembsky said.
3) The march in Latvia's capital Riga earlier this week was an ``astounding sight, an outrageous sight'' that left a ``dismal impression'' in Russia, Yastrzhembsky said.
4) But just as ``astounding was the silence by many European nations, members of both the European Union and NATO,'' Yastrzhembsky told reporters.
5) ``Does this silence mean that the decisions of the Nuremberg trial are no longer regarded as obligatory legal norms for European countries, that the moral and legal lessons of Nuremberg can be so openly violated?,'' Yastrzhembsky asked, in an usually forceful speech for the typically impassive spokesman.
6) ``Does the silence by the European nations that have tried not to notice the Nazi banners of the Latvian SS legion _ which has been declared a criminal organization by the Nuremberg trial _ does this silence mean that NATO countries are ready to extend an invitation to a zone of democracy and stability to a country whose authorities indulge SS leftovers?''
7) Latvia, along with two other former Soviet republics in the Baltics _ Estonia and Lithuania _ is eager to join NATO, saying membership in the alliance would protect it from what it perceives as a threat by its giant neighbor, Russia. Moscow adamantly opposes the plan.
8) Latvia was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940, occupied by the Nazis in 1941-44, then recaptured by the Soviet Red Army.
9) Decades of Soviet occupation made many Latvians more sensitive to the crimes of the Communists than of the Nazis, who were regarded by the Baltic nations largely as enemies of the Soviet regime.
10) The already cool relations between Russia and Latvia, which has a substantial ethnic Russian minority, have further deteriorated in recent weeks.
11) The first incident that set off tensions was the dispersal by Latvia's baton-wielding police of a demonstration by Russian-speaking pensioners, who demanded better living conditions. No injuries were reported, but several Russian politicians demanded economic sanctions against Latvia.
12) On Thursday, Yastrzhembsky said the Kremlin was considering such a move, but added that ``the imposition of any kind of sanctions, against any state, must be treated very seriously, thoroughly weighing everything and gauging all the pros and con.''
13) Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin, however, said there was no immediate plan to impose sanctions against Latvia.
14) ``We do not support retaliating tit-for-tat, because that would first of all affect the people in Latvia,'' Chernomyrdin was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.
1998-03-28
Moscow mayor blasts Latvian treatment of Russians AP Photo MOSB103
(APW_ENG_19980328.0328)
1) Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov on Saturday called for economic sanctions against Latvia for treating ethnic Russians in the former Soviet republic as second-class citizens.
2) At a protest rally outside the Latvian embassy, Luzhkov _ a powerful mayor and likely presidential candidate in 2000 _ said Russia should ``take all possible measures, except force'' against Latvia, the Interfax news agency reported.
3) He said Russian speakers in Latvia ``have practically turned into slaves, banned from possessing property, engaging in business, running for elected office or having social guarantees equal to those of citizens.''
4) Luzhkov said Latvia was carrying out ``a policy of genocide against the Russian-speaking population, a policy for squeezing out and expelling aliens through limitation of their rights.''
5) He said Russia should take all possible measures against Latvia, ``including economic, trade and humanitarian measures.''
6) Since the Soviet collapse, relations between Russia and Latvia have remained strained. Moscow has accused the Latvian authorities of discrimination against the nation's substantial ethnic Russian minority. They sharply deteriorated last month after police broke up a demonstration by ethnic Russian pensioners in Riga.
7) Latvia was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940, occupied by the Nazis from 1941-44, then recaptured by the Soviet Red Army.
1998-04-06
Mine explodes outside Russian embassy in Latvia Eds: Leads throughout to UPDATE with details, background
(APW_ENG_19980406.0699)
1) An anti-personnel mine exploded in a trash bin near the Russian Embassy on Monday morning. No one was injured and the only damage was to several cars in the area, but the blast aggravated already strong tensions between Russia and Latvia.
2) The blast, which police said was caused by a Soviet-produced mine, came four days after a bomb damaged the Latvian capital's only synagogue. Police speculated that the same person or group was reponsible for both explosions.
3) Latvia's president, prime minister and foreign minister all issued statements condemning the blast near the embassy, according to the Baltic News Service. Russia meanwhile denounced Latvia over the incident.
4) ``Explosions rock Latvia, monuments are vandalized, fascists are raising their heads. It should be stopped. We demand that the Latvian authorities take drastic measures,'' the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, according to the ITAR-Tass news agency.
5) Tensions between Russia and Latvia have simmered since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, but have escalated in the past month, beginning when baton-wielding Latvian police broke up a demonstration by Russian-speaking pensioners.
6) About two weeks later, Russian denunciations came even stronger after a demonstration in Riga commemorating the establishment of Latvia's SS brigade. The day after that demonstration, thousands of people jammed the center of the city to demand that the validity of their Soviet-era passports be extended.
7) About a third of Latvia's 2.6 million residents do not have citizenship, mostly because they cannot demonstrate proficiency in the Latvian language, and the government issues such people special passports that many ethnic Russians regard as insulting.
Mine explodes outside Russian embassy in Latvia Eds: ADDS two grafs at end with U.S. response.
(APW_ENG_19980406.1464)
1) An anti-personnel mine exploded in a trash bin near the Russian Embassy on Monday morning. No one was injured and the only damage was to several cars in the area, but the blast aggravated already strong tensions between Russia and Latvia.
2) The blast, which police said was caused by a Soviet-produced mine, came four days after a bomb damaged the Latvian capital's only synagogue. Police speculated that the same person or group was reponsible for both explosions.
3) Latvia's president, prime minister and foreign minister all issued statements condemning the blast near the embassy, according to the Baltic News Service. Russia meanwhile denounced Latvia over the incident.
4) ``Explosions rock Latvia, monuments are vandalized, fascists are raising their heads. It should be stopped. We demand that the Latvian authorities take drastic measures,'' the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, according to the ITAR-Tass news agency.
5) Tensions between Russia and Latvia have simmered since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, but have escalated in the past month, beginning when baton-wielding Latvian police broke up a demonstration by Russian-speaking pensioners.
6) About two weeks later, Russian denunciations came even stronger after a demonstration in Riga commemorating the establishment of Latvia's SS brigade. The day after that demonstration, thousands of people jammed the center of the city to demand that the validity of their Soviet-era passports be extended.
7) About a third of Latvia's 2.6 million residents do not have citizenship, mostly because they cannot demonstrate proficiency in the Latvian language, and the government issues such people special passports that many ethnic Russians regard as insulting.
8) The United States sent FBI personnel to help investigate the synagogue bombing. They also will assist in investigating the Monday blast, said U.S. State Department spokesman James P. Foley in Washington.
9) ``We continue to believe that terrorist acts of this nature must not be allowed to lead to further deterioration of Latvian-Russian relations,'' he said.
1998-04-07
Moscow mayor calls on Russia to impose sanctions Latvia
(APW_ENG_19980407.0131)
1) Moscow's powerful mayor Yuri Luzhkov urged the Kremlin on Tuesday to impose economic and other sanctions on Latvia to protest an explosion near the Russian embassy in the Latvian capital.
2) Luzhkov said Monday's blast was ``not a separate incident organized by nationalists or extremists, but a result of Latvia's state policy.''
3) He said Russia should ``take the most decisive economic and humanitarian steps _ excluding force measures _ to protect the Russian-speaking populace of Latvia,'' the Interfax news agency reported.
4) The influential Luzhkov, who is rumored to have presidential ambitions, frequently appeals to Russian nationalist sentiment and has made protection of ethnic Russians across the former Soviet Union a favorite theme.
5) Luzhkov's city government now plans to formally adopt an appeal to President Boris Yeltsin to deprive Latvia of its ``most favorite nation'' trade status, the mayor said.
6) The explosion in a trash bin in Riga caused no injuries and damaged several cars in the area, but it aggravated already strong tensions between Russia and Latvia. The blast came four days after a bomb damaged the Latvian capital's only synagogue.
7) Tensions between Russia and Latvia have simmered since the 1991 Soviet collapse, with Russia accusing the Baltic country of discriminating against its sizable Russian-speaking minority. Latvia denies the charges.
8) Friction has escalated since Latvian police broke up a demonstration by Russian-speaking pensioners last month. Russian also protested after a Riga rally by Latvian veterans of the Nazi German SS.
Moscow mayor calls on Russia to impose sanctions on Latvia Eds: ADDS detail in 3rd graf, Luzhkov remark in new 6th graf
(APW_ENG_19980407.0143)
1) Moscow's powerful mayor Yuri Luzhkov urged the Kremlin on Tuesday to impose economic and other sanctions on Latvia to protest an explosion near the Russian embassy in the Latvian capital.
2) Luzhkov said Monday's blast was ``not a separate incident organized by nationalists or extremists, but a result of Latvia's state policy.''
3) He told a city government meeting that Russia should ``take the most decisive economic and humanitarian steps _ excluding force measures _ to protect the Russian-speaking populace of Latvia,'' the Interfax news agency reported.
4) The influential Luzhkov, who is rumored to have presidential ambitions, frequently appeals to Russian nationalist sentiment and has made protection of ethnic Russians across the former Soviet Union a favorite theme.
5) Luzhkov's government now plans to formally adopt an appeal to President Boris Yeltsin to deprive Latvia of its ``most favorite nation'' trade status, the mayor said.
6) Russia also should ``sharply restrict the transportation of energy resources, metal and other goods through Latvia'' so as ``to make the republic observe human rights,'' Luzhkov added.
7) The explosion in a trash bin in Riga caused no injuries and damaged several cars in the area, but it aggravated already strong tensions between Russia and Latvia. The blast came four days after a bomb damaged the Latvian capital's only synagogue.
8) Tensions between Russia and Latvia have simmered since the 1991 Soviet collapse, with Russia accusing the Baltic country of discriminating against its sizable Russian-speaking minority. Latvia denies the charges.
9) Friction has escalated since Latvian police broke up a demonstration by Russian-speaking pensioners last month. Russian also protested after a Riga rally by Latvian veterans of the Nazi German SS.
Moscow mayor calls on Russia to impose sanctions on Latvia Eds: UPDATES with Italian foreign minister's comments in new grafs
(APW_ENG_19980407.0522)
1) Moscow's powerful mayor Yuri Luzhkov urged the Kremlin on Tuesday to impose economic and other sanctions on Latvia to protest an explosion near the Russian embassy in the Latvian capital.
2) Luzhkov said Monday's blast was ``not a separate incident organized by nationalists or extremists, but a result of Latvia's state policy.''
3) He told a city government meeting that Russia should ``take the most decisive economic and humanitarian steps _ excluding force measures _ to protect the Russian-speaking populace of Latvia,'' the Interfax news agency reported.
4) Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini, who is paying a three-day visit to Russia, said in Moscow on Tuesday that the recent events in Latvia ``put it even further from the process of preliminary admission'' to the European Union, the ITAR-Tass and Interfax news agencies reported.
5) ``The presence of democratic institutes, especially the observance of the rights of ethnic minorities, is a necessary condition for Latvia's admission,'' Dini said.
6) The influential, 4th graf pvs
Moscow mayor calls on Russia to impose sanctions on Latvia Eds: UPDATES with Latvian Cabinet firing state police chief in new
(APW_ENG_19980407.0881)
1) Moscow's powerful mayor Yuri Luzhkov urged the Kremlin on Tuesday to impose economic and other sanctions on Latvia to protest an explosion near the Russian embassy in the Latvian capital.
2) Luzhkov said Monday's blast was ``not a separate incident organized by nationalists or extremists, but a result of Latvia's state policy.''
3) He told a city government meeting that Russia should ``take the most decisive economic and humanitarian steps _ excluding force measures _ to protect the Russian-speaking populace of Latvia,'' the Interfax news agency reported.
4) Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini, who is paying a three-day visit to Russia, said in Moscow on Tuesday that the recent events in Latvia ``put it even further from the process of preliminary admission'' to the European Union, the ITAR-Tass and Interfax news agencies reported.
5) ``The presence of democratic institutes, especially the observance of the rights of ethnic minorities, is a necessary condition for Latvia's admission,'' Dini said.
6) The influential Luzhkov, who is rumored to have presidential ambitions, frequently appeals to Russian nationalist sentiment and has made protection of ethnic Russians across the former Soviet Union a favorite theme.
7) Luzhkov's government now plans to formally adopt an appeal to President Boris Yeltsin to deprive Latvia of its ``most favorite nation'' trade status, the mayor said.
8) Russia also should ``sharply restrict the transportation of energy resources, metal and other goods through Latvia'' so as ``to make the republic observe human rights,'' Luzhkov added.
9) The explosion in a trash bin in Riga caused no injuries and damaged several cars in the area, but it aggravated already strong tensions between Russia and Latvia. The blast came four days after a bomb damaged the Latvian capital's only synagogue.
10) On Tuesday, the Latvian Cabinet fired state police chief Aldis Lieljuksis, the Baltic News Service reported.
11) The National Security Council had called for his dismissal last week after the synagogue bombing. But the dismissal had to be ordered by the Cabinet.
12) Interior Minister Ziedonis Cevers said Lieljuksis had failed to fill the minister's order to install a video surveillance camera at the synagogue, which previously had been bombed in 1995.
13) Tensions between Russia and Latvia have simmered since the 1991 Soviet collapse, with Russia accusing the Baltic country of discriminating against its sizable Russian-speaking minority. Latvia denies the charges.
14) Friction has escalated since Latvian police broke up a demonstration by Russian-speaking pensioners last month. Russian also protested after a Riga rally by Latvian veterans of the Nazi German SS.
1998-04-08
Spokesman: Yeltsin backs economic sanctions against Latvia By SERGEI SHARGORODSKY
(APW_ENG_19980408.0237)
1) President Boris Yeltsin is considering imposing economic sanctions against Latvia because of its ``policy of discrimination'' against the country's sizable Russian-speaking minority, the Kremlin said Wednesday.
2) Yeltsin ordered government officials to devise a series of economic and other measures that could possibly be used against Latvia, said presidential spokesman Sergei Yastrzhembsky.
3) These steps are being taken in view of Latvia's ``continuous policy of discrimination against the 700,000-strong Russian-speaking populace,'' he said.
4) ``Moscow prefers not to speak of sanctions, but of pinpoint economic measures of influence on Latvia,'' Yastrzhembsky added.
5) The spokesman noted that Yeltsin views such measures, earlier suggested by senior Russian officials, as ``quite productive.''
6) Tensions between Russia and Latvia have simmered since the 1991 Soviet collapse, with Russia accusing the Baltic country of discriminating against its Russian-speaking minority. Latvia denies the charges.
7) Friction has escalated since Latvian police broke up a demonstration by Russian-speaking pensioners last month. Russia also protested after a rally by Latvian veterans of the Nazi German SS in the capital Riga.
8) Protests from Moscow grew to a noisy chorus following Monday's explosion near the Russian embassy in Riga, which caused no injuries but damaged some cars in the area.
9) The critics were led by Moscow's powerful mayor Yuri Luzhkov and several influential regional governors, who have urged Yeltsin to impose sanctions.
10) Russia should ``sharply restrict the transportation of energy resources, metal and other goods through Latvia'' so as ``to make the republic observe human rights,'' Luzhkov argued Tuesday.
11) But despite the outpouring of criticism, Yeltsin indicated there would be no immediate action. The Cabinet was told just to ``seriously consider the necessity of diversifying the routes of Russian oil exports abroad,'' Yastrzhembsky said, according to the Interfax news agency.
12) Russia uses the former Soviet Baltic nations for some oil and other energy exports to the north. On the other hand, Latvia's economy would be seriously hurt if it is deprived of fees from the passage of Russian exports.
Spokesman: Yeltsin backs economic sanctions against Latvia Eds: ADDS background in two new bottom grafs
(APW_ENG_19980408.0248)
1) President Boris Yeltsin is considering imposing economic sanctions against Latvia because of its ``policy of discrimination'' against the country's sizable Russian-speaking minority, the Kremlin said Wednesday.
2) Yeltsin ordered government officials to devise a series of economic and other measures that could possibly be used against Latvia, said presidential spokesman Sergei Yastrzhembsky.
3) These steps are being taken in view of Latvia's ``continuous policy of discrimination against the 700,000-strong Russian-speaking populace,'' he said.
4) ``Moscow prefers not to speak of sanctions, but of pinpoint economic measures of influence on Latvia,'' Yastrzhembsky added.
5) The spokesman noted that Yeltsin views such measures, earlier suggested by senior Russian officials, as ``quite productive.''
6) Tensions between Russia and Latvia have simmered since the 1991 Soviet collapse, with Russia accusing the Baltic country of discriminating against its Russian-speaking minority. Latvia denies the charges.
7) Friction has escalated since Latvian police broke up a demonstration by Russian-speaking pensioners last month. Russia also protested after a rally by Latvian veterans of the Nazi German SS in the capital Riga.
8) Protests from Moscow grew to a noisy chorus following Monday's explosion near the Russian embassy in Riga, which caused no injuries but damaged some cars in the area.
9) The critics were led by Moscow's powerful mayor Yuri Luzhkov and several influential regional governors, who have urged Yeltsin to impose sanctions.
10) Russia should ``sharply restrict the transportation of energy resources, metal and other goods through Latvia'' so as ``to make the republic observe human rights,'' Luzhkov argued Tuesday.
11) But despite the outpouring of criticism, Yeltsin indicated there would be no immediate action. The Cabinet was told just to ``seriously consider the necessity of diversifying the routes of Russian oil exports abroad,'' Yastrzhembsky said, according to the Interfax news agency.
12) Russia uses the former Soviet Baltic nations for oil and other energy exports to the north. About 13 percent of Russian crude oil exports flow through Latvia's Ventspils port.
13) With Russia's other main export outlets operating at or near capacity, there is little immediate alternative left to the Latvian terminal. On the other hand, Latvia's economy would be seriously hurt if it is deprived of fees from the passage of Russian exports.
Spokesman: Yeltsin backs economic sanctions against Latvia Eds: ADDS population of Latvia, 6th graf
(APW_ENG_19980408.0346)
1) President Boris Yeltsin is considering imposing economic sanctions against Latvia because of its ``policy of discrimination'' against the country's sizable Russian-speaking minority, the Kremlin said Wednesday.
2) Yeltsin ordered government officials to devise a series of economic and other measures that could possibly be used against Latvia, said presidential spokesman Sergei Yastrzhembsky.
3) These steps are being taken in view of Latvia's ``continuous policy of discrimination against the 700,000-strong Russian-speaking populace,'' he said.
4) ``Moscow prefers not to speak of sanctions, but of pinpoint economic measures of influence on Latvia,'' Yastrzhembsky added.
5) The spokesman noted that Yeltsin views such measures, earlier suggested by senior Russian officials, as ``quite productive.''
6) Tensions between Russia and Latvia have simmered since the 1991 Soviet collapse, with Russia accusing the Baltic country of discriminating against its Russian-speaking minority. Latvia, whose entire population is about 2.7 million people, denies the charges.
7) Friction has escalated since Latvian police broke up a demonstration by Russian-speaking pensioners last month. Russia also protested after a rally by Latvian veterans of the Nazi German SS in the capital Riga.
8) Protests from Moscow grew to a noisy chorus following Monday's explosion near the Russian embassy in Riga, which caused no injuries but damaged some cars in the area.
9) The critics were led by Moscow's powerful mayor Yuri Luzhkov and several influential regional governors, who have urged Yeltsin to impose sanctions.
10) Russia should ``sharply restrict the transportation of energy resources, metal and other goods through Latvia'' so as ``to make the republic observe human rights,'' Luzhkov argued Tuesday.
11) But despite the outpouring of criticism, Yeltsin indicated there would be no immediate action. The Cabinet was told just to ``seriously consider the necessity of diversifying the routes of Russian oil exports abroad,'' Yastrzhembsky said, according to the Interfax news agency.
12) Russia uses the former Soviet Baltic nations for oil and other energy exports to the north. About 13 percent of Russian crude oil exports flow through Latvia's Ventspils port.
13) With Russia's other main export outlets operating at or near capacity, there is little immediate alternative left to the Latvian terminal. On the other hand, Latvia's economy would be seriously hurt if it is deprived of fees from the passage of Russian exports.
Acting prime minister: Government has worked out sanctions against Latvia
(APW_ENG_19980408.0569)
1) Acting Prime Minister Sergei Kiriyenko said Wednesday that the government has worked out several economic sanctions it could impose on Latvia on the orders of President Boris Yeltsin.
2) The president ordered government officials to devise a series of economic and other measures that could be used against Latvia because of its ``policy of discrimination'' against the country's sizable Russian-speaking minority, presidential spokesman Sergei Yastrzhembsky said.
3) These steps are being taken in view of Latvia's ``continuous policy of discrimination against the 700,000-strong Russian-speaking populace,'' Yastrzhembsky said.
4) ``Moscow prefers not to speak of sanctions, but of pinpoint economic measures of influence on Latvia,'' Yastrzhembsky added.
5) Kiriyenko said that the government was set to take limited measures to restrict the purchase of Latvian goods and services, ``including energy transit services,'' the ITAR-Tass news agency reported.
6) ``Of course, it would be better if Russia did not have to resort to such measures. But if the attitude toward Russians in Latvia is as it is, we have to use these measures,'' ITAR-Tass quoted him as saying.
7) Tensions between Russia and Latvia have simmered since the 1991 Soviet collapse, with Russia accusing the Baltic country of discriminating against its Russian-speaking minority. Latvia, whose entire population is about 2.7 million people, denies the charges.
8) Friction has escalated since Latvian police broke up a demonstration by Russian-speaking pensioners last month. Russia also protested after a rally by Latvian veterans of the Nazi German SS in the capital Riga.
9) Protests from Moscow grew to a noisy chorus following Monday's explosion near the Russian embassy in Riga, which caused no injuries but damaged some cars in the area.
10) The critics were led by Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov and several influential regional governors, who have urged Yeltsin to impose sanctions.
11) Russia should ``sharply restrict the transportation of energy resources, metal and other goods through Latvia'' so as ``to make the republic observe human rights,'' Luzhkov argued Tuesday.
12) Yeltsin told the Cabinet to ``seriously consider the necessity of diversifying the routes of Russian oil exports abroad,'' Yastrzhembsky said, according to the Interfax news agency.
13) Russia uses the former Soviet Baltic nations for oil and other energy exports to the north. About 13 percent of Russian crude oil exports flow through Latvia's Ventspils port.
14) With Russia's other main export outlets operating at or near capacity, there is little immediate alternative left to the Latvian terminal. On the other hand, Latvia's economy would be seriously hurt if it is deprived of fees from the passage of Russian exports.
Russian premier: government has worked out sanctions against Latvia
(APW_ENG_19980408.0969)
1) With a swelling chorus of politicians demanding retaliation for Latvia's alleged discrimination against its Russian-speaking minority, the acting premier announced Wednesday that the government has drafted a series of economic sanctions against the Baltic nation.
2) Sergei Kiriyenko said the measures would include restrictions on purchases of Latvian goods and limits on transit shipments of Russian oil through Latvia. That could deal a heavy blow to Latvia's economy, which derives considerable fees from the passage of Russian exports.
3) Tensions between Russia and Latvia have simmered for years. The sudden flare-up marks a new low point in their relations.
4) Earlier Wednesday, the Kremlin announced that President Boris Yeltsin was considering imposing sanctions in view of Latvia's ``continuous policy of discrimination against the 700,000-strong Russian-speaking populace,'' Yeltsin spokesman Sergei Yastrzhembsky said. Most members of the minority have been denied citizenship.
5) Russian-Latvian relations have been strained since the 1991 Soviet collapse, with Russia accusing the Baltic country of discriminating against its Russian-speaking minority. Latvia, with an entire population of 2.6 million, denies the charges.
6) The friction has escalated since Latvian police broke up a demonstration by Russian-speaking pensioners last month. Russia also protested after a rally by Latvian veterans of the Nazi German SS in the capital Riga.
7) Protests from Moscow grew to a noisy chorus following Monday's explosion near the Russian embassy in Riga, which caused no injuries but damaged some cars in the area.
8) But the sudden escalation of tension also appears to have been prompted by Russia's internal political situation. Kiriyenko still needs to be approved by parliament for the prime minister's post, and the threat of sanctions is likely to please the Communist-dominated legislature, which has called for such measures for months.
9) Yeltsin had refrained from any specific steps against Latvia. But on Wednesday, Yastrzhembsky announced that Yeltsin viewed the measures earlier suggested by senior Russian officials as ``quite productive.''
10) Still, ``Moscow prefers not to speak of sanctions, but of pinpoint economic measures of influence on Latvia,'' Yastrzhembsky said.
11) Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov said that Russian oil companies had already considerably cut back their supplies to Latvia on Wednesday, ITAR-Tass reported.
12) ``Russia most certainly has other ways of influencing Latvia as well, but ... oil supplies have already been cut,'' Nemtsov said.
13) The Latvian Economics Ministry estimated that Latvian companies stand to lose 150 million lats (dlrs 255 million) if Russia imposes the measures.
14) Alexander Shokhin, head of the Our Home is Russia parliamentary faction, said Wednesday that Latvia could lose up to a quarter of its national income if oil transits are restricted.
15) ``I have the impression that the Latvian authorities will soon realize into what impasse their anti-Russian campaign and their demonstration of revulsion for the entire past connected with Russia and the Soviet Union is driving them,'' Shokhin was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.
16) Latvian Foreign Minister Valdis Birkavs said Wednesday that Moscow's actions were ``fully unacceptable,'' and said his government should be prepared to support businesses as it looks for other markets beside Russia.
17) The sanctions could hurt Russia, which uses the former Soviet Baltic nations for oil and other energy exports to the north. Thirteen percent of Russian crude oil exports flow through Latvia's Ventspils port.
18) With Russia's other main export outlets operating at or near capacity, there is little immediate alternative left to the Latvian terminal.
1998-04-09
Russia continues attacks on Latvia, blames it for crisis
(APW_ENG_19980409.0218)
1) Russia kept up its verbal attacks on neighboring Latvia Thursday, accusing the Baltic country of provoking a crisis in relations by discriminating against the nation's Russian-speaking minority.
2) Latvia must ``treat the problems of its 700,000-strong Russian-speaking population seriously'' if it wants good relations with Russia, said the Kremlin spokesman, Sergei Yastrzhembsky.
3) ``The Latvian elite cannot live comfortably at the expense of Russia while playing the card of Russophobia,'' Yastrzhembsky added, according to the Interfax news agency.
4) On Wednesday, acting Prime Minister Sergei Kiriyenko announced that the government has drafted a series of economic steps against Latvia, including restrictions on purchases of Latvian goods and limits on transit shipments of Russian oil through Latvia.
5) The Kremlin said Wednesday it was considering the sanctions in view of what Yastrzhembsky called Latvia's ``continuous policy of discrimination'' against the Russian-speaking minority. Most members of the minority have been denied citizenship.
6) Russian-Latvian relations have been strained over the issue since the 1991 Soviet collapse. Latvia, with a population of 2.6 million, denies the discrimination charges.
7) The friction has escalated since Latvian police broke up a demonstration by Russian-speaking pensioners last month. Protests from Moscow grew to a noisy chorus following an explosion Monday near the Russian embassy in the Latvian capital Riga.
8) Possible Russian sanctions, if implemented, could deal a heavy blow to Latvia's economy, which derives considerable fees from the passage of Russian exports.
9) The Latvian Economics Ministry estimated that Latvian companies stand to lose 150 million lats (dlrs 255 million) if Russia imposes the measures.
10) Latvia's Ventspils oil terminal is said to be the second-largest outlet for Russian oil exports, second only to Novorossiisk. Potential loss from a total cutoff of Russian oil exports would be about dlrs 120 million a year, according to figures provided by the Baltic News Service.
11) But with Russia's other main oil export outlets operating at or near capacity, there seems to be no immediate alternative left to the Latvian terminal.
Russia continues attacks on Latvia, blames it for crisis Eds: UPDATES throughout with population details, new quotes from
(APW_ENG_19980409.0352)
1) Russia kept up its verbal attacks on neighboring Latvia Thursday, accusing the Baltic country of provoking a crisis in relations by discriminating against the nation's Russian-speaking minority.
2) Latvia must ``treat the problems of its 700,000-strong Russian-speaking population seriously'' if it wants good relations with Russia, said the Kremlin spokesman, Sergei Yastrzhembsky.
3) ``The Latvian elite cannot live comfortably at the expense of Russia while playing the card of Russophobia,'' Yastrzhembsky added, according to the Interfax news agency.
4) On Wednesday, acting Prime Minister Sergei Kiriyenko announced that the government has drafted a series of economic steps against Latvia, including restrictions on purchases of Latvian goods and limits on transit shipments of Russian oil through Latvia.
5) Moscow says it is considering the sanctions to protest what Yastrzhembsky called Latvia's ``continuous policy of discrimination'' against its ethnic Russian minority.
6) ``In a little while, (Russia) will have worked out a set of measures to this end,'' said Yastrzhembsky.
7) According to Latvian government statistics, 740,000 ethnic Russians were registered in Latvia in 1997, of them 453,000 non-citizens, in addition to tens of thousands of ethnic Belarusians and Ukrainians.
8) Russian-Latvian relations have been strained over the issue since the 1991 Soviet collapse. Latvia, with a population of 2.6 million, denies the discrimination charges.
9) The friction has escalated since Latvian police broke up a demonstration by Russian-speaking pensioners last month. Protests from Moscow grew following an explosion Monday near the Russian embassy in the Latvian capital Riga.
10) Possible Russian sanctions, if implemented, could deal a heavy blow to Latvia's economy, which derives considerable fees from the passage of Russian exports.
11) The Latvian Economics Ministry estimated that Latvian companies stand to lose 150 million lats (dlrs 255 million) if Russia imposes the measures.
12) Latvia's Ventspils oil terminal is said to be the second-largest outlet for Russian oil exports, second only to Novorossiisk. Potential loss from a total cutoff of Russian oil exports would be about dlrs 120 million a year, according to figures provided by the Baltic News Service.
13) But with Russia's other main oil export outlets operating at or near capacity, there seems to be no immediate alternative left to the Latvian terminal.
14) Latvia's ambassador to Moscow, Imants Daudis, warned Thursday that any sanctions might hit Russia itself ``like a boomerang,'' the Interfax news agency reported.
15) Latvia is seeking a dialogue with Russia, but ``if the situation is not normalized, Latvia would have to request help from the European Union,'' he said. ``European countries certainly will not turn us down.''
Russia continues attacks on Latvia, blames it for crisis Eds: UPDATES with Russia to cut oil transits by 15 percent, energy
(APW_ENG_19980409.0790)
1) Russia kept up its verbal attacks on neighboring Latvia Thursday, accusing the Baltic country of provoking a crisis in relations by discriminating against the nation's Russian-speaking minority.
2) Latvia must ``treat the problems of its 700,000-strong Russian-speaking population seriously'' if it wants good relations with Russia, said the Kremlin spokesman, Sergei Yastrzhembsky.
3) ``The Latvian elite cannot live comfortably at the expense of Russia while playing the card of Russophobia,'' Yastrzhembsky added, according to the Interfax news agency.
4) On Wednesday, acting Prime Minister Sergei Kiriyenko announced that the government has drafted a series of economic steps against Latvia, including restrictions on purchases of Latvian goods and limits on transit shipments of Russian oil through Latvia.
5) As part of the measures, Russia will reduce its oil transits through Latvia by 610,000 tons in the second quarter of this year, a spokesman for acting First Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov was quoted as saying Thursday by Interfax news agency. The reduction would bring the transits to 3.09 million tons, down about 15 percent from the first quarter.
6) The Fuel and Energy Ministry has estimated that a bigger reduction would lead to serious losses for Russia, Interfax reported.
7) The sanctions could also hurt ethnic Russians in Latvia. About 80 percent of the workers at export-related companies, which are most likely to feel an immediate sting from the sanctions, are ethnic Russians, the Baltic News Service reported.
8) According to Latvian government statistics, 740,000 ethnic Russians were registered in Latvia in 1997 _ 453,000 of them non-citizens _ in addition to tens of thousands of ethnic Belarusians and Ukrainians.
9) Russian-Latvian relations have been strained over the minority since the 1991 Soviet collapse. Latvia, with a population of 2.6 million, denies the discrimination charges.
10) The friction has escalated since Latvian police broke up a demonstration by Russian-speaking pensioners last month. Protests from Moscow grew following an explosion Monday near the Russian embassy in the Latvian capital Riga.
11) Possible Russian sanctions, if implemented, could deal a heavy blow to Latvia's economy, which derives considerable fees from the passage of Russian exports.
12) The Latvian Economics Ministry estimated that Latvian companies stand to lose 150 million lats (dlrs 255 million) if Russia imposes the measures.
13) Latvia's Ventspils oil terminal is said to be the second-largest outlet for Russian oil exports, second only to Novorossiisk. Potential loss from a total cutoff of Russian oil exports would be about dlrs 120 million a year, according to figures provided by the Baltic News Service.
14) But with Russia's other main oil export outlets operating at or near capacity, there seems to be no immediate alternative left to the Latvian terminal.
15) Latvia's ambassador to Moscow, Imants Daudis, warned Thursday that any sanctions might hit Russia itself ``like a boomerang,'' the Interfax news agency reported.
16) Latvia is seeking a dialogue with Russia, but ``if the situation is not normalized, Latvia would have to request help from the European Union,'' he said. ``European countries certainly will not turn us down.''
Russia continues attacks on Latvia, blames it for crisis Eds: CORRECTS in graf 7 that 80 percent employees in Ventspils oil
(APW_ENG_19980409.1143)
1) Russia kept up its verbal attacks on neighboring Latvia Thursday, accusing the Baltic country of provoking a crisis in relations by discriminating against the nation's Russian-speaking minority.
2) Latvia must ``treat the problems of its 700,000-strong Russian-speaking population seriously'' if it wants good relations with Russia, said the Kremlin spokesman, Sergei Yastrzhembsky.
3) ``The Latvian elite cannot live comfortably at the expense of Russia while playing the card of Russophobia,'' Yastrzhembsky added, according to the Interfax news agency.
4) On Wednesday, acting Prime Minister Sergei Kiriyenko announced that the government has drafted a series of economic steps against Latvia, including restrictions on purchases of Latvian goods and limits on transit shipments of Russian oil through Latvia.
5) As part of the measures, Russia will reduce its oil transits through Latvia by 610,000 tons in the second quarter of this year, a spokesman for acting First Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov was quoted as saying Thursday by Interfax news agency. The reduction would bring the transits to 3.09 million tons, down about 15 percent from the first quarter.
6) The Fuel and Energy Ministry has estimated that a bigger reduction would lead to serious losses for Russia, Interfax reported.
7) The sanctions could also hurt ethnic Russians in Latvia. About 80 percent of the workers at the Ventspils oil terminal, likely to feel an immediate sting from the sanctions, are ethnic Russians, the Baltic News Service reported.
8) According to, 8th graf pvs
1998-04-10
Latvia to consider changes in citizenship law Eds: Leads throughout to UPDATE with proposals on changing
(APW_ENG_19980410.0584)
1) Proposals for changing Latvia's citizenship law, the flashpoint of an escalating dispute with Russia, will be discussed by lawmakers next week, the Baltic News Service reported Friday.
2) The move comes after Russia this week reduced oil exports through Latvia _ a key source of income for the small Baltic country _ and said it was ready to enact economic sanctions in protest of Latvia's treatment of its large ethnic Russian population.
3) About 450,000 ethnic Russians in Latvia do not have citizenship. The issue has been an irritant between Riga and Moscow since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and tensions have escalated sharply in the past month, beginning when latvian police forcefully dispersed a protest by ethnic Russian pensioners.
4) After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Latvia granted citizenship to residents who had lived there before the Soviet Union annexed Latvia and to small numbers of people on the basis of other criteria.
5) But about 688,000 people in the country of 2.6 million remain stateless. The current citizenship law says people seeking naturalization must demonstrate proficiency in the Latvia language _ which is unrelated to Russian. The law sets quotas for the annual number of applicants for naturalization.
6) It was unclear whether the new proposals, if approved, would mollify Russia. The requirement of proficiency in Latvian remains.
7) The proposals include an immdiate removal of some of the quotas and dropping them entirely by 2001, said BNS, quoting Andris Ameriks, a parliament member who headed the group of representatives from the governing coalition parties that developed the proposals.
8) All people born in Latvia could become citizens by 2001 under the new proposals. It was not immediately clear whether regulations would be eased for people who moved to Latvia after World War II, when huge numbers of ethnic Russians under the Soviet Union's ``russification'' drive.
9) Also Friday, union officials said in a letter to Russia's ambassador that slashing oil exported through Latvia will make life worse for the ethnic Russian port workers whose jobs depend on the exports.
10) Some 60 percent of the workers in the Ventspils port where Russian oil is transferred to tankers are ethnic Russians, according to the letter, reported by BNS.
Latvia to consider changes in citizenship law Eds: Leads throughout to UPDATE with proposals on changing
(APW_ENG_19980410.0598)
1) Proposals for changing Latvia's citizenship law, the flashpoint of an escalating dispute with Russia, will be discussed by lawmakers next week, the Baltic News Service reported Friday.
2) The move comes after Russia this week reduced oil exports through Latvia _ a key source of income for the small Baltic country _ and said it was ready to enact economic sanctions in protest of Latvia's treatment of its large ethnic Russian population.
3) About 450,000 ethnic Russians in Latvia do not have citizenship. The issue has been an irritant between Riga and Moscow since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and tensions have escalated sharply in the past month, beginning when Latvian police forcefully dispersed a protest by ethnic Russian pensioners.
4) After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Latvia granted citizenship to residents who had lived there before the Soviet Union annexed Latvia and to small numbers of people on the basis of other criteria.
5) But about 688,000 people in the country of 2.6 million remain stateless. The current citizenship law says people seeking naturalization must demonstrate proficiency in the Latvia language _ which is unrelated to Russian. The law sets quotas for the annual number of applicants for naturalization.
6) It was unclear whether the new proposals, if approved, would mollify Russia. The requirement of proficiency in Latvian remains.
7) The proposals include an immdiate removal of some of the quotas and dropping them entirely by 2001, said BNS, quoting Andris Ameriks, a parliament member who headed the group of representatives from the governing coalition parties that developed the proposals.
8) All people born in Latvia could become citizens by 2001 under the new proposals. It was not immediately clear whether regulations would be eased for people who moved to Latvia after World War II, when huge numbers of ethnic Russians under the Soviet Union's ``russification'' drive.
9) Also Friday, union officials said in a letter to Russia's ambassador that slashing oil exported through Latvia will make life worse for the ethnic Russian port workers whose jobs depend on the exports.
10) Some 60 percent of the workers in the Ventspils port where Russian oil is transferred to tankers are ethnic Russians, according to the letter, reported by BNS.
Latvia to consider changes in citizenship law Eds: Leads throughout to ADD protests in Russia.
(APW_ENG_19980410.0940)
1) As outrage continued to rain in from Russia over Latvia's treatment of ethnic Russians, a Latvian lawmaker said Friday that proposals on changing the country's citizenship laws would be discussed next week.
2) The move comes after Russia this week reduced oil exports through Latvia _ a key source of income for the small Baltic country _ and said it was ready to enact economic sanctions in protest of Latvia's treatment of its large ethnic Russian population.
3) About 450,000 ethnic Russians in Latvia do not have citizenship. The issue has been an irritant between Riga and Moscow since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and tensions have escalated sharply in the past month, beginning when Latvian police forcefully dispersed a protest by ethnic Russian pensioners.
4) After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Latvia granted citizenship to residents who had lived there before the Soviet Union annexed Latvia and to small numbers of people on the basis of other criteria.
5) But about 688,000 people in the country of 2.6 million remain stateless. The current citizenship law says people seeking naturalization must demonstrate proficiency in the Latvia language _ which is unrelated to Russian. The law sets quotas for the annual number of applicants for naturalization.
6) The proposals to be discussed on Tuesday, when officials return from a long holiday weekend, include an immdiate removal of some of the quotas and dropping them entirely by 2001, said the Baltic News Service, quoting Andris Ameriks. He is a parliament member who headed the group of representatives from the governing coalition parties that developed the proposals.
7) All people born in Latvia could become citizens by 2001 under the new proposals. It was not immediately clear whether regulations would be eased for people who moved to Latvia after World War II, when huge numbers of ethnic Russians under the Soviet Union's ``russification'' drive.
8) But the requirement of proficiency in Latvian would remain and it was unclear if the new proposals would mollify Russia. The dispute has prompted vehement criticism from Russia, with Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov characterizing Latvia's policy as ``genocide.''
9) About 10,000 people rallied in the Russian city of Saratov to protest Latvia's policies and Russian Jewish groups issued a statement calling on President Boris Yeltsin to take ``extremely harsh'' measures against Latvia, according to Russian news agencies.
10) Also Friday, union officials said in a letter to Russia's ambassador that slashing oil exported through Latvia will make life worse for the ethnic Russian port workers whose jobs depend on the exports.
11) Some 60 percent of the workers in the Ventspils port where Russian oil is transferred to tankers are ethnic Russians, according to the letter, reported by BNS.
Latvia to consider changes in citizenship law Eds: UPDATES throughout to ADD protests in Russia. RECASTS and
(APW_ENG_19980410.1052)
1) As Latvia's treatment of ethnic Russians continued to draw fire from Russia, a Latvian lawmaker said Friday that proposals to change the country's citizenship laws would be discussed next week.
2) Russia has reduced oil exports to protest Latvia's treatment of ethnic Russians in the Baltic country.
3) The reduction in the exports through Latvia choked off a key source of income for the small Baltic country. Russia said it was ready to enact further economic sanctions to protest Latvia's treatment of the Russian minority.
4) About 450,000 ethnic Russians in Latvia do not have citizenship. The issue has been an irritant between Riga and Moscow since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Tensions have escalated in the past month after Latvian police forcefully dispersed a protest by ethnic Russian pensioners.
5) After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Latvia granted citizenship to residents who had lived there before the Soviet Union annexed Latvia and to small numbers of people on the basis of other criteria.
6) But about 688,000 people in the country of 2.6 million remain stateless. The current citizenship law says people seeking naturalization must demonstrate proficiency in the Latvian language _ which is unrelated to Russian. The law sets quotas for the annual number of applicants.
7) The proposals to be discussed Tuesday include an immediate removal of some of the quotas and dropping them entirely by 2001, said the Baltic News Service, quoting parliament member Andris Ameriks.
8) It was not immediately clear whether regulations would be eased for people who moved to Latvia after World War II, when huge numbers of ethnic Russians under the Soviet Union's ``russification'' drive.
9) But the requirement of proficiency in Latvian would remain and it was unclear if the new proposals would mollify Russia. The dispute has prompted vehement criticism from Russia, with Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov characterizing Latvia's policy as ``genocide.''
1998-04-13
Latvians worried, angry amid dispute with giant neighbor Russia Eds: RECASTS and EDITS throughout; CORRECTS sanctions impact source
(APW_ENG_19980413.1006)
1) Small, struggling Latvia is in trouble with its giant neighbor Russia, the target of outraged words and threats of economic sanctions. Now the country of 2.6 million must decide whether to back down on its laws limiting the rights of ethnic Russians living in Latvia.
2) The law has long aggravated Russian-Latvian relations _ also troubled by Latvia's insistence on seeking NATO membership _ but the anger escalated sharply in the past six weeks. The flare-up began after police roughly dispersed a protest by mostly Russian pensioners.
3) Moscow denounced that action, and increased its criticism after Latvian authorities let former members of Latvia's World War II Nazi SS brigade stage a commemoration of the founding of their unit. Latvia was under German control for most of the war.
4) In early April, a bomb damaged the only synagogue for Riga's Jews _ most of whom are of Russian descent _ and five days later a small mine exploded in a rubbish container near the Russian Embassy.
5) Although no one was injured in either bombing, Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov then denounced Latvia as committing ``genocide'' against ethnic Russians. Russia then announced that it was preparing possible economic sanctions against Latvia, including shutting off the oil that it sends to Latvia for loading onto tankers.
6) Sanctions could be devastating to Latvia, which relies on Russia for about a quarter of its foreign trade. The Latvian Economics Ministry estimated sanctions could cost Latvia dlrs 255 million a year.
7) Citizenship became a major issue after the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, when Latvia gave citizenship to residents who had lived there before the Soviet annexation in 1940, their descendants and to small numbers of people in other categories.
8) That left some 700,000 people _ nearly a third of the country _ stateless. Most of them are ethnic Russians who moved to Latvia under Stalin's vast russification campaign and their descendants. They cannot buy property and are banned from many professions, including being veterinarians and pharmacists; until recently they even could not be firemen in their hometowns.
9) Ethnic Russians are not banned from seeking citizenship, but they face hurdles that many say are unfair. They have to demonstrate proficiency in Latvian, a language vastly different from Russian.
10) Most ethnic Russians were educated in Russian-language schools and since Latvians also were taught Russian under the Soviet system, Russian is the country's lingua franca, providing little motivation to learn Latvian.
11) They also complain that the naturalization laws discriminate against older residents. The law's complex ``windows system'' allows younger people to apply first; some older people would not even be allowed to apply until 2003.
12) ``Maybe a person will have to die first, then be naturalized,'' Anastasia Styopina, an ethnic Russian university student, said Monday.
13) Latvia had delayed changing its citizenship law for years despite criticism and pressure from many sides, including from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. But Russia's harsh reaction may have forced its hand. On Tuesday, proposed changes are to be discussed by a parliamentary committee.
14) Whether the changes, if approved, would mollify Russia is in doubt. The main change would be to allow all children born in Latvia, whatever their parentage, since 1990 to be naturalized by 2001.
15) Despite the tensions, Riga residents interviewed Monday said there is little overt hostility between Latvians and ethnic Russians.
16) ``I'm Russian. Things are fine,'' said a young man who gave his name only as Alex as he sold postcards in downtown Riga.
17) Styopina, the ethnic Russian student, said ``There is no open discrimination ... Sometimes, when people are arguing, they will say `Oh, you Russians are always like that.' ''
18) One man said both sides are to blame in the conflict _ Latvia for its laws and Russia for its heated reaction.
19) ``It's absolutely stupid. For Russia and for Latvia,'' said Zigmunds Sidrabs, a waiter.
1998-04-14
Latvian lawmakers undecided on changing law that enraged Russia By JIM HEINTZ
(APW_ENG_19980414.0947)
1) Despite threats of economic sanctions from Russia and increasing pressure from the West as well as at home, Latvian politicians on Tuesday failed to agree on changes to the country's controversial citizenship laws.
2) Over the past six weeks, Russia repeatedly has lashed out at its diminutive Baltic neighbor, charging that Latvia discriminates against its large ethnic Russian population. About 688,000 of Latvia's 2.6 million residents do not have citizenship, some 450,000 of them ethnic Russians.
3) Russia has prepared proposed economic sanctions it says it may implement unless Latvia makes its citizenship law more liberal. Angry Russian politicians have described Latvia's policies in dramatic terms, including ``genocide.''
4) A group of lawmakers from several parties, including current and former government members, on Tuesday discussed proposed changes to the citizenship law, but did not reach agreement.
5) The announcement that the changes would be discussed had been seen as an indication that Latvia was making moves that could cool the crisis.
6) But ``honestly, (our party) does not like any of the versions'' of the proposed changes, Maris Grinblats, the chairman of the Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK party, told the Baltic News Service. That is the party of Prime Minister Guntars Krasts.
7) After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Latvia granted citizenship to people who had lived there before the Soviet Union annexed it in 1940 and to their descendants. But hundreds of thousands of ethnic Russians who moved there under Stalin's russification drive were left stateless.
8) The policy has long been an irritant in Moscow-Riga relations and tensions escalated sharply last month after police broke up a demonstration of pensioners, most of whom were ethnic Russians. A demonstration two weeks later commemorating the founding of Latvia's SS brigade increased the flood of angry words from Russia.
9) After a bomb went off near the Russian Embassy last week, Russia announced the possible sanctions _ a potentially devastating blow to Latvia. Russia accounts for about a quarter of Latvia's foreign trade.
10) The West, including the United States and the European Union, are trying to encourage the two countries to engage in a dialogue over the tensions. U.S. President Bill Clinton sent a letter to President Guntis Ulmanis underlining U.S. interest in resolving the crisis, Latvian media reported Tuesday.
11) A Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Tuesday that the West was trying to convince Russia that the conflict ``is more than just a matter of bilateral relations,'' but said he believes there is little chance of any relaxing of Russia's position in the near term.
12) EU involvement in the matter could be influential in getting Latvia to make changes in its citizenship law because Latvia is avid to join the bloc, the diplomat noted.
13) The law has long been criticized from abroad and concern about it is rising among Latvians as well. The focus of the criticism is the so-called ``windows'' system under which the older a non-citizen is, the longer he has to wait to apply for naturalization. Some would not be eligible until 2003.
14) The policy is ``humiliating,'' Olafs Bruvers, director of the Latvian National Human Rights Office, said Tuesday. ``These are people who devoted most of their lives to Latvia.''
Latvian lawmakers undecided on changing law that enraged Russia Eds: RESTORES first reference to Stalin; EDITS throughout to
(APW_ENG_19980414.1173)
1) Despite threats of sanctions from Russia and pressure from the West and at home, a group of Latvian politicians on Tuesday failed to agree on changes to the country's citizenship laws.
2) Over the past six weeks, Russia repeatedly has lashed out at its diminutive Baltic neighbor, charging that Latvia discriminates against its large ethnic Russian population. About 688,000 of Latvia's 2.6 million residents do not have citizenship; some 450,000 of those are ethnic Russians.
3) Russia has threatened economic sanctions unless Latvia liberalizes its citizenship law. Sanctions would be potentially devastating to Latvia because Russia accounts for about a quarter of its foreign trade.
4) In what many viewed as a sign that Latvia was trying to cool the crisis, lawmakers from several parties, including current and former government members, agreed to discuss proposed changes to the citizenship law.
5) The group, which included current and former government members, took up the issue Tuesday but failed to reach agreement. However, the lawmakers said they would continue discussions.
6) ``(Our party) does not like any of the versions'' of the proposed changes, Maris Grinblats, chairman of the Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK party, told the Baltic News Service. That is the party of Prime Minister Guntars Krasts.
7) After the 1991 Soviet collapse, Latvia granted citizenship to people who had lived there before the Soviet Union annexed it in 1940 and to their descendants. But hundreds of thousands of ethnic Russians who moved _ or were sent _ to Latvia under former Soviet dictator Josef Stalin's drive to ``Russify'' Soviet lands were left stateless.
8) The Russification policy has long been an irritant in Moscow-Riga relations, and tensions escalated sharply last month after police broke up a demonstration of pensioners, most of whom were ethnic Russians.
9) Moscow denounced that action and increased its criticism after Latvian authorities let former members of Latvia's World War II SS brigade stage a commemoration of the founding of their unit. Latvia was under German control for most of the war.
10) In early April, a bomb damaged the only synagogue for Riga's Jews _ most of whom are of Russian descent _ and five days later a small mine exploded in a rubbish container near the Russian Embassy.
11) Although no one was injured in either bombing, Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov denounced Latvia as committing ``genocide'' against ethnic Russians. Russia announced it was considering economic sanctions against Latvia, including shutting off the oil that it sends to Latvia for loading onto tankers.
12) Foreign and local human rights observers have criticized the Latvian law, focusing on its so-called ``windows'' system, under which younger people are allowed to apply first. Some older people would not be allowed to apply until 2003.
13) The policy is ``humiliating,'' Olafs Bruvers, director of the Latvian National Human Rights Office, said Tuesday. ``These are people who devoted most of their lives to Latvia.''
14) Western nations are trying to encourage Russia and Latvia to cooperate. U.S. President Bill Clinton sent a letter to Latvian President Guntis Ulmanis underlining U.S. interest in resolving the crisis, Latvian media reported Tuesday.
15) The EU could be influential in pressing Latvia to change the law because Latvia is avid to join the bloc. It also wants to join NATO, another thorn in its relations with Moscow.
1998-04-16
Russia prods Latvia to change citizenship law By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV
(APW_ENG_19980416.0662)
1) Russia's Foreign Ministry on Thursday welcomed the proposed changes in Latvia's citizenship law but said it expects quick action to prove the Baltic nation's good intentions.
2) Russia has accused Latvia of discriminating against its sizable ethnic Russian minority and threatened Latvia with economic sanctions unless it liberalizes its citizenship law.
3) Sanctions would cripple the Latvian economy, which is heavily dependent on Russian imports and the transshipment of Russian goods through its ports.
4) Latvia was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940, occupied by the Nazis in 1941-44, then recaptured by the Soviet Red Army. Tensions between Russia and Latvia have simmered since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, fueled by Latvia's attempts to reassert its language and culture and Russia's contentions that the nation has mistreated ethnic Russians living there.
5) The conflict escalated in early March after Latvian police dispersed a rally of Russian pensioners, then allowed former members of Latvia's World War II SS legion to march across the capital Riga to mark the anniversary of their unit.
6) In early April, a bomb damaged the only synagogue for Riga's Jews _ most of whom are of Russian descent _ and five days later a small mine exploded in a trash container near the Russian Embassy.
7) These developments have drawn a stream of protests from the Russian government and politicians across the spectrum. The Kremlin announced it would impose economic sanctions against Latvia, including shutting off the oil that it sends to Latvia for loading onto tankers.
8) In what was generally viewed as a sign that Latvia was trying to cool the crisis, lawmakers from several parties earlier this month agreed to discuss proposed changes to the citizenship law.
9) Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Valery Nesterushkin on Thursday welcomed the proposed amendments as a ``step in the right direction, although made with delay,'' but added that Moscow wants to see real action, not just words.
10) ``For the time being it's nothing but intentions, which, we would like to hope, will be implemented,'' the ITAR-Tass news agency quoted Nesterushkin as saying.
11) Foreign and local human rights observers have criticized the Latvian law, focusing on its so-called ``windows'' system, under which younger people are allowed to apply first. Some older people would not be allowed to apply until 2003.
12) About 688,000 of Latvia's 2.6 million residents do not have citizenship; some 450,000 of those are ethnic Russians. To become citizens, they would have to demonstrate proficiency in Latvian, which is very dissimilar to the Russian language.
1998-04-21
Russian organizations blockade Latvian building Eds: SUBS penultimate graf with two grafs to UPDATE with Merks
(APW_ENG_19980421.0885)
1) Members of Latvia's ethnic Russian community on Tuesday refused to leave the building housing the Russian Cultural Center, which has been sold to a private developer.
2) Protesters blocked the door to the building and refused to allow Riga Mayor Andris Berzins and municipal police head Martins Andersons inside to discuss the eviction.
3) There were no arrests or reports of unrest, but the incident could exacerbate tensions over the the substantial ethnic Russian community in Latvia.
4) Russia two weeks ago announced it was preparing possible economic sanctions against Latvia in protest of its treatment of ethnic Russian residents, most of whom do not have citizenship.
5) The Latvian parliament this week was to consider proposed amendments to liberalize the citizenship law. Several dozen people demonstrated outside the office of Latvian President Guntis Ulmanis on Tuesday to protest the proposals, which the Cabinet has said it favors.
6) The protesters were from a nationalist group that has collected hundreds of signatures on a petition denouncing measures that ``soften naturalization requirements for civil invaders,'' the Baltic News Service reported.
7) Hundreds of thousands of ethnic Russians moved or were sent to Latvia after the Soviet Union forcibly annexed the Baltic state in 1940. When Latvia became independent in 1991, it gave citizenship to people who had lived there before the annexation and to their descendants.
8) The Riga building that houses the Russian Cultural Center and other ethnic Russian organizations was sold last year to the Estonian company Merks, which wants to refurbish it.
9) Merks had told all tenants to vacate by Tuesday. A Merks official, Toomas Annus, said his company eventually might ask the police to evict the Russians.
10) ``They have exerted efforts to make use of the complicated situation in Latvia,'' he was quoted as saying by BNS.
11) Boris Borisov, a leader of Latvia's ethnic Russian community, said the Latvian government should give the building to his group, which in turn would mediate talks between Latvia and Russia, according to BNS.
1998-04-22
Latvian Cabient sends proposed citizenship changes to parliament
(APW_ENG_19980422.0632)
1) The Latvian Cabinet on Wednesday sent to parliament proposed amendments to the citizenship law that has been the focus of a tense dispute with Russia.
2) About 660,000 of Latvia's 2.6 million residents do not have citizenship _ most of them ethnic Russians. Russia has threatened to impose economic sanctions on its small Baltic neighbor in protest of that situation.
3) The amendments sent to the parliament call for the removal of the so-called ``windows'' system under which many non-citizens would have to wait until the year 2003 to apply for naturalization.
4) Under that system, younger non-citizens become eligible to apply before older ones, meaning that the ethnic Russians who were moved to Latvia under Josef Stalin's ``russification'' program would be among the last who could apply.
5) After Latvia became independent in 1991, citizenship was granted to all people who had lived there before it was forcibly annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940 and to their descendants. That left about a third of Latvia's people stateless. Children born in Latvia of two non-citizen parents also were not considered citizens.
6) Amendments granting citizenship to all children born in Latvia after independence, irrespective of their parentage, will be sent to parliament next week, said a statement from the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
7) ``Thus the government of Latvia continues to take significant steps toward true and profound integration of society,'' said the ministry statement.
8) It is not clear if the proposed amendments, if passed, would be enough to induce Russia to rescind its threatened sanctions. Applicants for citizenship would still have to demonstrate proficiency in Latvian, a language far different from Russian.
9) Many of Latvia's ethnic Russians were educated in Russian-language schools and were employed in Russian-speaking workplaces and had little need or inducement to learn Latvian.
10) The Baltic News Service reported that Latvian foreign ministry secretary of state Maris Riekstins and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksander Avdeyev will meet Thursday in Brussels to discuss the tensions.
11) The citizenship had long been an irritant in Russian-Latvian relations, but escalated last month after police roughly dispersed a protest crowd of largely Russian pensioners, then soared after a demonstration commemorating the founding of Latvia's SS brigade and after a bomb went off near the Russian Embassy in Riga.
Latvian Cabinet sends proposed citizenship changes to parliament Eds: Leads with four grafs to ADD that it is not known when
(APW_ENG_19980422.0710)
1) The Latvian Cabinet on Wednesday sent to parliament proposed amendments to the citizenship law that has been the focus of a tense dispute with Russia.
2) About 660,000 of Latvia's 2.6 million residents do not have citizenship _ most of them ethnic Russians. Russia has threatened to impose economic sanctions on its small Baltic neighbor in protest of that situation.
3) The amendments sent to the parliament call for the removal of the so-called ``windows'' system under which many non-citizens would have to wait until the year 2003 to apply for naturalization. It was not known when the parliament might vote on them.
4) Under the current system, younger non-citizens become eligible to apply before older ones, meaning that the ethnic Russians who were moved to Latvia under Josef Stalin's ``russification'' program would be among the last who could apply.
5) After Latvia became independent in 1991, citizenship was granted to all people who had lived there before it was forcibly annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940 and to their descendants. That left about a third of Latvia's people stateless. Children born in Latvia of two non-citizen parents also were not considered citizens.
6) Amendments granting citizenship to all children born in Latvia after independence, irrespective of their parentage, will be sent to parliament next week, said a statement from the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
7) ``Thus the government of Latvia continues to take significant steps toward true and profound integration of society,'' said the ministry statement.
8) It is not clear if the proposed amendments, if passed, would be enough to induce Russia to rescind its threatened sanctions. Applicants for citizenship would still have to demonstrate proficiency in Latvian, a language far different from Russian.
9) Many of Latvia's ethnic Russians were educated in Russian-language schools and were employed in Russian-speaking workplaces and had little need or inducement to learn Latvian.
10) The Baltic News Service reported that Latvian foreign ministry secretary of state Maris Riekstins and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksander Avdeyev will meet Thursday in Brussels to discuss the tensions.
11) The citizenship had long been an irritant in Russian-Latvian relations, but escalated last month after police roughly dispersed a protest crowd of largely Russian pensioners, then soared after a demonstration commemorating the founding of Latvia's SS brigade and after a bomb went off near the Russian Embassy in Riga.
Latvian Cabinet sends proposed citizenship changes to parliament Eds: Leads with four grafs to UPDATE with support from key party
(APW_ENG_19980422.1001)
1) The Latvian Cabinet on Wednesday sent to parliament proposed amendments to the citizenship law that has been the focus of a tense dispute with Russia.
2) About 660,000 of Latvia's 2.6 million residents do not have citizenship _ most of them ethnic Russians. Russia has threatened to impose economic sanctions on its small Baltic neighbor in protest of that situation.
3) The amendments sent to the parliament call for the removal of the so-called ``windows'' system under which many non-citizens would have to wait until the year 2003 to apply for naturalization.
4) It was not known when the parliament might vote on them, but passage appeared likely after a Wednesday statement of support by the right-leaning Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK party, which previously had categorically rejected any changes. The party is one of two in the governing coalition.
5) Under the current system, younger non-citizens become eligible to apply before older ones, meaning that the ethnic Russians who were moved to Latvia under Josef Stalin's ``russification'' program would be among the last who could apply.
6) After Latvia became independent in 1991, citizenship was granted to all people who had lived there before it was forcibly annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940 and to their descendants. That left about a third of Latvia's people stateless. Children born in Latvia of two non-citizen parents also were not considered citizens.
7) Amendments granting citizenship to all children born in Latvia after independence, irrespective of their parentage, will be sent to parliament next week, said a statement from the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
8) ``Thus the government of Latvia continues to take significant steps toward true and profound integration of society,'' said the ministry statement.
9) It is not clear if the proposed amendments, if passed, would be enough to induce Russia to rescind its threatened sanctions. Applicants for citizenship would still have to demonstrate proficiency in Latvian, a language far different from Russian.
10) Many of Latvia's ethnic Russians were educated in Russian-language schools and were employed in Russian-speaking workplaces and had little need or inducement to learn Latvian.
11) The Baltic News Service reported that Latvian foreign ministry secretary of state Maris Riekstins and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksander Avdeyev will meet Thursday in Brussels to discuss the tensions.
12) The citizenship had long been an irritant in Russian-Latvian relations, but escalated last month after police roughly dispersed a protest crowd of largely Russian pensioners, then soared after a demonstration commemorating the founding of Latvia's SS brigade and after a bomb went off near the Russian Embassy in Riga.
1998-04-23
Kremlin welcomes proposed changes in Latvia, but says it's not
(APW_ENG_19980423.0326)
1) The Kremlin has welcomed proposed changes to what it regards as a discriminatory citizenship law in Latvia, but said Thursday that the revised version still does not go far enough.
2) Russia has accused Latvia of discriminating against its sizable ethnic Russian minority and has moved to impose limited economic sanctions on the Baltic nation. Latvia's parliament is to begin considering possible amendments to the controversial citizenship law.
3) That was ``the very first step,'' toward respecting the rights of ethnic Russians, said President Boris Yeltsin's spokesman Sergei Yastrzhembsky.
4) But he said the step was ``not enough (for Russia) to abolish the economic measures'' against Latvia. The Russian sanctions include a planned restriction in the flow of Russian oil through Latvian terminals, the Interfax news agency reported.
5) Yastrzhembsky insisted that Latvia ``cannot be a full-fledged member of modern Europe'' if it continues its alleged discriminatory policies. He said Moscow was not making ``super demands'' and was only seeking ``full integration of ethnic minorities into the republic's public life.''
6) Tensions between Russia and Latvia have simmered since the 1991 Soviet collapse brought an end half a century of Soviet rule over the Baltics.
7) The conflict escalated in early March after Latvian police dispersed a rally of Russian pensioners, then allowed former members of Latvia's World War II SS legion to march across the capital Riga to mark the anniversary of their unit.
8) In early April, a bomb damaged the only synagogue for Riga's Jews, and five days later a small mine exploded in a trash container near the Russian Embassy.
9) Amid a stream of protests from Russian politicians, Moscow announced its sanctions against Latvia and threatened further punishment.
10) The Latvian citizenship law introduces tough language requirements and allows younger people to apply first, banning applications by some elderly people until 2003. About 688,000 of Latvia's 2.6 million residents do not have citizenship; some 450,000 of those are ethnic Russians.
1998-04-28
Moscow vows to improve life for ethnic Russians in Latvia
(APW_ENG_19980428.0404)
1) Russia's acting foreign minister accused Latvia on Tuesday of having ``finally aroused the bear,'' and vowed to continue fighting to improve life for Russians living in the Baltic country.
2) ``We will not retreat on the matter and Latvia will have to take that into account,'' Yevgeny Primakov told a conference at the Moscow Institute for International Relations. ``One of our priority tasks is to deal with the lot of our population beyond the borders of Russia.''
3) Russia has threatened Latvia with economic sanctions to protest what it says is discrimination against Latvia's ethnic Russian residents for denying them citizenship.
4) About 688,000 of Latvia's 2.6 million residents do not have citizenship, including 450,000 Russians. Latvia's parliament is to begin considering possible amendments to the controversial citizenship law.
5) Primakov said he thinks Latvia has ``enough sense to give up such a foreign policy.''
6) Responding to questions after his lecture, Primakov said Latvia had ``finally aroused the bear,'' a reference to a symbol of Russia. His comments were carried by the ITAR-Tass and Interfax news agencies.
7) Tensions between Russia and Latvia have simmered since the 1991 Soviet collapse brought an end to half a century of Soviet rule over the Baltics.
8) The conflict escalated in early March after Latvian police dispersed a rally of Russian pensioners, then allowed former members of Latvia's World War II SS legion to march across the capital, Riga, to mark the anniversary of their unit.
9) In early April, a bomb damaged the only synagogue for Riga's Jews, and five days later a small mine exploded in a trash container near the Russian Embassy.
10) Primakov _ fired along with the rest of the Russian Cabinet last month _ remains acting foreign minister until a new Cabinet is named, possibly later Tuesday. Primakov is expected to retain his post.
Moscow vows to improve life for ethnic Russians in Latvia Eds: CORRECTS number of non-citizens in graf 4.
(APW_ENG_19980428.0707)
1) Russia's acting foreign minister accused Latvia on Tuesday of having ``finally aroused the bear,'' and vowed to continue fighting to improve life for Russians living in the Baltic country.
2) ``We will not retreat on the matter and Latvia will have to take that into account,'' Yevgeny Primakov told a conference at the Moscow Institute for International Relations. ``One of our priority tasks is to deal with the lot of our population beyond the borders of Russia.''
3) Russia has threatened Latvia with economic sanctions to protest what it says is discrimination against Latvia's ethnic Russian residents for denying them citizenship.
4) About 660,000 of Latvia's 2.6 million residents do not have citizenship, the Latvian Foreign Ministry said last week. That number includes approximately 450,000 Russians.
5) Latvia's parliament is to begin considering possible amendments to the controversial citizenship law.
6) Primakov said, 5th graf pvs
1998-05-04
Bomb damages Soviet-era memorial in Latvia
(APW_ENG_19980504.0676)
1) RIGA, Latvia (AP)_ A bomb blast damaged a Soviet-era war memorial in Latvia on Monday, several weeks after two bombings aggravated relations between Latvia and Russia.
2) The explosion occurred just after midnight in the town of Dobele, 70 kilometers (45 miles) southwest of the Latvian capital.
3) Interior Ministry spokeswoman Rita Vitanorina described the explosion as ``fairly small,'' but said there was minor damage to the monument, which commemorates victims of World War II. No injuries were reported.
4) Similar incidents last month contributed to a serious deterioration in relations between Riga and Moscow, which has accused Latvia discriminating against its large ethnic Russian population.
5) A bomb damaged Riga's synagogue on April 2. Four days later, an explosion went off in a trash can near the Russian embassy in Riga.
6) Russia pointed to the bombings as examples of what it says is a rise of extremism in the small Baltic country.
1998-06-05
Latvia says citizenship vote will improve Russian relations
(APW_ENG_19980605.0469)
1) Latvia's parliament has given preliminary approval to changes in the citizenship which have so angered Russia that it has threatened trade sanctions against the small Baltic state.
2) The Saeima passed the changes late Thursday by a vote of 57-16 after nine hours of often-heated debate. The measure must pass a final reading before becoming law.
3) Russia, which accounts for about 20 percent of Latvia's foreign trade, in April said it would impose sanctions against Latvia unless it took quick and substantial steps to improve the status of Latvia's ethnic Russians, about 400,000 of whom do not have citizenship.
4) Russia's complaint was couched in harsh words _ Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov even accused Latvia of ``genocide'' _ raising fears in Latvia that its giant neighbor was becoming increasingly domineering.
5) ``This vote was pivotal ... and we believe the decision to change the law will improve our relations with Russia,'' Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrejs Pildegovics said Friday.
6) President Guntis Ulmanis has called on the parliament take a final vote on the bill before the start of summer recess in two weeks.
7) When Latvia became independent of the Soviet Union in 1991, it granted citizenship to people who had lived there before World War II and to their descendants. That left nearly a third of the country's residents stateless _ most of them ethnic Russians who had moved there under Josef Stalin's Russification drive or their descendants.
8) The current citizenship law requires many of them to wait up to several years before being allowed to apply for naturalization.
9) The proposed changes would grant citizenship to all children born in Latvia since independence and would elimnate the waits for other aspirants.
10) But naturalization would still require a proficiency test in the Latvian language _ a sensitive issue for the ethnic Russians, many of whom lived and worked in communities where Russian was the only language.
Latvia says citizenship vote will improve Russian relations Eds: Restores word `laws' in first graf.
(APW_ENG_19980605.0524)
1) Latvia's parliament has given preliminary approval to changes in the citizenship laws which have so angered Russia that it has threatened trade sanctions against the small Baltic state.
2) The Saeima passed the changes late Thursday by a vote of 57-16 after nine hours of often-heated debate. The measure must pass a final reading before becoming law.
3) Russia, which accounts for about 20 percent of Latvia's foreign trade, in April said it would impose sanctions against Latvia unless it took quick and substantial steps to improve the status of Latvia's ethnic Russians, about 400,000 of whom do not have citizenship.
4) Russia's complaint was couched in harsh words _ Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov even accused Latvia of ``genocide'' _ raising fears in Latvia that its giant neighbor was becoming increasingly domineering.
5) ``This vote was pivotal ... and we believe the decision to change the law will improve our relations with Russia,'' Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrejs Pildegovics said Friday.
6) President Guntis Ulmanis has called on the parliament take a final vote on the bill before the start of summer recess in two weeks.
7) When Latvia became independent of the Soviet Union in 1991, it granted citizenship to people who had lived there before World War II and to their descendants. That left nearly a third of the country's residents stateless _ most of them ethnic Russians who had moved there under Josef Stalin's Russification drive or their descendants.
8) The current citizenship law requires many of them to wait up to several years before being allowed to apply for naturalization.
9) The proposed changes would grant citizenship to all children born in Latvia since independence and would elimnate the waits for other aspirants.
10) But naturalization would still require a proficiency test in the Latvian language _ a sensitive issue for the ethnic Russians, many of whom lived and worked in communities where Russian was the only language.
1998-06-06
Russia regrets delay in Latvia's law on citizenship
(APW_ENG_19980606.0169)
1) The Russian Foreign Ministry said Saturday that Latvia should have immediately implemented changes in the citizenship law that were given preliminary approval by Latvia's parliament.
2) ``Instead of taking emergency measures, the Latvian parliament failed to reach a final decision on any of the acute humanitarian problems facing Latvian society,'' the ministry said in a statement, the Interfax news agency reported.
3) Latvia's parliament gave preliminary approval to changes in the citizenship law on Thursday. The measure must pass a final reading before becoming law.
4) The Russian Foreign Ministry regretted parliament's decision to consider amendments to the country's law on citizenship in a third reading rather than adopt them at once, Interfax said.
5) Russia, which accounts for about 20 percent of Latvia's foreign trade, in April said it would impose sanctions against Latvia unless it took quick and substantial steps to improve the status of Latvia's ethnic Russians, about 400,000 of whom do not have citizenship.
6) President Guntis Ulmanis has called on the parliament take a final vote on the bill before the start of summer recess in two weeks.
1998-06-26
Russia may strip Latvia of most-favored-nation status
(APW_ENG_19980626.0779)
1) Russia may revoke Latvia's most-favored-nation trade status, a news agency reported Friday.
2) ``Riga's position on the Russian-speaking population in Latvia can only cause a negative reaction on the part of Russia,'' said Foreign Ministry spokesman Vladimir Rakhmanin, according to the Interfax news agency.
3) Relations between Latvia and Russia have worsened since Latvia decided in 1991 to grant automatic citizenship only to those who lived in the country before World War II and their descendants. Though Latvia has eased this policy somewhat, many Soviet-era immigrants and their children are stateless.
4) The Kremlin has accused Latvia of using citizenship laws to permanently disenfranchise Russian-speakers who cannot vote in national elections or hold certain jobs without citizenship.
5) Denial of most-favored-nation trade status would probably mean that tariffs on Latvian goods in Russia would rise, making them less competitive in the Russian market, Interfax said, citing the Latvian Economics Ministry.
1998-08-18
Latvian nationalists say way clear for controversial referendum
(APW_ENG_19980818.0999)
1) Nationalist politicians said Tueday they have collected enough signatures to force a referendum on naturalization law changes that were approved by parliament amid pressure from Russia.
2) Latvia's giant neighbor this spring launched fierce criticism and threatened economic sanctions over the Baltic country's treatment of its large Russian-speaking minority, most of whom do not have Latvian citizenship.
3) Non-citizens would not be able to vote in the plebiscite.
4) The parliament in June passed changes to the law that hindered many ethnic Russians from applying for naturalization, but nationalists who oppose the changes launched a drive for a referendum.
5) Palmira Lace, a spokesman for the Fatherland and Freedom Party, told The Associated Press that as of the Tuesday deadline, about 140,000 signatures had been collected, about 7,000 more than needed.
6) Hundreds of thousands of Russians came to Latvia when it was part of the Soviet Union, especially during Josef Stalin's Russification program. Their presence is bitterly resented by many ethnic Latvians.
7) When Latvia became independent in 1991, the ethnic Russians who had moved to Latvia, and their descendants, were not granted citizenship. They could apply under the so-called ``windows'' system under which older people have to wait longer to apply, an arrangement that many see as intended to punish those who had moved to Latvia from Russia.
8) The changes passed by parliament call for ending the windows system and granting immediate citzenship to all stateless children born in the country since independence.
9) Latvia's president and foreign minister have strongly opposed a referendum, saying it would keep the divisive citizenship issue alive, which could damage Latvia's prestige, including its chances of joining the European Union.
10) Latvian Prime Minister Guntars Krasts supports the referendum and signed the plebiscite petition.
1998-08-26
Russia praises, criticizes Latvia on touchy citizenship law By JIM HEINTZ
(APW_ENG_19980826.0746)
1) Underlining the potentially incendiary tensions between Latvia and the Kremlin, Russia's deputy foreign minister veered from conciliation to criticism Wednesday of Latvia's effort to make citizenship easier for stateless ethnic Russians.
2) At a news conference at the end of a regional foreign ministers' meeting, Aleksandr Avdeyev began by expressing confidence in Latvia's commitment to changing naturalization laws that left hundreds of thousands of ethnic Russians stateless after Latvia became independent in 1991.
3) Then, showing increasing agitation, he said proposed law changes contained provisions that raised doubts about the government's sincerity.
4) ``Latvia will still have to do a lot to improve political and civil rights,'' he said.
5) The issue has been a longtime irritant between Latvia and its giant neighbor, escalating this spring into Kremlin threats to impose economic sanctions on Latvia _ which conducts about 20 percent of its foreign trade with Russia.
6) Latvians still sensitive to the memories of a half-century of Soviet occupation also were concerned by the outbursts of harsh rhetoric from nationalist Russian politicians in the spring, including Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov's cocontention that Latvia was committing ``genocide'' against ethnic Russians.
7) The spring escalation of tensions gave new momentum to Latvian politicians who favored changing the citizenship laws and they succeeded in pushing changes through Parliament in June.
8) However, Latvian nationalists started a petition drive to hold a referendum on the changes. The electoral commission is expected to rule by Friday on whether enough signatures were collected to force a plebiscite.
9) Latvian Foreign Minister Valdis Birkavs said his government would campaign strongly for the changes if a referendum is held and Avdeyev thanked him for that assurance.
10) But he then launched into a long criticism of the proposed changes, specifically of an amendment to allow automatic citizenship for all children born of stateless parents in Latvia since independence.
11) He noted that the proposed change requires that a citizen have no criminal record for five years, and since the children in question would be no more than seven years old, that provision implied that the naturalization process would drag on for years.
12) Plus, he said, the proposed change requires that parents of such children bring them up in a spirit of Latvian patriotism, even though some 10,000 ethnic Russians in Latvia still consider themselves Soviet citizens.
13) ``These people, too, have small children'' and could not be expected to rear them as patriots, Avdeyev said heatedly.
14) A source close to the meeting said Avdeyev's public statement was harsher than the conciliatory tone he had taken during the ministers' closed-door sessions.
15) Birkavs, asked if he was surprised by Avdeyev's public posture, said he had long experience of dealing with the Kremlin and ``It's not so easy to disturb me.''
16) The meeting in Vaesteraas, 100 kilometers (60 miles) northwest of Stockholm, also included foreign ministers of the Nordic countries and Lithuania and Estonia.
1998-08-27
Latvia calls referendum on naturalization, an irritant with Russia
(APW_ENG_19980827.0976)
1) The national electoral commission decided Thursday that Latvia will hold a referendum on liberalizing naturalization laws, a highly emotional issue affecting the country's huge ethnic Russian community.
2) The referendum will be held simultaneously with Latvia's national elections on Oct. 3-4.
3) Parliament in June approved amendments to make naturalization easier, a move that came after Russia threatened trade sanctions against its diminutive neighbor unless it improved conditions for Latvia's approximately 700,000 ethnic Russians.
4) Most of the ethnic Russians, who make up about a third of Latvia's population, have been stateless since Latvia became independent in 1991.
5) After parliament passed the amendments, nationalist politicians began a petition drive to force a referendum. The electoral commission said Thursday that the drive had collected about 226,000 signatures, nearly twice as many as needed, the Baltic News Service reported.
6) Pro-liberalization politicians are worried that relations with Russia would deteriorate severely if the plebiscite rejects the amendments.
7) Latvian Foreign Minister Valdis Birkavs said Wednesday in Sweden that holding the vote in conjunction with national elections would minimze the prospect of anti-reform ``activists'' doimnating the referendum.
8) Trade sanctions could be a serious blow to Latvia, which conducts about 20 percent of its trade with Russia.
9) Russia's threat of trade sanctions this spring was accompanied by an outburst of harsh statements from Russian nationalists _ with Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov accusing Latvia of ``genocide.'' The heated rhetoric reinforced many Latvians' fear of Russia; Latvia was occupied by the Soviet Union for a half-century.
1998-10-02
Latvian referendum overshadows parliamentary poll By MICHAEL TARM
(APW_ENG_19981002.0433)
1) Whether to make citizenship easier for the country's huge ethnic Russian population is the top issue for most Latvians voting in Saturday's elections.
2) In the third national election since Latvia broke with the Soviet Union, the electorate will pick a new slate of deputies to the country's 100-seat parliament, the Saeima.
3) But a simultaneous referendum has drawn most attention in the voting run-up and which has driven the election campaigns of most of the 21 parties and alliances seeking seats.
4) The controversial referendum, if passed, would nullify amendments adopted earlier this year liberalizing Latvian citizenship laws, which place high obstacles to citizenship for 700,000 of Latvia's 1.2 million ethnic Russians.
5) Non-citizens are not eligible to vote on the referendum or in the election.
6) After Latvia regained independence in 1991, citizenship was granted automatically to pre-1940 residents and their descendants _ leaving stateless most of the ethnic Russians who poured into Latvia in the Soviet era.
7) The citizenship amendments, approved by parliament in June, were supposed to signal that Latvia was ready to integrate the Russians, who make up some 45 percent of the country's 2.5 million population.
8) Western governments have warned of their disapproval if the citizenship amendments are overturned. The European Union has said turning down the changes could foil Latvia's bid for membership.
9) Russia, which has already denounced Latvian citizenship policies, is also likely to react angrily if the referendum goes through.
10) Five of the six parties in Latvia's current government coalition and all the major opposition parties have called on voters to reject the referendum and let the amendments stand, stressing the potential damage to Latvia's image abroad.
11) The right-wing Fatherland and Freedom party, a member of the governing coalition and the party of Latvian Prime Minister Guntars Krasts, is the only major party campaigning for a yes-vote in the referendum.
12) Fatherland and Freedom argues that by softening naturalization rules Latvia has caved in to Western pressure. Its main campaign poster, emblazoned by a maroon and white Latvian flag, reads, ``Latvians: Don't give in!''
13) Many voters are expected to split their votes, casting ballots for moderate parties in the parliamentary poll, but voting for the referendum. On the eve of the election, observers said the final referendum result was still too close to call.
14) On issues other than citizenship, like the need to seek EU and NATO membership, there is wide cross-party agreement. There is also broad support for the free-market reforms implemented in the country with such success in recent years.
15) Voter support for one party or another seems to depend less on the issues, and more on the personality of different party leaders.
16) The party that has been No. 1 in most pre-election polls with around 20 percent support is the center-right Peoples Party, a new party founded by wealthy businessman and a former prime minister, Andris Skele.
17) Skele has said Latvia relies too much on transit trade to and from Russia, and said policies should also focus on producing goods in Latvia for export.
18) Other parties scoring around 15 percent in opinion surveys include the rightist Fatherland and Freedom, the centrist Latvia's Way and the opposition leftists, the Social Democrats.
19) The centrist News Party, led by flamboyant pop music composer Raimonds Pauls, is also expected to score above the five percent threshold required to win parliamentary seats.
Latvian referendum overshadows parliamentary poll Eds: RESTORES apostrophes throughout
(APW_ENG_19981002.0756)
1) Whether to make citizenship easier for the country's huge ethnic Russian population is the top issue for most Latvians voting in Saturday's elections.
2) In the third national election since Latvia broke with the Soviet Union, the electorate will pick a new slate of deputies to the country's 100-seat parliament, the Saeima.
3) But a simultaneous referendum has drawn most attention in the voting run-up and which has driven the election campaigns of most of the 21 parties and alliances seeking seats.
4) The controversial referendum, if passed, would nullify amendments adopted earlier this year liberalizing Latvian citizenship laws, which place high obstacles to citizenship for 700,000 of Latvia's 1.2 million ethnic Russians.
5) Non-citizens are not eligible to vote on the referendum or in the election.
6) After Latvia regained independence in 1991, citizenship was granted automatically to pre-1940 residents and their descendants _ leaving stateless most of the ethnic Russians who poured into Latvia in the Soviet era.
7) The citizenship amendments, approved by parliament in June, were supposed to signal that Latvia was ready to integrate the Russians, who make up some 45 percent of the country's 2.5 million population.
8) Western governments have warned of their disapproval if the citizenship amendments are overturned. The European Union has said turning down the changes could foil Latvia's bid for membership.
9) Russia, which has already denounced Latvian citizenship policies, is also likely to react angrily if the referendum goes through.
10) Five of the six parties in Latvia's current government coalition and all the major opposition parties have called on voters to reject the referendum and let the amendments stand, stressing the potential damage to Latvia's image abroad.
11) The right-wing Fatherland and Freedom party, a member of the governing coalition and the party of Latvian Prime Minister Guntars Krasts, is the only major party campaigning for a yes-vote in the referendum.
12) Fatherland and Freedom argues that by softening naturalization rules Latvia has caved in to Western pressure. Its main campaign poster, emblazoned by a maroon and white Latvian flag, reads, ``Latvians: Don't give in!''
13) Many voters are expected to split their votes, casting ballots for moderate parties in the parliamentary poll, but voting for the referendum. On the eve of the election, observers said the final referendum result was still too close to call.
14) On issues other than citizenship, like the need to seek EU and NATO membership, there is wide cross-party agreement. There is also broad support for the free-market reforms implemented in the country with such success in recent years.
15) Voter support for one party or another seems to depend less on the issues, and more on the personality of different party leaders.
16) The party that has been No. 1 in most pre-election polls with around 20 percent support is the center-right Peoples Party, a new party founded by wealthy businessman and a former prime minister, Andris Skele.
17) Skele has said Latvia relies too much on transit trade to and from Russia, and said policies should also focus on producing goods in Latvia for export.
18) Other parties scoring around 15 percent in opinion surveys include the rightist Fatherland and Freedom, the centrist Latvia's Way and the opposition leftists, the Social Democrats.
19) The centrist News Party, led by flamboyant pop music composer Raimonds Pauls, is also expected to score above the five percent threshold required to win parliamentary seats.
1998-10-03
Latvians vote on laws that angered Russia, distressed the West Eds: Leads to UPDATE with polls opening. Will be led with midday
(APW_ENG_19981003.0038)
1) In a referendum on whether to make citizenship easier for the country's enormous ethnic Russian community, Latvians on Saturday chose between salving a sense of injured pride and risking future injury.
2) The referendum, held in conjunction with voting for the country's 100-seat Saeima parliament, asked voters if they want to reject liberalizing citizenship law amendments that the parliament passed in June.
3) The amendments were passed after a tense spring in which Russia threatened trade sanctions against diminutive neighbor and rained a hot barrage of denunciations, including Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov's characterizing Latvia as committing genocide.
4) Meanwhile, the West was unhappy with Latvia, though its statements were more measured. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe urged changes and many officials predicted that the European Union, which Latvia ardently wants to join, would never let the country in unless it lowered the obstacles to citizenship.
5) But after the amendments were passed, a referendum drive to overturn them began, spearheaded by nationalist politicians who claim Latvian national identity is imperiled.
6) Many Latvians resent Russians, seeing them not only as reminders of Latvia's suffering during 50 years of Soviet rule, but as diluting Latvia's sense of itself.
7) Hundreds of thousands of Russians poured into Latvia during the Soviet years and today the country is little more than half ethnic Latvian. While almost all Latvians speak passable Russian because they learned it in Soviet-era schools, many Russians in the country speak little or no Latvian.
8) Voting opened in clear, nippy weather _ the kind that usually encourages low-motivation voters to cast their ballots. But how a high turnout could effect the referendum was unclear; no opinion polls on the referendum were conducted.
9) Despite the charged emotions behind the issue, observers say there is little likelihood of violence whichever way the vote turns out.
10) ``There are no armageddons here, just lost opportunities,'' said a Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.
11) Of the 21 parties and alliances seeking seats in the Saeima (pronounced SIGH-mah), the right-wing Fatherland and Freedom party of Prime Minister Guntars Krasts is the only major party campaigning to turn down the changes.
12) On issues other than citizenship, like the need to seek EU and NATO membership, there is wide agreement among the parties. There is also broad support for the free-market reforms that have raised Latvia up from the stagnant Soviet era.
13) Voter support for one party or another seems as much on the personality of leaders as on specific issues.
14) The party that has been No. 1 in most pre-election polls with around 20 percent support is the center-right Peoples Party, a new party founded by wealthy businessman and a former prime minister, Andris Skele.
15) Skele has said Latvia relies too much on transit trade to and from Russia, and said policies should also focus on producing goods in Latvia for export.
16) Other parties scoring around 15 percent in opinion surveys include the rightist Fatherland and Freedom, the centrist Latvia's Way and the opposition leftists, the Social Democrats.
17) The centrist News Party, led by flamboyant pop music composer Raimonds Pauls, is also expected to score above the five percent threshold required to win parliamentary seats.
Latvians vote on laws that angered Russia, distressed the West Eds: Leads to UPDATE with polls opening. Will be led with midday
(APW_ENG_19981003.0042)
1) In a referendum on whether to make citizenship easier for the country's enormous ethnic Russian community, Latvians on Saturday chose between salving a sense of injured pride and risking future injury.
2) The referendum, held in conjunction with voting for the country's 100-seat parliament, asked voters if they want to reject liberalizing citizenship law amendments that the parliament passed in June.
3) The amendments were passed after a tense spring in which Russia threatened trade sanctions against its diminutive neighbor and rained a hot barrage of denunciations. Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov's characterized Latvia as committing genocide.
4) Meanwhile, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe urged changes and many officials predicted that the European Union, which Latvia ardently wants to join, would never let the country in unless it lowered the obstacles to citizenship.
5) But after the amendments were passed, a referendum drive to overturn them began, spearheaded by nationalist politicians who claim Latvian national identity is imperiled.
6) Many Latvians resent Russians, seeing them not only as reminders of Latvia's suffering during 50 years of Soviet rule, but as diluting Latvia's sense of itself.
7) Hundreds of thousands of Russians poured into Latvia during the Soviet years and today the country is little more than half ethnic Latvian. While almost all Latvians speak passable Russian because they learned it in Soviet-era schools, many Russians in the country speak little or no Latvian.
8) Voting opened in clear, nippy weather _ the kind that usually encourages low-motivation voters to cast their ballots. But how a high turnout could effect the referendum was unclear; no opinion polls on the referendum were conducted.
9) Despite the charged emotions behind the issue, observers say there is little likelihood of violence whichever way the vote turns out.
10) Of the 21 parties and alliances seeking seats in the Saeima (pronounced SIGH-mah), the right-wing Fatherland and Freedom party of Prime Minister Guntars Krasts is the only major party campaigning against the changes.
11) On issues other than citizenship, like the need to seek EU and NATO membership, there is wide agreement among the parties. There is also broad support for the free-market reforms that have raised Latvia up from the stagnant Soviet era.
12) Voter support for one party or another seems as much on the personality of leaders as on specific issues.
13) The party that has been No. 1 in most pre-election polls with around 20 percent support is the center-right Peoples Party, a new party founded by wealthy businessman and former prime minister, Andris Skele.
14) Skele has said Latvia relies too much on transit trade to and from Russia, and said policies should also focus on producing goods in Latvia for export.
15) Other parties scoring around 15 percent in opinion surveys include the rightist Fatherland and Freedom, the centrist Latvia's Way and the opposition leftists, the Social Democrats.
16) The centrist News Party, led by flamboyant pop music composer Raimonds Pauls, is also expected to score above the five percent threshold required to win parliamentary seats.
Latvians vote on laws that angered Russia, distressed the West Eds: Leads to UPDATE with midday turnout, ADD quotes. Polls close
(APW_ENG_19981003.0209)
1) In a referendum on whether to make citizenship easier for the country's enormous ethnic Russian community, Latvians on Saturday chose between salving a sense of injured pride and risking future injury.
2) The referendum, held in conjunction with voting for the country's 100-seat Saeima parliament, asked voters if they want to reject liberalizing citizenship law amendments that the parliament passed in June.
3) The amendments were passed after a tense spring in which Russia threatened trade sanctions against diminutive neighbor and rained a hot barrage of denunciations, including Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov's characterizing Latvia as committing genocide.
4) Meanwhile, the West was unhappy with Latvia, though its statements were more measured. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe urged changes and many officials predicted that the European Union, which Latvia ardently wants to join, would never let the country in unless it lowered the obstacles to citizenship.
5) But after the amendments were passed, a referendum drive to overturn them began, spearheaded by nationalist politicians who claim Latvian national identity is imperiled.
6) Many Latvians resent Russians, seeing them not only as reminders of Latvia's suffering during 50 years of Soviet rule, but as diluting Latvia's sense of itself.
7) Hundreds of thousands of Russians poured into Latvia during the Soviet years and today the country is little more than half ethnic Latvian. While almost all Latvians speak passable Russian because they learned it in Soviet-era schools, many Russians in the country speak little or no Latvian.
8) The voting took place in clear, cool weather. By midday, officials said, about 30 percent of the 1.3 eligible voters had cast their ballots and that some stations had 30-minute waits.
9) However, many voters were confused by the phrasing of the referendum -- in which a ``yes'' vote means ``no'' to the changes.
10) ``Frankly, I didn't understand the issue or the ballot,'' said 79-yar-old Dzetins Alois, voting in the near-downtown Latgales neighborhood.
11) Meanwhile, ethnic Russians who could not vote regarded the day sourly.
12) ``I was born in Riga, I live in Riga, but I am Russian and can't vote. I don't like it here,'' said a young woman who gave her name only as Alex, selling cassettes in the vast market that sprawls in and around five old dirigible hangars on the outskirts of downtown.
13) Of the 21 parties and alliances seeking seats in the Saeima (pronounced SIGH-mah), the right-wing Fatherland and Freedom party of Prime Minister Guntars Krasts was the only major party campaigning to turn down the changes.
14) On issues other than citizenship, like the need to seek EU and NATO membership, there is wide agreement among the parties. There is also broad support for the free-market reforms that have raised Latvia up from the stagnant Soviet era.
15) Voter support for one party or another seems as much on the personality of leaders as on specific issues.
16) The party that has been No. 1 in most pre-election polls with around 20 percent support is the center-right Peoples Party, a new party founded by wealthy businessman and a former prime minister, Andris Skele.
17) Skele has said Latvia relies too much on transit trade to and from Russia, and said policies should also focus on producing goods in Latvia for export.
18) Other parties scoring around 15 percent in opinion surveys include the rightist Fatherland and Freedom, the centrist Latvia's Way and the opposition leftists, the Social Democrats.
19) The centrist News Party, led by flamboyant pop music composer Raimonds Pauls, is also expected to score above the five percent threshold required to win parliamentary seats.
Latvians vote on laws that angered Russia, distressed the West Eds: AMs. Leads throughout to RECAST lede, ADD quotes, reported
(APW_ENG_19981003.0477)
1) Those who could vote Saturday on whether to ease citizenship laws for hundreds of thousands of stateless ethnic Russians were often confused, and those who couldn't were stony with resentment.
2) A referendum held in conjunction with voting for the country's 100-seat Saeima parliament asked voters if they want to reject liberalizing citizenship law amendments that the parliament passed in June.
3) The amendments were passed after a tense spring in which Russia threatened trade sanctions against diminutive neighbor and rained a hot barrage of denunciations, including Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov's characterizing Latvia as committing genocide.
4) Meanwhile, the West was unhappy with Latvia, though its statements were more measured. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe urged changes and many officials predicted that the European Union, which Latvia ardently wants to join, would never let the country in unless it lowered the obstacles to citizenship.
5) But after the amendments were passed, a referendum drive to overturn them began, spearheaded by nationalist politicians who claim Latvian national identity is imperiled.
6) After Latvia became independent of the Soviet Union in 1991, citizenship was granted to ethnic Latvians and to anyone who had lived there prior to the Soviet annexation in 1940.
7) That left out the hundreds of thousands of ethnic Russians who poured into Latvia during Soviet rule, and to their children even if born in Latvia. Today, about 452,000 of the country's 740,000 ethnic Russians are without citizenship.
8) Because they can't vote, they regarded Saturday's referendum with angry resignation.
9) ``I was born in Riga, I live in Riga, but I am Russian and can't vote. I don't like it here,'' said a young woman who gave her name only as Alex, selling cassettes in the vast market that sprawls in and around five old dirigible hangars on the outskirts of downtown.
10) But many people who could vote were annoyed because the referendum question was phrased confusingly: a ``yes'' vote meaning ``no'' to the changes.
11) ``Frankly, I didn't understand the issue or the ballot,'' said 79-yar-old Dzetins Alois, who voted in the parliamentary election but not in the referendum.
12) He wasn't alone. The Central Elections Commission said that as of 4 p.m. (1300 GMT), about 55 percent of the 1.3 million people eligible to vote had cast ballots in the election, but about 52 percent in the referendum.
13) Some voting irregularities were reported, including President Guntis Ulmanis giving a television interview inside a polling station, and a polling place in the city of Jurmala failing to stamp about 200 ballots properly.
14) The referendum apparently slowed down voting procedures and elections commission head Arnis Cimdars said he was concerned the pace might be too slow to have voting completed on time.
15) Of the 21 parties and alliances seeking seats in the Saeima (pronounced SIGH-mah), the right-wing Fatherland and Freedom party of Prime Minister Guntars Krasts was the only major party campaigning to turn down the changes.
16) But even that party's support on the issue was not universal.
17) Harijs Vasilievs said he voted for Fatherland and Freedom party because he liked their economic polices, though he voted against the referendum
18) ``I think Russian children born in Latvia should be given citizenship,'' the 61-year-old Vasilievs said. ``They are not to blame for the situation they have found themselves in.''
19) On issues other than citizenship, like the need to seek EU and NATO membership, there is wide agreement among the parties. There is also broad support for the free-market reforms that have raised Latvia up from the stagnant Soviet era.
20) Voter support for one party or another appeared to depend as much on the personality of leaders as on specific issues.
21) The party that has been No. 1 in most pre-election polls with around 20 percent support is the center-right Peoples Party, a new party founded by wealthy businessman and a former prime minister, Andris Skele.
22) Skele has said Latvia relies too much on transit trade to and from Russia, and said policies should also focus on producing goods in Latvia for export.
Latvians vote on laws that angered Russia, distressed the West Eds: Leads throughout to RECAST lede, ADD quotes, reported
(APW_ENG_19981003.0505)
1) Those who could vote Saturday on whether to ease Latvian citizenship laws for hundreds of thousands of stateless ethnic Russians were often confused, and those who couldn't were stony with resentment.
2) A referendum held in conjunction with voting for the 100-seat Saeima parliament asked voters if they want to reject liberalizing citizenship law amendments that the parliament passed in June.
3) The amendments were passed after a tense spring in which Russia threatened trade sanctions against its neighbor and rained a hot barrage of denunciations upon it, including Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov's accusation that Latvia was committing genocide.
4) The West too was unhappy with Latvia, though its statements were more measured. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe urged changes and many officials predicted that the European Union, which Latvia ardently wants to join, would never let the country in unless it lowered the obstacles to citizenship.
5) After the amendments were passed, a drive to overturn them began, spearheaded by nationalist politicians who claim Latvian national identity is imperiled.
6) After Latvia became independent of the Soviet Union in 1991, citizenship was granted to ethnic Latvians and to anyone who had lived there prior to the Soviet annexation in 1940.
7) That left out the hundreds of thousands of ethnic Russians who poured into Latvia during Soviet rule, and to their children, even if born in Latvia. Today about 452,000 of the country's 740,000 ethnic Russians are without citizenship.
8) Because they can't vote, they regarded Saturday's referendum with angry resignation.
9) ``I was born in Riga, I live in Riga, but I am Russian and can't vote. I don't like it here,'' said a young woman who gave her name only as Alex, selling cassettes in the vast market that sprawls in and around five old dirigible hangars on the outskirts of downtown.
10) Many people who could vote were annoyed because the referendum question was phrased confusingly: a ``yes'' vote meaning ``no'' to the changes.
11) ``Frankly, I didn't understand the issue or the ballot,'' said 79-year-old Dzetins Alois, who voted in the parliamentary election but not in the referendum.
12) He wasn't alone. The Central Elections Commission said that as of 4 p.m. (1300 GMT), about 55 percent of the 1.3 million people eligible to vote had cast ballots in the election, while about 52 percent had in the referendum.
13) Some voting irregularities were reported, including President Guntis Ulmanis giving a television interview inside a polling station, and a polling place in the city of Jurmala failing to stamp about 200 ballots properly.
14) The referendum apparently slowed voting procedures and elections commission head Arnis Cimdars said he was concerned the pace might be too slow to have voting completed on time.
15) Of the 21 parties and alliances seeking seats in the Saeima (pronounced SIGH-mah), the right-wing Fatherland and Freedom party of Prime Minister Guntars Krasts was the only major party campaigning to turn down the changes.
16) But even that party's support on the issue was not universal.
17) Harijs Vasilievs said he voted for the Fatherland and Freedom party because he liked their economic polices, though he voted against the referendum
18) ``I think Russian children born in Latvia should be given citizenship,'' the 61-year-old Vasilievs said. ``They are not to blame for the situation they have found themselves in.''
19) On issues other than citizenship, like the need to seek EU and NATO membership, there is wide agreement among the parties. There is also broad support for the free-market reforms that have raised Latvia from the stagnant Soviet era.
20) Voter support for one party or another appeared to depend as much on the personality of leaders as on specific issues.
21) The party that has been No. 1 in most pre-election polls with around 20 percent support is the center-right Peoples Party, a new party founded by wealthy businessman and former prime minister Andris Skele.
22) Skele has said Latvia relies too much on transit trade to and from Russia, and said policies should also focus on producing goods in Latvia for export.
URGENT Early results: Latvians approve contoversial eased citizenship for
(APW_ENG_19981003.0602)
1) Latvans were narrowly approving their parliament's contrversial moves to make citizenship easier for the country's hundreds of thousands of stateless Russians, early results from a referendum showed.
2) With votes counteed from about 5 percent of the country's precincts, the changes were being approved by a 52-45 margin. The remainder apparently were blank or spoiled ballots.
3) If the acceptance is borne out in the final results, Latvia will have headed off an unpleasant confrontation with the West. But whether the results would mollify Russia, which has rained denunciations on Latvia for its treatment of ethnic Russians, is in doubt.
4) Although the law changes remove years of waiting for citizenship applicants, the laws still require adults to have competence in Latvia, which many who grew up in all-Russian communities within Latvia regard as unreasonable.
5) The referendum held in conjunction with voting for the country's 100-seat Saeima parliament asked voters if they want to reject liberalizing citizenship law amendments that the parliament passed in June.
6) The amendments were passed after a tense spring in which Russia threatened trade sanctions against its diminutive neighbor and unleashed outraged statements including Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov's characterizing Latvia as committing genocide.
7) Latvia was also under pressure from the West to change the laws. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said the laws violated its principles and many officials predicted that the European Union, which Latvia ardently wants to join, would never let the country in unless it lowered the obstacles to citizenship.
8) But after the amendments were passed, a referendum drive to overturn them began, spearheaded by nationalist politicians who claim Latvian national identity is imperiled.
9) After Latvia became independent of the Soviet Union in 1991, citizenship was granted to ethnic Latvians and to anyone who had lived there prior to the Soviet annexation in 1940.
10) That left out the hundreds of thousands of ethnic Russians who poured into Latvia during Soviet rule, and to their children even if born in Latvia. Today, about 452,000 of the country's 740,000 ethnic Russians are without citizenship.
11) Because they can't vote, they regarded Saturday's referendum with angry resignation.
12) ``I was born in Riga, I live in Riga, but I am Russian and can't vote. I don't like it here,'' said a young woman who gave her name only as Alex, selling cassettes in the vast market that sprawls in and around five old dirigible hangars on the outskirts of downtown.
13) But many people who could vote were annoyed because the referendum question was phrased confusingly: a ``yes'' vote meaning ``no'' to the changes.
14) ``Frankly, I didn't understand the issue or the ballot,'' said 79-yar-old Dzetins Alois, who voted in the parliamentary election but not in the referendum.
15) Some voting irregularities were reported, including President Guntis Ulmanis giving a television interview inside a polling station, and a polling place in the city of Jurmala failing to stamp about 200 ballots properly.
16) Of the 21 parties and alliances seeking seats in the Saeima (pronounced SIGH-mah), the right-wing Fatherland and Freedom party of Prime Minister Guntars Krasts was the only major party campaigning to turn down the changes.
17) On issues other than citizenship, like the need to seek EU and NATO membership, there is wide agreement among the parties. There is also broad support for the free-market reforms that have raised Latvia up from the stagnant Soviet era.
18) Voter support for one party or another appeared to depend as much on the personality of leaders as on specific issues.
19) The party that was No. 1 in most pre-election polls with around 20 percent support is the center-right Peoples Party, a new party founded by wealthy businessman and a former prime minister, Andris Skele.
20) Skele has said Latvia relies too much on transit trade to and from Russia, and said policies should also focus on producing goods in Latvia for export.
Early results: Latvians approve contoversial eased citizenship for Russians
(APW_ENG_19981003.0662)
1) Latvans were narrowly approving their parliament's controversial moves to make citizenship easier for the country's hundreds of thousands of stateless Russians, early results from a referendum showed.
2) With votes counteed from about 16 percent of the country's precincts, the changes were being approved by a 53-46 margin. The remainder apparently were blank or spoiled ballots.
3) If the acceptance is borne out in the final results, Latvia will have headed off an unpleasant confrontation with the West. But whether the results would mollify Russia, which has rained denunciations on Latvia for its treatment of ethnic Russians, is in doubt.
4) Although the law changes remove years of waiting for citizenship applicants, the laws still require adults to have competence in Latvia, which many who grew up in all-Russian communities within Latvia regard as unreasonable.
5) The referendum held in conjunction with voting for the country's 100-seat Saeima parliament asked voters if they want to reject liberalizing citizenship law amendments that the parliament passed in June.
6) The amendments were passed after a tense spring in which Russia threatened trade sanctions against its diminutive neighbor and unleashed outraged statements including Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov's characterizing Latvia as committing genocide.
7) Latvia was also under pressure from the West to change the laws. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said the laws violated its principles and many officials predicted that the European Union, which Latvia ardently wants to join, would never let the country in unless it lowered the obstacles to citizenship.
8) But after the amendments were passed, a referendum drive to overturn them began, spearheaded by nationalist politicians who claim Latvian national identity is imperiled.
9) After Latvia became independent of the Soviet Union in 1991, citizenship was granted to ethnic Latvians and to anyone who had lived there prior to the Soviet annexation in 1940.
10) That left out the hundreds of thousands of ethnic Russians who poured into Latvia during Soviet rule, and to their children even if born in Latvia. Today, about 452,000 of the country's 740,000 ethnic Russians are without citizenship.
11) Because they can't vote, they regarded Saturday's referendum with angry resignation.
12) ``I was born in Riga, I live in Riga, but I am Russian and can't vote. I don't like it here,'' said a young woman who gave her name only as Alex, selling cassettes in the vast market that sprawls in and around five old dirigible hangars on the outskirts of downtown.
13) But many people who could vote were annoyed because the referendum question was phrased confusingly: a ``yes'' vote meaning ``no'' to the changes.
14) ``Frankly, I didn't understand the issue or the ballot,'' said 79-year-old Dzetins Alois, who voted in the parliamentary election but not in the referendum.
15) Some voting irregularities were reported, including President Guntis Ulmanis giving a television interview inside a polling station, and a polling place in the city of Jurmala failing to stamp about 200 ballots properly.
16) Of the 21 parties and alliances seeking seats in the Saeima (pronounced SIGH-mah), the right-wing Fatherland and Freedom party of Prime Minister Guntars Krasts was the only major party campaigning to turn down the changes.
17) On issues other than citizenship, like the need to seek EU and NATO membership, there is wide agreement among the parties. There is also broad support for the free-market reforms that have raised Latvia up from the stagnant Soviet era.
18) Voter support for one party or another appeared to depend as much on the personality of leaders as on specific issues.
19) In the early results, the new center-right Peoples Party was at the top with 26 percent. Party leader Andris Skele has said Latvia relies too much on transit trade to and from Russia, and said policies should also focus on producing goods in Latvia for export.
20) The conservative Latvia's Way had 23 percent, followed by the Union of Social Democrats, Fatherland and Freedom and the New Party.
Early results: Latvians approve eased citizenship for Russians Eds: COMBINES previous to UPDATE with 16 percent of precincts
(APW_ENG_19981003.0670)
1) Latvians appeared to have narrowly approved their parliament's controversial measures to ease citizenship requirements for the country's hundreds of thousands of stateless Russians in a referendum Saturday, according to early results.
2) A referendum held in conjunction with voting for the country's 100-seat parliament asked voters if they want to reject liberalizing citizenship law amendments that legislators passed in June.
3) With votes counted from about 16 percent of the country's precincts, the changes were being approved by a 53-46 margin. The remainder apparently were blank or spoiled ballots.
4) If the acceptance is borne out in the final results, the former Soviet republic will have headed off an unpleasant confrontation with the West. But whether the results would mollify Russia, which has rained denunciations on Latvia for its treatment of ethnic Russians, is in doubt.
5) Although the changes remove years of waiting for citizenship applicants, the laws still require adults to have competence in Latvian, which many who grew up in all-Russian communities within Latvia regard as unreasonable.
6) Russians make up 45 percent of the country's 2.5 million population.
7) The amendments were passed after a tense spring in which Russia threatened trade sanctions against its diminutive neighbor. Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov's accused Latvia of committing genocide.
8) The West too was unhappy with Latvia, though its statements were more measured. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe urged changes and many officials predicted that the European Union, which Latvia ardently wants to join, would never let the country in unless it lowered the obstacles to citizenship.
9) But after the amendments were passed, a referendum drive to overturn them began, spearheaded by nationalist politicians who claim Latvian national identity is imperiled.
10) After Latvia became independent of the Soviet Union in 1991, citizenship was granted to ethnic Latvians and to anyone who had lived there prior to the Soviet annexation in 1940.
11) That left out the hundreds of thousands of ethnic Russians who poured into Latvia during Soviet rule, and to their children _ even those born in Latvia. Today, about 452,000 of the country's 740,000 ethnic Russians are without citizenship.
12) Because they can't vote, they regarded Saturday's referendum with angry resignation.
13) ``I was born in Riga, I live in Riga, but I am Russian and can't vote. I don't like it here,'' said a young woman who gave her name only as Alex, selling cassettes in the vast market sprawling on the outskirts of downtown.
14) But many people who could vote were annoyed because the referendum question was phrased confusingly: a ``yes'' vote meaning ``no'' to the changes.
15) ``Frankly, I didn't understand the issue or the ballot,'' said 79-year-old Dzetins Alois, who voted in the parliamentary election but not in the referendum.
16) Some voting irregularities were reported, including President Guntis Ulmanis giving a television interview inside a polling station, and a polling place in the city of Jurmala failing to stamp about 200 ballots properly.
17) Of the 21 parties and alliances seeking seats in the Saeima (pronounced SIGH-mah), the right-wing Fatherland and Freedom party of Prime Minister Guntars Krasts was the only major party campaigning to turn down the changes.
18) On issues other than citizenship _ including to seek EU and NATO membership _ there was wide agreement among the parties. There was also broad support for the free-market reforms that have raised Latvia up from the stagnant Soviet era.
19) Voter support for one party or another appeared to depend as much on the personality of leaders as on specific issues.
20) In the early results, the new center-right Peoples Party was at the top with 26 percent. Party leader Andris Skele has said Latvia relies too much on transit trade to and from Russia, and said policies should also focus on producing goods in Latvia for export.
21) The conservative Latvia's Way had 23 percent, followed by the Union of Social Democrats, Fatherland and Freedom and the New Party.
Early results: Latvians approve eased citizenship for Russians Eds: UPDATES with results after 45 percent of precincts reporting.
(APW_ENG_19981003.0742)
1) Latvians appeared to have narrowly approved their parliament's controversial measures to ease citizenship requirements for the country's hundreds of thousands of stateless Russians in a referendum Saturday, according to early results.
2) A referendum held in conjunction with voting for the country's 100-seat parliament asked voters if they want to reject liberalizing citizenship law amendments that legislators passed in June.
3) With votes counted from about 45 percent of the country's precincts, the changes were being approved by a 52-46 margin. The remainder apparently were blank or spoiled ballots.
4) If the acceptance is borne out in the final results, the former Soviet republic will have headed off an unpleasant confrontation with the West. But whether the results would mollify Russia, which has rained denunciations on Latvia for its treatment of ethnic Russians, is in doubt.
5) Although the changes remove years of waiting for citizenship applicants, the laws still require adults to have competence in Latvian, which many who grew up in all-Russian communities within Latvia regard as unreasonable.
6) Russians make up 45 percent of the country's 2.5 million population.
7) The amendments were passed after a tense spring in which Russia threatened trade sanctions against its diminutive neighbor. Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov's accused Latvia of committing genocide.
8) The West too was unhappy with Latvia, though its statements were more measured. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe urged changes and many officials predicted that the European Union, which Latvia ardently wants to join, would never let the country in unless it lowered the obstacles to citizenship.
9) But after the amendments were passed, a referendum drive to overturn them began, spearheaded by nationalist politicians who claim Latvian national identity is imperiled.
10) After Latvia became independent of the Soviet Union in 1991, citizenship was granted to ethnic Latvians and to anyone who had lived there prior to the Soviet annexation in 1940.
11) That left out the hundreds of thousands of ethnic Russians who poured into Latvia during Soviet rule, and to their children _ even those born in Latvia. Today, about 452,000 of the country's 740,000 ethnic Russians are without citizenship.
12) Because they can't vote, they regarded Saturday's referendum with angry resignation.
13) ``I was born in Riga, I live in Riga, but I am Russian and can't vote. I don't like it here,'' said a young woman who gave her name only as Alex, selling cassettes in the vast market sprawling on the outskirts of downtown.
14) But many people who could vote were annoyed because the referendum question was phrased confusingly: a ``yes'' vote meaning ``no'' to the changes.
15) ``Frankly, I didn't understand the issue or the ballot,'' said 79-year-old Dzetins Alois, who voted in the parliamentary election but not in the referendum.
16) Some voting irregularities were reported, including President Guntis Ulmanis giving a television interview inside a polling station, and a polling place in the city of Jurmala failing to stamp about 200 ballots properly.
17) Of the 21 parties and alliances seeking seats in the Saeima (pronounced SIGH-mah), the right-wing Fatherland and Freedom party of Prime Minister Guntars Krasts was the only major party campaigning to turn down the changes.
18) On issues other than citizenship _ including to seek EU and NATO membership _ there was wide agreement among the parties. There was also broad support for the free-market reforms that have raised Latvia up from the stagnant Soviet era.
19) Voter support for one party or another appeared to depend as much on the personality of leaders as on specific issues.
20) In the early results, the new center-right Peoples Party was at the top with 22.8 percent. Party leader Andris Skele has said Latvia relies too much on transit trade to and from Russia, and said policies should also focus on producing goods in Latvia for export.
21) The conservative Latvia's Way had was just a fraction behind, followed by the Union of Social Democrats, Fatherland and Freedom and the New Party.
Early results: Latvians approve eased citizenship for Russians Eds: UPDATES with results after 45 percent of precincts reporting.
(APW_ENG_19981003.0744)
1) Latvians appeared to have narrowly approved their parliament's controversial measures to ease citizenship requirements for the country's hundreds of thousands of stateless Russians in a referendum Saturday, according to early results.
2) A referendum held in conjunction with voting for the country's 100-seat parliament asked voters if they want to reject liberalizing citizenship law amendments that legislators passed in June.
3) With votes counted from about 45 percent of the country's precincts, the changes were being approved by a 52-46 margin. The remainder apparently were blank or spoiled ballots.
4) If the acceptance is borne out in the final results, the former Soviet republic will have headed off an unpleasant confrontation with the West. But whether the results would mollify Russia, which has rained denunciations on Latvia for its treatment of ethnic Russians, is in doubt.
5) Although the changes remove years of waiting for citizenship applicants, the laws still require adults to have competence in Latvian, which many who grew up in all-Russian communities within Latvia regard as unreasonable.
6) Russians make up 45 percent of the country's 2.5 million population.
7) The amendments were passed after a tense spring in which Russia threatened trade sanctions against its diminutive neighbor. Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov's accused Latvia of committing genocide.
8) The West too was unhappy with Latvia, though its statements were more measured. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe urged changes and many officials predicted that the European Union, which Latvia ardently wants to join, would never let the country in unless it lowered the obstacles to citizenship.
9) But after the amendments were passed, a referendum drive to overturn them began, spearheaded by nationalist politicians who claim Latvian national identity is imperiled.
10) After Latvia became independent of the Soviet Union in 1991, citizenship was granted to ethnic Latvians and to anyone who had lived there prior to the Soviet annexation in 1940.
11) That left out the hundreds of thousands of ethnic Russians who poured into Latvia during Soviet rule, and to their children _ even those born in Latvia. Today, about 452,000 of the country's 740,000 ethnic Russians are without citizenship.
12) Because they can't vote, they regarded Saturday's referendum with angry resignation.
13) ``I was born in Riga, I live in Riga, but I am Russian and can't vote. I don't like it here,'' said a young woman who gave her name only as Alex, selling cassettes in the vast market sprawling on the outskirts of downtown.
14) But many people who could vote were annoyed because the referendum question was phrased confusingly: a ``yes'' vote meaning ``no'' to the changes.
15) ``Frankly, I didn't understand the issue or the ballot,'' said 79-year-old Dzetins Alois, who voted in the parliamentary election but not in the referendum.
16) Some voting irregularities were reported, including President Guntis Ulmanis giving a television interview inside a polling station, and a polling place in the city of Jurmala failing to stamp about 200 ballots properly.
17) Of the 21 parties and alliances seeking seats in the Saeima (pronounced SIGH-mah), the right-wing Fatherland and Freedom party of Prime Minister Guntars Krasts was the only major party campaigning to turn down the changes.
18) On issues other than citizenship _ including to seek EU and NATO membership _ there was wide agreement among the parties. There was also broad support for the free-market reforms that have raised Latvia up from the stagnant Soviet era.
19) Voter support for one party or another appeared to depend as much on the personality of leaders as on specific issues.
20) In the early results, the new center-right Peoples Party was at the top with 22.8 percent. Party leader Andris Skele has said Latvia relies too much on transit trade to and from Russia, and said policies should also focus on producing goods in Latvia for export.
21) The conservative Latvia's Way had was just a fraction behind, followed by the Union of Social Democrats, Fatherland and Freedom and the New Party.
Early results: Latvians approve eased citizenship for Russians Eds: UPDATES throughout with 45 percent of precincts reporting.
(APW_ENG_19981003.0756)
1) Latvians appeared to have narrowly approved their parliament's controversial measures to ease citizenship requirements for the country's hundreds of thousands of stateless Russians in a referendum Saturday, according to early results.
2) A referendum held in conjunction with voting for the country's 100-seat parliament asked voters if they want to reject liberalizing citizenship law amendments that legislators passed in June.
3) With votes counted from about 45 percent of the country's precincts, the changes were being approved by a 52-46 margin. The remainder apparently were blank or spoiled ballots.
4) If the acceptance is borne out in the final results, the former Soviet republic will have headed off an unpleasant confrontation with the West. But whether the results would mollify Russia, which has rained denunciations on Latvia for its treatment of ethnic Russians, is in doubt.
5) Although the changes remove years of waiting for citizenship applicants, the laws still require adults to have competence in Latvian, which many who grew up in all-Russian communities within Latvia regard as unreasonable.
6) Russians make up 45 percent of the country's 2.5 million population.
7) The amendments were passed after a tense spring in which Russia threatened trade sanctions against its diminutive neighbor. Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov's accused Latvia of committing genocide.
8) The West too was unhappy with Latvia, though its statements were more measured. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe urged changes and many officials predicted that the European Union, which Latvia ardently wants to join, would never let the country in unless it lowered the obstacles to citizenship.
9) But after the amendments were passed, a referendum drive to overturn them began, spearheaded by nationalist politicians who claim Latvian national identity is imperiled.
10) After Latvia became independent of the Soviet Union in 1991, citizenship was granted to ethnic Latvians and to anyone who had lived there prior to the Soviet annexation in 1940.
11) That left out the hundreds of thousands of ethnic Russians who poured into Latvia during Soviet rule, and to their children _ even those born in Latvia. Today, about 452,000 of the country's 740,000 ethnic Russians are without citizenship.
12) Because they can't vote, they regarded Saturday's referendum with angry resignation.
13) ``I was born in Riga, I live in Riga, but I am Russian and can't vote. I don't like it here,'' said a young woman who gave her name only as Alex, selling cassettes in the vast market sprawling on the outskirts of downtown.
14) But many people who could vote were annoyed because the referendum question was phrased confusingly: a ``yes'' vote meaning ``no'' to the changes.
15) ``Frankly, I didn't understand the issue or the ballot,'' said 79-year-old Dzetins Alois, who voted in the parliamentary election but not in the referendum.
16) Some voting irregularities were reported, including President Guntis Ulmanis giving a television interview inside a polling station, and a polling place in the city of Jurmala failing to stamp about 200 ballots properly.
17) Of the 21 parties and alliances seeking seats in the Saeima (pronounced SIGH-mah), the right-wing Fatherland and Freedom party of Prime Minister Guntars Krasts was the only major party campaigning to turn down the changes.
18) On issues other than citizenship _ including to seek EU and NATO membership _ there was wide agreement among the parties. There was also broad support for the free-market reforms that have raised Latvia up from the stagnant Soviet era.
19) Voter support for one party or another appeared to depend as much on the personality of leaders as on specific issues.
20) In the early results, the new center-right Peoples Party was at the top with 22.8 percent. Party leader Andris Skele has said Latvia relies too much on transit trade to and from Russia, and said policies should also focus on producing goods in Latvia for export.
21) The conservative Latvia's Way had was just a fraction behind, followed by the Union of Social Democrats, Fatherland and Freedom and the New Party.
Retransmitting Latvians approve eased citizenship for Russians
(APW_ENG_19981003.0796)
1) Latvians appeared to have narrowly approved their parliament's controversial measures to ease citizenship requirements for the country's hundreds of thousands of stateless Russians in a referendum Saturday.
2) A referendum held in conjunction with voting for the country's 100-seat parliament asked voters if they want to reject liberalizing citizenship law amendments that legislators passed in June.
3) With votes counted from about 78 percent of the country's precincts, the changes were being approved by a 52-46 margin. The remainder apparently were blank or spoiled ballots.
4) If the acceptance is borne out in the final results, the former Soviet republic will have headed off an unpleasant confrontation with the West. But whether the results would mollify Russia, which has rained denunciations on Latvia for its treatment of ethnic Russians, is in doubt.
5) Although the changes remove years of waiting for citizenship applicants, the laws still require adults to have competence in Latvian, which many who grew up in all-Russian communities within Latvia regard as unreasonable.
6) ``This is a turning point for Latvia. It will help us solve our problems with Russia because our friends in the West will stand behind us,'' Andris Skele, leader of the People's Party that was leading the parliamentary polling, said early Sunday.
7) The amendments were passed after a tense spring in which Russia threatened trade sanctions against its diminutive neighbor. Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov's accused Latvia of committing genocide.
8) The West too was unhappy with Latvia, though its statements were more measured. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe urged changes and many officials predicted that the European Union, which Latvia ardently wants to join, would never let the country in unless it lowered the obstacles to citizenship.
9) But after the amendments were passed, a referendum drive to overturn them began, spearheaded by nationalist politicians who claim Latvian national identity is imperiled.
10) After Latvia became independent of the Soviet Union in 1991, citizenship was granted to ethnic Latvians and to anyone who had lived there prior to the Soviet annexation in 1940.
11) That left out the hundreds of thousands of ethnic Russians who poured into Latvia during Soviet rule, and to their children _ even those born in Latvia. Today, about 452,000 of the country's 740,000 ethnic Russians are without citizenship.
12) Because they can't vote, they regarded Saturday's referendum with angry resignation.
13) ``I was born in Riga, I live in Riga, but I am Russian and can't vote. I don't like it here,'' said a young woman who gave her name only as Alex, selling cassettes in the vast market sprawling on the outskirts of downtown.
14) But many people who could vote were annoyed because the referendum question was phrased confusingly: a ``yes'' vote meaning ``no'' to the changes.
15) ``Frankly, I didn't understand the issue or the ballot,'' said 79-year-old Dzetins Alois, who voted in the parliamentary election but not in the referendum.
16) Some voting irregularities were reported, including President Guntis Ulmanis giving a television interview inside a polling station, and a polling place in the city of Jurmala failing to stamp about 200 ballots properly.
17) Of the 21 parties and alliances seeking seats in the Saeima (pronounced SIGH-mah), the right-wing Fatherland and Freedom party of Prime Minister Guntars Krasts was the only major party campaigning to turn down the changes.
18) On issues other than citizenship _ including to seek EU and NATO membership _ there was wide agreement among the parties. There was also broad support for the free-market reforms that have raised Latvia up from the stagnant Soviet era.
19) Voter support for one party or another appeared to depend as much on the personality of leaders as on specific issues.
20) The center-right People's Party was at the top with about 20 percent, followed by the conservatiive Latvias Way at 18 percent.
21) Also getting more than the 5 percent necessary for Saeima seats were the Union of Social Democrats, Fatherland and Freedom, National Harmony and the New Party.
Retransmitting Latvians approve eased citizenship for Russians
(APW_ENG_19981003.0799)
1) Latvians appeared to have narrowly approved their parliament's controversial measures to ease citizenship requirements for the country's hundreds of thousands of stateless Russians in a referendum Saturday.
2) A referendum held in conjunction with voting for the country's 100-seat parliament asked voters if they want to reject liberalizing citizenship law amendments that legislators passed in June.
3) With votes counted from about 78 percent of the country's precincts, the changes were being approved by a 52-46 margin. The remainder apparently were blank or spoiled ballots.
4) If the acceptance is borne out in the final results, the former Soviet republic will have headed off an unpleasant confrontation with the West. But whether the results would mollify Russia, which has rained denunciations on Latvia for its treatment of ethnic Russians, is in doubt.
5) Although the changes remove years of waiting for citizenship applicants, the laws still require adults to have competence in Latvian, which many who grew up in all-Russian communities within Latvia regard as unreasonable.
6) ``This is a turning point for Latvia. It will help us solve our problems with Russia because our friends in the West will stand behind us,'' Andris Skele, leader of the People's Party that was leading the parliamentary polling, said early Sunday.
7) The amendments were passed after a tense spring in which Russia threatened trade sanctions against its diminutive neighbor. Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov's accused Latvia of committing genocide.
8) The West too was unhappy with Latvia, though its statements were more measured. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe urged changes and many officials predicted that the European Union, which Latvia ardently wants to join, would never let the country in unless it lowered the obstacles to citizenship.
9) But after the amendments were passed, a referendum drive to overturn them began, spearheaded by nationalist politicians who claim Latvian national identity is imperiled.
10) After Latvia became independent of the Soviet Union in 1991, citizenship was granted to ethnic Latvians and to anyone who had lived there prior to the Soviet annexation in 1940.
11) That left out the hundreds of thousands of ethnic Russians who poured into Latvia during Soviet rule, and to their children _ even those born in Latvia. Today, about 452,000 of the country's 740,000 ethnic Russians are without citizenship.
12) Because they can't vote, they regarded Saturday's referendum with angry resignation.
13) ``I was born in Riga, I live in Riga, but I am Russian and can't vote. I don't like it here,'' said a young woman who gave her name only as Alex, selling cassettes in the vast market sprawling on the outskirts of downtown.
14) But many people who could vote were annoyed because the referendum question was phrased confusingly: a ``yes'' vote meaning ``no'' to the changes.
15) ``Frankly, I didn't understand the issue or the ballot,'' said 79-year-old Dzetins Alois, who voted in the parliamentary election but not in the referendum.
16) Some voting irregularities were reported, including President Guntis Ulmanis giving a television interview inside a polling station, and a polling place in the city of Jurmala failing to stamp about 200 ballots properly.
17) Of the 21 parties and alliances seeking seats in the Saeima (pronounced SIGH-mah), the right-wing Fatherland and Freedom party of Prime Minister Guntars Krasts was the only major party campaigning to turn down the changes.
18) On issues other than citizenship _ including to seek EU and NATO membership _ there was wide agreement among the parties. There was also broad support for the free-market reforms that have raised Latvia up from the stagnant Soviet era.
19) Voter support for one party or another appeared to depend as much on the personality of leaders as on specific issues.
20) The center-right People's Party was at the top with about 20 percent, followed by the conservatiive Latvias Way at 18 percent.
21) Also getting more than the 5 percent necessary for Saeima seats were the Union of Social Democrats, Fatherland and Freed
1998-10-04
Latvians approve easing citizenship for Russians Eds: Leads throughout to UPDATE with near-final count. TRIMS.
(APW_ENG_19981004.0037)
1) Latvians have approved controversial measures to ease citizenship requirements for ethnic Russians in a referendum that was close, but that many see as signalling a change of attitude in the country.
2) With votes counted from 99 percent of the country's precincts, the changes were approved by a 53-45 margin in a Saturday referendum. The remaining ballots apparently were blank or spoiled.
3) The referendum, which was held in conjunction with voting for the country's 100-seat Saeima parliament, ends years of delays for many citizenship applicants.
4) It also means that children born of stateless parents since independence in 1991 will be granted citizenship.
5) With the results, Latvia heads off a confrontation with the West. But whether the results will mollify Russia, which has denounced Latvia for its treatment of ethnic Russians, is in doubt.
6) Although the changes remove years of waiting for citizenship applicants, the laws still require adults to have competence in Latvian, which many who grew up in all-Russian communities within Latvia regard as unreasonable.
7) ``This is a turning point for Latvia. It will help us solve our problems with Russia because our friends in the West will stand behind us,'' Andris Skele, leader of the People's Party that led the parliamentary polling, said early Sunday.
8) The amendments were first passed in June after a tense spring in which Russia threatened trade sanctions against its diminutive neighbor.
9) But after the measures passed, a drive to overturn them began, spearheaded by nationalist politicians who claimed Latvian national identity was imperiled. Their campaign led to Saturday's referendum, which asks voters if they want to reject the amendments.
10) After Latvia became independent of the Soviet Union in 1991, citizenship was granted to ethnic Latvians and to anyone who had lived there before the Soviet annexation in 1940.
11) That left out the hundreds of thousands of ethnic Russians who poured into Latvia during Soviet rule and their children, even if born in Latvia. Today, about 452,000 of the country's 740,000 ethnic Russians are without citizenship.
12) Some voting irregularities were reported, including President Guntis Ulmanis giving a television interview inside a polling station, and a polling station in the city of Jurmala failing to stamp about 200 ballots properly.
13) Of the 21 parties and alliances seeking seats in the Saeima (pronounced SIGH-mah), the right-wing Fatherland and Freedom party of Prime Minister Guntars Krasts was the only major party campaigning against the citizenship amendments.
14) On issues other than citizenship, like the need to seek EU and NATO membership, there is wide agreement among the parties. There is also broad support for the free-market reforms that have raised Latvia up from the stagnant Soviet era.
15) Voter support for one party or another appeared to depend as much on the personality of leaders as on specific issues.
16) The new center-right Peoples Party was at the top with 20.9 percent. The conservative Latvia's Way had 18 percent, followed by the National Harmony Party, Fatherland and Freedom, the Union of Social Democrats and the New Party.
Latvians approve easing citizenship for Russians Eds: Leads throughout to UPDATE with near-final count. TRIMS.
(APW_ENG_19981004.0046)
1) Latvians have narrowly approved their parliament's controversial measures to ease citizenship requirements for the country's hundreds of thousands of stateless Russians in a referendum.
2) With votes counted from 99 percent of the country's precincts, the changes were approved by a 53-45 margin in a Saturday referendum. The remaining ballots apparently were blank or spoiled.
3) The referendum, which was held in conjunction with voting for the country's 100-seat Saeima parliament, ends years of delays for many citizenship applicants.
4) It also means that children born of stateless parents since independence in 1991 will be granted citizenship.
5) With the results, Latvia heads off a confrontation with the West. But whether the results will mollify Russia, which has denounced Latvia for its treatment of ethnic Russians, is in doubt.
6) Although the changes remove years of waiting for citizenship applicants, the laws still require adults to have competence in Latvian, which many who grew up in all-Russian communities within Latvia regard as unreasonable.
7) ``This is a turning point for Latvia. It will help us solve our problems with Russia because our friends in the West will stand behind us,'' Andris Skele, leader of the People's Party that led the parliamentary polling, said early Sunday.
8) The amendments were first passed in June after a tense spring in which Russia threatened trade sanctions against its diminutive neighbor.
9) But after the measures passed, a drive to overturn them began, spearheaded by nationalist politicians who claimed Latvian national identity was imperiled. Their campaign led to Saturday's referendum, which asks voters if they want to reject the amendments.
10) After Latvia became independent of the Soviet Union in 1991, citizenship was granted to ethnic Latvians and to anyone who had lived there before the Soviet annexation in 1940.
11) That left out the hundreds of thousands of ethnic Russians who poured into Latvia during Soviet rule and their children, even if born in Latvia. Today, about 452,000 of the country's 740,000 ethnic Russians are without citizenship.
12) Some voting irregularities were reported, including President Guntis Ulmanis giving a television interview inside a polling station, and a polling station in the city of Jurmala failing to stamp about 200 ballots properly.
13) Of the 21 parties and alliances seeking seats in the Saeima (pronounced SIGH-mah), the right-wing Fatherland and Freedom party of Prime Minister Guntars Krasts was the only major party campaigning against the citizenship amendments.
14) On issues other than citizenship, like the need to seek EU and NATO membership, there is wide agreement among the parties. There is also broad support for the free-market reforms that have raised Latvia up from the stagnant Soviet era.
15) Voter support for one party or another appeared to depend as much on the personality of leaders as on specific issues.
16) The new center-right Peoples Party was at the top with 20.9 percent. The conservative Latvia's Way had 18 percent, followed by the National Harmony Party, Fatherland and Freedom, the Union of Social Democrats and the New Party.
Latvians approve easing citizenship for Russians Eds: UPDATES with preliminary count of all precincts, observer
(APW_ENG_19981004.0277)
1) Latvians have narrowly approved their parliament's controversial measures to ease citizenship requirements for the country's hundreds of thousands of stateless Russians in a referendum.
2) The preliminary count of votes from all the country's precincts showed the changes approved by a 53-45 margin in a Saturday referendum. The remaining ballots were blank marked incorrectly, in what elections commission chairman Andris Cinmars said may have been protest votes.
3) Many voters had complained they were confused by the phrasing of the referendum question. The confusion was noted by a team of more than 100 international election observers, but ``nevertheless, the vote reflects the will of the Latvian people,'' said team head Mikko Elo of Finland.
4) The referendum, which was held in conjunction with voting for the country's 100-seat Saeima parliament, ends years of delays for many citizenship applicants.
5) It also means that children born of stateless parents since independence in 1991 will be granted citizenship.
6) With the results, Latvia heads off a confrontation with the West. But whether the results will mollify Russia, which has denounced Latvia for its treatment of ethnic Russians, is in doubt.
7) Although the changes remove years of waiting for citizenship applicants, the laws still require adults to have competence in Latvian, which many who grew up in all-Russian communities within Latvia regard as unreasonable.
8) ``This is a turning point for Latvia. It will help us solve our problems with Russia because our friends in the West will stand behind us,'' Andris Skele, leader of the People's Party that led the parliamentary polling, said early Sunday.
9) The amendments were first passed in June after a tense spring in which Russia threatened trade sanctions against its diminutive neighbor.
10) But after the measures passed, a drive to overturn them began, spearheaded by nationalist politicians who claimed Latvian national identity was imperiled. Their campaign led to Saturday's referendum, which asks voters if they want to reject the amendments.
11) After Latvia became independent of the Soviet Union in 1991, citizenship was granted to ethnic Latvians and to anyone who had lived there before the Soviet annexation in 1940.
12) That left out the hundreds of thousands of ethnic Russians who poured into Latvia during Soviet rule and their children, even if born in Latvia. Today, about 452,000 of the country's 740,000 ethnic Russians are without citizenship.
13) Some voting irregularities were reported, including President Guntis Ulmanis giving a television interview inside a polling station, and a polling station in the city of Jurmala failing to stamp about 200 ballots properly.
14) Of the 21 parties and alliances seeking seats in the Saeima (pronounced SIGH-mah), the right-wing Fatherland and Freedom party of Prime Minister Guntars Krasts was the only major party campaigning against the citizenship amendments.
15) On issues other than citizenship, like the need to seek EU and NATO membership, there is wide agreement among the parties. There is also broad support for the free-market reforms that have raised Latvia up from the stagnant Soviet era.
16) Voter support for one party or another appeared to depend as much on the personality of leaders as on specific issues.
17) The new center-right Peoples Party was at the top with 20.9 percent. The conservative Latvia's Way had 18 percent, followed by the National Harmony Party, Fatherland and Freedom, the Union of Social Democrats and the New Party.
Liberalizing laws for Russians shows Latvia at a turning point By JIM HEINTZ
(APW_ENG_19981004.0649)
1) The Latvian electorate's approval of measures easing citizenship requirements for ethnic Russians was less than resounding _ but represents a marked change in Latvian psychology all the same.
2) ``We are becoming a civilized country,'' is how Janis Jurkans, deputy leader of the National Harmony Party, put it early Sunday as results from a national referendum came in.
3) Since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Latvia had suffered the typical divorce syndrome: celebrate the new freedom, then stew for years about wrongs committed during the marriage.
4) For many Latvians, Russian conversations overheard on any streetcorner in Riga were nettling reminders of how hundreds of thousands of Russians streamed in during the Soviet years, leaving ethnic Latvians feeling they were about to become a minority in their own land.
5) The naturalization laws that the country established after independence left the Russians suddenly stateless. They weren't prevented from applying for citizenship, but many would have to wait years _ the older the person, the longer the wait.
6) The first in-last out arrangement was clearly aimed at punishing those who had arrived in the first wave of Russification. Worse, statelessness was extended to children born to ethnic Russians in independent Latvia.
7) That vexed the Kremlin and the two countries seemed unable to stop antagonizing each other.
8) Often-overstated denunciations from Russia _ such as one official's claim that Latvia was committing ``genocide'' _ reinforced Latvia's angry fear of Russia and played into the hands of nationalists, who would exacerbate matters with ceremonies honoring the Latvian SS.
9) In such an emotionally charged environment, getting 53 percent of the voters to say they want to treat Russians more liberally was a substantial showing that Latvians are learning how to forget past wrongs.
10) Some hurdles remain: Although Latvia has now liberalized its citizenship laws, citizenship still requires a knowledge of Latvian. It is unclear if the government is capable of underwriting the instruction of hundreds of thousands of people in a language unrelated to their mother tongue.
11) The government has also been debating a language law that would require Latvian to be used not only in state operations, but in some private business spheres; medium proficiency in Latvian would be required of hair-dressers, for instance.
12) For ethnic Russians, many of whom grew up in all-Russian communities and learned no other language in school, that is a high hurdle to clear.
13) But Russia may also be inclined too to learn to forget. Deep in an economic crisis, it's unlikely the country can afford the trade sanctions it once threatened against Latvia. If it were to cut off its oil exports that flow through Latvia, it would lose foreign income that it needs now more than ever.
14) Meanwhile, Latvia, by passing the citizenship changes, is in a stronger position to pursue its bid to join the European Union, which many believed would be torpedoed if the old laws stayed.
15) Concentrating on further strengthening its economy _ already notable for strong growth, negligible inflation and a stable currency _ can divert Latvia from thinking too much about past wrongs.
16) In Riga's Old Town a brutally ugly Soviet-era building houses a museum detailing the suffering of the occupation years. The building stands on the site of an elaborate 14th century guildhouse, built when Riga was a major Hanseatic League city, and destroyed in World War II.
17) A replica of the guildhouse is under construction, and its frame towers over the museum catologing Soviet wrongs.
18) Latvia isn't forgetting the past entirely, but the country's attention is focusing more on the past as a model for achievement than as a justification for resentment.
1999-02-05
Latvia says Russia not prepared to mend broken relations By MICHAEL TARM
(APW_ENG_19990205.0918)
1) Latvia's foreign minister said Friday that his country wants to improve its relations with Russia, but sees little sign of reciprocation from the Kremlin.
2) Russia has often criticized Latvia for its treatment of its large ethnic Russian minority, most of whom do not have Latvian citizenship. The tensions escalated last spring to the point of Russian threatening trade sanctions against Latvia.
3) Although Latvia has eased its naturalization criteria since then, the change has not brought a thaw in relations. Russia remains unhappy with such issues as requiring ethnic Russians to learn Latvian in order to become citizens and proposals to curtail Russian instruction in schools.
4) ''Good relations depend on both sides, and we have done our job,'' Foreign Minister Valdis Birkavs said in an interview. ``From the Russian side we have lots of words, but no deeds.''
5) Although Russia never declared trade sanctions against Latvia, many officials complain that Russia is hindering trade nonetheless.
6) Latvia also says a formal border agreement with Russia is important for Latvia's integration into Western Europe, but that the Kremlin still refuses to sign a border treaty for political reasons.
7) Birkavs said the lack of a constructive response from Russia to the easing of Latvian citizenship rules had forced Latvians to focus their main diplomatic efforts elsewhere.
8) ``If a neighbor refuses to take positive steps toward you, you can't waste too much time'' he said. ``We should then devote more time to other matters, like winning membership in the European Union.''
9) Despite the inability to move bilateral relations forward, Birkavs said improving relations with Moscow remained a high priority of the Latvian government.
10) But the foreign minister said that any Latvian effort to begin a dialogue with Russia was tempered by the understanding that relations could, without warning, again take a dramatic turn for the worst.
11) ``Maybe Westerners don't expect surprises from Russia,'' he said. ``We always do.''
1999-03-16
Latvian SS veterans parade among tensions AP photos planned
(APW_ENG_19990316.0732)
1) A controversial march by Latvian Waffen SS veterans came off peacefully Tuesday, but arguments among onlookers and a counter-demonstration by ethnic Russians showed the tensions just below the surface.
2) The march was part of an official day of remembrance for all Latvian veterans, but with Latvia's complicated history of suffering under both Nazi and Soviet occupation, commemoration of World War II fighting taps strong and opposing emotions.
3) The government's choice of Tuesday for the day of remembrance has been widely criticized, because the day is the anniversary of the first battles of the Nazis' Latvian Waffen SS, also known as the Latvian Legion, against the Soviet army.
4) The choice was harshly denounced by Russia, aggravating the already-uneasy relations that Latvia has with its giant neighbor.
5) The day ''can be assessed only as blasphemy toward those who fought Fascism and and the memory of the many millions of victims of that criminal ideology,'' Russian foreign ministry spokesman Vladimir Rakhmanin said Tuesday in Moscow, according to the ITAR-Tass news agency.
6) The procession of about 300 veterans wound quietly through the narrow cobblestoned streets of Riga's old city. Several of the veterans, most of them in their 70s and 80s, carried Latvian flags and many others clutched bouquets of flowers.
7) ``'This is a joyful day,'' said 74-year-old Visvaldis Lacis, a former platoon commander in the 19th Waffen SS division, as the half-kilometer (0.3-mile) march got underway. ``I met three of my comrades who I fought with but who I hadn't met in many years.''
8) The veterans ended their procession by laying flowers at the Freedom Monument. The towering obelisk in central Riga, marking Latvia's first period of independence between the world wars, is one of the capital's most symbolically significant structures.
9) Several hundred onlookers clapped in approval, but one Russian women shook her fist as they passed by, and another man held up a sign accusing the veterans of being fascists.
10) Sporadic arguments broke out among onlookers, with some hailing the veterans as Latvian freedom fighters and others shouting that they were Nazis and should not have been allowed to parade in public.
11) At a counter-dmonstration in central Riga, ethnic Russians attached a large portrait of Josef Stalin to balloons and sent it soaring into the air.
12) Latvian Waffen SS veterans said the march was simply meant to remember their fallen comrades and that they weren't glorifying Nazi Germany.
13) But Jewish groups in Latvia have said the gathering is an affront to the millions who died at Nazi hands. Most of Latvia's pre-war Jewish population of 70,000 died during the war.
14) Wide attention by foreign media to the commemoration has distressed officials of the Latvian government, which is pushing for integration with Western Europe, including European Union membership.
15) The government prohibited officials and members of the armed forces from taking part in the march. President Guntis Ulmanis called the declaration of Tuesday as an official remembrance day ``a mistake,'' and suggested that parliament reverse its decision before next year.
16) The Soviets occupied Latvia at the start of the war in 1940, Germany ruled here from 1941-44, and the Soviets retook it in 1944. Latvia regained its independence from Moscow in 1991.
17) With Latvia sandwiched between the Nazi and Soviet armies, about 250,000 Latvians ended up fighting on one side of the conflict or the other. Some 150,000 Latvians combatants died.
18) The legacy of World War II continues to deeply divide Latvia, often along ethnic lines. Many Latvians argue that Nazi Germany was the lesser evil during the war, while members of Latvia's large Russian-speaking population widely glorify the Soviet role during the war.
1999-06-17
After all-day debate, parliament elects Canadian-Latvian president Eds: Updates with expatriate teacher elected president
(APW_ENG_19990617.1389)
1) The Latvian parliament chose a Canadian-Latvian university professor as the country's new president by parliament Thursday after half a dozen better known candidates lost in acrimonious rounds of balloting.
2) The 100-member Saeima cast 53 votes for Vaira Vike-Freiberga, who had recently returned to Latvia after spending 33 years in Canada.
3) In her acceptance speech moments before midnight, Vike-Freiberga said, ``This is an important hour. We open a new page in the history of Latvia.''
4) She told parliament that even in exile, ``my heart has always been in Latvia.... Latvia has always been in me, no matter in which country I have lived. I can promise that I will care for Latvia, always.''
5) The 61-year-old Vike-Freiberga, who was a professor of psychology at the University of Montreal from 1965 until last year, wasn't nominated until five other candidates failed to win enough support in five rounds of voting. She beat out Foreign Minister Valdis Birkavs and Economics Minister Ingrida Udre.
6) Vike-Freiberga, who recently gave up her Canadian citizenship, is scheduled to take over from outgoing President Guntis Ulmanis in July. She will be the first female president of Latvia and the first Latvian to return from exile to hold the post.
7) While the position is largely ceremonial, the president does help broker the formation of governments, and can also refuse to confirm new legislation. The president also represents Latvia abroad.
8) On key policy questions, there was little difference between the candidates under consideration Thursday. All are strong advocates of European Union and NATO membership.
9) Vike-Freiberga was born in pre-war Latvia and fled the country with her family when Soviet troops occupied the region at the close of World War II. She later settled in Montreal.
10) She returned to Latvia occasionally and settled here permanently last year. She is married, with two children, according to the Baltic News Service.
11) Since returning, she has headed a Riga-based research and information center called the Latvian Institute. In addition to Latvian, Vike-Freiberga also speaks French, English, German, Spanish and Portuguese.
12) A lack of linguistic skills was one criticism leveled at some of the original candidates. Some commentators said a multilingual president would be key as Latvia lobbies for membership in the European Union and NATO.
13) Balloting was secret, but the rightwing Fatherland and Freedom, the centrist People's Party and center-left Social Democrats announced they supported her prior to the vote.
14) Recent Latvian prime minister and a Fatherland and Freedom deputy, Guntars Krasts, welcomed her selection. ``We chose a woman who is very international,'' he said. ``She has a very strong character, and she will be able to represent our country to the world.''
1999-07-14
Finnish foreign minister says Latvia should soften language law
(APW_ENG_19990714.0732)
1) Finnish Foreign Minister Tarja Halonen urged Latvia on Wednesday to amend a controversial language law, warning that leaving the law as it is could hurt Latvia's bid to join the European Union.
2) ``As an outside observer, on behalf of the EU presidency, I hope it can be amended as soon as possible,'' Halonen said at a news conference. ``It is not favorable for Latvia's EU accession,'' one of the Baltic country's top foreign policy goals.
3) Halonen, whose country accepted the rotating EU presidency on July 1, made the appeal in Riga during a one-day visit to discuss the drives by Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to join the EU.
4) The law, approved by parliament and awaiting presidential approval, requires the use of Latvian in public affairs and private business, including those operated wholly by Russian speakers.
5) Other provisions prohibit outdoor advertisements in any language other than Latvian.
6) The legislation attempts to counter Russian-language dominance during the decades Latvia was ruled as a Soviet republic. That ended eight years ago.
7) Latvian already has been declared the country's only official language, and knowledge of Latvian is a condition of citizenship.
8) Most Russian-speakers, who make up 40 percent of Latvia's 2.5 million population, speak little or no Latvian.
9) On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Valdis Birkavs said the country needs to protect a crucial, vulnerable asset: the Latvian language.
10) ``Whether there is a European Union or not, we have to adopt a law that we need,'' he said at the joint news conference with the Finnish foreign minister.
11) President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, who took office last week, was expected to decide soon about whether to sign the bill or send it back to parliament, which endorsed it overwhelmingly.
2001-11-19
Latvia launches ad campaign to encourage more Russians to become
(APW_ENG_20011119.0769)
1) Smiling Russians waving their new Latvian passports in television advertisements on Monday marked the beginning of a nationwide campaign aimed at persuading more of the Russian-speaking minority to apply for citizenship.
2) This Baltic former Soviet republic has been sharply criticized by Moscow for alleged discrimination against its 1 million Russian speakers, mostly ethnic Russians, who make up some 40 percent of the 2.4 million population.
3) More than half have no citizenship, giving Latvia one of the highest populations of stateless people in Europe. While 350,000 do have citizenship, many of the rest hold Russian passports.
4) The European Union, which Latvia wants to join, has encouraged the nation to more actively integrate its Russian-speaking minority and to reduce the number of stateless people _ among the continent's highest.
5) ``The problems that Latvia faces with stateless persons will become problems of the EU after Latvia becomes a member,'' head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Peter Semneby, said.
6) Most of the Russians immigrated here during 50 years of Soviet rule, which ended in 1991 and the issue has soured bilateral relations
7) Russia has singled out laws making Latvian a requirement of citizenship since most Russians speak little or no Latvian. Residents without citizenship can't vote, can't hold certain jobs and have trouble securing visa to travel abroad.
8) TV ads, which began running Monday, show smiling Russians waving their new Latvian passports, saying their lives will be better with citizenship. A blurb flashes at the end of segment saying, ``Latvian Citizenship: Make Your Choice.''
9) ``This is a step in addressing the most important issue in Latvia today _ making democracy accessible to everyone,'' Eizenija Aldermane, the head of Latvia's Naturalization Board, said.
10) Latvia's government is the official sponsor of the campaign, drawn up by the Saatchi and Saatchi advertising agency. But Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Norway, Sweden and the United States are footing the dlrs 270,000 bill.
11) Critics say Latvia doesn't have its heart in the campaign and is simply going through the motions to appease the EU. Others say that despite their positive tone, the ads won't win over Russians who feel increasingly alienated.
12) ``It will take more than a few TV ads to convince non-citizens that Latvia is their country and will take care of them,'' said Boris Tsilevich, one of a half-dozen Russian-speaking members of Latvia's 100-seat parliament.
13) Commercials will appear on Russian-language television programs aired in Latvia and full-page ads in Russian-language newspapers and sent in the mail. The campaign is slated to run into early next year.
Latvia launches ad campaign to encourage more Russians to become
(APW_ENG_20011119.1127)
1) Smiling Russians waving their new Latvian passports in television advertisements on Monday marked the beginning of a nationwide campaign aimed at persuading more of the Russian-speaking minority to apply for citizenship.
2) This Baltic former Soviet republic has been sharply criticized by Moscow for alleged discrimination against its 1 million Russian speakers, mostly ethnic Russians, who make up some 40 percent of the 2.4 million population.
3) More than half have no citizenship, giving Latvia one of the highest populations of stateless people in Europe. While 350,000 do have citizenship, many of the rest hold Russian passports.
4) The European Union, which Latvia wants to join, has encouraged the nation to more actively integrate its Russian-speaking minority and to reduce the number of stateless people _ among the continent's highest.
5) ``The problems that Latvia faces with stateless persons will become problems of the EU after Latvia becomes a member,'' head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Latvia, Peter Semneby, said.
6) Most of the Russians immigrated here during 50 years of Soviet rule, which ended in 1991 and the issue has soured bilateral relations
7) Russia has singled out laws making Latvian a requirement of citizenship since most Russians speak little or no Latvian. Residents without citizenship can't vote, can't hold certain jobs and have trouble securing visa to travel abroad.
8) TV ads, which began running Monday, show smiling Russians waving their new Latvian passports, saying their lives will be better with citizenship. A blurb flashes at the end of segment saying, ``Latvian Citizenship: Make Your Choice.''
9) ``This is a step in addressing the most important issue in Latvia today _ making democracy accessible to everyone,'' Eizenija Aldermane, the head of Latvia's Naturalization Board, said.
10) Latvia's government is the official sponsor of the campaign, drawn up by the Saatchi and Saatchi advertising agency. But Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Norway, Sweden and the United States are footing the dlrs 270,000 bill.
11) Critics say Latvia doesn't have its heart in the campaign and is simply going through the motions to appease the EU. Others say that despite their positive tone, the ads won't win over Russians who feel increasingly alienated.
12) ``It will take more than a few TV ads to convince non-citizens that Latvia is their country and will take care of them,'' said Boris Tsilevich, one of a half-dozen Russian-speaking members of Latvia's 100-seat parliament.
13) Commercials will appear on Russian-language television programs aired in Latvia and full-page ads in Russian-language newspapers and sent in the mail. The campaign is slated to run into early next year.
2002-02-20
Ex-Latvian central banker registers party, a favorite in upcoming
(APW_ENG_20020220.0420)
1) A new center-right, pro-business political party led by this Baltic state's former central bank chief was officially registered Wednesday, with a head start in opinion polls ahead of October parliamentary elections.
2) The party, called New Time, had appeared as a favorite in a survey even before it gained official status in this Western-oriented former Soviet republic of 2.4 million people.
3) Einars Repse, central bank chairman from the time Latvia broke with Moscow in 1991 until he resigned in December to form New Time, said he'll campaign for continued economic reforms and for tougher anti-corruption measures.
4) He strongly backs Latvia's drive to join NATO and the European Union.
5) New Time ranked first, with 16 percent support, in a January SKDS polling agency survey that asked 1,001 people who they would vote for in the Oct. 6 election. The center-right Latvia's Way, part of the governing coalition, came in second with 10.4 percent.
6) Latvia's fragmented, 100-seat Saeima legislature comprises 12 parties. A coalition including Latvia's Way, the centrist People's Party plus the right-wing Fatherland and Freedom Party make up the current government.
7) Repse, 39, has the reputation as a no-nonsense fiscal conservative. He guided Latvia through a series of difficult post-Soviet reforms, including the introduction of a new currency, the lat, to replace the Soviet ruble.
8) The central bank's former deputy head, Ilmars Rimsevics, replaced him as chairman.
2002-03-01
Latvian Waffen SS vets cancel march in deference to NATO drive By J. MICHAEL LYONS
(APW_ENG_20020301.0531)
1) Waffen SS veterans in Latvia have canceled a planned procession through the streets of this former Soviet republic's capital, saying they don't want to jeopardize Latvia's bid to join the NATO military alliance.
2) In recent years, some 300 men mostly in their 70s and 80s have marched through Riga on March 16, the date of a major battle in 1944, to remember 50,000 fallen comrades _ commemorations that angered Jewish groups in Latvia and abroad.
3) Latvia's 11,000-member Jewish community said the march from a church to an independence monument was an affront to the memory of 80,000 Latvian Jews killed during the 1941-44 Nazi occupation. Moscow also denounced the gatherings.
4) The Waffen SS veterans, some in wheelchairs, wearing combat fatigues and carrying flowers or canes, have claimed they were patriots fighting against Soviet invasion, or that they were forced to fight for the Waffen SS against their will.
5) The annual march to the monument was canceled last year because the obelisk structure had been under renovation, though the veterans' groups vowed at the time that they would march again this year.
6) While they insist the parades were never politically motivated, veterans said Friday they decided not to stage it this year because it could be misunderstood. Veterans still planned a service at a Riga church and cemetery.
7) ``We are not fascists, but we don't want the world to think NATO is admitting a country that accepts fascism,'' 77-year-old veteran Nikolajs Romanovskis, the event's chief organizer, said.
8) Foreign Minister Indulis Berzins met with the organizers several times to persuade them not to march.
9) Latvian leaders also have tried in earlier years to prevent the march but reportedly applied extra pressure this year because Latvia appears so close to its long-cherished goal of NATO membership.
10) ''(The march) would have been a public relations nightmare on the eve of joining NATO,'' human rights activist Nils Muiznieks said.
11) Latvia and the other Baltic states, Estonia and Lithuania, say they're hopeful about winning invitations to join the alliance during a NATO summit in Prague in November _ even though Russia opposes the entry of ex-Soviet republics.
12) Soviet forces occupied Latvia in 1940; Germany ruled from 1941-44, and the Soviets retook it in 1944. Latvia regained its independence as the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.
13) With Latvia sandwiched between the Nazi and Soviet armies, 250,000 Latvians ended up fighting on one side of the conflict or the other, usually after being conscripted. Some 150,000 Latvian combatants died.
2002-05-16
Russia praises Latvia for scrapping language requirement
(APW_ENG_20020516.0423)
1) Russia's Foreign Ministry on Thursday praised Latvia for amending an election language law that Moscow said discriminated against Russian speakers and that had threatened the Baltic nation's bid to join NATO.
2) Latvia's parliament, or Saeima, voted last week to amend the law, which required that candidates for elected office be able to speak Latvian. Top NATO officials have long said the law did not meet the alliance's democratic standards.
3) ``We view this as a first step by the Latvian authorities toward creating a more democratic character of Latvia's election legislation,'' the Russian ministry said in a statement.
4) ``All that remains is to hope that in deciding to cancel the language rule, the Saeima members were governed not by opportunist motives but by the intention to really bring about the integration of Latvian society.''
5) Some Latvians argued that the requirement helped entrench their native language after decades of Soviet rule, during which Russian was given preference by leaders in Moscow. The provision was adopted after Latvia regained independence in 1991, though Russian speakers make up more than a third of Latvia's 2.5 million people.
6) The law was widely viewed as the final obstacle for Latvia's membership in NATO and many legislators said they wanted to push the changes ahead of a meeting of foreign ministers from NATO member countries this week in Reykjavik, Iceland.
7) Russia has opposed the efforts of the ex-Soviet Baltic countries to join NATO.
2002-06-07
Russian parliament condemns Latvia for alleged anti-Russian
(APW_ENG_20020607.0713)
1) Russia's lower house of parliament on Friday condemned Latvia for subjecting its Russian-speaking minority to what it called ``discriminatory politics.''
2) In particular, the State Duma singled out an April amendment to Latvia's constitution passed by Latvia's parliament, or Saeima, that bars use of the Russian language by government agencies in their work.
3) Latvians have argued that they need to support their native language after decades of Soviet rule, during which Russian was given preference by leaders in Moscow. Russian speakers make up more than a third of Latvia's 2.5 million people.
4) Last month, Russia praised the Saeima's decision to amend an election law instituted in 1991, after Latvia gained independence from the Soviet Union, requiring candidates for elected office be able to speak Latvian.
5) The law was widely viewed as the final obstacle for Latvia's membership in NATO, which had condemned the election law.
2002-08-21
Latvia 2, Belarus 4
(APW_ENG_20020821.0444)
1) Result Wednesday in Latvia vs. Belarus friendly match:
2) Latvia 2, Belarus 4.
3) Halftime: 2-2.
4) (ml-sn)
Latvia 2, Belarus 4 in soccer friendly
(APW_ENG_20020821.0450)
1) Result Wednesday in Latvia vs. Belarus friendly match:
2) Latvia 2, Belarus 4.
3) Halftime: 2-2.
2002-10-04
Latvians vote for parliament to lead them into EU, NATO
(APW_ENG_20021004.0720)
1) Latvians begin voting Saturday to elect a new legislature that will guide this ex-Soviet republic into the European Union and NATO.
2) Buoyed by a relatively dynamic economy and the near achievement of several key foreign policy goals, this Baltic state of 2.5 million people is unlikely to stray far from its pro-West, pro-market-reform policies no matter who wins.
3) The current center-right coalition government is composed of three parties, two of which, the center-right Latvia's Way and the right-wing Fatherland and Freedom could lose several seats in the 100-seat Saeima parliament.
4) The third ruling party, the center-right People's Party, placed at the top of the latest opinion poll _ released Friday _ registering 14.7 percent support. The newly founded New Era was second, within the margin of error, with 13.8 percent.
5) The poll of 1,000 people on Oct. 2 and 3 by the Latvijas Fakti agency gave a margin of error of 2.8 percent; 14.2 percent of respondents were undecided.
6) Among 20 parties taking part in the election _ the eighth since Latvia regained independence during the 1991 Soviet collapse _ eight were expected to garner the minimum 5 percent of the vote required to secure seats in the legislative body.
7) No single party is expected to win a majority _ which is likely to lead to days or weeks of tough coalition talks before a government begins to take shape from what will almost certainly be a badly fragmented parliament.
8) Campaigning often focused on the personalities of party leaders. Ruling parties heralded their success in integrating Latvia with the West; opponents pointed to what they said was widespread corruption.
9) New Era, led by the popular former Central Bank head Einars Repse, has pledged to clean up the civil service and blasted the ruling parties over alleged corruption.
10) For Human Rights in a United Latvia has strong backing from the country's large Russian-speaking minority that has sometimes complained of discrimination. The left-wing party drew 12.9 percent support in the latest poll.
11) About 15 percent of Latvia's 1.4 million eligible voters belong to the Russian-speaking minority. Most are Russians who came to Latvia during 50 years of Soviet rule.
12) Latvia's Way, led by Prime Minister Andris Berzins and part of every government since independence, drew just 4.5 percent backing in the latest survey.
13) Latvia, which is about the size of Ireland, has bucked the global economic turndown, tallying a respectable 7.6 percent gross domestic product growth rate last year. It's also widely pegged to join the EU and NATO within the next year or two.
14) Still, Berzins and his party have floundered by trying to mix a conservative fiscal policy with a populist appeal to increase pensions and jobless benefits.
15) ``They have had trouble offering a coherent view of exactly what it is they stand for,'' Pauls Raudseps, a leading Latvian journalist, said.
16) All of the major parties favor Latvia's membership in the EU and NATO, though some left-leaning groups have complained that the country has devoted too much time and money to the effort _ saying social problems have been neglected.
17) A new parliament is elected every four years.
2002-10-05
Latvians vote for parliament to lead them into EU, NATO
(APW_ENG_20021005.0025)
1) Latvians began voting Saturday to elect a new legislature that will guide this ex-Soviet republic into the European Union and NATO.
2) Buoyed by a relatively dynamic economy and the near achievement of several key foreign policy goals, this Baltic state of 2.5 million people is unlikely to stray far from its pro-West, pro-market-reform policies no matter who wins.
3) The current center-right coalition government is composed of three parties, two of which, the center-right Latvia's Way and the right-wing Fatherland and Freedom could lose several seats in the 100-seat Saeima parliament.
4) The third ruling party, the center-right People's Party, placed at the top of the latest opinion poll _ released Friday _ registering 14.7 percent support. The newly founded New Era was second, within the margin of error, with 13.8 percent.
5) The poll of 1,000 people on Oct. 2 and 3 by the Latvijas Fakti agency gave a margin of error of 2.8 percent; 14.2 percent of respondents were undecided.
6) Among 20 parties taking part in the election _ the eighth since Latvia regained independence during the 1991 Soviet collapse _ eight were expected to garner the minimum 5 percent of the vote required to secure seats in the legislative body.
7) No single party is expected to win a majority _ which is likely to lead to days or weeks of tough coalition talks before a government begins to take shape from what will almost certainly be a badly fragmented parliament.
8) Campaigning often focused on the personalities of party leaders. Ruling parties heralded their success in integrating Latvia with the West; opponents pointed to what they said was widespread corruption.
9) New Era, led by the popular former Central Bank head Einars Repse, has pledged to clean up the civil service and blasted the ruling parties over alleged corruption.
10) ``I hope they can change something with the corruption in Latvia,'' said Agris Andjans, a 21-year-old government clerk in Riga who cast his ballot for New Era. ``It's not normal for such a small country to have so much corruption.''
11) For Human Rights in a United Latvia has strong backing from the country's large Russian-speaking minority that has sometimes complained of discrimination. The left-wing party drew 12.9 percent support in the latest poll.
12) About 15 percent of Latvia's 1.4 million eligible voters belong to the Russian-speaking minority. Most are Russians who came to Latvia during 50 years of Soviet rule.
13) Latvia's Way, led by Prime Minister Andris Berzins and part of every government since independence, drew just 4.5 percent backing in the latest survey.
14) Latvia, which is about the size of Ireland, has bucked the global economic turndown, tallying a respectable 7.6 percent gross domestic product growth rate last year. It's also widely pegged to join the EU and NATO within the next year or two.
15) Still, Berzins and his party have floundered by trying to mix a conservative fiscal policy with a populist appeal to increase pensions and jobless benefits.
16) ``They have had trouble offering a coherent view of exactly what it is they stand for,'' Pauls Raudseps, a leading Latvian journalist, said.
17) All of the major parties favor Latvia's membership in the EU and NATO, though some left-leaning groups have complained that the country has devoted too much time and money to the effort _ saying social problems have been neglected.
18) A new parliament is elected every four years.
19) (pvs-krg)
Latvians vote for parliament to lead them into EU, NATO
(APW_ENG_20021005.0029)
1) Latvians began voting Saturday to elect a new legislature that will guide this ex-Soviet republic into the European Union and NATO.
2) Buoyed by a relatively dynamic economy and the near achievement of several key foreign policy goals, this Baltic state of 2.5 million people is unlikely to stray far from its pro-West, pro-market-reform policies no matter who wins.
3) The current center-right coalition government is composed of three parties, two of which, the center-right Latvia's Way and the right-wing Fatherland and Freedom, could lose several seats in the 100-seat Saeima parliament.
4) The third ruling party, the center-right People's Party, placed at the top of an opinion poll released Friday, registering 14.7 percent support. The newly founded New Era was second with 13.8 percent.
5) The poll of 1,000 people on Oct. 2 and 3 by the Latvijas Fakti agency gave a margin of error of 2.8 percent; 14.2 percent of respondents were undecided.
6) Among 20 parties taking part in the election, the eighth since Latvia regained independence during the 1991 Soviet collapse, eight were expected to garner the minimum 5 percent of the vote required to secure seats in the legislative body.
7) No single party is expected to win a majority. Likely there will be days or weeks of talks on forming a coalition from what will almost certainly be a badly fragmented parliament.
8) Campaigning often focused on the personalities of party leaders. Ruling parties heralded their success in integrating Latvia with the West; opponents pointed to what they said was widespread corruption.
9) New Era, led by the popular former Central Bank head Einars Repse, has pledged to clean up the civil service and blasted the ruling parties over alleged corruption.
10) ``I hope they can change something with the corruption in Latvia,'' said Agris Andjans, a 21-year-old government clerk in Riga who cast his ballot for New Era. ``It's not normal for such a small country to have so much corruption.''
11) For Human Rights in a United Latvia has strong backing from the country's large Russian-speaking minority that has sometimes complained of discrimination. The left-wing party drew 12.9 percent support in the latest poll.
12) About 15 percent of Latvia's 1.4 million eligible voters belong to the Russian-speaking minority. Most are Russians who came to Latvia during 50 years of Soviet rule.
13) Latvia's Way, led by Prime Minister Andris Berzins and part of every government since independence, drew just 4.5 percent backing in the latest survey.
14) Latvia, which is about the size of Ireland, has bucked the global economic turndown, tallying a respectable 7.6 percent gross domestic product growth rate last year. It's also widely pegged to join the EU and NATO within the next year or two.
15) Still, Berzins and his party have floundered by trying to mix a conservative fiscal policy with a populist appeal to increase pensions and jobless benefits.
16) ``They have had trouble offering a coherent view of exactly what it is they stand for,'' said Pauls Raudseps, a leading Latvian journalist.
17) All of the major parties favor Latvia's membership in the EU and NATO, though some left-leaning groups have complained that the country has devoted too much time and money to the effort, neglecting social problems.
18) A new parliament is elected every four years.
Latvians vote for parliament to take them to NATO, EU; New Era appears to lead
(APW_ENG_20021005.0329)
1) Latvians voted Saturday to elect a legislature to lead this Western-oriented ex-Soviet republic into the European Union and NATO _ with exit polls pointing to a strong showing by the fledgling New Era party.
2) The center-right, pro-business group, which was founded 10 months ago by former Central Bank head Einars Repse, was predicted to receive 22.4 of the vote in a nationwide exit poll conducted by state-owned Latvian television, LTV.
3) The center-right People's Party, part of the outgoing government coalition, was second with 15.3 percent, followed by the left-wing For Human Rights in a United Latvia that has strong backing from the ethnic-Russian minority, which had 10.4 percent support.
4) The Baltic News Service released a separate poll also predicting New Era would win with 26.8 percent of the vote _ though BNS put For Human Rights in second place and People's third.
5) LTV surveyed 15,131 voters and BNS, 6,029. Neither gave a margin of error.
6) Election officials estimated that at least 70 percent of 1.4 million eligible ballots had cast ballots by the times polls closed.
7) Buoyed by a dynamic economy and on the verge of entering the 15-nation EU and NATO, this Baltic state of 2.5 million people was unlikely to stray far from its market-reform policies no matter who ends up forming a new government.
8) ``I would like to see the outcome of the election maintain the country's current path,'' Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga told reporters after voting just outside Riga, the capital. ``There is light at the end of the tunnel.''
9) The current center-right coalition government consists of three parties, two of which _ Latvia's Way and Fatherland and Freedom, looked set to lose several seats in the 100-seat Saeima. A new parliament is elected every four years.
10) The LTV exit poll indicated that Latvia's Way, led by Prime Minister Andris Berzins, was struggling to collect the minimum 5 percent of the vote required for seats in the legislative body.
11) No more than eight of 20 parties participating in the election were expected make it into parliament and none was expected to get a majority. There likely will be days or weeks of talks on forming a coalition from what will almost certainly be a fragmented parliament.
12) LTV reported that 22 percent of the vote for New Era would translate into 33 seats, 18 shy of a majority, a stronger showing than pre-election polls had predicted.
13) Campaigning often focused on the personalities of party leaders. Ruling parties heralded their success in integrating Latvia with the West while opponents pointed to what they said was widespread corruption.
14) New Era pledged to clean up the civil service and chastised the ruling parties over alleged corruption.
15) ``The government should do everything possible that to make sure transparency, honesty and professionalism prevails,'' Repse said as he voted Saturday morning.
16) Many seemed drawn to his brainy, Mr. Clean image.
17) ``I hope they can change something with the corruption in Latvia,'' said Agris Andjans, a 21-year-old government clerk in Riga who voted for New Era. ``It's not normal for such a small country to have so much corruption.''
18) Latvia ranked 52nd out of 102 in a corruption index drawn up by the Transparency International consultancy this year. It was tied with Sri Lanka, Morocco, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
19) The For Human Rights party is popular with the country's Russian-speaking minority that sometimes has complained of discrimination.
20) About 15 percent of Latvia's eligible voters belong to the Russian-speaking minority. Most are Russians who came to Latvia during 50 years of Soviet rule.
21) Latvia, which is about the size of Ireland, has bucked the global economic turndown, tallying a respectable 7.6 percent gross domestic product growth rate in 2001.
22) Still, Berzins and his party, which has been part of every government since Latvia regained independence during the 1991 Soviet collapse, have floundered by trying to mix a conservative fiscal policy with a populist campaign to increase pensions and jobless benefits.
23) All the major parties favor Latvia's membership in the EU and NATO, though some left-leaning groups have complained that the country has devoted too much time and money to that effort and not enough on tackling social problems.
24) Repse has expressed reservations about cooperating with the People's Party, saying it is at the heart of Latvia's corruption problems. And neither People's nor New Era are likely to work with the leftist, pro-Russia For Human Rights.
25) That could leave both New Era and the People's racing to court smaller parties to get the 51 seats needed to form a government.
26) (jml-mt-krg)
Latvians vote for parliament to take them to NATO, EU; New Era appears to lead
(APW_ENG_20021005.0356)
1) Latvians voted in parliamentary elections Saturday for a party to lead this ex-Soviet republic into the European Union and NATO _ with exit polls indicating a strong showing from the pro-business New Era party.
2) The party was founded 10 months ago by former Central Bank head Einars Repse and was projected to receive 22.4 of the vote in an exit poll conducted by state-owned Latvian television, LTV. New Era has pledged to clean up the civil service and reduce corruption.
3) The center-right People's Party, part of the governing coalition, was second with 15.3 percent, followed by the left-wing For Human Rights in a United Latvia that has strong backing from the ethnic-Russian minority, which had 10.4 percent support.
4) The Baltic News Service released a separate poll also predicting New Era would win with 26.8 percent of the vote _ though BNS put For Human Rights in second place and People's third.
5) LTV surveyed 15,131 voters and BNS, 6,029. Neither gave a margin of error.
6) Election officials estimated that at least 70 percent of eligible voters cast ballots.
7) Buoyed by a dynamic economy and on the verge of entering the 15-nation EU and NATO, this Baltic state of 2.5 million people was unlikely to stray far from its market-reform policies no matter who ends up forming a new government.
8) ``I would like to see the outcome of the election maintain the country's current path,'' Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga told reporters after voting just outside Riga, the capital. ``There is light at the end of the tunnel.''
9) The current center-right coalition consists of three parties, two of which _ Latvia's Way and Fatherland and Freedom _ looked set to lose several seats in the 100-seat Saeima. A new parliament is elected every four years.
10) The LTV exit poll indicated that Latvia's Way, led by Prime Minister Andris Berzins, was struggling to collect the minimum 5 percent of the vote required for seats in the legislative body.
11) No more than eight of 20 parties participating in the election were expected to make it into parliament and none was expected to get a majority.
12) There likely will be days or weeks of talks on forming a coalition from what will almost certainly be a fragmented parliament.
13) LTV reported that 22 percent of the vote for New Era would translate into 33 seats, 18 shy of a majority, a stronger showing than pre-election polls had predicted.
14) Campaigning often focused on the personalities of party leaders. Ruling parties heralded their success in integrating Latvia with the West while opponents pointed to what they said was widespread corruption.
15) The For Human Rights party is popular with the country's Russian-speaking minority that sometimes has complained of discrimination.
16) About 15 percent of Latvia's eligible voters belong to the Russian-speaking minority. Most to Latvia during 50 years of Soviet rule.
17) Latvia, which is about the size of Ireland, has bucked the global economic turndown, tallying a respectable 7.6 percent gross domestic product growth rate in 2001.
Recently founded New Era appears to trump ruling parties in Latvian election
(APW_ENG_20021005.0391)
1) The pro-business New Era party, founded just 10 months ago, appeared set to win more seats than any other party after Saturday's parliamentary election in this Western-oriented former Soviet Baltic republic.
2) With about 50 percent of the vote counted, the center-right party, capitalizing on growing concern about corruption in government, had 23.1 percent, according to Latvia's Central Election Commission early Sunday.
3) But with no single party emerging with a majority, New Era and the other parties faced days of difficult talks to hammer out a ruling coalition from a fragmented, 100-seat Saeima legislature.
4) The current center-right coalition government consisting of the Latvia's Way, Fatherland and Freedom and People's parties, looked set to lose several seats but would remain in a caretaker position.
5) New Era campaigners uncorked champagne bottles, cheered and hugged each other as the first results were announced on national television. Party leader, ex-Central Bank head Einars Repse, heralded the outcome.
6) ``I am pleased that so many voters saw what I saw in the current government and decided it was time for a change,'' Repse said.
7) The center-right People's Party, part of the outgoing government coalition, looked set to come in second, with 17.77 percent of the vote, early results showed.
8) For Human Rights in a United Latvia was in third, drawing about 16.15 percent of the votes counted. The left-wing party is popular with the country's Russian-speaking minority that sometimes has complained of discrimination.
9) New Era could now take the lead in trying to form a new government that would guide this Baltic Sea coastal nation of 2.5 million people into the European Union and NATO within the next year or two.
10) Repse, a 41-year-old bachelor, was a likely candidate to become the next prime minister.
11) About 15 percent of Latvia's 1.4 million eligible voters belong to the Russian-speaking minority. Most are Russians who came to Latvia during 50 years of Soviet rule.
12) Election officials said 73 percent of the electorate had cast ballots by the times polls closed.
13) Buoyed by a dynamic economy and on the verge of entering the 15-nation EU and NATO, this Baltic state of 2.5 million people was unlikely to stray far from its market-reform policies no matter who ends up forming a new government.
14) Latvia's Way, headed by current Prime Minister Andris Berzins, received just 5.04 percent of the vote, according to the results _ just above the 5 percent threshold required to enter parliament.
15) Latvia's Way, in every government since Latvia regained independence during the 1991 Soviet collapse, has floundered by trying to mix a conservative fiscal policy with a populist campaign to increase pensions and jobless benefits.
16) All the major parties favor Latvia's membership in the EU and NATO, though some left-leaning groups have complained that the country has devoted too much time and money to that effort and not enough on tackling social problems.
17) Repse has expressed reservations about cooperating with the People's Party, saying it is at the heart of Latvia's corruption problems. But he's even less likely to court the leftist, pro-Russia For Human Rights.
18) Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, a former Canadian citizen who is staunchly pro-West, plays a role in mediating coalition talks and she must nominate a new prime minister. She is seen as favoring center-right parties.
19) ``I would like to see the outcome of the election maintain the country's current path,'' she told reporters after voting outside Riga. ``There is light at the end of the tunnel.''
20) Latvia, which is about the size of Ireland, has bucked the global economic turndown, tallying a respectable 7.6 percent gross domestic product growth rate in 2001.
21) (jml-mt-krg)
Recently founded New Era appears to trump ruling parties in Latvian election
(APW_ENG_20021005.0397)
1) The pro-business New Era party, founded just 10 months ago, appeared set to win more seats than any other party after Saturday's parliamentary election in this Western-oriented former Soviet Baltic republic.
2) With about 50 percent of the vote counted, the center-right party, capitalizing on growing concern about corruption in government, had 23.1 percent, according to Latvia's Central Election Commission early Sunday.
3) But with no single party emerging with a majority, New Era and the other parties faced days of difficult talks to hammer out a ruling coalition from a fragmented, 100-seat Saeima legislature.
4) The current center-right coalition government consisting of the Latvia's Way, Fatherland and Freedom and People's parties, looked set to lose several seats but would remain in a caretaker position.
5) New Era campaigners uncorked champagne bottles, cheered and hugged each other as the first results were announced on national television. Party leader, ex-Central Bank head Einars Repse, heralded the outcome.
6) ``I am pleased that so many voters saw what I saw in the current government and decided it was time for a change,'' Repse said.
7) The center-right People's Party, part of the outgoing government coalition, looked set to come in second, with 17.77 percent of the vote, early results showed.
8) For Human Rights in a United Latvia was in third, drawing about 16.15 percent of the votes counted. The left-wing party is popular with the country's Russian-speaking minority that sometimes complains of discrimination.
9) New Era could now take the lead in trying to form a new government that would guide this Baltic Sea coastal nation of 2.5 million people into the European Union and NATO within the next year or two.
10) Repse, a 41-year-old bachelor, was a likely candidate to become the next prime minister.
11) About 15 percent of Latvia's 1.4 million eligible voters belong to the Russian-speaking minority. Most are Russians who came to Latvia during 50 years of Soviet rule.
12) Election officials said 73 percent of the electorate had cast ballots by the time polls closed.
13) Buoyed by a dynamic economy and on the verge of entering the 15-nation EU and NATO, the Baltic state was unlikely to stray far from its market-reform policies no matter who ends up forming a new government.
14) Latvia's Way, headed by current Prime Minister Andris Berzins, received just 5.04 percent of the vote, according to the results _ just above the 5 percent threshold required to enter parliament.
15) Latvia's Way, in every government since Latvia regained independence during the 1991 Soviet collapse, has floundered by trying to mix a conservative fiscal policy with a populist campaign to increase pensions and jobless benefits.
16) All the major parties favor Latvia's membership in the EU and NATO, though some left-leaning groups have complained that the country has devoted too much time and money to that effort and not enough on tackling social problems.
17) Repse has expressed reservations about cooperating with the People's Party, saying it is at the heart of Latvia's corruption problems. But he's even less likely to court the leftist, pro-Russia For Human Rights.
18) Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, a former Canadian citizen who is staunchly pro-West, plays a role in mediating coalition talks and she must nominate a new prime minister. She is seen as favoring center-right parties.
19) ``I would like to see the outcome of the election maintain the country's current path,'' she told reporters after voting outside Riga. ``There is light at the end of the tunnel.''
20) Latvia, which is about the size of Ireland, has bucked the global economic turndown, tallying a respectable 7.6 percent gross domestic product growth rate in 2001.
Recently founded New Era appears to trump ruling parties in Latvian election
(APW_ENG_20021005.0454)
1) The pro-business New Era party, founded just 10 months ago, appeared set to win more seats than any other party in Saturday's parliamentary election in this Western-oriented former Soviet Baltic republic.
2) With about 96 percent of the vote counted, the center-right party, capitalizing on growing concern about corruption in government, had 23.50 percent, according to results from Latvia's Central Election Commission.
3) But with no single party emerging with a majority, New Era and the other parties faced days or weeks of difficult talks to hammer out a ruling coalition from a fragmented, 100-seat Saeima legislature.
4) The current center-right coalition government consisting of the Latvia's Way, Fatherland and Freedom and People's parties lost several seats but will remain in a caretaker position.
5) New Era campaigners uncorked champagne bottles, cheered and hugged each other as the first results were announced on national television. Party leader, ex-Central Bank head Einars Repse, heralded the outcome.
6) ``I am pleased that so many voters saw what I saw in the current government and decided it was time for a change,'' Repse said.
7) For Human Rights in a United Latvia surged late in the vote counting to finish second, drawing 18.81 percent. The left-wing party is popular with the country's Russian-speaking minority that sometimes has complained of discrimination.
8) About 15 percent of Latvia's 1.4 million eligible voters belong to the Russian-speaking minority. Most are Russians who came to Latvia during 50 years of Soviet rule.
9) The center-right People's Party, part of the outgoing government coalition, looked set to come in third, with 16.66 percent of the vote.
10) New Era could now take the lead in trying to form a new government that would guide this Baltic Sea coastal nation of 2.5 million people into the European Union and NATO within the next year or two.
11) Repse, a 41-year-old bachelor, was a likely candidate to become the next prime minister.
12) Election officials said 73 percent of the electorate had cast ballots by the times polls closed.
13) Buoyed by a dynamic economy and on the verge of entering the 15-nation EU and NATO, Latvia was unlikely to stray far from its market-reform policies no matter who ends up forming a new government.
14) Latvia's Way, headed by current Prime Minister Andris Berzins, received just 4.83 percent of the vote, according to the results _ under the 5 percent threshold required to enter parliament.
15) The party, in every government since Latvia regained independence during the 1991 Soviet collapse, has floundered by trying to mix a conservative fiscal policy with a populist campaign to increase pensions and jobless benefits.
16) All the major parties favor Latvia's membership in the EU and NATO, though some left-leaning groups have complained that the country has devoted too much time and money to that effort and not enough on tackling social problems.
17) Repse has expressed reservations about cooperating with the People's Party, saying it is at the heart of Latvia's corruption problems. But he's even less likely to court the leftist, pro-Russia For Human Rights.
18) Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, a former Canadian citizen, plays a role in mediating coalition talks and must nominate a new prime minister. She is seen as favoring center-right parties.
19) ``I would like to see the outcome of the election maintain the country's current path,'' she told reporters after voting outside Riga. ``There is light at the end of the tunnel.''
20) Latvia, which is about the size of Ireland, has bucked the global economic turndown, tallying a respectable 7.6 percent gross domestic product growth rate in 2001.
21) (jml-mt-krg)
Recently founded New Era appears to trump ruling parties in Latvian election
(APW_ENG_20021005.0455)
1) The pro-business New Era party, founded just 10 months ago, appeared set to win more seats than any other party in Saturday's parliamentary election in this Western-oriented former Soviet Baltic republic.
2) With about 96 percent of the vote counted, the center-right party, capitalizing on growing concern about corruption in government, had 23.50 percent, according to results from Latvia's Central Election Commission.
3) But with no single party emerging with a majority, New Era and the other parties faced days or weeks of difficult talks to hammer out a ruling coalition from a fragmented, 100-seat Saeima legislature.
4) The current center-right coalition government consisting of the Latvia's Way, Fatherland and Freedom and People's parties lost several seats but will remain in a caretaker position.
5) New Era campaigners uncorked champagne bottles, cheered and hugged each other as the first results were announced on national television. Party leader, ex-Central Bank head Einars Repse, heralded the outcome.
6) ``I am pleased that so many voters saw what I saw in the current government and decided it was time for a change,'' Repse said.
7) For Human Rights in a United Latvia surged late in the vote counting to finish second, drawing 18.81 percent. The left-wing party is popular with the country's Russian-speaking minority that sometimes has complained of discrimination.
8) About 15 percent of Latvia's 1.4 million eligible voters belong to the Russian-speaking minority. Most are Russians who came to Latvia during 50 years of Soviet rule.
9) The center-right People's Party, part of the outgoing government coalition, looked set to come in third, with 16.66 percent of the vote.
10) New Era could now take the lead in trying to form a new government that would guide this Baltic Sea coastal nation of 2.5 million people into the European Union and NATO within the next year or two.
11) Repse, a 41-year-old bachelor, was a likely candidate to become the next prime minister.
12) Election officials said 73 percent of the electorate had cast ballots by the times polls closed.
13) Buoyed by a dynamic economy and on the verge of entering the 15-nation EU and NATO, Latvia was unlikely to stray far from its market-reform policies no matter who ends up forming a new government.
14) Latvia's Way, headed by current Prime Minister Andris Berzins, received just 4.83 percent of the vote, according to the results _ under the 5 percent threshold required to enter parliament.
15) The party, in every government since Latvia regained independence during the 1991 Soviet collapse, has floundered by trying to mix a conservative fiscal policy with a populist campaign to increase pensions and jobless benefits.
16) All the major parties favor Latvia's membership in the EU and NATO, though some left-leaning groups have complained that the country has devoted too much time and money to that effort and not enough on tackling social problems.
17) Repse has expressed reservations about cooperating with the People's Party, saying it is at the heart of Latvia's corruption problems. But he's even less likely to court the leftist, pro-Russia For Human Rights.
18) Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, a former Canadian citizen, plays a role in mediating coalition talks and must nominate a new prime minister. She is seen as favoring center-right parties.
19) ``I would like to see the outcome of the election maintain the country's current path,'' she told reporters after voting outside Riga. ``There is light at the end of the tunnel.''
20) Latvia, which is about the size of Ireland, has bucked the global economic turndown, tallying a respectable 7.6 percent gross domestic product growth rate in 2001.
21) (jml-mt-krg)
Recently founded New Era appears to trump ruling parties in Latvian election
(APW_ENG_20021005.0459)
1) The pro-business New Era party, founded just 10 months ago, appeared set to win more seats than any other party in the parliamentary election in this Western-oriented former Soviet Baltic republic.
2) With about 96 percent of the vote counted from Saturday's election, the center-right party, capitalizing on growing concern about corruption in government, had 23.50 percent, according to results from Latvia's Central Election Commission.
3) But with no single party emerging with a majority, New Era and the other parties faced days or weeks of difficult talks to hammer out a ruling coalition from a fragmented, 100-seat Saeima legislature.
4) The current center-right coalition government of the Latvia's Way, Fatherland and Freedom and People's parties lost several seats but will remain in a caretaker position.
5) New Era campaigners uncorked champagne bottles, cheered and hugged each other as the first results were announced on national television. Party leader, ex-Central Bank head Einars Repse, heralded the outcome.
6) ``I am pleased that so many voters saw what I saw in the current government and decided it was time for a change,'' Repse said.
7) For Human Rights in a United Latvia surged late in the vote counting to finish second, drawing 18.81 percent. The left-wing party is popular with the country's Russian-speaking minority that sometimes has complained of discrimination.
8) About 15 percent of Latvia's 1.4 million eligible voters belong to the Russian-speaking minority. Most are Russians who came to Latvia during 50 years of Soviet rule.
9) The center-right People's Party, part of the outgoing government coalition, looked set to come in third, with 16.66 percent of the vote.
10) New Era could now take the lead in trying to form a new government that would guide this Baltic Sea coastal nation of 2.5 million people into the European Union and NATO within the next year or two.
11) Repse, a 41-year-old bachelor, was a likely candidate to become the next prime minister.
12) Election officials said 73 percent of the electorate had cast ballots by the time polls closed.
13) Buoyed by a dynamic economy and on the verge of entering the 15-nation EU and NATO, Latvia was unlikely to stray far from its market-reform policies no matter who ends up forming a new government.
14) Latvia's Way, headed by current Prime Minister Andris Berzins, received just 4.83 percent of the vote, according to the results _ under the 5 percent threshold required to enter parliament.
15) The party, in every government since Latvia regained independence during the 1991 Soviet collapse, has floundered by trying to mix a conservative fiscal policy with a populist campaign to increase pensions and jobless benefits.
16) All the major parties favor Latvia's membership in the EU and NATO, though some left-leaning groups have complained that the country has devoted too much time and money to that effort and not enough on tackling social problems.
17) Repse has expressed reservations about cooperating with the People's Party, saying it is at the heart of Latvia's corruption problems. But he's even less likely to court the leftist, pro-Russia For Human Rights.
18) Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, a former Canadian citizen, plays a role in mediating coalition talks and must nominate a new prime minister. She is seen as favoring center-right parties.
19) ``I would like to see the outcome of the election maintain the country's current path,'' she told reporters after voting outside Riga. ``There is light at the end of the tunnel.''
20) Latvia, which is about the size of Ireland, has bucked the global economic turndown, tallying a respectable 7.6 percent gross domestic product growth rate in 2001.
2003-06-19
After leading Latvia into NATO, EU, Vike-Freiberga set to win re-election Friday
(APW_ENG_20030619.0351)
1) RIGA, Latvia _ Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga is expected to win easy re-election to a second term as president of the pro-West ex-Soviet republic she helped guide into NATO and the European Union.
2) Latvia's 100-seat Saeima, or parliament, will decide Friday whether the 65-year-old serves another four years. But given her popularity among all of the country's political parties, analysts have called the vote a formality.
3) In Latvia, a Baltic state of 2.4 million, the public doesn't elect the president and the office isn't involved in the day-to-day running of the government.
4) Initially a political novice, Vike-Freiberga has drawn comparisons to former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher for her tough, no-nonsense air, and for her shock of thick, red hair. She was picked as a dark horse candidate in 1999 _ a year after she returned to the country from Canada, where her family settled after fleeing Latvia in 1945 when she was seven.
5) The former psychology professor has also garnered U.S. admiration for throwing the small country's unequivocal support behind the U.S.-led war in Iraq, along with other eastern European countries.
6) ``Vike-Freiberga is one of the few leaders in the world _ and there are under 10 _ that if she called, President Bush would pick up the phone,'' said Bruce Jackson, who has worked closely with the White House as head of Washington's conservative Project on Transitional Democracies.
7) When she first ran, some drew comparisons to the legend that prophesied Latvia would prosper when a woman led the country. In a sense, the mythology seems to be correct. When she took office, the country had negative gross domestic product growth. Since then, it's gained, topping 6 percent in 2002.
8) Today, her popularity abroad is easily matched at home, where many credit her for effectively lobbying other countries to approve Latvia's bid to join NATO and the EU. Latvia has already been invited to join both as a full member next year.
9) Others have seen her as a relentlessly rational, steady voice in a country with powerful business and political cliques. When the EU and NATO criticized some laws as discriminating against the nation's Russian minority, she pushed for them to be amended _ and they were.
10) She seems particularly popular among Latvia's youth, who see their president as a symbol of the West, which they are eager to embrace.
11) ``Vaira rocks,'' said 23-year-old Ieva Tuna.
12) But critics have accused her of being too cozy with the United States.
13) ``We need to maintain good relations of course,'' said Atis Lejins, head of Latvia's Institute for International Affairs. ``But we don't need to become more American than the Americans.''
14) But such criticism does not appear to have stuck, with opinion polls showing her approval ratings as high as 80 percent _ far higher than for any other Latvian leader.
15) With her mission of guiding Latvia toward the West accomplished, the next challenge may lie in reconciling it with the East and neighboring Russia. Latvia gained its independence amid the 1991 Soviet collapse.
16) Since then, Russia has been critical of the treatment of Latvia's large Russian-speaking minority _ a third of the country's population, and Latvia's pro-West tack.
17) Vike-Freiberga made 85 official trips during her four-year term, dozens more than her predecessor, and has entertained scores of world leaders at her official residence, a 14th century castle in the capital, Riga.
18) But she has met Russian President Vladimir Putin just once _ last week in St. Petersburg.
19) ``We do not have as intensive a dialogue with Russia as we do with just about everybody else,'' Vike-Freiberga said.
20) (jml-mt-mpm)
After leading Latvia into NATO, EU, Vike-Freiberga set to win re-election Friday
(APW_ENG_20030619.0356)
1) Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga is expected to win easy re-election to a second term as president of the pro-West ex-Soviet republic she helped guide into NATO and the European Union.
2) Latvia's 100-seat Saeima, or parliament, will decide Friday whether the 65-year-old serves another four years. But given her popularity among all of the country's political parties, analysts have called the vote a formality.
3) In Latvia, a Baltic state of 2.4 million, the public doesn't elect the president and the office isn't involved in the day-to-day running of the government.
4) Initially a political novice, Vike-Freiberga has drawn comparisons to former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher for her tough, no-nonsense air, and for her shock of thick, red hair. She was picked as a dark horse candidate in 1999 _ a year after she returned to the country from Canada, where her family settled after fleeing Latvia in 1945 when she was seven.
5) The former psychology professor has also garnered U.S. admiration for throwing the small country's unequivocal support behind the U.S.-led war in Iraq, along with other eastern European countries.
6) ``Vike-Freiberga is one of the few leaders in the world _ and there are under 10 _ that if she called, President Bush would pick up the phone,'' said Bruce Jackson, who has worked closely with the White House as head of Washington's conservative Project on Transitional Democracies.
7) When she first ran, some drew comparisons to the legend that prophesied Latvia would prosper when a woman led the country. In a sense, the mythology seems to be correct. When she took office, the country had negative gross domestic product growth. Since then, it's gained, topping 6 percent in 2002.
8) Today, her popularity abroad is easily matched at home, where many credit her for effectively lobbying other countries to approve Latvia's bid to join NATO and the EU. Latvia has already been invited to join both as a full member next year.
9) Others have seen her as a relentlessly rational, steady voice in a country with powerful business and political cliques. When the EU and NATO criticized some laws as discriminating against the nation's Russian minority, she pushed for them to be amended _ and they were.
10) She seems particularly popular among Latvia's youth, who see their president as a symbol of the West, which they are eager to embrace.
11) ``Vaira rocks,'' said 23-year-old Ieva Tuna.
12) But critics have accused her of being too cozy with the United States.
13) ``We need to maintain good relations of course,'' said Atis Lejins, head of Latvia's Institute for International Affairs. ``But we don't need to become more American than the Americans.''
14) But such criticism does not appear to have stuck, with opinion polls showing her approval ratings as high as 80 percent _ far higher than for any other Latvian leader.
15) With her mission of guiding Latvia toward the West accomplished, the next challenge may lie in reconciling it with the East and neighboring Russia. Latvia gained its independence amid the 1991 Soviet collapse.
16) Since then, Russia has been critical of the treatment of Latvia's large Russian-speaking minority _ a third of the country's population, and Latvia's pro-West tack.
17) Vike-Freiberga made 85 official trips during her four-year term, dozens more than her predecessor, and has entertained scores of world leaders at her official residence, a 14th century castle in the capital, Riga.
18) But she has met Russian President Vladimir Putin just once _ last week in St. Petersburg.
19) ``We do not have as intensive a dialogue with Russia as we do with just about everybody else,'' Vike-Freiberga said.
20) (jml-mt-mpm)
After leading Latvia into NATO, EU, Vike-Freiberga set to win re-election Friday
(APW_ENG_20030619.0368)
1) Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga is expected to win easy re-election to a second term as president of the pro-West ex-Soviet republic she helped guide into NATO and the European Union.
2) Latvia's 100-seat Saeima, or parliament, will decide Friday whether the 65-year-old serves another four years. But given her popularity among all of the country's political parties, analysts have called the vote a formality.
3) In Latvia, a Baltic state of 2.4 million, the public doesn't elect the president and the office isn't involved in the day-to-day running of the government.
4) Vike-Freiberga has drawn comparisons to former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher for her tough, no-nonsense air, and for her shock of thick, red hair. She was picked as a dark horse candidate in 1999 _ a year after she returned to the country from Canada, where her family settled after fleeing Latvia in 1945 when she was seven.
5) The former psychology professor has also garnered U.S. admiration for throwing the small country's unequivocal support behind the U.S.-led war in Iraq, along with other eastern European countries.
6) ``Vike-Freiberga is one of the few leaders in the world _ and there are under 10 _ that if she called, President Bush would pick up the phone,'' said Bruce Jackson, who has worked closely with the White House as head of Washington's conservative Project on Transitional Democracies.
7) When she first ran, some drew comparisons to the legend that prophesied Latvia would prosper when a woman led the country. In a sense, the mythology seems to be correct. When she took office, the country had negative gross domestic product growth. Since then, it's gained, topping 6 percent in 2002.
8) Today, her popularity abroad is easily matched at home, where many credit her for effectively lobbying other countries to approve Latvia's bid to join NATO and the EU. Latvia has already been invited to join both as a full member next year.
9) Others have seen her as a relentlessly rational, steady voice in a country with powerful business and political cliques. When the EU and NATO criticized some laws as discriminating against the nation's Russian minority, she pushed for them to be amended _ and they were.
10) She seems particularly popular among Latvia's youth, who see their president as a symbol of the West, which they are eager to embrace.
11) ``Vaira rocks,'' said 23-year-old Ieva Tuna.
12) But critics have accused her of being too cozy with the United States.
13) ``We need to maintain good relations of course,'' said Atis Lejins, head of Latvia's Institute for International Affairs. ``But we don't need to become more American than the Americans.''
14) But such criticism does not appear to have stuck, with opinion polls showing her approval ratings as high as 80 percent _ far higher than for any other Latvian leader.
15) With her mission of guiding Latvia toward the West accomplished, the next challenge may lie in reconciling it with the East and neighboring Russia. Latvia gained its independence amid the 1991 Soviet collapse.
16) Since then, Russia has been critical of the treatment of Latvia's large Russian-speaking minority _ a third of the country's population, and Latvia's pro-West tack.
17) Vike-Freiberga made 85 official trips during her four-year term, dozens more than her predecessor, and has entertained scores of world leaders at her official residence, a 14th century castle in the capital, Riga.
18) But she has met Russian President Vladimir Putin just once _ last week in St. Petersburg.
19) ``We do not have as intensive a dialogue with Russia as we do with just about everybody else,'' Vike-Freiberga said.
2003-09-18
Latvia to vote on EU membership _ the last candidate to hold referendum
(APW_ENG_20030918.0048)
1) Latvians are expected to make their country the last of 10 candidates to approve membership in the European Union Saturday, but unlike its Baltic neighbors, the margin of victory is expected to be narrow.
2) Voters in the ex-Soviet republic of 2.4 million people are likely to approve membership, but not by the strong margins neighboring Estonia and Lithuania did, observers sau.
3) Along with Estonia, Latvia has been pegged as one of the most skeptical candidates for EU-membership. Most Latvian opinion polls show voters in favor of membership _ with between 55 and 65 percent of those questioned saying they would vote yes.
4) More than 50 percent of voters who cast ballots in the last parliamentary election must vote in order for the results to stand _ 497,000 Latvians. There are 1.4 million eligible voters and more than enough are expected to cast ballots.
5) Latvia's government and the business community strongly back EU entry, touting it as a way to ensure the political and economic stability in this Baltic Sea state, which regained independence from Moscow barely a decade ago amid the 1991 Soviet collapse.
6) ``(EU entry) means reintegrating into the family of European nations from which Latvia had been cut off by the Iron Curtain and by the Soviet occupation,'' President Vaira Vike-Freiberga told The Associated Press in an interview in the capital, Riga.
7) Other leaders said the specter of a no vote is a possibility that cannot be considered.
8) ``I even don't like to think about it,'' Defense Minister Girts Kristovskis said Tuesday in Finland when asked about the consequences if Latvians reject membership. ``Such a vote can bring instability and pessimism for those people who really want to develop our state and region.''
9) Proponents argue that entry will give Latvia access to lucrative EU markets and that EU development aid will boost living standards. They also say accession will help deflect any future economic or political pressure from Russia.
10) Latvia is also slated to join the NATO next year.
11) That, combined with being part of the EU, could give the country the upper hand _ for the first time in its history _ in dealing with Russia, said Atis Lejins, head of the Latvian Institute for International Affairs.
12) Russia ``will have to realize they've lost us forever,'' Lejins said. ``We will be part of the bigger EU-Russia relations and, since the EU is bigger and more powerful, it is a different story all of a sudden.''
13) Latvians say they also hope EU membership will help smooth another irritant with Russia: the status of native Russian speakers, who make up more than a third of Latvia's population.
14) Russia has complained repeatedly that Latvian Russians are mistreated, noting that many are denied Latvian citizenship because they cannot pass the government-mandated Latvian language tests.
15) Latvia has accused the Kremlin of using the issue of language to bully the former Soviet state.
16) Vike-Freiberga said EU membership would give Latvia's ethnic Russians an incentive to learn Latvian well enough to qualify for citizenship.
17) ``I think they will have a wake-up call when they realize that the Latvians, with their Latvian passports, are able to travel to Brussels to London to Paris and to Stockholm and if they don't have a Latvian passport they have to get the visa,'' she said.
18) An EU spokeswoman in Latvia, Inese Svetina, later clarified that non-citizens in Latvia should have the same rights as Latvian citizens to travel freely in the borderless EU after a directive comes into law in two years.
19) An array of groups opposed to the EU have been largely underfunded and have struggled to make their case.
20) Opponents say Latvia is in danger of trading one heavy-handed, over-centralized union _ the Soviet Union _ for another one _ the European Union. Others say the push to join the EU is driven by wealthy, politically powerful Latvians who stand to benefit.
21) ``One thing I know for sure is that all the benefits and the profits will go into the pockets of our Latvian officials,'' said Anna Vihlanceva, a university student in Riga.
22) Still others fear tiny Latvia will have no say in European affairs and that any influx of immigrants would weaken Latvian culture.
23) Freiberga said she was less concerned that voters would be swayed by such arguments than she was that some would say ``no'' from dissatisfaction with the government or other grievances unrelated to the EU.
24) Freiberga said she hoped those who might be undecided ``will think seriously about the future, and not just their own, but that of their children and grandchildren _ and about the isolation that they will be dooming their country to if they didn't say 'yes'.''
2003-09-20
Latvians begin voting on EU entry _ the last candidate to hold referendum
(APW_ENG_20030920.0023)
1) Latvians began voting Saturday in the last referendum of the 10 candidate countries seeking membership in the European Union, seeking to cement the country's ties to the west after years of occupation.
2) Voters in the ex-Soviet republic of 2.4 million people are likely to approve membership, but not by the decisive margins neighboring Estonia and Lithuania did, observers say.
3) Along with Estonia, Latvia has been pegged as one of the most skeptical candidates for EU-membership. Most Latvian opinion polls show voters in favor of membership _ with between 55 and 65 percent of those questioned saying they would vote yes.
4) ``My husband and I voted yes for our grandchildren,'' Mudite Kremere, a Riga doctor, said when leaving a polling station shortly after voting started. ``Latvia is a small country. We're not like Norway, which has oil, so we need to be in the European Union.''
5) More than 50 percent of voters who cast ballots in the last parliamentary election must vote in order for the results to stand _ 497,000 Latvians. There are 1.4 million eligible voters and more than enough are expected to cast ballots.
6) Latvia's government and the business community strongly back EU entry, touting it as a way to ensure the political and economic stability in this Baltic Sea state, which regained independence from Moscow barely a decade ago amid the 1991 Soviet collapse.
7) But critics contend membership will lead to higher prices and unsettled change for the country's residents.
8) ``The Latvian president and politicians are asking Latvians to accept higher prices and unemployment,'' said Normunds Grostins, director of a local think tank. ``I think what we'll see today is most small businessmen coming here will vote no.''
9) The pre-referendum campaign has been low-key, with few visible advertisements on streets across the country. On the eve of the vote, some activists handed out balloons emblazoned with blue EU flags in parks around Riga, Latvia's capital.
10) ``(EU entry) means reintegrating into the family of European nations from which Latvia had been cut off by the Iron Curtain and by the Soviet occupation,'' President Vaira Vike-Freiberga told The Associated Press in an interview in Riga.
11) Other leaders said they didn't even dare entertain the specter of a no vote.
12) ``Such a vote can bring instability and pessimism for those people who really want to develop our state and region,'' Defense Minister Girts Kristovskis said Tuesday in Finland when asked about the consequences if Latvians reject membership.
13) Proponents argue that entry will give Latvia access to lucrative EU markets and that EU development aid will boost living standards. They also say accession will help deflect any future economic or political pressure from Russia.
14) Latvia is also slated to join the NATO next year.
15) That, combined with being part of the EU, could give the country the upper hand _ for the first time in its history _ in dealing with Russia, said Atis Lejins, head of the Latvian Institute for International Affairs.
16) Russia ``will have to realize they've lost us forever,'' Lejins said. ``We will be part of the bigger EU-Russia relations and, since the EU is bigger and more powerful, it is a different story all of a sudden.''
17) Latvians say they also hope EU membership will help smooth another irritant with Russia: the status of native Russian speakers, who make up more than a third of Latvia's population.
18) Russia has complained repeatedly that Latvian Russians are mistreated, noting that many are denied Latvian citizenship because they cannot pass the government-mandated Latvian language tests.
19) Latvia has accused the Kremlin of using the language issue to bully the former Soviet state.
20) Vike-Freiberga said EU membership would give Latvia's ethnic Russians an incentive to learn Latvian well enough to qualify for citizenship.
21) ``I think they will have a wake-up call when they realize that the Latvians, with their Latvian passports, are able to travel to Brussels to London to Paris and to Stockholm and if they don't have a Latvian passport they have to get the visa,'' she said.
22) An EU spokeswoman in Latvia, Inese Svetina, later clarified that non-citizens in Latvia should have the same rights as Latvian citizens to travel freely in the borderless EU after a directive comes into law in two years.
23) An array of groups opposed to the EU have been largely underfunded and have struggled to make their case. Posters glued to a street-side board in one Riga neighborhood depicted an EU flag crossed out with a red X, and a slogan underneath that read, ``Don't be naive, vote against.''
24) Opponents say Latvia is in danger of trading one heavy-handed, over-centralized union _ the Soviet Union _ for another one _ the European Union. Others say the push to join the EU is driven by wealthy, politically powerful Latvians who stand to benefit.
25) ``One thing I know for sure is that all the benefits and the profits will go into the pockets of our Latvian officials,'' said Anna Vihlanceva, a university student in Riga.
26) Still others fear tiny Latvia will have no say in European affairs and that any influx of immigrants would weaken Latvian culture.
27) Freiberga said she was less concerned that voters would be swayed by such arguments than she was that some would say ``no'' from dissatisfaction with the government or other grievances unrelated to the EU.
28) Freiberga said she hoped those who might be undecided ``will think seriously about the future, and not just their own, but that of their children and grandchildren _ and about the isolation that they will be dooming their country to if they didn't say 'yes.'''
29) (tj-mpm)
Latvians begin voting on EU entry _ the last candidate to hold referendum
(APW_ENG_20030920.0030)
1) Latvians began voting Saturday in the last referendum of the 10 candidate countries seeking membership in the European Union, seeking to cement the country's ties to the west after years of occupation.
2) Voters in the ex-Soviet republic of 2.4 million people are likely to approve membership, but not by the decisive margins neighboring Estonia and Lithuania did, observers say.
3) Along with Estonia, Latvia has been pegged as one of the most skeptical candidates for EU-membership. Most Latvian opinion polls show voters in favor of membership _ with between 55 and 65 percent of those questioned saying they would vote yes.
4) ``My husband and I voted yes for our grandchildren,'' said Mudite Kremere, a Riga doctor, leaving a polling station shortly after polls opened. ``Latvia is a small country. We're not like Norway, which has oil, so we need to be in the European Union.''
5) More than 50 percent of voters who cast ballots in the last parliamentary election must vote in order for the results to stand _ 497,000 Latvians. There are 1.4 million eligible voters and more than enough are expected to cast ballots.
6) Latvia's government and the business community strongly back EU entry, touting it as a way to ensure the political and economic stability in this Baltic Sea state, which regained independence from Moscow barely a decade ago amid the 1991 Soviet collapse.
7) But critics contend membership will lead to higher prices and unsettled change for the country's residents.
8) ``The Latvian president and politicians are asking Latvians to accept higher prices and unemployment,'' said Normunds Grostins, director of a Latvian think tank. ``I think what we'll see today is most small businessmen coming here will vote no.''
9) The pre-referendum campaign has been low-key, with few visible advertisements on streets across the country. On the eve of the vote, some activists handed out balloons emblazoned with blue EU flags in parks around Riga, Latvia's capital.
10) ``(EU entry) means reintegrating into the family of European nations from which Latvia had been cut off by the Iron Curtain and by the Soviet occupation,'' President Vaira Vike-Freiberga told The Associated Press in an interview.
11) Other leaders said they didn't even dare entertain the possibility of Latvians rejecting the EU.
12) ``Such a vote can bring instability and pessimism for those people who really want to develop our state and region,'' Defense Minister Girts Kristovskis said Tuesday in Finland when asked about the consequences of rejecting membership.
13) Proponents argue that entry will give Latvia access to lucrative EU markets and that EU development aid will boost living standards. They also say accession will help deflect any future economic or political pressure from Russia.
14) Latvia is also slated to join NATO next year.
15) That, combined with being part of the EU, could give the country the upper hand _ for the first time in its history _ in dealing with Russia, said Atis Lejins, head of the Latvian Institute for International Affairs.
16) Russia ``will have to realize they've lost us forever,'' Lejins said. ``We will be part of the bigger EU-Russia relations and, since the EU is bigger and more powerful, it is a different story all of a sudden.''
17) Latvians say they also hope EU membership will help smooth another irritant with Russia: the status of native Russian speakers, who make up more than a third of Latvia's population.
18) Russia has complained repeatedly that Latvian Russians are mistreated, noting that many are denied Latvian citizenship because they cannot pass the government-mandated Latvian language tests.
19) Latvia has accused the Kremlin of using the language issue to bully the former Soviet state.
20) Vike-Freiberga said EU membership would give Latvia's ethnic Russians an incentive to learn Latvian well enough to qualify for citizenship.
21) ``I think they will have a wake-up call when they realize that the Latvians, with their Latvian passports, are able to travel to Brussels to London to Paris and to Stockholm and if they don't have a Latvian passport they have to get the visa,'' she said.
22) An EU spokeswoman in Latvia, Inese Svetina, later clarified that non-citizens in Latvia should have the same rights as Latvian citizens to travel freely in the borderless EU after a directive comes into law in two years.
23) An array of groups opposed to the EU have been largely underfunded and have struggled to make their case. Posters glued to a street-side board in one Riga neighborhood depicted an EU flag crossed out with a red X, and a slogan underneath that read, ``Don't be naive, vote against.''
24) Opponents say Latvia is in danger of trading one heavy-handed, over-centralized union _ the Soviet Union _ for another one _ the European Union. Others say the push to join the EU is driven by wealthy, politically powerful Latvians who stand to benefit.
25) ``One thing I know for sure is that all the benefits and the profits will go into the pockets of our Latvian officials,'' said Anna Vihlanceva, a university student in Riga.
26) Still others fear tiny Latvia will have no say in European affairs and that any influx of immigrants would weaken Latvian culture.
27) Freiberga said she was less concerned that voters would be swayed by such arguments than she was that some would say ``no'' from dissatisfaction with the government or other grievances unrelated to the EU.
28) Freiberga said she hoped those who might be undecided ``will think seriously about the future, and not just their own, but that of their children and grandchildren _ and about the isolation that they will be dooming their country to if they didn't say 'yes.'''
URGENT Latvians vote in favor joining European Union, exit polls show
(APW_ENG_20030920.0373)
1) Latvians voted Saturday to join the European Union, exit polling by state television and Baltic News Service showed.
2) In exit polling of 1,000 voters, 69 percent said they voted in favor of joining the 15-member bloc, while 31 percent said they voted no.
3) Preliminary figures released by the country's Central Election Commission were expected by 11:30 p.m. (2130 GMT).
4) By the time voting ended at 10 p.m. (2000 GMT), more than 68 percent of the country's 1.4 million eligible voters had cast ballots, the commission said.
5) More than 50 percent of voters who cast ballots in the last parliamentary election _ 497,000 people _ had to participate for the results to stand. There are 1.4 million eligible voters and more than enough are expected to cast ballots.
6) Eriks Jekabsons, a member of parliament, said he was certain government tallies would have the same result.
7) ``It means that Latvia is going to return to the place where it used to be before throughout Latvian history,'' he said. ``Latvia is not only going to join Europe as an equal member but can come with a contribution to Europe.''
8) The referendum was the last held by the 10 candidate countries seeking EU membership. Proponents called it a decision to cement the former Soviet republic's ties to the West.
9) Along with Estonia, Latvia was pegged as one of the most skeptical candidates for EU membership, but opinion polls in the final run-up to Saturday's vote showed between 55 and 65 percent of those questioned saying they would vote yes.
10) Estonia approved its EU referendum last week by a two-to-one margin.
11) Polling was brisk during the day, thanks in part to sunny weather.
12) Most voters were optimistic the issue would be approved, but acknowledged the country would not reap the benefits of membership overnight.
13) ``You cannot go to bed in Latvia and wake up in the European Union with all its benefits,'' said Aleksandrs Butorovics. ``I don't think the older generation will fully enjoy all the good things brought about by the membership, but the younger generation will certainly enjoy the benefits.''
14) The yes vote is expected to be a boost for the EU, embarrassed by Sweden's decision last week to reject the euro.
15) To date, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Estonia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovenia and Slovakia have voted through referendums to join the European Union. Of the 10 candidates, only Cyprus has decided not to hold a vote on membership and will leave it up to legislators.
16) All are expected to formally join in May, expanding the bloc to 25 countries.
17) Latvia's government and the business community strongly backed EU entry, touting it as a way to ensure the political and economic stability of the Baltic Sea state, which regained independence from Moscow barely a decade ago amid the 1991 Soviet collapse.
18) But critics contended membership will result in higher prices and uncertainty for the country's residents, warning that the country would be accountable to another faraway capital, Brussels, as it was under Soviet rule to Moscow.
19) The pre-referendum campaign was low-key, with few visible advertisements on streets across the country. On the eve of the vote, some activists handed out balloons emblazoned with blue EU flags in parks around Riga, Latvia's capital.
20) Proponents argued that entry will give Latvia access to lucrative EU markets and that EU development aid will boost living standards. They also said accession would help deflect any future economic or political pressure from Russia.
21) Latvia is also slated to join NATO next year.
22) That, combined with being part of the EU, is expected to give the country the upper hand _ for the first time in its history _ in dealing with Russia, said Atis Lejins, head of the Latvian Institute for International Affairs.
23) Russia ``will have to realize they've lost us forever,'' Lejins said. ``We will be part of the bigger EU-Russia relations and, since the EU is bigger and more powerful, it is a different story all of a sudden.''
24) An array of groups opposed to the EU struggled to make their case. Posters glued to a street-side board in one Riga neighborhood depicted an EU flag crossed out with a red X, and a slogan underneath that read, ``Don't be naive, vote against.''
25) (tj-mpm)
URGENT Latvians vote in favor joining European Union, exit polls show
(APW_ENG_20030920.0378)
1) Latvians voted Saturday to join the European Union, exit polling by state television and Baltic News Service showed.
2) In exit polling of 1,000 voters, 69 percent said they voted in favor of joining the 15-member bloc, while 31 percent said they voted no.
3) Preliminary figures released by the country's Central Election Commission were expected by 11:30 p.m. (2130 GMT).
4) By the time voting ended at 10 p.m. (2000 GMT), more than 68 percent of the country's 1.4 million eligible voters had cast ballots, the commission said.
5) More than 50 percent of voters who cast ballots in the last parliamentary election _ 497,000 people _ had to participate for the results to stand. There are 1.4 million eligible voters and more than enough were believed to have cast ballots.
6) Eriks Jekabsons, a member of parliament, said he was certain government tallies would have the same result.
7) ``It means that Latvia is going to return to the place where it used to be before throughout Latvian history,'' he said. ``Latvia is not only going to join Europe as an equal member but can come with a contribution to Europe.''
8) The referendum was the last held by the 10 candidate countries seeking EU membership. Proponents called it a decision to cement the former Soviet republic's ties to the West.
9) Along with Estonia, Latvia was pegged as one of the most skeptical candidates for EU membership, but opinion polls in the final run-up to Saturday's vote showed between 55 and 65 percent of those questioned saying they would vote yes.
10) Estonia approved its EU referendum last week by a two-to-one margin.
11) Polling was brisk during the day, thanks in part to sunny weather.
12) Most voters were optimistic the issue would be approved, but acknowledged the country would not reap the benefits of membership overnight.
13) ``You cannot go to bed in Latvia and wake up in the European Union with all its benefits,'' said Aleksandrs Butorovics. ``I don't think the older generation will fully enjoy all the good things brought about by the membership, but the younger generation will certainly enjoy the benefits.''
14) The yes vote is expected to be a boost for the EU, embarrassed by Sweden's decision last week to reject the euro.
15) To date, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Estonia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovenia and Slovakia have voted through referendums to join the European Union. Of the 10 candidates, only Cyprus has decided not to hold a vote on membership and will leave it up to legislators.
16) All are expected to formally join in May, expanding the bloc to 25 countries.
17) Latvia's government and the business community strongly backed EU entry, touting it as a way to ensure the political and economic stability of the Baltic Sea state, which regained independence from Moscow barely a decade ago amid the 1991 Soviet collapse.
18) But critics contended membership will result in higher prices and uncertainty for the country's residents, warning that the country would be accountable to another faraway capital, Brussels, as it was under Soviet rule to Moscow.
19) The pre-referendum campaign was low-key, with few visible advertisements on streets across the country. On the eve of the vote, some activists handed out balloons emblazoned with blue EU flags in parks around Riga, Latvia's capital.
20) Proponents argued that entry will give Latvia access to lucrative EU markets and that EU development aid will boost living standards. They also said accession would help deflect any future economic or political pressure from Russia.
21) Latvia is also slated to join NATO next year.
22) That, combined with being part of the EU, is expected to give the country the upper hand _ for the first time in its history _ in dealing with Russia, said Atis Lejins, head of the Latvian Institute for International Affairs.
23) Russia ``will have to realize they've lost us forever,'' Lejins said. ``We will be part of the bigger EU-Russia relations and, since the EU is bigger and more powerful, it is a different story all of a sudden.''
24) An array of groups opposed to the EU struggled to make their case. Posters glued to a street-side board in one Riga neighborhood depicted an EU flag crossed out with a red X, and a slogan underneath that read, ``Don't be naive, vote against.''
Latvians vote in favor joining European Union, exit polls show
(APW_ENG_20030920.0379)
1) Latvians voted Saturday to join the European Union, exit polling by state television and Baltic News Service showed.
2) In exit polling of 1,000 voters, 69 percent said they voted in favor of joining the 15-member bloc, while 31 percent said they voted no.
3) Preliminary figures released by the country's Central Election Commission were expected by 11:30 p.m. (1930 GMT).
4) By the time voting ended at 10 p.m. (2000 GMT), more than 68 percent of the country's 1.4 million eligible voters had cast ballots, the commission said.
5) More than 50 percent of voters who cast ballots in the last parliamentary election _ 497,000 people _ had to participate for the results to stand. There are 1.4 million eligible voters and more than enough are expected to cast ballots.
6) Eriks Jekabsons, a member of parliament, said he was certain government tallies would have the same result.
7) ``It means that Latvia is going to return to the place where it used to be before throughout Latvian history,'' he said. ``Latvia is not only going to join Europe as an equal member but can come with a contribution to Europe.''
8) The referendum was the last held by the 10 candidate countries seeking EU membership. Proponents called it a decision to cement the former Soviet republic's ties to the West.
9) Along with Estonia, Latvia was pegged as one of the most skeptical candidates for EU membership, but opinion polls in the final run-up to Saturday's vote showed between 55 and 65 percent of those questioned saying they would vote yes.
10) Estonia approved its EU referendum last week by a two-to-one margin.
11) Polling was brisk during the day, thanks in part to sunny weather.
12) Most voters were optimistic the issue would be approved, but acknowledged the country would not reap the benefits of membership overnight.
13) ``You cannot go to bed in Latvia and wake up in the European Union with all its benefits,'' said Aleksandrs Butorovics. ``I don't think the older generation will fully enjoy all the good things brought about by the membership, but the younger generation will certainly enjoy the benefits.''
14) The yes vote is expected to be a boost for the EU, embarrassed by Sweden's decision last week to reject the euro.
15) To date, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Estonia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovenia and Slovakia have voted through referendums to join the European Union. Of the 10 candidates, only Cyprus has decided not to hold a vote on membership and will leave it up to legislators.
16) All are expected to formally join in May, expanding the bloc to 25 countries.
17) Latvia's government and the business community strongly backed EU entry, touting it as a way to ensure the political and economic stability of the Baltic Sea state, which regained independence from Moscow barely a decade ago amid the 1991 Soviet collapse.
18) But critics contended membership will result in higher prices and uncertainty for the country's residents, warning that the country would be accountable to another faraway capital, Brussels, as it was under Soviet rule to Moscow.
19) The pre-referendum campaign was low-key, with few visible advertisements on streets across the country. On the eve of the vote, some activists handed out balloons emblazoned with blue EU flags in parks around Riga, Latvia's capital.
20) Proponents argued that entry will give Latvia access to lucrative EU markets and that EU development aid will boost living standards. They also said accession would help deflect any future economic or political pressure from Russia.
21) Latvia is also slated to join NATO next year.
22) That, combined with being part of the EU, is expected to give the country the upper hand _ for the first time in its history _ in dealing with Russia, said Atis Lejins, head of the Latvian Institute for International Affairs.
23) Russia ``will have to realize they've lost us forever,'' Lejins said. ``We will be part of the bigger EU-Russia relations and, since the EU is bigger and more powerful, it is a different story all of a sudden.''
24) An array of groups opposed to the EU struggled to make their case. Posters glued to a street-side board in one Riga neighborhood depicted an EU flag crossed out with a red X, and a slogan underneath that read, ``Don't be naive, vote against.''
25) (tj-mpm)
URGENT Latvians vote in favor joining European Union, exit polls show
(APW_ENG_20030920.0384)
1) Latvians voted Saturday to join the European Union, exit polling by state television and Baltic News Service showed.
2) In exit polling of 1,000 voters, 69 percent said they voted in favor of joining the 15-member bloc, while 31 percent said they voted no.
3) Preliminary figures released by the country's Central Election Commission were expected by 11:30 p.m. (1930 GMT).
4) By the time voting ended at 10 p.m. (2000 GMT), more than 68 percent of the country's 1.4 million eligible voters had cast ballots, the commission said.
5) More than 50 percent of voters who cast ballots in the last parliamentary election _ 497,000 people _ had to participate for the results to stand. There are 1.4 million eligible voters and more than enough were believed to have cast ballots.
6) Eriks Jekabsons, a member of parliament, said he was certain government tallies would have the same result.
7) ``It means that Latvia is going to return to the place where it used to be before throughout Latvian history,'' he said. ``Latvia is not only going to join Europe as an equal member but can come with a contribution to Europe.''
8) The referendum was the last held by the 10 candidate countries seeking EU membership. Proponents called it a decision to cement the former Soviet republic's ties to the West.
9) Along with Estonia, Latvia was pegged as one of the most skeptical candidates for EU membership, but opinion polls in the final run-up to Saturday's vote showed between 55 and 65 percent of those questioned saying they would vote yes.
10) Estonia approved its EU referendum last week by a two-to-one margin.
11) Polling was brisk during the day, thanks in part to sunny weather.
12) Most voters were optimistic the issue would be approved, but acknowledged the country would not reap the benefits of membership overnight.
13) ``You cannot go to bed in Latvia and wake up in the European Union with all its benefits,'' said Aleksandrs Butorovics. ``I don't think the older generation will fully enjoy all the good things brought about by the membership, but the younger generation will certainly enjoy the benefits.''
14) The yes vote is expected to be a boost for the EU, embarrassed by Sweden's decision last week to reject the euro.
15) To date, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Estonia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovenia and Slovakia have voted through referendums to join the European Union. Of the 10 candidates, only Cyprus has decided not to hold a vote on membership and will leave it up to legislators.
16) All are expected to formally join in May, expanding the bloc to 25 countries.
17) Latvia's government and the business community strongly backed EU entry, touting it as a way to ensure the political and economic stability of the Baltic Sea state, which regained independence from Moscow barely a decade ago amid the 1991 Soviet collapse.
18) But critics contended membership will result in higher prices and uncertainty for the country's residents, warning that the country would be accountable to another faraway capital, Brussels, as it was under Soviet rule to Moscow.
19) The pre-referendum campaign was low-key, with few visible advertisements on streets across the country. On the eve of the vote, some activists handed out balloons emblazoned with blue EU flags in parks around Riga, Latvia's capital.
20) Proponents argued that entry will give Latvia access to lucrative EU markets and that EU development aid will boost living standards. They also said accession would help deflect any future economic or political pressure from Russia.
21) Latvia is also slated to join NATO next year.
22) That, combined with being part of the EU, is expected to give the country the upper hand _ for the first time in its history _ in dealing with Russia, said Atis Lejins, head of the Latvian Institute for International Affairs.
23) Russia ``will have to realize they've lost us forever,'' Lejins said. ``We will be part of the bigger EU-Russia relations and, since the EU is bigger and more powerful, it is a different story all of a sudden.''
24) An array of groups opposed to the EU struggled to make their case. Posters glued to a street-side board in one Riga neighborhood depicted an EU flag crossed out with a red X, and a slogan underneath that read, ``Don't be naive, vote against.''
Latvians vote in favor joining European Union, exit polls show
(APW_ENG_20030920.0393)
1) Latvians voted Saturday to join the European Union, exit polling by state television and Baltic News Service showed.
2) In exit polling of 1,000 voters, 69 percent said they voted in favor of joining the 15-member bloc, while 31 percent said they voted no.
3) Preliminary figures released by the country's Central Election Commission were expected by 11:30 p.m. (2030 GMT).
4) By the time voting ended at 10 p.m. (1900 GMT), more than 70 percent of the country's 1.4 million eligible voters had cast ballots, the commission said.
5) More than 50 percent of voters who cast ballots in the last parliamentary election _ 497,000 people _ had to participate for the results to stand. There are 1.4 million eligible voters and more than enough cast ballots.
6) Eriks Jekabsons, a member of parliament, said he was certain government tallies would have the same result.
7) ``It means that Latvia is going to return to the place where it used to be before throughout Latvian history,'' he said. ``Latvia is not only going to join Europe as an equal member but can come with a contribution to Europe.''
8) The referendum was the last held by the 10 candidate countries seeking EU membership. Proponents called it a decision to cement the former Soviet republic's ties to the West.
9) Along with Estonia, Latvia was pegged as one of the most skeptical candidates for EU membership, but opinion polls in the final run-up to Saturday's vote showed between 55 and 65 percent of those questioned saying they would vote yes.
10) Estonia approved its EU referendum last week by a two-to-one margin.
11) Polling was brisk during the day, thanks in part to sunny weather.
12) Most voters were optimistic the issue would be approved, but acknowledged the country would not reap the benefits of membership overnight.
13) ``You cannot go to bed in Latvia and wake up in the European Union with all its benefits,'' said Aleksandrs Butorovics. ``I don't think the older generation will fully enjoy all the good things brought about by the membership, but the younger generation will certainly enjoy the benefits.''
14) The yes vote is expected to be a boost for the EU, embarrassed by Sweden's decision last week to reject the euro.
15) To date, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Estonia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovenia and Slovakia have voted through referendums to join the European Union. Of the 10 candidates, only Cyprus has decided not to hold a vote on membership and will leave it up to legislators.
16) All are expected to formally join in May, expanding the bloc to 25 countries.
17) Latvia's government and the business community strongly backed EU entry, touting it as a way to ensure the political and economic stability of the Baltic Sea state, which regained independence from Moscow barely a decade ago amid the 1991 Soviet collapse.
18) But critics contended membership will result in higher prices and uncertainty for the country's residents, warning that the country would be accountable to another faraway capital, Brussels, as it was under Soviet rule to Moscow.
19) The pre-referendum campaign was low-key, with few visible advertisements on streets across the country. On the eve of the vote, some activists handed out balloons emblazoned with blue EU flags in parks around Riga, Latvia's capital.
20) Proponents argued that entry will give Latvia access to lucrative EU markets and that EU development aid will boost living standards. They also said accession would help deflect any future economic or political pressure from Russia.
21) Latvia is also slated to join NATO next year.
22) That, combined with being part of the EU, is expected to give the country the upper hand _ for the first time in its history _ in dealing with Russia, said Atis Lejins, head of the Latvian Institute for International Affairs.
23) Russia ``will have to realize they've lost us forever,'' Lejins said. ``We will be part of the bigger EU-Russia relations and, since the EU is bigger and more powerful, it is a different story all of a sudden.''
24) An array of groups opposed to the EU struggled to make their case. Posters glued to a street-side board in one Riga neighborhood depicted an EU flag crossed out with a red X, and a slogan underneath that read, ``Don't be naive, vote against.''
25) (tj-mpm)
Latvians vote in favor joining European Union, exit polls show
(APW_ENG_20030920.0395)
1) Latvians voted Saturday to join the European Union, exit polling by state television and Baltic News Service showed.
2) In exit polling of 1,000 voters, 69 percent said they voted in favor of joining the 15-member bloc, while 31 percent said they voted no.
3) Preliminary figures released by the country's Central Election Commission were expected by 11:30 p.m. (2030 GMT).
4) By the time voting ended at 10 p.m. (1900 GMT), more than 70 percent of the country's 1.4 million eligible voters had cast ballots, the commission said.
5) More than 50 percent of voters who cast ballots in the last parliamentary election _ 497,000 people _ had to participate for the results to stand. There are 1.4 million eligible voters and more than enough were believed to have cast ballots.
6) Eriks Jekabsons, a member of parliament, said he was certain government tallies would have the same result.
7) ``It means that Latvia is going to return to the place where it used to be before throughout Latvian history,'' he said. ``Latvia is not only going to join Europe as an equal member but can come with a contribution to Europe.''
8) The referendum was the last held by the 10 candidate countries seeking EU membership. Proponents called it a decision to cement the former Soviet republic's ties to the West.
9) Along with Estonia, Latvia was pegged as one of the most skeptical candidates for EU membership, but opinion polls in the final run-up to Saturday's vote showed between 55 and 65 percent of those questioned saying they would vote yes.
10) Estonia approved its EU referendum last week by a two-to-one margin.
11) Polling was brisk during the day, thanks in part to sunny weather.
12) Most voters were optimistic the issue would be approved, but acknowledged the country would not reap the benefits of membership overnight.
13) ``You cannot go to bed in Latvia and wake up in the European Union with all its benefits,'' said Aleksandrs Butorovics. ``I don't think the older generation will fully enjoy all the good things brought about by the membership, but the younger generation will certainly enjoy the benefits.''
14) The yes vote is expected to be a boost for the EU, embarrassed by Sweden's decision last week to reject the euro.
15) To date, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Estonia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovenia and Slovakia have voted through referendums to join the European Union. Of the 10 candidates, only Cyprus has decided not to hold a vote on membership and will leave it up to legislators.
16) All are expected to formally join in May, expanding the bloc to 25 countries.
17) Latvia's government and the business community strongly backed EU entry, touting it as a way to ensure the political and economic stability of the Baltic Sea state, which regained independence from Moscow barely a decade ago amid the 1991 Soviet collapse.
18) But critics contended membership will result in higher prices and uncertainty for the country's residents, warning that the country would be accountable to another faraway capital, Brussels, as it was under Soviet rule to Moscow.
19) The pre-referendum campaign was low-key, with few visible advertisements on streets across the country. On the eve of the vote, some activists handed out balloons emblazoned with blue EU flags in parks around Riga, Latvia's capital.
20) Proponents argued that entry will give Latvia access to lucrative EU markets and that EU development aid will boost living standards. They also said accession would help deflect any future economic or political pressure from Russia.
21) Latvia is also slated to join NATO next year.
22) That, combined with being part of the EU, is expected to give the country the upper hand _ for the first time in its history _ in dealing with Russia, said Atis Lejins, head of the Latvian Institute for International Affairs.
23) Russia ``will have to realize they've lost us forever,'' Lejins said. ``We will be part of the bigger EU-Russia relations and, since the EU is bigger and more powerful, it is a different story all of a sudden.''
24) An array of groups opposed to the EU struggled to make their case. Posters glued to a street-side board in one Riga neighborhood depicted an EU flag crossed out with a red X, and a slogan underneath that read, ``Don't be naive, vote against.''
As Latvians vote yes to the EU, their government goes into crisis
(APW_ENG_20030920.0421)
1) Latvians voted Saturday to join the European Union, exit polling showed, as the government was thrown into crisis when one party exited the ruling coalition.
2) In exit polling of 1,000 voters by state broadcaster LTV and Baltic News Service, 69 percent said they voted in favor of joining the 15-member bloc, while 31 percent said they voted no.
3) Preliminary figures released by the country's Central Election Commission were expected by 11:30 p.m. (2030 GMT).
4) By the time voting ended at 10 p.m. (1900 GMT), more than 70 percent of the country's 1.4 million eligible voters had cast ballots, the commission said.
5) More than 50 percent of voters who cast ballots in the last parliamentary election _ 497,000 people _ had to participate for the results to stand. There are 1.4 million eligible voters and more than enough were believed to have cast ballots.
6) Amid the apparent success of the referendum, a government crisis arose, with one party in the center-right ruling coalition, Latvia's First, saying it planned to quit the coalition.
7) The four coalition parties had apparently agreed not to withdraw before the referendum, which they supported, fearing it could hamper efforts to convince residents to vote yes.
8) Guntars Krasts, from one of the ruling parties, Fatherland and Freedom, confirmed that the government was effectively pulled apart.
9) ``Latvia's First pulled out because of the prime minister (Einars Repse), and they are opposed to his management style,'' he said.
10) Repse, the country's former Central Bank president, is seen as a financial whiz _ but has also been criticized as heavy-handed and uncommunicative.
11) His government came to power after elections in late 2002. Repse's party, called New Era, was the single biggest winner in that election.
12) The referendum was the last held by the 10 candidate countries seeking EU membership. Proponents called it a decision to cement the former Soviet republic's ties to the West.
13) Along with Estonia, Latvia was pegged as one of the most skeptical candidates for EU membership, but opinion polls in the final run-up to Saturday's vote showed between 55 and 65 percent of those questioned saying they would vote yes.
14) Estonia approved its EU referendum last week by a two-to-one margin.
15) Polling was brisk during the day, thanks in part to sunny weather.
16) Most voters were optimistic the issue would be approved, but acknowledged the country would not reap the benefits of membership overnight.
17) ``You cannot go to bed in Latvia and wake up in the European Union with all its benefits,'' said Aleksandrs Butorovics. ``I don't think the older generation will fully enjoy all the good things brought about by the membership, but the younger generation will certainly enjoy the benefits.''
18) The yes vote is expected to be a boost for the EU, embarrassed by Sweden's decision last week to reject the euro.
19) To date, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Estonia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovenia and Slovakia have voted through referendums to join the European Union. Of the 10 candidates, only Cyprus has decided not to hold a vote on membership and will leave it up to legislators.
20) All are expected to formally join in May, expanding the bloc to 25 countries.
21) Latvia's government and the business community strongly backed EU entry, touting it as a way to ensure the political and economic stability of the Baltic Sea state, which regained independence from Moscow barely a decade ago amid the 1991 Soviet collapse.
22) But critics contended membership will result in higher prices and uncertainty for the country's residents, warning that the country would be accountable to another faraway capital, Brussels, as it was under Soviet rule to Moscow.
23) The pre-referendum campaign was low-key, with few visible advertisements on streets across the country. On the eve of the vote, some activists handed out balloons emblazoned with blue EU flags in parks around Riga, Latvia's capital.
24) Proponents argued that entry will give Latvia access to lucrative EU markets and that EU development aid will boost living standards. They also said accession would help deflect any future economic or political pressure from Russia.
25) Latvia is also slated to join NATO next year.
26) That, combined with being part of the EU, is expected to give the country the upper hand _ for the first time in its history _ in dealing with Russia, said Atis Lejins, head of the Latvian Institute for International Affairs.
27) Russia ``will have to realize they've lost us forever,'' Lejins said. ``We will be part of the bigger EU-Russia relations and, since the EU is bigger and more powerful, it is a different story all of a sudden.''
28) An array of groups opposed to the EU struggled to make their case. Posters glued to a street-side board in one Riga neighborhood depicted an EU flag crossed out with a red X, and a slogan underneath that read, ``Don't be naive, vote against.''
Jubilant Latvians look to EU membership as government faces turmoil
(APW_ENG_20030920.0507)
1) Latvians voted decisively to join the European Union, calling the decision just as important as when they declared independence in the 1990s, but the celebration was marred by crisis when one party bolted the ruling coalition.
2) A beaming, elated Prime Minister Einars Repse congratulated some 2,000 cheering young people at an old town square in Riga Sunday _ waving and donning a blue EU T-shirt.
3) ``Latvians understand this is a decisive moment!'' he said early Sunday on a stage below a banner reading ``Welcome Europe!''
4) ``You people will have a big role to play in the EU. Take advantage of it.''
5) With more than 80 percent of the country's 1,006 polling districts reporting, 69.5 percent voted in favor, while 29.8 percent voted no, the Central Election Commission reported.
6) More than 70 percent of the country's 1.4 million eligible voters cast ballots.
7) Amid the success of the referendum, a government crisis arose, with one party in the center-right ruling coalition, Latvia's First, saying it planned to quit the coalition unless Repse resigned.
8) The four coalition parties had apparently agreed not to withdraw before the referendum, which they supported, fearing it could hamper efforts to convince residents to vote yes.
9) The move won't affect the country's EU accession
10) Guntars Krasts, from one of the ruling parties, Fatherland and Freedom, confirmed that the government was effectively pulled apart.
11) ``Latvia's First pulled out because of the prime minister, and they are opposed to his management style,'' he said.
12) Repse came to power after elections in late 2002 after his New Era party emerged the top vote getter in the election.
13) Repse appeared to suggest he was willing to continue with just three parties.
14) ``I believe we might as well work in a minority government,'' he told Latvian news agency LETA.
15) The referendum was the last held by the 10 candidate countries seeking EU membership. Proponents called it a decision to cement the former Soviet republic's ties to the West.
16) ``In the last hundred years, we've had no generation that hasn't faced turmoil. The EU generation will be the first,'' said former prime minister Andris Berzins.
17) Along with Estonia, Latvia was pegged as one of the most skeptical candidates for EU membership, but the decisive vote countered analysts' worries.
18) ``I'm really, really happy,'' said Inguna Karnupa, a 24-year-old student, clutching three small EU flags. ``EU membership will make Latvia a better place to live.''
19) Estonia approved its EU referendum last week by a two-to-one margin.
20) The yes vote is expected to be a boost for the EU, embarrassed by Sweden's decision last week to reject the euro.
21) In a first reaction, the EU head office cheered the Latvian outcome as a homecoming for a country that came under Soviet domination in 1940 and stayed there for 50 years.
22) ``We welcome Latvia home to Europe,'' said EU spokesman Jean-Christophe Filori.
23) To date, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Estonia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovenia and Slovakia have voted through referendums to join the European Union. Of the 10 candidates, only Cyprus has decided not to hold a vote on membership and will leave it up to legislators.
24) All are expected to formally join in May, expanding the bloc to 25 countries.
25) Latvia's government and the business community strongly backed EU entry, touting it as a way to ensure the political and economic stability of the Baltic Sea state, which regained independence from Moscow barely a decade ago amid the 1991 Soviet collapse.
26) But critics contended membership will result in higher prices and uncertainty for the country's residents, warning that the country would be accountable to another faraway capital, Brussels, as it was under Soviet rule to Moscow.
27) Latvia is also slated to join NATO next year.
28) That, combined with being part of the EU, is expected to give the country the upper hand _ for the first time in its history _ in dealing with Russia, said Atis Lejins, head of the Latvian Institute for International Affairs.
29) Russia ``will have to realize they've lost us forever,'' Lejins said. ``We will be part of the bigger EU-Russia relations and, since the EU is bigger and more powerful, it is a different story all of a sudden.'' _ _ _
30) Associated Press reporter Michael Tarm in Riga, Latvia, contributed to this report.
2003-09-21
Jubilant Latvians look to EU membership as government faces turmoil
(APW_ENG_20030921.0102)
1) Latvians voted decisively to join the European Union, calling the decision just as important as when they declared independence in the 1990s, but the celebration was marred by crisis when one party bolted the ruling coalition.
2) A beaming, elated Prime Minister Einars Repse congratulated some 2,000 cheering young people at an old town square in Riga Sunday _ waving and donning a blue EU T-shirt.
3) ``Latvians understand this is a decisive moment!'' he said early Sunday on a stage below a banner reading ``Welcome Europe!''
4) ``You people will have a big role to play in the EU. Take advantage of it.''
5) With all of the country's 1,006 polling districts reporting, 67 percent voted in favor, while 32.3 percent voted no, the Central Election Commission reported.
6) More than 70 percent of the country's 1.4 million eligible voters cast ballots.
7) Amid the success of the referendum, a government crisis arose, with one party in the center-right ruling coalition, Latvia's First, saying it planned to quit the coalition unless Repse resigned.
8) The four coalition parties had apparently agreed not to withdraw before the referendum, which they supported, fearing it could hamper efforts to convince residents to vote yes.
9) The move won't affect the country's EU accession
10) Guntars Krasts, from one of the ruling parties, Fatherland and Freedom, confirmed that the government was effectively pulled apart.
11) ``Latvia's First pulled out because of the prime minister, and they are opposed to his management style,'' he said.
12) Repse came to power after elections in late 2002 after his New Era party emerged the top vote getter in the election.
13) Repse appeared to suggest he was willing to continue with just three parties.
14) ``I believe we might as well work in a minority government,'' he told Latvian news agency LETA.
15) The referendum was the last held by the 10 candidate countries seeking EU membership. Proponents called it a decision to cement the former Soviet republic's ties to the West.
16) ``In the last hundred years, we've had no generation that hasn't faced turmoil. The EU generation will be the first,'' said former prime minister Andris Berzins.
17) Along with Estonia, Latvia was pegged as one of the most skeptical candidates for EU membership, but the decisive vote countered analysts' worries.
18) ``I'm really, really happy,'' said Inguna Karnupa, a 24-year-old student, clutching three small EU flags. ``EU membership will make Latvia a better place to live.''
19) Estonia approved its EU referendum last week by a two-to-one margin.
20) The yes vote is expected to be a boost for the EU, embarrassed by Sweden's decision last week to reject the euro.
21) In a first reaction, the EU head office cheered the Latvian outcome as a homecoming for a country that came under Soviet domination in 1940 and stayed there for 50 years.
22) ``We welcome Latvia home to Europe,'' said EU spokesman Jean-Christophe Filori.
23) To date, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Estonia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovenia and Slovakia have voted through referendums to join the European Union. Of the 10 candidates, only Cyprus has decided not to hold a vote on membership and will leave it up to legislators.
24) All are expected to formally join in May, expanding the bloc to 25 countries.
25) Latvia's government and the business community strongly backed EU entry, touting it as a way to ensure the political and economic stability of the Baltic Sea state, which regained independence from Moscow barely a decade ago amid the 1991 Soviet collapse.
26) But critics contended membership will result in higher prices and uncertainty for the country's residents, warning that the country would be accountable to another faraway capital, Brussels, as it was under Soviet rule to Moscow.
27) Latvia is also slated to join NATO next year.
28) That, combined with being part of the EU, is expected to give the country the upper hand _ for the first time in its history _ in dealing with Russia, said Atis Lejins, head of the Latvian Institute for International Affairs.
29) Russia ``will have to realize they've lost us forever,'' Lejins said. ``We will be part of the bigger EU-Russia relations and, since the EU is bigger and more powerful, it is a different story all of a sudden.'' _ _ _
30) Associated Press reporter Michael Tarm in Riga, Latvia, contributed to this report.
31) (mpm)
Latvians jubilant over EU membership vote _ wary of threatening government crisis
(APW_ENG_20030921.0138)
1) Latvians on Sunday celebrated the country's yes to European Union membership, comparing it to the elation they felt 12 years ago when they managed to restore their independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
2) But many also prepared to nurse headaches caused not only by drinking celebratory champagne, but by a looming crisis in the country's fragmented, four-party government.
3) ``Latvia returns to Europe,'' read the banner headline splashed across a special Sunday edition of the nation's largest daily paper, Diena.
4) A clearly elated Prime Minister Einars Repse congratulated some 2,000 cheering young people at an old town square in Riga in the early morning hours Sunday _ donning a blue EU T-shirt.
5) ``Latvians understand this is a decisive moment!'' the beaming government leader said.
6) ``I congratulate everyone with making a successful and correct decision,'' Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga added in a televised address.
7) With all the ballots counted, 67 percent voted in favor, while some 32 percent voted no, the Central Election Commission reported. Nearly 1 percent of the ballots were invalid.
8) Around 72 percent of the country's 1.4 million eligible voters cast ballots, one of the highest turnouts for a referendum or a national election ever in Latvia.
9) EU celebrations were marred after one party in the center-right ruling coalition, Latvia's First, said it would quit the administration unless Repse resigned. It made its statement within minutes of exit-poll predictions Saturday that the referendum would pass.
10) Coalition infighting had already been apparent for months, but the ruling parties agreed not to withdraw before the referendum, which they all supported, fearing it could hamper efforts to convince residents to vote yes.
11) ``Latvia's First pulled out because of the prime minister ... they are opposed to his management style,'' said Guntars Krasts, from one of the ruling parties, Fatherland and Freedom.
12) Repse came to power after elections in late 2002 after his New Era party, running on an anti-corruption platform, emerged as the top vote getter in the election. While he is widely seen as a financial whiz, critics say he can sometimes be heavy-handed with his fellow ministers.
13) Repse said Sunday he was able to continue with just three parties.
14) The government turmoil won't affect Latvia's entrance into the EU in May _ nor should it dent the Baltic state's impressive economic performance _ with annual growth expected to approach 7 percent for 2003.
15) Latvia's referendum was the last held by the 10 candidate countries seeking EU membership. Proponents called it a decision to cement the former Soviet republic's ties to the West.
16) ``In the last hundred years, we've had no generation that hasn't faced turmoil. The EU generation will be the first,'' recent prime minister Andris Berzins told The Associated Press outside one festive EU-referendum reception early Sunday.
17) Along with Estonia, Latvia had been pegged as one of the most skeptical candidates for EU membership. In the end, the yes-vote surpassed most predictions.
18) Estonia approved its EU referendum last week by a similar two-to-one margin. Lithuania, the third Baltic state, approved its referendum by an overwhelming 91 percent margin.
19) Latvia's yes vote is a boost for the EU, embarrassed by Sweden's rejection of the euro a week ago.
20) The EU head office cheered the Latvian outcome as a homecoming for a country that came under Soviet domination in 1940 and stayed there for 50 years.
21) ``We welcome Latvia home to Europe,'' said EU spokesman Jean-Christophe Filori.
22) To date, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Estonia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovenia and Slovakia have voted through referendums to join the European Union. Of the 10 candidates, only Cyprus has decided not to hold a vote on membership and will leave it up to legislators.
23) All are expected to formally join in May, expanding the bloc to 25 countries.
24) Latvia's government and business community strongly backed EU entry, saying it would boost living standards in the Baltic Sea state. They say membership will also provide Latvia a degree of protection from any future political or economic pressure from its giant neighbor, Russia.
25) Critics argued membership will result in higher prices and uncertainty for the country's residents, warning that Latvia would be accountable to another faraway capital, Brussels, as it was under Soviet rule to Moscow.
26) Latvia is also slated to join NATO next year.
27) That, combined with being part of the EU, is expected to give the country the upper hand _ for the first time in its history _ in dealing with Russia, said Atis Lejins, head of the Latvian Institute for International Affairs.
28) Russia ``will have to realize they've lost us forever,'' Lejins said. ``We will be part of the bigger EU-Russia relations and, since the EU is bigger and more powerful, it is a different story all of a sudden.''
29) ``A good word and a pistol is always better than just a good word,'' agreed former Latvian diplomat Peteris Vincelis, paraphrasing American gangster Al Capone to the Diena daily. _ _ _
30) Associated Press reporter Michael Tarm in Riga, Latvia, contributed to this report.
31) (mt-mpm)
Latvians jubilant over EU membership vote _ wary of threatening government crisis
(APW_ENG_20030921.0223)
1) Latvians on Sunday celebrated the country's yes to European Union membership, comparing it to the elation they felt 12 years ago when they managed to restore their independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
2) But many also prepared to nurse headaches caused not only by drinking celebratory champagne, but by a looming crisis in the country's fragmented, four-party government.
3) ``Latvia returns to Europe,'' read the banner headline splashed across a special Sunday edition of the nation's largest daily paper, Diena.
4) A clearly elated Prime Minister Einars Repse congratulated some 2,000 cheering young people at an old town square in Riga in the early morning hours Sunday _ donning a blue EU T-shirt.
5) ``Latvians understand this is a decisive moment!'' the beaming government leader said.
6) ``I congratulate everyone with making a successful and correct decision,'' Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga added in a televised address.
7) With all the ballots counted, 67 percent voted in favor, while some 32 percent voted no, the Central Election Commission reported. Nearly 1 percent of the ballots were invalid.
8) Around 72 percent of the country's 1.4 million eligible voters cast ballots, one of the highest turnouts for a referendum or a national election ever in Latvia.
9) EU celebrations were marred after one party in the center-right ruling coalition, Latvia's First, said it would quit the administration unless Repse resigned. It made its statement within minutes of exit-poll predictions Saturday that the referendum would pass.
10) Coalition infighting had already been apparent for months, but the ruling parties agreed not to withdraw before the referendum, which they all supported, fearing it could hamper efforts to convince residents to vote yes.
11) ``Latvia's First pulled out because of the prime minister ... they are opposed to his management style,'' said Guntars Krasts, from one of the ruling parties, Fatherland and Freedom.
12) Repse came to power after elections in late 2002 after his New Era party, running on an anti-corruption platform, emerged as the top vote getter in the election. While he is widely seen as a financial whiz, critics say he can sometimes be heavy-handed with his fellow ministers.
13) Repse said Sunday he was able to continue with just three parties.
14) The government turmoil won't affect Latvia's entrance into the EU in May _ nor should it dent the Baltic state's impressive economic performance _ with annual growth expected to approach 7 percent for 2003.
15) Latvia's referendum was the last held by the 10 candidate countries seeking EU membership. Proponents called it a decision to cement the former Soviet republic's ties to the West.
16) ``In the last hundred years, we've had no generation that hasn't faced turmoil. The EU generation will be the first,'' recent prime minister Andris Berzins told The Associated Press outside one festive EU-referendum reception early Sunday.
17) Along with Estonia, Latvia had been pegged as one of the most skeptical candidates for EU membership. In the end, the yes-vote surpassed most predictions.
18) Estonia approved its EU referendum last week by a similar two-to-one margin. Lithuania, the third Baltic state, approved its referendum by an overwhelming 91 percent margin.
19) Latvia's yes vote is a boost for the EU, embarrassed by Sweden's rejection of the euro a week ago.
20) The EU head office cheered the Latvian outcome as a homecoming for a country that came under Soviet domination in 1940 and stayed there for 50 years.
21) ``We welcome Latvia home to Europe,'' said EU spokesman Jean-Christophe Filori.
22) To date, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Estonia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovenia and Slovakia have voted through referendums to join the European Union. Of the 10 candidates, only Cyprus decided not to hold a vote on membership, leaving it to lawmakers who approved it July 14.
23) All are expected to formally join in May, expanding the bloc to 25 countries.
24) Latvia's government and business community strongly backed EU entry, saying it would boost living standards in the Baltic Sea state. They say membership will also provide Latvia a degree of protection from any future political or economic pressure from its giant neighbor, Russia.
25) Critics argued membership will result in higher prices and uncertainty for the country's residents, warning that Latvia would be accountable to another faraway capital, Brussels, as it was under Soviet rule to Moscow.
26) Latvia is also slated to join NATO next year.
27) That, combined with being part of the EU, is expected to give the country the upper hand _ for the first time in its history _ in dealing with Russia, said Atis Lejins, head of the Latvian Institute for International Affairs.
28) Russia ``will have to realize they've lost us forever,'' Lejins said. ``We will be part of the bigger EU-Russia relations and, since the EU is bigger and more powerful, it is a different story all of a sudden.''
29) ``A good word and a pistol is always better than just a good word,'' agreed former Latvian diplomat Peteris Vincelis, paraphrasing American gangster Al Capone to the Diena daily. _ _ _
30) Associated Press reporter Michael Tarm in Riga, Latvia, contributed to this report.
31) (mt-mpm)
2003-10-09
Europe's top human rights court rules Latvia acted wrongly in deporting two ethnic Russians
(APW_ENG_20031009.0424)
1) Europe's top human rights court ruled Thursday that Latvia abused the rights of two Russian women by forcing them to leave due to their ethnicity.
2) The panel of 17 judges at the European Court of Human Rights awarded Tatyana Slivenko and her daughter Karina Slivenko, EUR 10,000 (US$11,800) in damages after finding their rights to ``respect for a private life and home'' under the Convention on Human Rights had been violated.
3) As a signatory to the charter, Latvia is bound to uphold it.
4) In their ruling, the judges said their deportation from Riga, Latvia, under a Latvian law which forced out Soviet army officers was unjustified.
5) ``The authorities did not appear to have examined whether each person presented a specific danger to national security or public order,'' the judges said. ``In all the circumstances, the applicants' removal could not be regarded as having been necessary in a democratic society.''
6) Tatyana moved to Latvia with her parents _ who still live in Riga _ in 1959 and married her husband Nikolai, an army officer in the Soviet Union's Red Army, in 1980. Their daughter, Karina, was born in 1981. Nikolai retired from active duty in 1986.
7) The family was denied permanent resident permits and given deportation orders in August 1996. The Latvian government, which gained its independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991, said the family had to leave under a 1994 treaty on the withdrawal of Russian troops.
8) As a result Nikolai left for Russia, while his wife and daughter appealed the deportation order but lost. In October 1998 the two were arrested and detained. The mother and daughter eventually left Latvia in July 1999 to join Nikolai in Kursk, Russia, and took up Russian citizenship.
9) The Court threw out other claims of human rights violations against Latvia, including the right to liberty and security.
10) The status of native Russian speakers, who make up more than a third of Latvia's population has been a sore point in relations between Russia and its Baltic neighbor.
11) Russia, which was a third party to the case, has complained repeatedly that Latvian Russians are mistreated, noting that many are denied Latvian citizenship because they cannot pass the government-mandated Latvian language tests.
12) Latvia has accused the Kremlin of using the issue of language to bully the former Soviet republic. (cb/pfg)
2003-11-19
In Latvia, celebration as country advances to Euro 2004
(APW_ENG_20031119.0670)
1) The streets of Riga were filled with the sounds of car horns and chants of ``Onward Latvia'' as residents cheered Latvia's 2-2 draw with Turkey to advance to Euro 2004 in Portugal.
2) ``This is a wonderful evening for Latvia,'' said Ilmars Rezne, 20, a Latvian soldier who watched the game on television. ``This is the greatest win in our country's history.''
3) For Latvia, the draw capped off an unlikely campaign for the national team, which made its first foray into the playoffs after defeating Poland, Hungary, and then Sweden, the group winner.
4) Latvia had never qualified for a UEFA European championship before.
5) With the tie, Latvia, No. 56 in FIFA's world rankings, ousted heavily favored No. 7 Turkey, a World Cup semifinalist, to earn a spot in next summer's finals in Portugal. The draw came just four days after Latvia stunned Turkey 1-0 Saturday.
6) After the game ended, crowds of people cheered boisterously and changed ``onward Latvia!''
7) With both ethnic Latvians and Russians on the country's national teams, sporting events like Wednesday's game are a unifying force in Latvia _ a former Soviet republic of 2.4 million residents which has an almost 40 percent ethnic Russian minority.
8) Residents of this ice hockey-crazed nation are used to celebrating their national ice hockey team's wins at the world championships every spring, but the Latvian soccer team's unexpected success in Euro 2004 sparked interest among residents.
9) Just minutes after the referee's whistle signaled the start of festivities in Riga, some were already planning their trips to Portugal where Latvia will face football giants like England, Germany and France.
10) ``I'm buying my tickets to Portugal tomorrow,'' said Karlis Berzins.
11) (tj-mpm)
Latvia celebrates as country advances to 2004 European Championship finals
(APW_ENG_20031119.0675)
1) The streets of Riga were filled with the sounds of car horns and chants of ``Onward Latvia'' as residents cheered Latvia's 2-2 draw with Turkey to advance to the 2004 European Championship finals in Portugal.
2) ``This is a wonderful evening for Latvia,'' said Ilmars Rezne, 20, a Latvian soldier who watched the game on television. ``This is the greatest win in our country's history.''
3) For Latvia, the draw capped off an unlikely campaign for the national team, which made its first foray into the playoffs after defeating Poland, Hungary, and then Sweden, the group winner.
4) Latvia had never qualified for a European Championship finals before.
5) With the draw, Latvia, No. 56 in FIFA's world rankings, ousted heavily favored No. 7 Turkey, a World Cup semifinalist, to earn a spot in next year's finals in Portugal. The draw came just four days after Latvia stunned Turkey 1-0 Saturday.
6) After the game ended, crowds of people cheered boisterously and changed ``onward Latvia!''
7) With both ethnic Latvians and Russians on the country's national teams, sporting events like Wednesday's game are a unifying force in Latvia _ a former Soviet republic of 2.4 million residents which has an almost 40 percent ethnic Russian minority.
8) Residents of this ice hockey-crazed nation are used to celebrating their national team's wins at the ice hockey world championships every spring, but the Latvian soccer team's unexpected success sparked interest among residents.
9) Just minutes after the referee's whistle signaled the start of festivities in Riga, some were already planning their trips to Portugal where Latvia will face giants like England, Germany and France.
10) ``I'm buying my tickets to Portugal tomorrow,'' Karlis Berzins said.
2003-11-20
Latvian team arrives home to cheers, howls of delight BY TIMOTHY JACOBS Associated Press Writer
(APW_ENG_20031120.0224)
1) Amid cheers and howls of delight from more than 1,000 fans, members of Latvia's football team arrived from Turkey Thursday morning and said they were ready for Euro 2004 in Portugal.
2) The team left Turkey before explosions hit the Turkish headquarters of the London-based HSBC bank and the British consulate, killing at least 15 people and wounding more than 300.
3) President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, who wasn't at the airport, called the squad ``Latvia's golden boys.''
4) Deputy Prime Minister Ainars Slesers said he would ask the government to reward the players with cash bonuses for the achievement.
5) Latvia, the runner up to Sweden in Group 4, produced the shock of the Euro 2004 playoffs on Wednesday by ousting World Cup semifinalist Turkey to advance to its first European Championship finals ever.
6) The Baltic team hit back from 2-0 down in Istanbul to gain a 2-2 tie and, together with its 1-0 victory from the home leg in Riga, advanced to its first major soccer championship.
7) ``It was a historic win,'' Latvia's coach Alexandrs Starkovs said after the draw. ``I can't answer you on how we will do in Portugal. It's too early.''
8) For Latvia, No. 56 in FIFA's world rankings, the draw capped off an unlikely campaign for the national team, which made its first foray into the playoffs after defeating Poland, Hungary, and then Sweden.
9) The ex-Soviet republic's papers crowed the win. Headlines in Diena said ``Latvia breaks into Europe's elite.''
10) The paper's sports editor, Arturs Vaiders, said the 1-0 win Saturday against Turkey in Riga and the draw in Istanbul proved the team had an iron will.
11) He said the team's performance inscribed Latvia's name in the annals of European football history.
12) ``The Turkish sauna wasn't that bad after all,'' he said.
13) The team's triumph was made sweeter coming on the heels of the country's celebration of Independence Day Tuesday.
14) Latvia first gained its freedom from Russia 85 years ago, but was then occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940. It regained its independence amid the 1991 Soviet collapse.
15) With both ethnic Latvians and Russians on the country's national teams, sporting events like Wednesday's game are a unifying force in Latvia _ a former Soviet republic of 2.4 million residents which has an almost 40 percent Russian-speaking minority.
16) The Russian-language daily Telegraf proclaimed: ``Fantastic! The Turkish fortress has been taken.''
17) (tj-mpm)
Latvian team arrives home to cheers, howls of delight BY TIMOTHY JACOBS Associated Press Writer
(APW_ENG_20031120.0230)
1) Amid cheers and howls of delight from more than 1,000 fans, members of Latvia's football team arrived from Turkey Thursday morning and said they were ready for Euro 2004 in Portugal.
2) The team left Turkey before explosions hit the Turkish headquarters of the London-based HSBC bank and the British consulate, killing at least 15 people and wounding more than 300.
3) President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, who wasn't at the airport, called the squad ``Latvia's golden boys.''
4) Deputy Prime Minister Ainars Slesers said he would ask the government to reward the players with cash bonuses for the achievement.
5) Latvia, the runner up to Sweden in Group 4, produced the shock of the Euro 2004 playoffs on Wednesday by ousting World Cup semifinalist Turkey to advance to its first European Championship finals ever.
6) The Baltic team hit back from 2-0 down in Istanbul to gain a 2-2 tie and, together with its 1-0 victory from the home leg in Riga, advanced to its first major soccer championship.
7) ``It was a historic win,'' Latvia's coach Alexandrs Starkovs said after the draw. ``I can't answer you on how we will do in Portugal. It's too early.''
8) For Latvia, No. 56 in FIFA's world rankings, the draw capped off an unlikely campaign for the national team, which made its first foray into the playoffs after defeating Poland, Hungary, and then Sweden.
9) The ex-Soviet republic's papers crowed the win. Headlines in Diena said ``Latvia breaks into Europe's elite.''
10) The paper's sports editor, Arturs Vaiders, said the 1-0 win Saturday against Turkey in Riga and the draw in Istanbul proved the team had an iron will.
11) He said the team's performance inscribed Latvia's name in the annals of European football history.
12) ``The Turkish sauna wasn't that bad after all,'' he said.
13) The team's triumph was made sweeter coming on the heels of the country's celebration of Independence Day Tuesday.
14) Latvia first gained its freedom from Russia 85 years ago, but was then occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940. It regained its independence amid the 1991 Soviet collapse.
15) With both ethnic Latvians and Russians on the country's national teams, sporting events like Wednesday's game are a unifying force in Latvia _ a former Soviet republic of 2.4 million residents which has an almost 40 percent Russian-speaking minority.
16) The Russian-language daily Telegraf proclaimed: ``Fantastic! The Turkish fortress has been taken.''
2004-02-05
Russian students stage noisy protest outside parliament as lawmakers debate new language policy
(APW_ENG_20040205.0171)
1) About 6,000 Russian teenagers and school children staged a noisy protest outside Latvia's parliament Thursday as lawmakers prepared to adopt a new law requiring that all schools _ including those with all-Russian student bodies _ teach mainly in Latvian.
2) Hundreds of children _ some bussed in from outside Riga, the capital _ arrived at the building early in the morning, many carrying placards, mostly in Russian, and chanting in Russian ``hands off our school'' and ``no to the reforms.'' Scores of police stood nearby, but there were no arrests and no violence.
3) Thursday's demonstration, one of the largest in recent Latvian history, came two weeks after about 1,000 Russian students marched through the capital protesting the language legislation.
4) The law, which was expected to pass easily later in the day, mandates that at least 60 percent of classes in public schools, even those catering to the large Russian-speaking minority, must be taught in Latvian starting in September.
5) Partly in a bid to counterbalance the imposed dominance of Russian in many areas during five decades of rule by Moscow, the Baltic state declared Latvian the sole official language after it regained independence amid the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.
6) That decision, and other steps taken to entrench Latvian, has angered Latvia's Russian speakers _ mostly ethnic Russians _ who make up more than a third of the 2.3 million residents of Latvia. The language rule for schools has been among the most controversial reforms.
7) Russians call the requirements discriminatory and say they are an attack on their way of life, charges echoed by Moscow. Latvia's government counters that they are meant to help integrate minorities, adding that those who don't learn Latvian will find it hard to secure good jobs.
8) But Boris Cilevics, a parliamentarian of Russian descent, said the government has pressed relentlessly on with the reform, rarely consulting Russians and paying their complaints no heed.
9) ``The government can't be trusted,'' he said Thursday. ``The government does not want to take part in a dialogue. The only dialogue they understand is rude street protests.''
10) The Kremlin has repeatedly accused Latvia of violating the rights of minorities and the question has been a a major irritant in bilateral relations. Latvia, in turn, says Russia is manipulating the issue in a bid to spoil Latvia's image abroad.
11) Latvia, along with neighboring Lithuania and Estonia, is set to join the European Union in May.
12) (tj-mt-pyg)
2004-03-01
Russia's accuses Latvia of discriminating Russian-speakers
(APW_ENG_20040301.0200)
1) Russia's foreign minister on Monday accused Latvia of discriminating Russian-speaking residents, saying they are denied education and language rights.
2) Igor Ivanov, in an opinion published in the Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter, argued that Latvia ought to respect the rights of minorities. About a third of Latvia's 2.3 million people are Russian-speakers.
3) ``Unfortunately, this legitimate appeal has gained no hearing in Latvia,'' Ivanov wrote in the opinion, published as Sweden's foreign minister began a two-day official visit to Russia.
4) ``Historical references cannot justify the fact that hundreds of thousands of Russian-speaking inhabitants are deprived of their fundamental rights when Latvia stands on the threshold of EU and NATO.''
5) Latvia joins the EU and NATO in May.
6) Moscow repeatedly has complained about the treatment of Russian-speakers in Latvia since 1991, when the Baltic republic regained independence amid the collapse of the Soviet Union.
7) The Baltic state declared Latvian its sole official language after it regained independence, partly to counterbalance the imposed dominance of Russian in many areas during decades of rule by Moscow. It recently introduced a law that mandates that all public schools, even those with mostly Russian-speaking students, must teach at least 60 percent of classes in Latvian.
8) Russians and Moscow call the requirements discriminatory, while Latvia argues they promote integration.
9) Latvia, under pressure from the EU, softened its language and citizenship requirements in the 1990s, and the EU now considers the country in compliance with European norms.
10) Ivanov also urged Latvia to speed up the process of granting Russian-speaking Latvian residents citizenship. As of now, about 500,000 Russian-speakers have no Latvian citizenship.
11) Russia is ``open to a constructive dialogue'' with Latvia, Ivanov wrote.
12) ``We would like pragmatic circles in Riga to understand that now is the time to turn from declarations to practical actions,'' he said. ``The future for the common and democratic Europe is inconsistent with double standards.''
13) A spokesman for Latvia's Foreign Ministry dismissed Ivanov's remarks.
14) ``This type of criticism from Russia is the same old story and we don't comment each time it happens,'' Rets Plesums told The Associated Press Monday. ``The Latvian government respects all minorities' rights and Latvian citizenship and language laws conform to international and EU standards.''
15) (tg/tj/mt/sl)
Russia's foreign minister accuses Latvia of discriminating Russian-speakers
(APW_ENG_20040301.0219)
1) Russia's foreign minister on Monday accused Latvia of discriminating Russian-speaking residents, saying they are denied education and language rights.
2) Igor Ivanov, in an opinion published in the Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter, argued that Latvia ought to respect the rights of minorities. About a third of Latvia's 2.3 million people are Russian-speakers.
3) ``Unfortunately, this legitimate appeal has gained no hearing in Latvia,'' Ivanov wrote in the opinion, published as Sweden's foreign minister began a two-day official visit to Russia.
4) ``Historical references cannot justify the fact that hundreds of thousands of Russian-speaking inhabitants are deprived of their fundamental rights when Latvia stands on the threshold of EU and NATO.''
5) Latvia joins the EU and NATO in May.
6) Moscow repeatedly has complained about the treatment of Russian-speakers in Latvia since 1991, when the Baltic republic regained independence amid the collapse of the Soviet Union.
7) The Baltic state declared Latvian its sole official language after it regained independence, partly to counterbalance the imposed dominance of Russian in many areas during decades of rule by Moscow. It recently introduced a law that mandates that all public schools, even those with mostly Russian-speaking students, must teach at least 60 percent of classes in Latvian.
8) Russians and Moscow call the requirements discriminatory, while Latvia argues they promote integration.
9) Latvia, under pressure from the EU, softened its language and citizenship requirements in the 1990s, and the EU now considers the country in compliance with European norms.
10) Ivanov also urged Latvia to speed up the process of granting Russian-speaking Latvian residents citizenship. As of now, about 500,000 Russian-speakers have no Latvian citizenship.
11) Russia is ``open to a constructive dialogue'' with Latvia, Ivanov wrote.
12) ``We would like pragmatic circles in Riga to understand that now is the time to turn from declarations to practical actions,'' he said. ``The future for the common and democratic Europe is inconsistent with double standards.''
13) A spokesman for Latvia's Foreign Ministry dismissed Ivanov's remarks.
14) ``This type of criticism from Russia is the same old story and we don't comment each time it happens,'' Rets Plesums told The Associated Press Monday. ``The Latvian government respects all minorities' rights and Latvian citizenship and language laws conform to international and EU standards.''
15) (tg/tj/mt/sl)
2004-03-29
Russian Zhirinovsky's threats strongly criticized by Latvia and America
(APW_ENG_20040329.0269)
1) Brian Carlson, the U.S. Ambassador to Latvia, criticized on Monday comments by Russian lawmaker Vladimir Zhirinovsky for threatening the Baltic state with terrorist attacks in a recent television interview.
2) Carlson said in an interview with Latvian daily newspaper Latvijas Avize that the Russian Liberal Democratic Party leader's threats put him in the same league as terrorists.
3) ``We do not laugh about Zhirinovsky,'' said Carlson. ``It is especially irresponsible to make such statements at a time when the EU is discussing the fight against terrorism after the tragedy of March 11. People who do this put themselves in the same company as Osama bin Laden, ETA, al-Qaida the November 17 group, the Red Brigades and similar terrorist organizations.''
4) In an interview broadcast on Latvian television last week, Zhirinovsy said that Latvia would suffer terrorist attacks for its commitment to NATO membership and for instituting a law requiring all students, including Latvia's many Russian-speakers, to take at least 60 percent of their classes in Latvian starting in September.
5) ``Nothing will be left of Latvia,'' said Zhirinovsky. ``I promise you this. Nothing at all will be left. Everybody will forget about Latvia and the Latvian language. We will destroy everything if you touch Russians and Russian schools. I promise.''
6) According to Rets Plesums, a spokesman for the Latvian foreign ministry, the Latvian government is still determining how it will respond to Zhirinovsky's remarks.
7) Zhirinovsky has long been banned by the Latvian government from visiting the country of 2.3 million residents.
8) Latvia and six other countries, including its Baltic neighbors Lithuania and Estonia, become official NATO members on Monday. Latvia joins the European Union on May 1.
9) (tj-mpm)
2004-05-01
Thousands of Russians mark Latvia's EU entry by protesting language law
(APW_ENG_20040501.0094)
1) Tens of thousands of Russian students, parents and teachers marked Latvia's entry into the European Union on Saturday with a massive protest to denounce the Baltic state's new language law restricting instruction in Russian.
2) A crowd estimated by reporters at 30,000 assembled across the Daugava River from Old Riga at the Victory Monument, a Soviet-era monument commemorating the Soviet victory over the Nazis in Latvia. Police did not estimate the size of the protest, which was peaceful. No arrests were reported.
3) People from all parts of Latvia, many of them arriving by bus, converged at the plaza for the protest. Community leaders and Russian-speaking politicians harangued the crowd with emotional speeches demanding protection for the Russian language.
4) Thousands of protesters wore paper signs on their arms or backs reading, in English, ``Alien,'' denouncing their status as foreigners in their own country. About half of Latvia's Russian-speaking residents, or about 500,000 people, have not been granted citizenship. In all, about a third of Latvia's 2.3 million people are Russian speakers.
5) ``We want the world to hear us, but not in the Latvian language,'' Daria Aozlova, 18, a high school student, said in explaining why the signs were in English. ``We are not celebrating today, because we are angry. We want to learn in our language.''
6) The crowd sang in Russian ``We don't want no reform,'' an improvised version of Pink Floyd's song ``Another brick in the wall.''
7) Saturday's march was the fifth such protest this year, and was by far the largest protest staged in Latvia since it regained independence in 1991 amid the Soviet collapse.
8) The education reform, passed in February, mandates that at least 60 percent of classes in public schools, even those catering to the large Russian-speaking minority, must be taught in Latvian starting in September.
9) Partly to counterbalance the imposed dominance of Russian in many areas during decades of rule by Moscow, Latvia declared Latvian the sole official language after it regained independence.
10) That decision, and other steps taken to entrench Latvian, has angered Latvia's Russian speakers _ mostly ethnic Russians.
11) Russians call the requirements discriminatory and an attack on their way of life, charges echoed by Moscow. Latvians counter that they are meant to help integrate minorities, adding that those who don't learn Latvian will find it hard to secure good jobs.
12) The EU has said Latvian language laws conform to European minority rights standards.
13) Meanwhile, in Old Riga, about a kilometer (half mile) away across the river, the central Dome Square overflowed Saturday with a crowd of about 7,000 people celebrating Latvia's EU entry, as the European Union flag was raised. Revelers waived small EU and Latvia flags.
14) Folk dances and concerts were planned for later Saturday. Overnight, thousands of people sang and danced in the streets of Riga, celebrating Latvia's entry into the EU.
15) ``We've chosen to enter the European Union along with 24 other nations and Latvia is now going to start rolling,'' President Vaira Vike-Freiberga said Friday night.
16) (pyg)
Thousands of Russians mark Latvia's EU entry by protesting language law
(APW_ENG_20040501.0115)
1) In Latvia's largest rally since independence in 1991, tens of thousands of Russian students, parents and teachers marked the Baltic state's entry Saturday into the European Union with a massive protest denouncing a new law restricting instruction in Russian.
2) A crowd estimated by reporters at 30,000 assembled across the Daugava River from Old Riga at the Victory Monument, a Soviet-era structure commemorating the Soviet victory over the Nazis in Latvia. Police did not estimate the size of the crowd, which dispersed peacefully in the afternoon. No arrests were reported.
3) People from all parts of Latvia, many of them arriving by bus, converged at the plaza for the protest. Community leaders and Russian-speaking politicians harangued the crowd with emotional speeches demanding protection for their language.
4) Thousands of protesters wore paper signs on their arms or backs reading, in English, ``Alien,'' denouncing their status as foreigners in their own country. About half of Latvia's Russian-speaking residents, or about 500,000 people, have not been granted citizenship. In all, more than a third of Latvia's 2.3 million people are Russian speakers.
5) ``We want the world to hear us, but not in the Latvian language,'' Daria Aozlova, 18, a high school student, said in explaining the English signs. ``We are not celebrating today, because we are angry. We want to learn in our language.''
6) The crowd sang in Russian ``We don't want no reform,'' an improvised version of Pink Floyd's song ``Another brick in the wall.''
7) Saturday's march was the fifth such protest this year, and was by far the largest demonstration staged in Latvia since it regained independence in 1991 amid the Soviet collapse.
8) The education reform, passed in February, mandates that at least 60 percent of classes in public schools, even those catering to Russophones, must be taught in Latvian starting in September.
9) Partly to counterbalance the imposed dominance of Russian during decades of rule by Moscow, Latvia declared Latvian the sole official language after independence.
10) Russians call the requirements discriminatory and an attack on their way of life, charges echoed by Moscow. Latvians counter that they are meant to help integrate minorities, adding that those who don't learn Latvian will find it hard to secure good jobs.
11) The EU has said Latvian language laws conform to European minority rights standards.
12) Meanwhile Saturday, in Old Riga, about a kilometer (half mile) away across the river, the central Dome Square overflowed with a crowd of about 7,000 people celebrating Latvia's EU entry, as the European Union flag was raised. Revelers waived small EU and Latvia flags.
13) Folk dances and concerts were planned for later Saturday. Overnight, thousands of people sang and danced in the streets of Riga, celebrating Latvia's entry into the EU.
14) ``We've chosen to enter the European Union along with 24 other nations and Latvia is now going to start rolling,'' President Vaira Vike-Freiberga said Friday night.
15) Andrey Merkushev, 49, An ethnic Russian who owns a small advertising company, wore the sign ``Alien'' around his arm. He said Saturday's protest was not anti-EU.
16) ``The EU celebration is my celebration too, but I had to choose and this is more important to me,'' he said. _ _ _
17) Riga reporter Alex Krasnitsky contributed to this report.
18) (pyg)
Thousands of Russians mark Latvia's EU entry by protesting language law
(APW_ENG_20040501.0144)
1) In Latvia's largest rally since independence in 1991, tens of thousands of Russian students, parents and teachers marked the Baltic state's entry Saturday into the European Union with a massive protest denouncing a new law restricting instruction in Russian.
2) People from all over Latvia, many of them arriving by bus, converged at the Victory Monument, a Soviet-era structure commemorating the Soviet victory over the Nazis in Latvia.
3) Community leaders and Russian-speaking politicians made emotional speeches demanding protection for their language.
4) Police did not estimate the size of the crowd, which dispersed peacefully in the afternoon. Reporters estimated it at 30,000 people. No arrests were reported.
5) Thousands of protesters wore paper signs on their arms or backs reading, in English, ``Alien,'' denouncing their status as foreigners in their own country. About half of Latvia's Russian-speaking residents, or about 500,000 people, have not been granted citizenship. In all, more than a third of Latvia's 2.3 million people are Russian speakers.
6) ``We want the world to hear us, but not in the Latvian language,'' Daria Aozlova, 18, a high school student, said in explaining the English signs. ``We are not celebrating today, because we are angry. We want to learn in our language.''
7) The crowd sang in Russian ``We don't want no reform,'' an improvised version of Pink Floyd's song ``Another brick in the wall.''
8) Saturday's march was the fifth such protest this year, and was by far the largest demonstration staged in Latvia since it regained independence in 1991 amid the Soviet collapse.
9) Partly to counterbalance the imposed dominance of Russian during decades of rule by Moscow, Latvia declared Latvian the sole official language after independence.
10) The education reform, passed in February, mandates that at least 60 percent of classes in public schools, even those catering to Russophones, must be taught in Latvian starting in September.
11) Russians call the requirements discriminatory and an attack on their way of life, charges echoed by Moscow. Latvians counter that they are meant to help integrate minorities, adding that those who don't learn Latvian will find it hard to secure good jobs.
12) The EU has said Latvian language laws conform to European minority rights standards.
13) Meanwhile Saturday, in Old Riga, about a kilometer (half mile) away across the river, the central Dome Square overflowed with a crowd of about 7,000 people celebrating Latvia's EU entry, as the European Union flag was raised. Revelers waived small EU and Latvia flags.
14) Folk dances and concerts were planned for later Saturday. Overnight, thousands of people sang and danced in the streets of Riga, celebrating Latvia's entry into the EU.
15) ``We've chosen to enter the European Union along with 24 other nations and Latvia is now going to start rolling,'' President Vaira Vike-Freiberga said Friday night. _ _ _
16) Riga reporter Alex Krasnitsky contributed to this report.
2004-06-18
After a strong debut against the Czechs, Latvian fans dreaming of victory against Germany
(APW_ENG_20040618.0168)
1) Latvia's strong showing in a 2-1 loss to the Czech Republic in the country's first Euro 2004 game this week has residents in this ice hockey-crazed country buzzing about the national soccer team and some dreaming about an improbable upset of 2002 World Cup finalist Germany on Saturday.
2) Few expected Latvia to earn a single point in its first major tournament, or even score a goal. But Maris Verpakovskis' strike which gave Latvia an improbable lead just before half time on Tuesday sparked celebration in Riga and caused Latvian fans to start believing that their team could hold its own at soccer's highest level.
3) "Tuesday's game was the first soccer game I've ever watched and I'm already a fan," said Andis Griva, a 22-year-old Riga musician. "I think Latvian fans believe in their team and that we could even beat Germany, but it would have to come from heaven."
4) Latvian television commentators urged fans to restrain their hopes during the first half of Tuesday's game, saying it was unreasonable to think Latvia's defense could hold up under the barrage of shots unleashed by the Czech attackers. But they began questioning whether miracles really did happen after Latvia took a 1-0 lead.
5) Latvia was outplayed by the Czechs for most of the game and lost on two late goals, but that didn't stop fans from rubbing their eyes and salivating over possible soccer glory.
6) Even fans who traveled to Portugal to watch the team gave the team a standing ovation in defeat.
7) "It was a little bit of a surprise for all of us that we could play so well against the Czechs because their stars play at such a high level and our players are not so experienced at the international level," said Guntis Keisels, a sports writer for Latvian daily newspaper Diena.
8) "Of course, it was a little bit of a disappointment that we could have taken away a point but didn't, but I think our fans hope that we can take a point from the Germany game," he said.
9) Latvia's final Group D match is on June 23 against another European soccer giant, the Netherlands.
10) Latvia's national soccer team drew little fan interest until it started knocking out some of Europe's more accomplished teams during the Euro 2004 qualifying round last year. The team's success prompted thousands of new fans began filling the seats at Riga's Skonto Stadium.
11) Latvia earned its right to play in the Euro 2004 tournament by finishing ahead of Poland in its qualifying group and beating World Cup semifinalist Turkey 3-2 on aggregate in a two game playoff last November.
2004-06-19
Latvians celebrate team's historic draw with Germany
(APW_ENG_20040619.0220)
1) Latvians whooped with joy in the streets of Riga as their underdog team pulled off one of the biggest surprises in European Championship history Saturday by holding three-time champion Germany to a 0-0 tie at Euro 2004.
2) As soon the whistle blew, cheers came from homes and bars all over the capital, Riga.
3) "How many times have I told people I'm from Latvia, and they asked 'where?' Well, this is a hello to the world from Latvia," said Rainis Medenis, 29, who watched the game at one of many house parties in Riga.
4) "Now by drawing with Germany, people will know where I'm from."
5) This is the first time Latvia has made the finals of a major soccer tournament, but many Latvians where even left thinking that their team should have beaten Germany.
6) "Drawing with Germany was fair and an excellent result for Latvia," said Karlis Salmins, a 23-year-old university student. "It's great they didn't give up a goal. We showed that we can play with the top teams."
7) The surprise performance by the team from the small Baltic nation means that Germany, which also has the Netherlands and the Czech Republic in its group, has just two points from two games and is in danger of going out in the first round for the second Euros in a row.
8) Riga was buzzing after the game, with cars honking and fans blowing horns and chanting "Lat-vi-a, Lat-vi-a!" But fans did not march to the German Embassy in Riga as they usually do after Latvia's hockey team wins, perhaps showing soccer is still No. 2 in Latvian hearts.
9) Juris Andzans, an 18-year-old university student who watched the game in his maroon and white Latvia hockey jersey, said this was the best Latvia had ever played, but that he thought the team should have taken a point from its game with the Czech Republic as well. The Czechs scored twice in the last 17 minutes to win 2-1 after the Latvians had led.
10) "I guess the Czechs were luckier than the Germans," he said.
11) Latvia expected to be beaten heavily by powerhouse Germany but had a clear penalty disallowed by English referee Mike Riley when striker Maris Verpakovskis was brought down by Frank Baumann.
12) "I think the referee wouldn't have hesitated if it were the other way around," Medenis said.
13) Latvia plays the Netherlands in their final Group D match on June 23.
14) (tj-pyg-rjm)
2004-09-23
Latvian lawmakers give voting rights to EU citizens, not ethnic Russians without citizenship
(APW_ENG_20040923.0201)
1) Lawmakers on Thursday rejected a proposal to let nearly 500,000 ethnic Russians vote in local elections, despite giving the same right to citizens of EU countries who live in the Baltic state.
2) The Saeima, or parliament, amended the Constitution to Latvian law in line with EU rules, meaning a resident who is from another EU country, but living in the country permanently, can vote.
3) Latvia joined the 25-nation bloc in May, along with neighboring Estonia and Lithuania.
4) The bill won't become law until it's signed by President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, which she is expected to do. She has three weeks to approve it or send it back to parliament.
5) At the same time, the Saeima rejected another proposal that would have let the residents of the country's cities and towns decide the official working language. Latvian is the country's official language.
6) About one-third of Latvia's 2.3 million residents are native Russian-speakers and more than half of them, or about 500,000 people, are non-citizens and cannot vote in municipal, national, or EU elections. Most arrived in Latvia during the five decade-long Soviet occupation of the country or are descendants of those who did.
7) Although many non-citizens were born in Latvia, the Latvian government decided after the country regained its independence in 1991 to grant citizenship only to people who held citizenship during Latvia's first period of independence from 1918-1940 and their descendants.
8) Left-wing lawmakers, who represent many of the country's native Russian-speaking voters, have argued that the Saeima's refusal to grant municipal voting rights to non-citizens has stripped them of their political voice, a claim echoed by Moscow.
9) "This means that you, the ruling parties, love foreigners more than Latvia's residents," lawmaker Juris Sokolovskis said after Thursday's vote.
10) But politicians from Latvia's center-right parties, which have controlled the government since 1991, argue that non-citizens must become naturalized if they want to vote in Latvian elections.
11) Latvia's citizenship requirements have been eased in recent years but non-citizens have been slow to take advantage.
2004-10-30
Acting on terror warning from three allies, Latvia beefs up security
(APW_ENG_20041030.0154)
1) Latvia's security services have been on high alert for the past week after receiving intelligence reports from three allies of a possible terrorist strike against the tiny Baltic nation, officials said Saturday.
2) Security services in Norway, Estonia and the United States warned Latvia's government early this week that an Islamic extremist group may be planning an attack in the country, Interior Ministry spokesman Krists Leiskalns told the Associated Press.
3) Leiskalns said he could not identify the group or the nature of the planned attack for security reasons.
4) Latvia's tiny Muslim population makes up less than 1 percent of the country's 2.3 million people.
5) Leiskalns said Latvian law enforcement officials did not immediately inform the public about the warnings because "there is no need to panic."
6) Security and State Police met Interior Ministry officials on Saturday to discuss how to prevent an attack and how to coordinate the country's response if an attack were to occur.
7) The Latvian government was an ardent supporter of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Latvia currently has 133 soldiers serving in Iraq under Polish command. One Latvian soldier has been killed there.
8) The Latvian Interior Ministry announced plans earlier this month to create an anti-terrorism center.
9) Unlike most European Union countries, Latvia does not currently have an agency charged solely with fighting terrorism. Anti-terrorism duties have been spread out among various law-enforcement agencies, making it difficult for Latvia to cooperate in anti-terrorism initiatives with other countries.
10) Latvia's National Security Council, comprised of the president, prime minister and several other high-ranking politicians, will meet on Monday to discuss the threat, said Aiva Rosenberga, spokeswoman for Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga.
2004-11-09
Latvia denies reports that police detained suspected Islamic extremists
(APW_ENG_20041109.0170)
1) Latvia denied Tuesday a report that the country's law enforcement agencies had detained Islamic extremists suspected of plotting a terrorist attack in the small Baltic country last week.
2) Interior Ministry spokesman Krists Leiskalns denied reports in local and regional media that said a group of suspects had been detained and arrested.
3) "These people never made it to Latvia, and we know who they are and they are being monitored," Leiskalns told The Associated Press, declining to say which country the alleged extremists were from or if they had been detained.
4) In an interview in Tuesday's edition of daily Latvijas Avize, Interior Minister Eriks Jekabsons said by the time he warned the Latvian public of a possible terrorist attack in Latvia on Oct. 29, the threat was "close to zero."
5) Security services from the United States, Norway, and Estonia, told Latvian law enforcement agencies earlier that week of a possible terrorist threat against Latvia by Islamic extremists living in one of the Nordic countries.
6) The U.S. embassies in Latvia and Finland warned U.S. citizens living or traveling through the Baltic and Nordic regions to stay away from large shopping centers or mass-transit hubs on and around Nov. 1 because of a possible terrorist threat to the region. Norway closed its embassy in Latvia for two days.
7) Latvia was cited, analysts said, because of its strong support for the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. The country currently has 133 soldiers in Iraq, but will reduce that number to 110 by the end of the month after troop rotations.
2005-05-06
Bush backs Latvian independence saying U.S., NATO guarantee security
(APW_ENG_20050506.0924)
1) U.S. President George W. Bush said in an interview broadcast Friday that the United States and NATO would defend Latvia against any attack by outside forces.
2) When asked whether Russia posed a threat to its neighbors, Bush said "we will stand with Latvia if a larger country tries to intimidate the people."
3) "That's a great thing about Latvia joining NATO ... that the security is now guaranteed by not only the United States but all members of NATO," Bush said in an interview on Latvian LTV television aired shortly before his scheduled arrival in Riga.
4) Latvia joined NATO last year.
5) In the interview, recorded in Washington on Wednesday, Bush said he had often discussed Latvian-Russian relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
6) "I speak about relations between Russia and Latvia quite frequently, and my job at times is to send a message that says treat your neighbors with respect," he said. "I don't know if I have made any progress with him (Putin) or not, but I have made my position clear."
7) "We never recognized the lack of independence in the Baltics. We always believed that you should be free," Bush said in the TV interview.
8) Bush was to arrive later Friday for his first visit to Latvia, and his second to a Baltic country. In 2002, he visited Lithuania.
2005-05-13
Latvia-Russia border treaty mired in disputes over minorities, Soviet occupation
(APW_ENG_20050513.0778)
1) Looking out over the quiet wooden farm houses, grazing cows and plowed fields on either side of the Latvia-Russia border, it's hard to imagine this is the heart of a furious dispute between Russia and Latvia.
2) But bitterness in the Baltics over the Soviet occupation and claims by Moscow that Latvia is mistreating its Russian minority have delayed the signing of a long-awaited border treaty that would finally settle EU and NATO newcomer Latvia's frontier with Russia.
3) The land itself is not in question _ Latvia is happy to leave the border posts where they stand. But both sides have linked the treaty to other issues, souring relations.
4) For Latvia, which gained independence from Russia in 1991, formalizing the border holds great symbolic importance.
5) "A border treaty will finalize the legal aspects of our regained independence and I think this is necessary for every country," said Col. Vladislav Skromans, chief of the border guard service in Vilaka on the Latvian side of the demarcation line.
6) Russia signed a border treaty with Lithuania in 2003, but held up signing similar treaties with Estonia and Latvia partly over concerns about alleged discrimination against their large Russian-speaking minorities. For its part, Latvia insists that Moscow apologize for the nearly five decade Soviet occupation.
7) The occupation issue flared over the recent VE Day commemorations, with the leaders of Estonia and Lithuania boycotting celebrations Monday in Moscow and U.S. President George W. Bush supporting the Baltic view of the annexation during a stop in Latvia ahead of the event.
8) Vaira Vike-Freiberga accepted Moscow's invitation, saying she wanted to "extend the hand of friendship" while not overlooking the Soviet occupation.
9) Russian-speakers make up around a third of the population in the two small states, which were settled by Russians when Latvia and Estonia were Soviet republics. Moscow routinely accuses Latvia and Estonia of discriminating against their large Russian-speaking minorities through education, employment, voting and citizenship rules.
10) Moscow recently dropped its demand to link border treaties with minority rights and is set to finalize a border treaty with Estonia on Wednesday. But a declaration in late April by the Latvian government about compensation for the harsh Soviet occupation angered Russia and threatens to leave Latvia as the last EU and NATO country bordering Russia without a treaty.
11) Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this week called on Latvia's government to "stop political demagoguery and begin constructive work."
12) The declaration states that by signing a new treaty with Russia, Latvia and its citizens are not renouncing their right to seek future compensation in international court for losses incurred during the Soviet occupation.
13) But Russia has never acknowledged the Soviet occupation of the Baltics. In Moscow's view, the Baltics invited the Red Army into the region and joined the Soviet bloc willingly.
14) "What occupation are they all chattering about?" asked a Russian grocery store manager in Riga who identified himself only as Anatoly. "Soviet soldiers were greeted with flowers and songs. If it weren't for the Soviets, then the Nazis would be here."
15) Further straining relations, the Latvian parliament issued a second declaration on Thursday calling on Russia to recognize the Soviet occupation, asking Russia to repatriate thousands of ex-Red Army officers and establishing a commission to tally the damages incurred as a result of the occupation.
16) "The Soviet Union occupied and annexed the Republic of Latvia, destroyed its state system, killed, tortured and deported hundreds of thousands of people, robbed them of their property without any legal reason," the declaration said.
17) Foreign Minister Artis Pabriks said Friday the government did not support that declaration, and added Latvia has "no territorial claims" on land lost to Russia during the Soviet era.
18) Skromans, the Vilaka border guard chief, said little would change with a signed border treaty, as his service has cooperated closely with Russian services to stem the flow of illegal immigrants and goods along the 276 kilometer (172-mile) long Latvia-Russia border since 1991.
19) Still, Latvia expects the number of people trying to enter the country illegally to increase as Latvia, currently the EU's fastest-growing economy, draws closer in living standards to Western Europe.
20) The residents of Vilaka, some of whom lost property across the border when the wire fences went up between Latvia and Russia in 1991, say they have no hope _ or interest _ of ever regaining their property.
21) "We don't need that land anymore. There's no use for it," said Vitalijs Jeromans, 67, a retired truck driver who has lived his entire life in Vilaka. "Nobody even talks about it anymore. All the old people who talked about that place have died out and the younger generation wants nothing to do with it."
2005-05-19
Latvian Parliament extends troop mission by six months to end of 2005
(APW_ENG_20050519.0473)
1) Parliament on Thursday extended Latvia's troop mission in Iraq by six months to the end of the year.
2) In the 100-seat Saeima, or parliament, 67 lawmakers voted in favor of extending the mission, while 21 voted against. Twelve lawmakers abstained or were absent.
3) Latvia, which joined NATO last year, has been a strong supporter of the U.S.-led mission. It has 120 soldiers serving with Polish and American forces in Iraq.
4) Earlier this month, U.S. President George W. Bush visited Riga where he met leaders of the three Baltic states _ Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia _ and said America had never forgotten the Baltic peoples during five decades of Soviet occupation.
5) Latvia also has troops in multinational forces in Afghanistan and Kosovo.
2006-02-24
Latvia's highest court overturns blacklisting of Russian school activist
(APW_ENG_20060224.1187)
1) Latvia's highest court on Friday overturned a government decision to blacklist a Latvian-born Russian citizen, who helped organize protests against a divisive school language law, from entering the country.
2) The Latvian Supreme Court Senate's decision, which cannot be appealed, allows Alexander Kazakov to re-enter Latvia for the first time since being deported to Russia in September 2004.
3) "The decision to prohibit (Kazakov) from being in Latvia has been overturned so he is free to come back whenever he wishes," court spokeswoman Anita Kehre said.
4) The court said that former Interior Minister Eriks Jekabsons, who gave the order to blacklist Kazakov, failed to consider the consequences the decision would have on Kazakov's private life.
5) "I think it's a great decision for Latvia and for me as well," Kazakov told The Associated Press by phone from Moscow. "It's a great decision for Latvia because it shows there are at least some signs of democracy still there and for me it's great because I'll finally be able to care for my mother in person, who is not doing well."
6) Kazakov said he had no plans to sue the Latvian government and that he planned to apply for a visa to visit Latvia next week.
7) He said he would continue working on issues important to Latvia's native Russian-speakers when he returned.
8) Kazakov was born in Latvia but accepted Russian citizenship in the mid-1990s after being denied Latvian citizenship. He had been living in Latvia on a residency permit because his wife was a permanent resident, but she died in August 2004 and the government decided to deport him shortly thereafter.
9) The court rejected Kazakov's argument that the Interior Ministry should have specified the threat he posed to the state, ruling that such an explanation was not legally required and that giving one could harm state security.
10) Kazakov, who works as an adviser to Russian politician Dmitri Rogozin, helped organize a series of protests by native Russian-speaking students and parents against a law requiring at least 60 percent of public school classes, even those catering to native Russian speakers, be taught in Latvian. The law was implemented shortly before his deportation.
11) Many Latvian politicians accused Kazakov of being an agitator working on behalf of Moscow to spread ethnic unrest in Latvia, a charge he has repeatedly denied.
12) Jekabsons said at the time that the country could not continue forever "taking care of people who constantly push for the promotion of ethnic hatred."
13) Although the European Union has said the school language law conforms to European minority rights standards, many native Russian-speakers denounced it as a discriminatory attack on their culture, a charge echoed by Moscow.
14) Latvian officials argued that the reform was needed to integrate minorities, help them find jobs and attend public universities, where Latvian is the language of instruction.
15) Native Russian-speakers comprise about one-third of Latvia's population of 2.3 million. Latvia declared Latvian the sole official language after regaining independence amid the 1991 Soviet collapse, in part to counterbalance the imposed dominance of Russian during decades of Soviet rule.
16) About half of Latvia's native Russian-speakers, or about 460,000 residents, are non-citizens, meaning they can live and work in Latvia but cannot hold certain public sector jobs or vote.
2006-10-08
Latvia ' s coalition government poised to stay in power after strong election result
(APW_ENG_20061008.0266)
1) Latvia's ruling coalition was poised to become the first government to survive a parliamentary election since the small Baltic country broke away from the Soviet Union in 1991, nearly complete voting results showed early Sunday.
2) With 99.7 percent of votes counted from Saturday's election, Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis' center-right coalition of three parties gathered 44.4 percent, the electoral commission said.
3) Kalvitis' People's Party finished first with 19.3 percent of the vote, ahead of coalition partner the Greens and Farmers Union with 16.6 percent. The third coalition party, Latvia's First, was in fifth place with 8.5 percent, the results showed.
4) The results of the election -- Latvia's first since joining the European Union and NATO in 2004 -- give the coalition far more support in Parliament than the opposition, which is splintered in fractions on both the left and right. The biggest opposition group, the conservative New Era party, ended in third place with 16.16 percent, the results showed.
5) The coalition parties announced they would meet for government talks on Monday, although it is up to the president to nominate the prime minister.
6) New Era and the People's Party are both right-wing parties but have historically been at odds, and earlier this year New Era dropped out of the coalition government.
7) With few hot issues in the campaign, the main question was which of Latvia's centrist or conservative parties would be given a mandate to lead the traditionally shaky coalition government. Latvia has had 12 governments in 15 years of independence.
8) Gaining admission to the EU and NATO were the dominant goals after winning independence. With that achieved, a sense of complacency set in, analysts said.
9) There is widespread agreement among the centrist and conservative parties on continued integration with the European bloc and eventual adoption of the euro. Latvia will host a NATO summit next month, seen as a way to cement the country's place in the international arena.
10) The electoral commission said voter turnout was 62.3 percent, 10 percent lower than in the last election in 2002.
11) Although the Baltic country remains among the poorest in the European Union, its economy was the fastest-growing in the bloc in 2005 when gross domestic product soared 10.2 percent.
12) In all, 19 political parties, consisting of 1,024 candidates, competed in the race to fill the 100-member Saeima, or parliament.
Latvia ' s coalition government takes majority in parliamentary elections
(APW_ENG_20061008.0383)
1) Latvia's ruling coalition narrowly managed to win enough seats to form a majority government in the Baltic state's general elections, the Central Election Commission said on Sunday.
2) Led by Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis, the three-party coalition won 51 seats in the Saeima, or parliament -- six more seats than it currently has. It was the first time in Latvia that a sitting government has maintained its grip on power since the country broke away from the Soviet Union in 1991.
3) Latvia has had 12 governments in 15 years of independence.
4) The fractured opposition took the remaining 49 seats, with the right-wing New Era party, a bitter rival of Kalvitis' People's Party, mustering 18 seats, and the Harmony Center, a left-wing force that represents Latvia's large ethnic Russian minority, received 17 seats.
5) The election was the country's first since joining the EU and NATO in 2004.
6) With all votes counted, the center-right three-party coalition gathered 44.8 percent, according to results posted on the electoral commission's Web site.
7) Kalvitis' People's Party finished first with 19.5 percent of the vote, ahead of coalition partner the Greens and Farmers Union with 16.7 percent. The third coalition party, Latvia's First, was in fifth place with 8.6 percent, the results showed.
8) The coalition parties announced they would meet for government talks on Monday, although it is up to President Vaira Vike-Freiberga to nominate the prime minister.
9) New Era and the People's Party are both right-wing parties but have historically been at odds, and earlier this year New Era dropped out of the coalition government.
10) With few hot issues in the campaign, the main question was which of Latvia's centrist or conservative parties would be given a mandate to lead the traditionally shaky coalition government.
11) Gaining admission to the EU and NATO were the dominant goals after winning independence. With that achieved, a sense of complacency set in, analysts said.
12) There is widespread agreement among the centrist and conservative parties on continued integration with the European bloc and eventual adoption of the euro. Latvia will host a NATO summit next month, seen as a way to cement the country's place in the international arena.
13) The electoral commission said voter turnout was 62.3 percent, 10 percent lower than in the last election in 2002.
14) Although the Baltic country remains among the poorest in the European Union, its economy was the fastest-growing in the bloc in 2005 when gross domestic product soared 10.2 percent.
15) In all, 19 political parties, consisting of 1,024 candidates, competed in the race to fill the 100-member parliament.
Latvia ' s coalition government takes majority in parliamentary elections
(APW_ENG_20061008.0399)
1) Latvia's ruling coalition narrowly managed to win enough seats to form a majority government in the Baltic state's general elections, the Central Election Commission said Sunday.
2) Led by Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis, the three-party coalition won 51 seats in the Saeima, or parliament -- six more seats than it currently has. It is the first time in Latvia that a sitting government has maintained its grip on power since the country broke away from the Soviet Union in 1991.
3) Latvia has had 12 governments in 15 years of independence.
4) The fractured opposition took the remaining 49 seats, with the right-wing New Era party, a bitter rival of Kalvitis' People's Party, mustering 18 seats, and the Harmony Center, a left-wing force that represents Latvia's large ethnic Russian minority, received 17 seats.
5) The election was the country's first since joining the European Union and NATO in 2004.
6) With all votes counted, the center-right three-party coalition gathered 44.8 percent, according to results posted on the electoral commission's Web site.
7) Kalvitis' People's Party finished first with 19.5 percent of the vote, ahead of coalition partner the Greens and Farmers Union with 16.7 percent. The third coalition party, Latvia's First, was in fifth place with 8.6 percent, the results showed.
8) The results of the election will be confirmed within three weeks, said Arnis Cimdars, who heads the election commission. After the figures are recounted, they will be forward to the commission and checked for a second time.
9) "Then the final results can be approved," he said.
10) Nearly 901,800 voters cast ballots in Saturday's election, or about 62.3 percent of eligible voters in the country of nearly 2.3 million residents.
11) The coalition parties announced they would meet for government talks on Monday, although it is up to President Vaira Vike-Freiberga to nominate the prime minister.
12) New Era and the People's Party are both right-wing parties but have historically been at odds, and earlier this year New Era dropped out of the coalition government.
13) With few hot issues in the campaign, the main question was which of Latvia's centrist or conservative parties would be given a mandate to lead the traditionally shaky coalition government.
14) Gaining admission to the EU and NATO were the dominant goals after winning independence. With that achieved, a sense of complacency set in, analysts said.
15) There is widespread agreement among the centrist and conservative parties on continued integration with the European bloc and eventual adoption of the euro. Latvia will host a NATO summit next month, seen as a way to cement the country's place in the international arena.
16) The electoral commission said voter turnout was 62.3 percent, 10 percent lower than in the last election in 2002.
17) Although the Baltic country remains among the poorest in the European Union, its economy was the fastest-growing in the bloc in 2005 when gross domestic product soared 10.2 percent.
18) In all, 19 political parties, consisting of 1,024 candidates, competed in the race to fill the 100-member parliament.
Latvia ' s coalition government takes majority in parliamentary elections
(APW_ENG_20061008.0463)
1) Latvia's ruling coalition narrowly managed to win enough seats to form a majority government in the Baltic state's general elections, the Central Election Commission said Sunday.
2) Led by Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis, the three-party coalition won 51 seats in the Saeima, or parliament -- six more seats than it currently has. It is the first time in Latvia that a sitting government has maintained its grip on power since the country broke away from the Soviet Union in 1991.
3) Latvia has had 12 governments in 15 years of independence.
4) Foreign Minister Artis Pabriks said the victory was ensured because "we never promised more than we could."
5) He said his party and the coalition has appealed to voters because "we have shown ourselves to be pragmatic, patriotic and efficient. We have proven to be reliable."
6) The fractured opposition took the remaining 49 seats, with the right-wing New Era party, a bitter rival of Kalvitis' People's Party, mustering 18 seats, and the Harmony Center, a left-wing force that represents Latvia's large ethnic Russian minority, received 17 seats.
7) The election was the country's first since joining the European Union and NATO in 2004.
8) With all votes counted, the center-right three-party coalition gathered 44.8 percent, according to results posted on the electoral commission's Web site.
9) Kalvitis' People's Party finished first with 19.5 percent of the vote, ahead of coalition partner the Greens and Farmers Union with 16.7 percent. The third coalition party, Latvia's First, was in fifth place with 8.6 percent, the results showed.
10) The results of the election will be confirmed within three weeks, said Arnis Cimdars, who heads the election commission. After the figures are recounted, they will be forward to the commission and checked for a second time.
11) "Then the final results can be approved," he said.
12) Nearly 901,800 voters cast ballots in Saturday's election, or about 62.3 percent of eligible voters in the country of nearly 2.3 million residents.
13) The coalition parties announced they would meet for government talks on Monday, although it is up to President Vaira Vike-Freiberga to nominate the prime minister.
14) New Era and the People's Party are both right-wing parties but have historically been at odds, and earlier this year New Era dropped out of the coalition government.
15) With few hot issues in the campaign, the main question was which of Latvia's centrist or conservative parties would be given a mandate to lead the traditionally shaky coalition government.
16) Gaining admission to the EU and NATO were the dominant goals after winning independence. With that achieved, a sense of complacency set in, analysts said.
17) There is widespread agreement among the centrist and conservative parties on continued integration with the European bloc and eventual adoption of the euro. Latvia will host a NATO summit next month, seen as a way to cement the country's place in the international arena.
18) The electoral commission said voter turnout was 62.3 percent, 10 percent lower than in the last election in 2002.
19) Although the Baltic country remains among the poorest in the European Union, its economy was the fastest-growing in the bloc in 2005 when gross domestic product soared 10.2 percent.
20) In all, 19 political parties, consisting of 1,024 candidates, competed in the race to fill the 100-member parliament.
21) (mpm)
2006-10-09
Latvia ' s coalition government takes majority in parliamentary elections
(APW_ENG_20061009.0023)
1) Latvia's ruling coalition narrowly managed to win enough seats to form a majority government in the Baltic state's general elections.
2) Led by Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis, the three-party coalition won 51 seats in the Saeima, or parliament -- six more seats than it currently has, the Central Election Commission said Sunday. It is the first time in Latvia that a sitting government has maintained its grip on power since the country broke away from the Soviet Union in 1991.
3) Latvia has had 12 governments in 15 years of independence.
4) Foreign Minister Artis Pabriks said the victory was ensured because "we never promised more than we could."
5) He said his party and the coalition has appealed to voters because "we have shown ourselves to be pragmatic, patriotic and efficient. We have proven to be reliable."
6) The fractured opposition took the remaining 49 seats, with the right-wing New Era party, a bitter rival of Kalvitis' People's Party, mustering 18 seats, and the Harmony Center, a left-wing force that represents Latvia's large ethnic Russian minority, received 17 seats.
7) The election was the country's first since joining the European Union and NATO in 2004.
8) With all votes counted, the center-right three-party coalition gathered 44.8 percent, according to results posted on the electoral commission's Web site.
9) Kalvitis' People's Party finished first with 19.5 percent of the vote, ahead of coalition partner the Greens and Farmers Union with 16.7 percent. The third coalition party, Latvia's First, was in fifth place with 8.6 percent, the results showed.
10) The results of the election will be confirmed within three weeks, said Arnis Cimdars, who heads the election commission. After the figures are recounted, they will be forward to the commission and checked for a second time.
11) "Then the final results can be approved," he said.
12) Nearly 901,800 voters cast ballots in Saturday's election, or about 62.3 percent of eligible voters in the country of nearly 2.3 million residents.
13) The coalition parties announced they would meet for government talks on Monday, although it is up to President Vaira Vike-Freiberga to nominate the prime minister.
14) New Era and the People's Party are both right-wing parties but have historically been at odds, and earlier this year New Era dropped out of the coalition government.
15) With few hot issues in the campaign, the main question was which of Latvia's centrist or conservative parties would be given a mandate to lead the traditionally shaky coalition government.
16) Gaining admission to the EU and NATO were the dominant goals after winning independence. With that achieved, a sense of complacency set in, analysts said.
17) There is widespread agreement among the centrist and conservative parties on continued integration with the European bloc and eventual adoption of the euro. Latvia will host a NATO summit next month, seen as a way to cement the country's place in the international arena.
18) The electoral commission said voter turnout was 62.3 percent, 10 percent lower than in the last election in 2002.
19) Although the Baltic country remains among the poorest in the European Union, its economy was the fastest-growing in the bloc in 2005 when gross domestic product soared 10.2 percent.
20) In all, 19 political parties, consisting of 1,024 candidates, competed in the race to fill the 100-member parliament.
Latvia ' s ruling coalition nominates prime minister to head next government
(APW_ENG_20061009.0765)
1) Latvia's three-party coalition government on Monday nominated Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis to head the next government after the coalition's victory in parliamentary elections, news reports said.
2) The Leta news agency reported that the coalition's council, which met on Monday, has suggested Kalvitis to head the next Cabinet. Talks on forming the next government were expected to begin Monday.
3) Under Latvia's constitution, the prime minister is formally nominated by the president.
4) The center-right coalition, led by Kalvitis' People's Party, gained 51 seats in Latvia's 100-seat parliament after Saturday's election, six more than it currently has.
5) The victory represents the first time a sitting government has won an election since Latvia gained independence from the Soviet Union 15 years ago.
2007-01-16
Latvian ministers vote to pull controversial declaration from border deal with Russia
(APW_ENG_20070116.1516)
1) Latvia's government on Tuesday voted to withdraw a controversial declaration from a border agreement with Russia, paving the way for a deal to be signed later this year.
2) Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis told journalists that Russia had already recognized Latvia's independence and that the draft border treaty could refer to Latvia's Constitutional Law of 1991 as the basis for independence.
3) Previously, Latvia had wanted to refer to the 1920 Latvian-Russian peace treaty in the border treaty, which angered Moscow since in accordance to that treaty the Pytalovo district now in Russia was Latvian land.
4) This led Russian President Vladimir Putin to quip at the time that Latvia was more likely to get "a dead donkey's ears" than any land from Russia.
5) The Soviet Union took over the territory, which the Latvians refer to as Abrene, after the end of World War II. Many Latvian nationalists believe it should be returned.
6) Russia and Latvia had been prepared to sign a border agreement in May 2005, but at the last moment Latvia's government decided to include the reference to the 1920 treaty.
7) Kalvitis said that Latvia was prepared to use a 1997 document as the basis for a new border agreement. He said Parliament would have to approve any border deal.
8) Many right-wing politicians are unlikely to support removing the reference to the 1920 treaty, but opposition MPs, many of whom are ethnic Russians, are likely to welcome the change to finally seal a border agreement with Russia.
9) Latvia and Estonia, which joined the EU in 2004, still do not have formal border agreements with Russia.
2007-02-08
Latvian lawmakers approve border deal with Russia
(APW_ENG_20070208.1083)
1) The Latvian Parliament on Thursday gave the government the green light to conclude a long-awaited border treaty with Russia.
2) Latvia would be the second Baltic country previously occupied by the Soviet Union to sign such a treaty with Moscow.
3) Sixty-nine lawmakers supported the bill, while 26 voted against in the 100-member Saeima. Five were absent. The border pact was expected to be signed later this month.
4) The treaty, negotiated in 1997, has been in limbo mainly due to sour relations between Moscow and Riga and opposition from some ethnic Latvians who felt it should address a swath of land seized by the Soviet Union after World War II.
5) The vote passed because of support from lawmakers representing the ethnic Russian minority in the small Baltic republic. The treaty does not change the present effective border between the two countries.
6) Politicians, including from the ruling coalition and the opposition, had originally insisted that any border agreement should mention the 1920 Latvia-Russia peace treaty which established a slightly different frontier between the two countries.
7) The disputed territory, now a district in Russia called Pytalovo, was known as Abrene in Latvia in the period between the two world wars.
8) Russia, however, made it clear that any such phrase in the treaty would be regarded as a territorial claim.
9) At the start of debate last week, President Vaira Vike-Freiberga told lawmakers that Latvia would be behaving irresponsibly as a member of the European Union and NATO if it began making territorial claims against Russia.
10) She was expected to put the law into effect within 10 days.
11) Relations between Riga and Moscow have been tense since Latvia regained independence in 1991 after the Soviet collapse. By concluding a border treaty leading politicians hope to improve relations.
12) Approximately one-third of Latvia's population is of ethnic Russian.
13) Latvia and Estonia, two of the three Baltic states invaded by Stalin's Red Army during World War II, have yet to sign border treaties with Russia. Lithuania signed a border pact with Moscow in 1997. All three countries joined the European Union and NATO in 2004.
2007-03-27
Russia and Latvia sign border treaty
(APW_ENG_20070327.0704)
1) Russia and Latvia signed a border treaty on Tuesday, the prime minister's office announced, a move that could improve the often fraught relations between the ex-Soviet neighbors.
2) The two countries had been prepared to sign a border agreement in 2005. But the signing was delayed at the last moment, when Latvia decided to include reference to a 1920 treaty under which Pytalovo, a district now in Russia, was considered to be part of Latvia. Russia called on Latvia to withdraw the reference.
3) In February Latvia's parliament, after acrimonious debate, passed a law giving up any territorial claims against Russia, paving the way for the treaty to be signed.
4) Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, who signed the treaty with Latvian counterpart Aigars Kalvitis, said he hoped it would "permit the removal of a whole array of questions and bring relations to a new level."
5) Russia frequently complains over Latvia's treatment of its large ethnic Russian minority and about Latvian measures that Moscow considers disrespectful to Soviet soldiers who fought the Nazi occupation of Latvia in World War II.
Russia and Latvia sign border treaty
(APW_ENG_20070327.0745)
1) Russia and Latvia signed a border treaty on Tuesday, the prime minister's office announced, in a move that could improve the often fraught relations between the ex-Soviet neighbors.
2) The two countries had been prepared to sign a border agreement in 2005. But the signing was delayed at the last moment, when Latvia decided to include reference to a 1920 treaty under which Pytalovo, a district now in Russia, was considered to be part of Latvia. Russia called on Latvia to withdraw the reference.
3) In February, Latvia's parliament passed a law giving up any territorial claims against Russia and paving the way for the treaty to be signed.
4) Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, who signed the treaty with Latvian counterpart Aigars Kalvitis, said he hoped it would "permit the removal of a whole array of questions and bring relations to a new level."
5) Russia frequently complains over Latvia's treatment of its large ethnic Russian minority and about Latvian measures that Moscow considers disrespectful to Soviet soldiers who fought the Nazi occupation of Latvia in World War II.
6) "The last 10 years have been a period of stagnation between the countries," Kalvitis said. "We are prepared to move forward dynamically in all issues concerning bilateral relations."
7) Estonia, another Baltic ex-Soviet republic, has yet to sign a border agreement with Russia.
Russia and Latvia sign border treaty
(APW_ENG_20070327.1257)
1) Russia and Latvia signed a border treaty Tuesday, the prime minister's office announced, in a move that could improve the often fraught relations between the ex-Soviet neighbors.
2) Both countries had been prepared to sign a border agreement in 2005. But the signing was delayed at the last moment, when Latvia decided to include reference to a 1920 treaty under which a district now in Russia -- known as Pytalovo to the Russians, and Abrene to Latvians -- was considered to be part of Latvia. Russia called on Latvia to withdraw the reference.
3) In February, Latvia's parliament passed a law giving up any territorial claims against Russia and paving the way for the treaty to be signed.
4) Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, who signed the treaty with Latvian counterpart Aigars Kalvitis, said he hoped it would "permit the removal of a whole array of questions and bring relations to a new level."
5) Russia frequently complains over Latvia's treatment of its large ethnic Russian minority and about Latvian measures that Moscow considers disrespectful to Soviet soldiers who fought the Nazi occupation of Latvia in World War II.
6) "The last 10 years have been a period of stagnation between the countries," Kalvitis said. "We are prepared to move forward dynamically in all issues concerning bilateral relations."
7) Latvia President Vaira Vike-Freiberga saluted the agreement while acknowledging the criticism from many Latvians.
8) "Time will prove that this was the right step for cooperation between two sovereign, independent nations even though some in Latvia are concerned," Vike-Freiberga was quoted as saying by her spokeswoman.
9) Estonia, another Baltic ex-Soviet republic, has yet to sign a border agreement with Russia.
2007-07-06
(APW_ENG_20070706.0241)
1) Saturday, July 7:
2) Live Earth concerts around the world.
3) RIGA, Latvia -- Referendum on amendments to national security laws.
4) RIGA, Latvia -- President Vaira Vike-Freiberga steps down from office after two terms.
5) LONDON -- Second anniversary of suicide bombings that killed 52 people, four bombers.
6) LISBON, Portugal -- Winners to be announced in global competition to name the new Wonders of the World.
7) PARIS -- Eva Longoria-Tony Parker wedding.
8) FORTALEZA, Brazil -- Jacques Diouf, head of U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization, visits.
9) Sunday, July 8:
10) RIGA, Latvia -- President-elect Valdis Zatl
2007-12-18
Russia, Latvia exchange signed border treaty agreements
(APW_ENG_20071218.0521)
1) The foreign ministers of Latvia and Russia on Tuesday exchanged signed border treaties after a decade of bitter disagreements.
2) The two countries had previously failed to reach a border deal due to political differences over treatment of Latvia's large ethnic Russian minority and over a swath of land that had belonged to Latvia between the two world wars but is now part of Russia.
3) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Latvian counterpart, Maris Riekstins, said the deal represented the beginning of more constructive relations between the neighbors.
4) "I am confident that the signing of the border agreements ... will go far toward improving bilateral relations," Lavrov told a press conference.
5) The two sides also concluded an agreement on providing social security payments to Russian pensioners living in Latvia. Lavrov said there were 10 more bilateral agreements in the pipeline and that both countries had shown a willingness to tackle them.
6) Differences between the neighbors remain, however. Lavrov called the existence of Latvia's non-citizens -- ethnic Russians who do not have the right to vote or hold public office -- is "not normal" and that Russia would continue to work with international organizations such as the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to put pressure on Latvia.
7) Nationalist Latvians have been critical of the border deal since the treaty acknowledges that the Pytalovo district -- known as Abrene in Latvia -- that was seized by the Soviet Union after World War II, is now forever part of Russia.
8) Latvia, an independent state until 1940, was occupied by Soviet troops after World War II but regained independence in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
9) Estonia, another Baltic state, is now the only Eastern European nation bordering Russia that does not have a border treaty.
Russia, Latvia exchange signed border treaty agreements
(APW_ENG_20071218.0716)
1) The foreign ministers of Latvia and Russia on Tuesday exchanged copies of a long-awaited border treaty after a decade of bitter disagreements.
2) The two countries had previously failed to reach a border deal due to differences over treatment of Latvia's large ethnic Russian minority and over a swath of land that belonged to Latvia between the two world wars but is now part of Russia.
3) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Latvian counterpart, Maris Riekstins, said the deal represented the beginning of more constructive relations between the neighbors.
4) "I am confident that the signing of the border agreements ... will go far toward improving bilateral relations," Lavrov told a press conference.
5) The two sides also concluded an agreement on providing social security payments to Russian pensioners living in Latvia and maintaining Soviet war graves in the Baltic state. Lavrov said there were 10 more bilateral agreements in the pipeline and that both countries had shown a willingness to tackle them.
6) Differences between the neighbors remain, however. Lavrov said the existence of Latvia's non-citizens -- ethnic Russians who do not have the right to vote or hold public office -- is "not normal" and that Russia would continue to work with international organizations such as the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to put pressure on Latvia to grant them citizenship?
7) There are approximately 400,000 non-citizens living in Latvia, while ethnic Russians account for one-third of the country's 2.3 population.
8) Nationalist Latvians have been critical of the border deal because the treaty acknowledges that the Pytalovo district -- known as Abrene in Latvia -- that was seized by the Soviet Union after World War II, is now forever part of Russia.
9) Latvia, an independent state until 1940, was occupied by Soviet troops after World War II but regained independence in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
10) Estonia, another Baltic state, is now the only Eastern European member of the European Union that does not have a border treaty with Russia?
Russia, Latvia exchange signed border treaty agreements
(APW_ENG_20071218.0974)
1) The foreign ministers of Latvia and Russia on Tuesday exchanged copies of a long-awaited border treaty after a decade of bitter disagreements.
2) The two countries had previously failed to reach a border deal due to differences over treatment of Latvia's large ethnic Russian minority and over a swath of land that belonged to Latvia between the two world wars but is now part of Russia.
3) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Latvian counterpart, Maris Riekstins, said the deal represented the beginning of more constructive relations between the neighbors.
4) "I am confident that the signing of the border agreements ... will go far toward improving bilateral relations," Lavrov told a press conference.
5) The two sides also concluded an agreement on providing social security payments to Russian pensioners living in Latvia and maintaining Soviet war graves in the Baltic state. Lavrov said there were 10 more bilateral agreements in the pipeline and that both countries had shown a willingness to tackle them.
6) Differences between the neighbors remain, however. Lavrov said the existence of Latvia's non-citizens -- ethnic Russians who do not have the right to vote or hold public office -- is "not normal" and that Russia would continue to work with international organizations such as the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to put pressure on Latvia to grant them citizenship?
7) There are approximately 400,000 non-citizens living in Latvia, while ethnic Russians account for one-third of the country's 2.3 population.
8) Nationalist Latvians have been critical of the border deal because the treaty acknowledges that the Pytalovo district -- known as Abrene in Latvia -- that was seized by the Soviet Union after World War II, is now forever part of Russia.
9) Latvia, an independent state until 1940, was occupied by Soviet troops after World War II but regained independence in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
10) The United States welcomed the border agreement. "By this action, Russia and Latvia have together taken a historic step in support of constructive regional relations," State Department spokesman Tom Casey said in a statement.
11) Estonia, another Baltic state, is now the only Eastern European member of the European Union that does not have a border treaty with Russia.
2008-01-21
Latvia expels Russian diplomat for posing threat to national security
(APW_ENG_20080121.1021)
1) Latvia declared a Russian diplomat persona non grata on Monday after receiving a report that he was a threat to national security, the Baltic country's Foreign Ministry announced.
2) The Constitutional Protection Bureau, Latvia's national security authority, provided the ministry with a report that a member of Russia's diplomatic community in Riga was engaged in "activities incompatible with the person's diplomatic status," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ivars Lasis said, without elaborating on the alleged activities.
3) After reviewing the report, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins decided to expel the diplomat, whose name was not released to the media, Lasis said.
4) Russian Ambassador Viktor Kalyuzhny was summoned to the ministry, where he was informed of the decision.
5) It is the second time since 1991, when Latvia achieved independence from the Soviet Union, that Latvia has expelled a Russian diplomat. The last case was in April 2004, the same month the Baltic state joined NATO.
6) After years of icy relations, Latvia and Russia have made strides to improve bilateral ties over the past half-year. In December the two countries exchanged ratified border agreements, and Latvia's President Valdis Zatlers said he expected to visit Moscow in the near future.
7) "It can't be ruled out that this incident might have an impact on ties in the short term, but I think that there is no reason to speak about a (negative impact) in the long term," Riekstins told Latvia Radio Monday.
2008-01-25
Russia expels Latvian diplomat in apparent retaliation
(APW_ENG_20080125.0721)
1) Russia's Foreign Ministry said Friday it will expel a Latvian diplomat in apparent retaliation for Latvia's expulsion of a Russian diplomat this week.
2) The unidentified Latvian was ordered to leave Russia within two days for "activities incompatible with his diplomatic status and which are damaging for Russia's security interests," the ministry said in a statement.
3) Latvia's Foreign Ministry on Monday declared a Russian diplomat persona non grata, citing a report that he was a threat to national security.
4) It was the second time since 1991, when Latvia achieved independence from the Soviet Union, that Latvia has expelled a Russian diplomat. The last case was in April 2004, the same month the Baltic state joined NATO.
5) After years of icy relations, Latvia and Russia have made strides to improve bilateral ties over the past few months. In December, the two countries ratified border agreements, and Latvia's President Valdis Zatlers said he expected to visit Moscow in the near future.
Russia expels Latvian diplomat in apparent retaliation
(APW_ENG_20080125.0733)
1) Russia's Foreign Ministry said Friday it will expel a Latvian diplomat in apparent retaliation for Latvia's expulsion of a Russian diplomat this week.
2) The unidentified Latvian was ordered to leave Russia within two days for "activities incompatible with his diplomatic status and which are damaging for Russia's security interests," the ministry said in a statement.
3) Latvia's Foreign Ministry on Monday declared a Russian diplomat persona non grata, citing a report that he was a threat to national security.
4) It was the second time since 1991, when Latvia achieved independence from the Soviet Union, that Latvia has expelled a Russian diplomat. The last case was in April 2004, the same month the Baltic state joined NATO.
5) After years of icy relations, Latvia and Russia have made strides to improve bilateral ties over the past few months. In December, the two countries ratified border agreements, and Latvia's President Valdis Zatlers said he expected to visit Moscow in the near future.
6) Russia has long accused Latvia of discriminating against its large ethnic Russian minority. But as part of agreements reached in December, Latvia agreed to provide social security payments to Russian pensioners living in Latvia.
7) Latvia, however, continues to deny citizenship to thousands of ethnic Russians living there, which deprives them of the right to vote or hold public office.
8) There are approximately 400,000 non-citizens living in Latvia, while ethnic Russians account for one-third of the country's populaton of 2.3 million.
2008-02-15
Barroso praises Latvia ' s economy but urges government to tackle soaring inflation
(APW_ENG_20080215.0702)
1) European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso praised Latvia's economic performance Friday but said authorities needed to tackle inflation, currently the highest in Europe.
2) Barroso told a press conference that he urged Latvia's leaders to speed up efforts to meet the criteria for adopting the euro -- a means to stabilize the economy, given the currency's strength.
3) "The euro in one reason why I believe Europe can come through the current storm in economic weather," he said.
4) When it joined the European Union in 2004, Latvia hoped to join the eurozone in 2007. But because of inflation the target has been pushed back until 2012-2013 at the earliest.
5) In addition, Barroso recommended that Latvia strengthen economic reforms that will boost productivity and competition.
6) Latvia has the fastest growing economy in Europe, with GDP expanding 11.9 percent in 2006 and 11 percent over the first nine months of 2007.
7) As a result, domestic demand has increased consumer prices already burdened by global trends, and annual inflation reached 15.8 in January.
8) Barroso praised Latvia's growth as "impressive" and said the country was first among the 27 members of the European Union in employment growth rate.
2008-08-03
Fowles keys US win over Latvia
(APW_ENG_20080803.0403)
1) Sylvia Fowles scored eight of her 13 points during a late fourth-quarter run to lead the Americans to a 84-74 victory over pesky Latvia on Sunday night in the FIBA Diamond Ball tournament -- a tuneup for the Olympics.
2) Unlike past U.S. women's basketball teams, this group has not had much playing time together due to injuries, overseas commitments, and the WNBA season. They were only able to start training for the first time together last Monday and are still working on developing chemistry on the court.
3) At times the U.S. players looked to be in total harmony, scoring at will and containing Latvia. At other times, the Americans struggled, turning the ball over and missing defensive assignments that led to easy baskets.
4) Anete Jekabsone scored 24 points to lead Latvia.
5) The Americans struggled early defensively as Latvia went up 12-7 in the first few minutes. Then the U.S. got going with a 24-6 run to close the quarter. Diana Taurasi scored all seven of her points during the spurt, including a nifty drive to the basket for a three-point play.
6) Latvia battled back behind Jekabsone and Zane Tamane. Jekabsone, who scored 34 points in Latvia's opening win over Russia, hit two 3s late in the second period to get Latvia within 43-36 with 1:20 left. The U.S. led by nine at the half, but had a scare when Candace Parker injured her right shoulder right before the break. She didn't play in the second half.
7) Latvia hung tough in the second half behind Jekabsone. After leading by nine at the half, the U.S. couldn't put Latvia away. Jekabsone's 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter pulled Latvia within 71-67 before the U.S. went on a 13-3 run to finally put the game away. Fowles had two layups and two putbacks during the spurt.
8) Tamane added 12 and Ieva Kublina had 10 for Latvia.
9) Tina Thompson finished with 12 points for the U.S. Sue Bird and Seimone Augustus each added 11.
10) Up next for the U.S. is a matchup with Becky Hammon and her Russian teammates Monday night. Latvia beat Russia 75-69 in its opening game.
11) Australia beat China 84-70 in the first game Sunday.
2008-11-07
Latvia ' s economy contracts in 3rd quarter
(APW_ENG_20081107.0211)
1) Latvia's economy crashed in the third quarter, the national statistics office said Friday, with output shrinking 4.2 percent year-on-year as the global financial crisis accelerated the Baltic nation's woes.
2) The contraction comes after three years of stellar economic performance, when Latvia topped the European Union in annual GDP growth, and could complicate its wish to adopt the euro.
3) The result contrasts with the same quarter in 2007, when the Baltic state's GDP soared 10.9 percent from the year earlier. First quarter growth this year was 3.3 percent, while in the second quarter it slowed to 0.1 percent.
4) Though many Western economies are also threatened with shrinking economies after this fall's financial meltdown, Latvia's case is exacerbated by three years of double-digit growth fuelled by rampant consumption.
5) On Monday the European Commission released a forecast that Latvia's economy would contract 0.8 percent this year and another 2.7 percent in 2009.
6) Faced with plummeting revenues, Latvia's center-right government is scrambling to slash expenditures. Earlier this week it agreed to close two small ministries -- on integration and EU funds -- as one cost-cutting measure.
7) Latvia's central bank chief, Ilmars Rimsevics, has slammed the government for putting together a deficit budget for 2009. The planned deficit of 1.85 percent of gross domestic product is not realistic and will actually balloon to 4 percent of GDP, Rimsevics was quoted as saying by the Diena daily in an interview published Friday.
8) The European Commission forecast a deficit of 5 percent.
9) A deficit of more than 3 percent of GDP will further harm Latvia's wish to adopt the euro at the earlier possible date, possibly in 2012.
10) Latvia, which joined the EU in 2004, is also saddled with rampant inflation. In September consumer prices climbed nearly 15 percent year-on-year.
11) Propelled by easy credit and a consumption binge, Latvia's economy peaked in 2006 with GDP growth of 12.2 percent.
12) Economists, however, warned that the economy was overheating, and they now agree that Latvia's government was too slow to heed the advice.
2008-12-16
Denmark, Sweden grant euro500 million loans to Latvia
(APW_ENG_20081216.0702)
1) The central banks of Sweden and Denmark said Tuesday they have opened credit facilities worth euro500 million ($690 million) for Latvia to help the crisis-plagued country stabilize its economy amid the global financial turmoil.
2) The swap agreements will allow Latvia to borrow euro375 million from Sweden's Riksbank and euro125 million from Denmark's Nationalbank against its own national currency -- the lat.
3) Martins Gravitis, a spokesman for Latvia's central bank, said the funds, if utilized, would be used to bolster the Baltic state's macroeconomic and financial stability.
4) In the past couple months the bank has burned through nearly one-third of its strategic reserves as confidence in the Latvian lat dropped.
5) Riksbank Governor Stefan Ingves highlighted the risk of Latvia's financial woes spreading to financial markets in Sweden and neighboring countries.
6) "Ultimately, it could affect the payment system and the Swedish economy," he said. "It is therefore in the Riksbank's interest to help to avoid such a situation by entering into a swap agreement with the central bank of Latvia."
7) The announcement comes as Latvia's government is in talks for a larger loan of about euro5 billion ($6.8 billion) from the International Monetary Fund.
8) Latvia's economy, for years the fastest growing in the EU, contracted by 4.6 percent year-on-year in the third quarter, the worst result in the 27-member bloc.
9) Plummeting revenues, plus the need to bail out the nation's second largest financial institution -- Parex Bank -- forced the government in November to turn to international institutions for emergency financial aid.
2008-12-20
IMF, lenders give Latvia $10.5B loan
(APW_ENG_20081220.0050)
1) A group of international lenders on has pledged $10.5 billion (euro7.5 billion) to the Baltic state of Latvia, the latest country to receive financial aid since the start of the global economic downturn.
2) The International Monetary Fund, which led the group, announced Friday it would provide a $2.4 billion (euro1.7 billion) standby loan, while the European Union pledged a loan of $4.3 billion (euro3.1 billion) to Latvia, whose economy has been hard-hit by the global recession and years of excessively high growth.
3) The total loan for Latvia, which has a population of 2.3 million, far exceeds similar bailout packages to other countries on a per capita basis.
4) Other lenders include the World Bank, the Nordic states, the Czech Republic, Poland and neighboring Estonia, the IMF said.
5) Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the IMF's managing director, said the package would help boost liquidity in Latvia's financial sector, restore economic stability and strengthen competitiveness.
6) In order to qualify for the funds, Latvia's center-right government had to overhaul next year's budget, particularly by slashing expenditures. However, Latvia was allowed to maintain a large budget deficit -- 4.9 percent of GDP -- while it struggles to get its economy running again.
7) The Finance Ministry of France, which currently heads the rotating EU presidency, said the funds would help Latvia meet conditions for adopting the euro.
8) The ministry said the EU's part of the loan must approved by the European Commission in January, and then by the finance ministers of the 27-member bloc.
9) The IMF also said that its management and executive board would have to approve its facility.
10) Latvia is the second EU member state, after Hungary, to receive financial aid since the start of the global financial crisis.
11) The IMF has granted crisis lending to Hungary, Iceland, Pakistan and Ukraine.
12) The global recession has hit Latvia hard as the nation's economy shrinks and domestic demand plummets. Gross domestic product fell 4.6 percent year-on-year in the third quarter, and the government has forecast that it will fall 5 percent in 2009 and another 3 percent in 2010.
13) In 2005-7 Latvia's economy was the fastest growing in the European Union, with GDP, driven by a robust real estate market and a consumer binge, topping at 12.2 percent in 2006.
14) But economists pointed to an overlarge current account deficit and double-digit inflation and warned that the country risked overheating.
15) Friday's package for Latvia came three days after the central banks of Denmark and Sweden extended a euro500 million credit line to boost the Baltic state's national currency, the lat, which in recent weeks has been sold in large amounts in favor of the euro.
2008-12-23
Nordic countries pledge credit to support Latvia
(APW_ENG_20081223.0891)
1) Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden will give credits to Latvia of up to euro1.8 billion ($2.5 billion), the finance ministers of the four countries said in a joint statement Tuesday.
2) The announcement followed a decision by the International Monetary Fund to approve a financial package for Latvia. The package is linked to the reform program including steep budget cuts presented by the Latvian government earlier this month.
3) "The program is very ambitious and shows that Latvia is firmly committed to stick to the present currency peg," the Anders Borg, Kristin Halvorsen, Jyrki Katainen and Lars Loekke Rasmussen said in a statement.
4) "With the implementation of the program Latvia should be in a position to weather the present turbulence and move towards a path of sustainable growth and more balanced macroeconomic developments."
5) The Nordic countries have worked closely with the IMF to help Latvia in the current economic crisis.
6) Several Swedish banks have heavy exposure to the Baltic countries, including Latvia, and could face large losses if the lat were devaluated.
7) In November Latvia's central bank burned through 20 percent of its foreign reserves -- or euro800 million -- as it intervened to support the currency and help pay external debts.
8) Also, the state's finances were dealt a huge blow after the government in early November agreed to intervene to prevent the country's second largest financial institution, Parex Bank, from going bankrupt.
2009-01-08
EU proposes euro3.1 billion loan for Latvia
(APW_ENG_20090108.0535)
1) The European Commission proposed a euro3.1 billion (US$4.2 billion) loan Thursday to help Latvia out of its financial crisis.
2) The loan would be given on condition that Latvia carry out tough economic reforms and reduce its budget deficit to 3 percent of GDP by 2011, said Joaquin Almunia, the EU's economic and monetary affairs commissioner.
3) This year Latvia can maintain a 5 percent deficit as it struggles to get its economy running again.
4) The loan -- which EU governments are expected to approve this month -- would be disbursed in six installments over two years, EU officials said.
5) Latvia already has received billions of euros in other international loans in recent months, as its economy struggles in deep recession.
6) In November, Latvia's government was forced to nationalize the country's second-largest financial institution in terms of assets, Parex Bank, after it ran out of cash.
2009-01-16
Latvia likely to see early elections
(APW_ENG_20090116.1173)
1) Latvia's senior ruling coalition party is calling for early parliamentary election following violent protests this week.
2) The People's Party says extraordinary elections are the only way to overcome the political and economic crisis that has gripped the Baltic state. The party said in a statement Friday that lawmakers should begin working immediately on holding new elections this spring.
3) The People's Party is largest of four parties in Latvia's center-right government.
4) On Tuesday Latvia experienced its worst violence since independence when a peaceful anti-government protest turned into an angry mob that attacked Parliament.
2009-02-09
Latvia ' s GDP plummets 10.5 pct in fourth quarter
(APW_ENG_20090209.0586)
1) Latvia's gross domestic product plummeted 10.5 percent in the fourth quarter last year compared with the same period in 2007, the national statistics agency said Monday.
2) The result maintains Latvia's position as the worst performing economy in the 27-member European Union. The Baltic nation already had the bloc's worst economy in the third quarter, when GDP fell 4.6 percent year-on-year.
3) Latvia's statistics agency said the fourth-quarter result was an estimate and could be revised.
4) The country is in a slump after years as the EU's fastest growing economy. Some analysts predict that the economy could contract by as much as 10 percent this year.
5) The Baltic country's economic free fall accelerated in the last three months amid a steep fall in manufacturing, retail and the hotel and restaurant sectors, the agency said in its estimate.
6) On the brighter side, annual consumer price growth in Latvia slid to 9.8 percent in January, despite a sharp increase in monthly inflation, the agency said.
7) Latvia continues to boast the highest annual inflation in the 27-member European Union -- which peaked at 17.9 percent in May 2008 -- sparked by years of stellar economic growth.
8) But in June prices began falling as the economy slowed dramatically. Economists fear that, over the long run, Latvia may soon enter a period of deflation.
9) In the last two months of 2008, prices fell on a monthly basis, though they jumped 2.2 in January due to a sharp rise in taxes that went into force at the beginning of the year, the agency said.
10) The center-right government introduced the taxes in an effort to boost revenues, which have fallen sharply as a result of the economic crisis.
11) Latvia's economy started to crack last year as the property bubble burst, and it went into recession -- defined as two consecutive quarter of negative growth -- in the third quarter.
12) In November the country's second largest bank by assets, Parex Bank, became insolvent and had to be nationalized, while the national currency, the lat, came under extreme pressure.
13) A month later, the government signed an agreement with major international lenders, including the International Monetary Fund and Scandinavian government, for a bailout package worth euro7.5 billion ($9.6 billion).
14) The economic turmoil has sparked social and political upheaval in the former Soviet republic of 2.3 million people.
15) In January riots broke out in Riga's historic old town after a peaceful demonstration calling for the government's resignation.
16) President Valdis Zatlers has threatened to dissolve parliament if lawmakers don't meet a series of demands -- including an amendment to the constitution giving voters the right to call for new elections -- by the end of March.
2009-02-24
Latvian debt downgraded to junk status
(APW_ENG_20090224.0905)
1) Latvia's sovereign debt was cut to junk status Tuesday by credit ratings agency Standard & Poor's as the Baltic country's economy reels in the wake of the financial crisis.
2) Standard & Poor's said it has reduced its rating on Latvia to BB+/B, the level below investment grade. It means that Latvia will have to pay more to borrow from bond markets as investors will likely be demanding a higher premium to offset the risk.
3) Latvia's two Baltic Sea neighbors, Lithuania and Estonia, were put on notice they were being reviewed for a possible downgrade as well. Rival rating agency Moody's downgraded Latvia in January but kept it at investment grade.
4) Standard & Poor's cited what it called "a worsening external outlook for Latvia and the associated implementation risks on the government's ambitious economic program."
5) The agency said it would take Latvia several years to work off its heavy debt burden, and that real incomes will fall.
6) The crisis will test Latvia's commitment to its fixed exchange rate and its obligations under the euro7.5 billion assistance program from the International Monetary Fund, the European Union and other lenders -- especially as demand for Latvia's main exports declines as most of the industrial world slides into recession.
7) Standard & Poor's said it expects Latvia's GDP to decline by 12 percent this year, following the 4.8 percent contraction in 2008.
8) Once the European Union's fastest-growing economy, Latvia's output is now the EU's worst, shrinking by 10.5 percent in the fourth quarter compared with the same period in 2007, meeting a common yardstick for a depression.
9) The credit ratings agency also warned that Latvia will find it very difficult to contain its budget deficit -- which is part of the IMF program -- if the world economy does not rebound in the months ahead.
10) "We believe the political commitment and public support for the current policy stance depends to a considerable degree on prospects for economic recovery in 2010 and an early euro zone entry," S&P said.
11) "A prolonged economic contraction would likely lead to declining public support for the current policy stance," it added.
12) Latvia's president on Monday said the Baltic country may need a snap election to restore political order after its government became the second European casualty of the global meltdown. Party leaders are trying to cobble together a replacement for the center-right government that resigned Friday, but President Valdis Zatlers said that may not be enough to regain the people's trust.
13) Zatlers dismissed concerns that the country's political crisis would jeopardize the bailout loan but added that "there is a risk that some decisions will be postponed."
14) Latvia joined the EU in 2004 along with Estonia and Lithuania. Its entry was followed by a massive economic boom built on cheap credit.
15) Standard & Poor's also said it has put Estonia and Lithuania, Latvia's Baltic neighbors on so-called creditwatch with negative implications, which means they could have their ratings downgraded in the next three months too. Lithuania is nearer to acquiring junk status than Estonia. The agency warned about plunging demand for Estonia's exports and highlighted concerns about Lithuania's energy policy.
Latvian debt downgraded to junk status
(APW_ENG_20090224.0996)
1) Latvia's sovereign debt was cut to junk status Tuesday by credit ratings agency Standard & Poor's as the Baltic country's economy reels in the wake of the financial crisis.
2) Standard & Poor's said it has reduced its rating on Latvia to BB+/B, the level below investment grade. It means that Latvia will have to pay more to borrow from bond markets as investors will likely be demanding a higher premium to offset the risk.
3) Latvia's two Baltic Sea neighbors, Lithuania and Estonia, were put on notice they were being reviewed for a possible downgrade as well. Rival rating agency Moody's downgraded Latvia in January but kept it at investment grade.
4) Standard & Poor's cited what it called "a worsening external outlook for Latvia and the associated implementation risks on the government's ambitious economic program."
5) The agency said it would take Latvia several years to work off its heavy debt burden, and that real incomes will fall.
6) The crisis will test Latvia's commitment to its fixed exchange rate and its obligations under the euro7.5 billion assistance program from the International Monetary Fund, the European Union and other lenders -- especially as demand for Latvia's main exports declines as most of the industrial world slides into recession.
7) The Latvian Finance Ministry said the downgrade "will reduce the government's abilities to borrow on international finance and capital markets and further strengthen the influence of the international financial crisis on the government's loan portfolio."
8) However, the ministry said S&P's rating would not affect the country's stabilization and economic revival program or the euro7.5 billion agreement it reached with international lenders in December.
9) Standard & Poor's said it expects Latvia's GDP to decline by 12 percent this year, following the 4.8 percent contraction in 2008.
10) Once the European Union's fastest-growing economy, Latvia's output is now the EU's worst, shrinking by 10.5 percent in the fourth quarter compared with the same period in 2007, meeting a common yardstick for a depression.
11) The credit ratings agency also warned that Latvia will find it very difficult to contain its budget deficit -- which is part of the IMF program -- if the world economy does not rebound in the months ahead.
12) "We believe the political commitment and public support for the current policy stance depends to a considerable degree on prospects for economic recovery in 2010 and an early euro zone entry," S&P said.
13) "A prolonged economic contraction would likely lead to declining public support for the current policy stance," it added.
14) Latvia's president on Monday said the Baltic country may need a snap election to restore political order after its government became the second European casualty of the global meltdown. Party leaders are trying to cobble together a replacement for the center-right government that resigned Friday, but President Valdis Zatlers said that may not be enough to regain the people's trust.
15) Zatlers dismissed concerns that the country's political crisis would jeopardize the bailout loan but added that "there is a risk that some decisions will be postponed."
16) Latvia joined the EU in 2004 along with Estonia and Lithuania. Its entry was followed by a massive economic boom built on cheap credit.
17) Standard & Poor's also said it has put Estonia and Lithuania, Latvia's Baltic neighbors on so-called creditwatch with negative implications, which means they could have their ratings downgraded in the next three months too. Lithuania is nearer to acquiring junk status than Estonia. The agency warned about plunging demand for Estonia's exports and highlighted concerns about Lithuania's energy policy.
2009-02-26
Latvian president nominates PM candidate
(APW_ENG_20090226.0473)
1) Latvia's president has nominated a 37-year-old member of the European Parliament to head the Baltic country's next government.
2) The prime minister candidate, Valdis Dombrovskis, will now try to form a coalition to replace the center-right Cabinet that collapsed last week. It was the first European Union government to fall in the wake of the global financial meltdown.
3) Thursday's nomination comes as Latvia's economic decline accelerates. President Valdis Zatlers says he hopes Dombrovskis, of the center-right New Era party, will be able to help bring stability to the crisis-hit country of 2.3 million people.
4) A former finance minister, Dombrovskis has been a member of the European assembly since Latvia joined the EU in 2004.
Latvian president nominates PM candidate
(APW_ENG_20090226.0634)
1) Latvia's president on Thursday nominated a 37-year-old member of the European Parliament to lead the Baltic country through a crippling recession that caused the government to resign last week.
2) President Valdis Zatlers said he selected Valdis Dombrovskis to form the next government since several parties had expressed support for the candidate. He also stressed that Dombrovskis, a former finance minister, had extensive experience in economics, finance, and European institutions.
3) The previous center-right government of Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis resigned on Friday after weeks of instability brought on by the Baltic country's economic collapse. It was the first European Union government to fall in the wake of the global financial meltdown.
4) After years of strong growth, Latvia now has the EU's weakest economy. The Finance Ministry has estimated that gross domestic product will fall 12 percent this year.
5) Dombrovskis has been a member of the European assembly since Latvia joined the EU in 2004. He represents the center-right New Era party.
6) Dombrovskis said earlier this week that, if nominated, he would attempt to form a broad, center-right coalition that would include at least five parties controlling 64 seats in Latvia's 100-member Parliament. His nomination must be confirmed by Parliament.
7) The new government would be Latvia's 15th since it regained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
2009-03-04
Latvia candidate proposes center-right coalition
(APW_ENG_20090304.0556)
1) Latvia's presumptive new prime minister has proposed a five-party coalition that would control 63 of the 100 seats in Parliament.
2) Prime ministerial candidate Valdis Dombrovskis says the proposed center-right government provides both new faces and the stability necessary for success.
3) Dombrovskis said Wednesday that the party of current Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis would not be part of the coalition as it had rejected possible ministerial posts. Godmanis' government fell last month after weeks of instability brought on by the country's economic collapse.
4) The proposed government must be confirmed by Parliament before it can begin work. Latvia's president nominated Dombrovskis for prime minister last Thursday.
2009-03-11
Latvia ' s GDP shrinks 4.6 percent in 2008
(APW_ENG_20090311.0580)
1) Latvia's troubled economy shrank 4.6 percent last year, the government statistics agency said Wednesday, a sharp reversal after three years of double-digit growth in the Baltic state.
2) The agency also said that Latvia's economy, the worst in the 27-member European Union, contracted 10.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008, slightly revised from an earlier estimate of 10.5 percent.
3) In the fourth quarter, trade plummeted 17.2 percent, while financial services sank 18 percent, according to the agency.
4) The data confirm that Latvia has entered a deep recession, if not a full-blown depression -- which many economists define as a 10 percent drop in gross domestic product.
5) The country's Finance Ministry has forecast that the economy could shrink as much as 12 percent this year.
6) Standard & Poor's, a major credit rating agency, has downgraded Latvia's debt to the level of junk, and some economists speculate that Latvia may have to devalue its currency to regain a competitive edge for its exports.
7) Latvian government and central bank officials, however, reject any possibility of a devaluation, claiming it will only worsen the country's problems.
8) Meanwhile, Latvia's prime ministerial candidate, Valdis Dombrovskis, is working furiously to slash budget expenditures given that the 2008 budget was compiled with a 5 percent fall in GDP.
9) In December, international lenders such as the International Monetary Fund and the Scandinavian countries agreed to extend Latvia euro7.5 billion ($9.5 billion) in bailout funds.
10) Dombrovskis has cobbled together a five-party center-right coalition after the previous government of Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis resigned last month. Latvia's Parliament is expected to confirm Dombrovskis' government on Thursday.
Latvia ' s GDP shrinks 4.6 percent in 2008
(APW_ENG_20090311.0646)
1) Latvia's troubled economy shrank 4.6 percent last year, the government statistics agency said Wednesday, a sharp reversal after three years of double-digit growth in the Baltic state.
2) The agency also said that Latvia's economy, the worst in the 27-member European Union, contracted 10.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008, slightly revised from an earlier estimate of 10.5 percent.
3) Meanwhile, Latvia's neighbor Estonia announced that its economy shrank 3.6 percent last year and 9.7 percent in the fourth quarter, giving it the second worst economy in the EU.
4) In Latvia, trade plummeted 17.2 percent in the fourth quarter, while financial services fell 18 percent, according to the agency.
5) The data confirm that Latvia has entered a deep recession if not a full-blown depression, which many economists define as a 10 percent drop in gross domestic product.
6) The country's Finance Ministry has forecast that the economy could shrink as much as 12 percent this year.
7) Standard & Poor's, a major credit rating agency, has downgraded Latvia's debt to the level of junk, and some economists speculate that Latvia may have to devalue its currency to regain a competitive edge for its exports.
8) Latvian government and central bank officials, however, reject any possibility of a devaluation, claiming it will only worsen the country's problems.
9) Valdis Dombrovskis, the presumptive new prime minister, is working furiously to slash budget expenditures given that the 2008 budget was compiled with a 5 percent fall in GDP.
10) In December, international lenders such as the International Monetary Fund and the Scandinavian countries agreed to extend Latvia euro7.5 billion ($9.5 billion) in bailout funds.
11) Dombrovskis cobbled together a five-party center-right coalition after the government of Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis resigned last month. Latvia's Parliament is expected to confirm Dombrovskis' government on Thursday.
2009-03-12
Latvia gets new government as crisis deepens
(APW_ENG_20090312.0772)
1) Latvia's Parliament has approved the country's new center-right government as the economic crisis in the Baltic state deepens.
2) Lawmakers voted 67-21 Thursday in support of Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis' new five-party coalition government after a two-hour debate.
3) The confirmation comes two weeks after the government of Ivars Godmanis resigned amid squabbling as ministers struggled with the economic crisis.
4) The 37-year-old Dombrovskis has said his first priority will be to slash budget expenditures and continue talks with international lenders, who have pledged euro7.5 billion ($9.5 billion) in bailout funds for the Baltic state.
5) Latvia currently has one of the European Union's most troubled economies.
Latvia gets new government as crisis deepens
(APW_ENG_20090312.0886)
1) Latvia's parliament approved a new center-right government with Europe's youngest premier on Thursday as the economic crisis in this Baltic state deepened.
2) The 67-21 vote made 37-year-old Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis and his five-party coalition the third government in 15 months in Latvia, which only won independence from the Soviet Union 18 years ago.
3) Dombrovskis takes over from former Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis, whose government resigned three weeks ago amid bitter squabbling triggered by the economic crisis.
4) The quick plunge of Latvia's export-driven economy made it the second European government after Iceland to disintegrate because of the international financial crisis.
5) It also helped provoke riots in January in Latvia, a country of 2.3 million people that entered the European Union in 2004.
6) In February, struggling farmers blockaded the capital in tractors and forced the resignation of Agriculture Minister Martins Roze.
7) Latvia's economy fell at an annual rate of 10.3 percent in the fourth quarter, and the country is now the European Union's most troubled economy.
8) Unemployment reached 9.5 percent in February, leaving Latvia with the second highest jobless rate in the European Union after Spain, according to Eurostat.
9) Unlike his predecessor, Dombrovskis, a former finance minister, has not minced his words. As soon as President Valdis Zatlers nominated him for prime minister, he warned that Latvia could go bankrupt if it didn't slash budget expenditures.
10) Speaking before Thursday's vote, Dombrovskis stressed the gravity of Latvia's current situation but reminded lawmakers that the country has seen far worse and can weather the crisis.
11) "I am an optimist, and I see that Latvia's economy has the capability of healing, but for that we will need the support, advice and full participation of civil society, businesses, and all residents," he said in Parliament.
12) Dombrovskis, who has a degree in economics, has spent the last four-and-a-half years as a member of the European Parliament. He served as Latvia's finance minister for nearly two years, an experience he will need as his government grapples with dwindling finance.
13) In December Latvia agreed to borrow euro7.5 billion ($9.5 billion) in emergency bailout aid from lenders such as the International Monetary Fund and the Scandinavian countries.
14) The two sides agreed that Latvia would maintain a budget deficit of 4.7 percent of gross domestic product. However, now that GDP is projected to plummet 12 percent this year, the government has to slash some 700 million lats (euro1 billion) in expenses in order to qualify for subsequent loan payments.
15) Dombrovskis, a member of the center-right New Era coalition, has expressed hope that he can persuade international lenders to allow Latvia a 7 percent deficit during the deep recession.
16) Other coalition members include the People's Party, the Greens and Farmers Union, the Civic Union and the nationalist For Fatherland and Freedom.
2009-03-23
Latvia aims for higher budget deficit
(APW_ENG_20090323.0757)
1) Latvia's prime minister on Monday said international lenders must relax budget deficit requirements for a euro7.5 billion ($10.8 billion) bailout loan or his government could go bankrupt by the end of June.
2) Valdis Dombrovskis, who was sworn into office two weeks ago, said he will try to persuade the International Monetary Fund this week to renegotiate the terms of the loan.
3) One of the conditions was that Latvia would keep its budget deficit to 5 percent of gross domestic product in 2009, but Dombrovskis said he hopes the IMF will allow the budget deficit to increase to 7 percent.
4) "Otherwise, the government will run out of money by the end of June," the prime minister told reporters in Riga, where he will meet IMF officials later this week.
5) The bailout package was presented by the IMF, the European Union and the Scandinavian countries to help the EU's worst-performing economy recover from a deepening recession that has sparked social unrest and political instability.
6) The conditions were based on predictions of a 5 percent fall in GDP in 2009, but the latest government forecast a staggering 12 percent decline.
7) By renegotiating the parameters for the deficit, Dombrovskis' center-right government hopes it can avoid another round of painful budget cuts.
8) "We understand that with more budget cuts we are creating more social problems ... and deepening the recession," he said. "The only way forward for us is to negotiate with international lenders."
9) In February Standard & Poor's cut Latvia's sovereign debt rating to junk status.
10) Dombrovskis, who at 37 is Europe's youngest prime minister, said he inherited an awful situation from the previous government, which collapsed last month.
11) "The whole task is close to impossible," he said when asked whether his government could meet upcoming budget targets.
12) Dombrovskis stressed there were some positive signs in the economy. In January Latvia posted its first current account surplus since 2000, and the banking sector has stabilized.
13) The banking sector was shaken to the core in November after the second largest financial institution, Parex Bank, became insolvent and was nationalized.
14) Last week the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development agreed to buy a stake in Parex Bank for approximately euro100 million. The size of the stake is not clear.
15) Dombrovskis confirmed that Latvia will strive to adopt the euro in January 2012.
2009-04-08
Latvia ' s inflation rate falls to 8.2 pct in March
(APW_ENG_20090408.0561)
1) Latvia's annual inflation rate receded to 8.2 percent in March, the nation's statistics agency said Wednesday, as the Baltic country continues to slip deeper into recession.
2) The annual rate was down from 9.6 percent recorded in February, though Latvia continues to have the highest inflation in the 27-member European Union.
3) Compared with the previous month, consumer prices were up 0.2 percent due to a jump in the cost of medical services as the government pushes part of the burden of medical expenses onto its citizens.
4) Analysts expect the annual inflation rate to fall rapidly as the year wears on, and many are predicting that Latvia will enter a period of deflation by the end of 2009.
5) Statistics show an increasingly bleak outlook for Latvia, which for years was one of the EU's fastest growing economies.
6) In February retail sales fell nearly 26 percent year-on-year, the steepest drop in the EU, while industrial output plummeted 24.2 percent.
7) Gross domestic product is expected to decline 13 percent this year, according to the most recent estimate by the Finance Ministry.
8) The new government of Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis is scrambling to slash expenses to meet a 5 percent budget deficit requirement put forth by the International Monetary Fund as part of a bailout plan signed in December.
9) Latvia is counting on euro7.5 billion ($9.94 billion) in bailout funds to help it through the recession.
10) On the Net:
2009-05-26
Latvian crisis closing schools, hospitals
(APW_ENG_20090526.0646)
1) For 20 years, Svetlana Stroganova made a living teaching grade-school physical education in Latvia as the country left its Soviet past behind and became a dynamic European market economy.
2) Now she's leaving, moving to her native Russia to flee a crisis that has forced the government to slash her salary and that of many other public employees by 20 percent.
3) "I don't see any future here for my children. I don't believe in this country any more," says Stroganova, a 44-year-old who shares a three-room apartment in Riga with her 23-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter.
4) Her reduced monthly salary of 370 lats ($730) is not enough to make ends meet -- the winter heating bill alone was nearly 100 lats ($200) a month. And with further cuts expected she's not taking any chances.
5) "I don't believe the economy will ever pick up again in this country," she says. "This country doesn't produce anything that the rest of the world wants."
6) Her comments reflect the deepening sense of despair seeping through Latvia as the economy nosedives, with public employees like teachers and police officers feeling much of the pain as the government chops its budget to meet the terms of a euro7.5 billion ($10.5 billion) international bailout package.
7) Riga police captain Agris Suna, a 44-year-old father of three with 16 years on the force, says he's making 450 lats ($900) a month after a 30-percent pay cut in January.
8) "The monthly utility bill for my apartment eats up half my salary, and the rest goes for food. That's it -- no more new clothes, no more anything," he says.
9) Economists were debating whether Latvia was in a recession or a more serious depression, when all doubt was erased by statistics for the first three months of 2009. The economy shrank by a mind-boggling 18 percent -- the steepest fall in the 27-member European Union and one of the most dramatic drops anywhere in the global downturn. And there's no end in sight.
10) "We do not see this as the bottom," Danske Bank analyst Lars Christensen says. "The situation is still extremely challenging. It now looks like Latvia may see a 20 percent drop in GDP this year."
11) The signs of implosion are popping up in the graceful Art Nouveau blocks of downtown Riga, the capital. Dozens of shops have been abandoned. Restaurants and beauty salons are empty. Streets are quieter as cars repossessed from bankrupt Latvians are sold to foreign buyers at discount prices.
12) The drop in economic activity has reduced tax revenues and forced the center-right government to adopt painful spending cuts.
13) It says Latvia can no longer afford to have one of the highest proportions of hospital beds in Europe, and the Health Ministry is preparing to close two-thirds of the nation's 73 inpatient hospitals. Dozens of schools will also have to close
14) Public employees who keep their jobs are likely to face further pay cuts, such as police, judges and other public servants, who have seen their salaries slashed.
15) Analysts say Latvia, like Baltic neighbors Estonia and Lithuania, is paying the price of a lending binge fueled by overexuberance in the boom years after the three -- formerly part of the Soviet Union, which fell apart in 1991 -- joined the EU in 2004.
16) Enticed by cheap, easy-to-get loans, Latvians snapped up consumer goods, automobiles, and real estate. Salaries rose quickly and inflation soared to nearly 18 percent.
17) The bubble burst at the worst possible time, right before the global downturn set in. Now Latvia is a study in frightening data.
18) Unemployment hit 16 percent in March, according to EU statistics. Retail sales fell one-fourth in the first quarter. New car registrations dropped 75 percent in January to April. And corporate tax revenues in April plummeted 85 percent compared with the same month in 2008.
19) In January, an anti-government demonstration turned violent as dozens of angry protesters rioted in the capital, clashing with police, looting shops and setting fire to vehicles. More than 40 people were injured.
20) The unrest forced the previous government to resign, and the new coalition led by Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis is also under immense pressure.
21) The terms of the bailout loan signed in December from the International Monetary Fund, the EU and the Nordic countries, require the budget deficit to stay within 5 percent. But that figure was based on an assumption that the economy would contract by 5 percent this year.
22) Dombrovskis wants to increase the deficit to 7 percent -- and that was based on a GDP drop of 12 percent, which now is looking too optimistic.
23) Some analysts say Latvia should devalue its currency, which is pegged to the euro, to ease the pain. But the government has stuck to the peg since abandoning it would trigger widescale defaults on loans taken out in foreign currency and a new wave of inflation, and could topple many of the country's 27 banks.
24) A devaluation is also discouraged by Swedish banks Swedbank, SEB and Nordea, which account for 50 percent of Latvia's banking industry. Any mass default in the Baltics would reverberate through Sweden as well. Swedbank's share price is down 63 percent over the year on its exposure to the volatile Baltic markets.
25) Ivars Ijabs, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Latvia, says the governments tough measures are the only way to avoid an even worse outcome.
26) "We are not going to become a Somalia, but we can easily become a Moldova -- a country where all the working population is leaving just to find a job somewhere," said Ijabs.
Latvia sinks into gloom, public workers suffer
(APW_ENG_20090526.0930)
1) For 20 years, Svetlana Stroganova made a living teaching physical education to children in Latvia as the country left its Soviet past behind and became a dynamic European market economy.
2) Now she's leaving, moving to her native Russia to flee a crisis that has forced the government to slash her salary and that of many other public employees by 20 percent in what has become the European Union's worst-performing economy.
3) "I don't see any future here for my children. I don't believe in this country any more," says Stroganova, a 44-year-old who shares a three-room apartment in Riga with her 23-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter.
4) Her reduced monthly salary of 370 lats ($730) at Riga's School No. 21 is not enough to make ends meet -- the winter heating bill alone was nearly 100 lats ($200) a month. And with further cuts expected she's not taking any chances.
5) "I don't believe the economy will ever pick up again in this country," she says. "This country doesn't produce anything that the rest of the world wants."
6) Her comments reflect the deepening sense of despair seeping through Latvia as the economy nosedives, with government workers such as teachers and police officers taking the brunt as the government chops its budget to meet the terms of a euro7.5 billion ($10.5 billion) international bailout package.
7) The government says Latvia can no longer afford to have one of the highest per-capita quantities of hospital beds in Europe, and the Health Ministry is preparing to turn two-thirds of the nation's 73 inpatient hospitals into outpatient clinics, mostly in rural areas. Dozens of schools will also have to close.
8) Riga police captain Agris Suna, a 44-year-old father of three with 16 years on the force, says he's making 450 lats ($900) a month after a 30-percent pay cut in January.
9) "The monthly utility bill for my apartment eats up half my salary, and the rest goes for food. That's it -- no more new clothes, no more anything," he says.
10) Economists were debating whether Latvia was in a recession or a more serious depression, when all doubt was erased by statistics for the first three months of 2009. The economy shrank by a mind-boggling 18 percent -- the steepest fall in the 27-member European Union and one of the most dramatic drops anywhere in the global downturn. And there's no end in sight.
11) "We do not see this as the bottom," Danske Bank analyst Lars Christensen says. "The situation is still extremely challenging. It now looks like Latvia may see a 20 percent drop in GDP this year."
12) The signs of implosion are popping up in the graceful Art Nouveau blocks of downtown Riga, the capital. Dozens of shops have been abandoned. Restaurants and beauty salons are empty. Streets are quieter as fewer people work or shop, and as cars repossessed from Latvians are sold to foreign buyers at discount prices.
13) Analysts say Latvia, like Baltic neighbors Estonia and Lithuania, is paying the price of a lending binge fueled by overexuberance in the boom years after the three -- formerly part of the Soviet Union, which fell apart in 1991 -- joined the EU in 2004.
14) Enticed by cheap, easy-to-get loans, Latvians snapped up consumer goods, automobiles, and real estate. Salaries rose quickly and inflation soared to nearly 18 percent.
15) The bubble burst at the worst possible time, right before the global downturn set in. Now Latvia is a study in frightening data.
16) Unemployment hit 16 percent in March, according to EU statistics. Retail sales fell one-fourth in the first quarter. New car registrations dropped 75 percent in January to April. And corporate tax revenues in April plummeted 85 percent compared with the same month in 2008.
17) In January, an anti-government demonstration turned violent as dozens of angry protesters rioted in the capital, clashing with police, looting shops and setting fire to vehicles. More than 40 people were injured.
18) The unrest forced the previous government to resign, and the new coalition led by Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis is also under immense pressure.
19) The terms of the bailout loan signed in December from the International Monetary Fund, the EU and the Nordic countries, require the budget deficit to stay within 5 percent. But that figure was based on an assumption that the economy would contract by 5 percent this year.
20) Dombrovskis wants to increase the deficit to 7 percent -- and that was based on a GDP drop of 12 percent, which now is looking too optimistic.
21) Some analysts say Latvia should devalue its currency, which is pegged to the euro, to ease the pain. But the government has stuck to the peg since abandoning it would trigger widescale defaults on loans taken out in foreign currency and a new wave of inflation, and could topple many of the country's 27 banks.
22) A devaluation is also discouraged by Swedish banks Swedbank, SEB and Nordea, which account for 50 percent of Latvia's banking industry. Any mass default in the Baltics would reverberate through Sweden as well. Swedbank's share price is down 63 percent over the year on its exposure to the volatile Baltic markets.
23) Ivars Ijabs, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Latvia, says the governments tough measures are the only way to avoid an even worse outcome.
24) "We are not going to become a Somalia, but we can easily become a Moldova -- a country where all the working population is leaving just to find a job somewhere," said Ijabs.
2009-06-04
Latvia bank urges leaders to watch currency talk
(APW_ENG_20090604.0489)
1) Latvia's central bank on Thursday urged the Baltic nation's leaders to watch what they say about the national currency as jitters spread about a possible devaluation.
2) The statement highlighted Latvia's efforts to defend its currency peg to the euro amid mounting speculation that a painful devaluation is inevitable as the country's economy nosedives.
3) The center-right government and central bank have so far refused to consider a devaluation, arguing that such a step would spark high inflation, massive loan defaults, and the banking industry's collapse. It would also be a big blow to the Swedish banks that control 50 percent of Latvia's lending market.
4) But many experts -- both domestic and foreign -- say Latvia eventually will be forced to devalue because a weaker currency would give it much-needed advantage by boosting the attractiveness of exports.
5) In a statement, the central bank called on officials and economists "to be responsible in words and actions" while discussing the currency's future.
6) The bank said the lat -- Latvia's currency -- will best maintain stability by fulfilling the macroeconomic plan agreed upon with international lenders in December as part of a euro7.5 billion ($10.6 billion) bailout package.
7) A failed sale of state treasury bonds on Wednesday fueled concerns about a devaluation and sent Swedish banking shares lower.
8) Shares in Swedbank and SEB, which have the biggest Baltic exposure, fell by 16 percent and 11 percent respectively on Wednesday. They recovered some of the fall in early trading Thursday.
9) The jitters have also affected the Swedish krona, which has fluctuated against the euro in recent days.
10) "The Latvian lat is not very liquid and the financial system is not completely developed so investors have been using the Swedish krona as the currency to bet on a devaluation of the Lat," Swedbank currency analyst Karl-Johan Bergstrom said.
11) Adding to Latvia's woes, the government said Monday that it had approved a new budget with a 9.2 percent deficit -- far more than the 5 percent agreed upon with the International Monetary Fund.
12) The larger-than-expected deficit increases the risk that Latvia might fail to reach a new agreement with the IMF, which would jeopardize the next installment of a euro7.5 billion ($10.6 billion) bailout loan.
13) Latvia is expecting to receive euro1.2 billion in July from the IMF and the EU as part of the bailout package. Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis has suggested that Latvia would become insolvent if it did not receive the July tranche.
14) Parliament is currently reviewing the amendments and has until the end of the month to approve them.
15) Economists say the lat would have to fall at least 25 percent against the euro in order for a devaluation to bring tangible benefit to the Latvian economy.
16) Analysts say a decision to devalue could have a ripple effect on neighbors Estonia and Lithuania, forcing them to let go of their currency pegs, too.
Latvia faces fears of currency fall
(APW_ENG_20090604.0599)
1) Latvia's central bank on Thursday urged the Baltic nation's leaders to watch what they say about the national currency as jitters spread about a possible devaluation that could hit other economies in the region.
2) The statement highlighted Latvia's efforts to defend its currency peg to the euro amid mounting speculation that a painful devaluation is inevitable as the country's economy nosedives.
3) The center-right government and central bank have so far refused to consider a devaluation, arguing that such a step would spark high inflation, massive loan defaults, and the banking industry's collapse. It would also be a big blow to the Swedish banks that control 50 percent of Latvia's lending market.
4) But many experts -- both domestic and foreign -- say Latvia eventually will be forced to devalue because a weaker currency would give it much-needed advantage by boosting the attractiveness of exports.
5) In a statement, the central bank called on officials and economists "to be responsible in words and actions" while discussing the lat, Latvia's currency. It said the lat will best maintain stability if the country sticks to the economic plan agreed upon with international lenders in December as part of a euro7.5 billion ($10.6 billion) bailout package.
6) A failed sale of state treasury bonds on Wednesday fueled concerns about a devaluation and sent Swedish banking shares lower.
7) Shares in Swedbank and SEB, which have the biggest Baltic exposure, fell by 16 percent and 11 percent respectively on Wednesday. They recovered some of the fall in early trading Thursday.
8) The jitters have also affected the Swedish krona, which has fluctuated against the euro in recent days.
9) "The Latvian lat is not very liquid and the financial system is not completely developed so investors have been using the Swedish krona as the currency to bet on a devaluation of the Lat," Swedbank currency analyst Karl-Johan Bergstrom said.
10) Adding to Latvia's woes, the government said Monday that it had approved a new budget with a 9.2 percent deficit -- far more than the 5 percent agreed upon with the International Monetary Fund.
11) The larger-than-expected deficit increases the risk that Latvia might fail to reach a new agreement with the IMF, which would jeopardize the next installment of a euro7.5 billion ($10.6 billion) bailout loan.
12) The EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said Latvia needed take steps on its budget. "Latvia needs to reduce the deficit in a sustainable way with significant budgetary and structural measures," he said Thursday in a statement.
13) Latvia is expecting to receive euro1.2 billion in July from the IMF and the EU as part of the bailout package. Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis has suggested that Latvia would become insolvent if it did not receive the July tranche.
14) Parliament is currently reviewing the amendments and has until the end of the month to approve them.
15) Economists say the lat would have to fall at least 25 percent against the euro in order for a devaluation to bring tangible benefit to the Latvian economy. Exports such as forestry and agricultural products would become more competitive -- not only in the EU but in eastern markets such as Russia and Belarus, both of whom devalued their currencies in the past year and made Latvian good unaffordable.
16) Analysts say a decision to devalue could have a ripple effect on neighbors Estonia and Lithuania, forcing them to let go of their currency pegs, too.
17) Associated Press reporter Malin Rising in Stockholm contributed to this report.
Latvia faces fears of currency fall
(APW_ENG_20090604.0952)
1) Latvia's central bank and prime minister on Thursday urged the Baltic nation's leaders to watch what they say about the national currency as jitters spread about a possible devaluation that could hit other economies in the region.
2) The calls highlighted Latvia's efforts to defend its currency peg to the euro amid mounting speculation that a painful devaluation is inevitable as the country's economy nosedives.
3) Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis told lawmakers that talk about devaluation could further damage Latvia's battered economy and hinder its long-term goal of adopting the euro.
4) "It is easy to release the genie, but it is much harder to get him back," he said.
5) Dombrovskis' center-right government and central bank have so far refused to consider a devaluation, arguing that such a step would spark high inflation, massive loan defaults, and the banking industry's collapse. It would also be a big blow to the Swedish banks that control 50 percent of Latvia's lending market.
6) But many experts -- both domestic and foreign -- say Latvia eventually will be forced to devalue because a weaker currency would give it much-needed advantage by boosting the attractiveness of exports.
7) In a statement, the central bank called on officials and economists "to be responsible in words and actions" while discussing the lat, Latvia's currency. It said the lat will best maintain stability if the country sticks to the economic plan agreed upon with international lenders in December as part of a euro7.5 billion ($10.6 billion) bailout package.
8) A failed sale of state treasury bonds on Wednesday fueled concerns about a devaluation and sent Swedish banking shares lower.
9) Shares in Swedbank and SEB, which have the biggest Baltic exposure, fell by 16 percent and 11 percent respectively on Wednesday. They recovered some of the fall in early trading Thursday.
10) Sweden's Finance Minister Anders Borg said Latvia's situation "is a cause for concern" and underlined "the importance of continuing to manage the deficit in the public finances."
11) The jitters have also affected the Swedish krona, which has fluctuated against the euro in recent days.
12) "The Latvian lat is not very liquid and the financial system is not completely developed so investors have been using the Swedish krona as the currency to bet on a devaluation of the Lat," Swedbank currency analyst Karl-Johan Bergstrom said.
13) Adding to Latvia's woes, the government said Monday that it had approved a new budget with a 9.2 percent deficit -- far more than the 5 percent agreed upon with the International Monetary Fund.
14) The larger-than-expected deficit increases the risk that Latvia might fail to reach a new agreement with the IMF, which would jeopardize the next installment of a euro7.5 billion ($10.6 billion) bailout loan.
15) The EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said Latvia needed take steps on its budget. "Latvia needs to reduce the deficit in a sustainable way with significant budgetary and structural measures," he said Thursday in a statement.
16) Latvia is expecting to receive euro1.2 billion in July from the IMF and the EU as part of the bailout package. Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis has suggested that Latvia would become insolvent if it did not receive the July tranche.
17) Parliament is currently reviewing the amendments and has until the end of the month to approve them.
18) Economists say the lat would have to fall at least 25 percent against the euro in order for a devaluation to bring tangible benefit to the Latvian economy. Exports such as forestry and agricultural products would become more competitive -- not only in the EU but in eastern markets such as Russia and Belarus, both of whom devalued their currencies in the past year and made Latvian good unaffordable.
19) Analysts say a decision to devalue could have a ripple effect on neighbors Estonia and Lithuania, forcing them to let go of their currency pegs, too.
20) Associated Press reporter Malin Rising in Stockholm contributed to this report.
2009-06-05
Latvia ' s PM reiterates: No devaluation
(APW_ENG_20090605.0574)
1) Latvia's prime minister on Friday decried speculation his country will have to sharply devalue its currency and repeated the government's determination to keep the lat pegged to the euro.
2) "The Bank of Latvia has made it very clear that there will not be a devaluation," Valdis Dombrovskis told LNT television in an interview. "It's time to stop all the rumors and speculation."
3) Latvia has come under scrutiny in international financial markets in recent days amid speculation that the country -- which has the worst-performing economy in the European Union -- will be forced to devalue its currency.
4) A devalued currency would give the Baltic country a much-needed boost for its export products, but government and central bank leaders stress that a devaluation would trigger inflation, mass defaults on loans and possibly a collapse of the banking industry.
5) Latvia's center-right government this week submitted an amended budget to Parliament for approval -- a key component to win the next tranche of a euro7.5 billion ($10.6 billion) bailout package from the International Monetary Fund.
6) The budget amendments call for a 9.2 percent budget deficit, far more than the 5 percent agreed upon in talks with the IMF in December.
7) On Thursday EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said Latvia needed take further steps to cut its budget expenses, increasing worries that the country might not be eligible for the next tranche of euro1.2 billion that it needs to remain solvent.
Latvia ' s PM reiterates: No devaluation
(APW_ENG_20090605.0660)
1) Latvia's prime minister and central bank chief on Friday decried speculation the country will have to sharply devalue its currency and repeated their determination to keep the lat pegged to the euro.
2) "The Bank of Latvia has made it very clear that there will not be a devaluation," Valdis Dombrovskis told LNT television in an interview. "It's time to stop all the rumors and speculation."
3) Latvia has come under scrutiny in international financial markets in recent days amid speculation that the country -- which has the worst-performing economy in the European Union -- will be forced to devalue its currency.
4) A devalued currency would give the Baltic country a much-needed boost for its export products, but government and central bank leaders stress that a devaluation would trigger inflation, mass defaults on loans and possibly a collapse of the banking industry. It could also hit Swedish banks that do extensive business in Latvia.
5) Only the central bank's council has the power to change the effective exchange rate of the Latvian currency, which is pegged to the euro at the rate of 0.7028 lat per euro.
6) Central bank chairman Ilmars Rimsevics insisted that Latvia's currency -- the lat -- will not be devalued and will remain stable until the country adopts the euro.
7) "The Bank of Latvia will not conduct any experiments with the lat," Rimsevics said in a statement. "A number of experts both in Latvia and abroad tend to mention devaluation as a solution, which it is not -- devaluation would bring losses to the Latvian economy and would push its recovery to a more distant future."
8) Latvia hopes to join the eurozone in 2012 or 2013.
9) Latvia's center-right government this week submitted an amended budget to Parliament for approval -- a key component to win the next tranche of a euro7.5 billion ($10.6 billion) bailout package from the International Monetary Fund.
10) The budget amendments call for a 9.2 percent budget deficit, far more than the 5 percent agreed upon in talks with the IMF in December.
11) On Thursday EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said Latvia needed take further steps to cut its budget expenses, increasing worries that the country might not be eligible for the next tranche of euro1.2 billion that it needs to remain solvent.
12) Latvia's economy nosedived 18 percent in the first quarter compared with the same period last year. The government's latest forecast calls for a 18 percent drop in gross domestic product for 2009.
Latvia ' s PM reiterates: No devaluation
(APW_ENG_20090605.1029)
1) Latvia's prime minister and central bank chief on Friday decried speculation the country will have to sharply devalue its currency and repeated their determination to keep the lat pegged to the euro.
2) "The Bank of Latvia has made it very clear that there will not be a devaluation," Valdis Dombrovskis told LNT television in an interview. "It's time to stop all the rumors and speculation."
3) Latvia has come under scrutiny in international financial markets in recent days amid speculation that the country -- which has the worst-performing economy in the European Union -- will be forced to devalue its currency.
4) A devalued currency would give the Baltic country a much-needed boost for its export products, but government and central bank leaders stress that a devaluation would trigger inflation, mass defaults on loans and possibly a collapse of the banking industry. It could also hit Swedish banks that do extensive business in Latvia.
5) Only the central bank's council has the power to change the effective exchange rate of the Latvian currency, which is pegged to the euro at the rate of 0.7028 lat per euro.
6) Central bank chairman Ilmars Rimsevics insisted that Latvia's currency -- the lat -- will not be devalued and will remain stable until the country adopts the euro.
7) "The Bank of Latvia will not conduct any experiments with the lat," Rimsevics said in a statement. "A number of experts both in Latvia and abroad tend to mention devaluation as a solution, which it is not -- devaluation would bring losses to the Latvian economy and would push its recovery to a more distant future."
8) Latvia hopes to join the eurozone in 2012 or 2013.
9) Latvia's center-right government this week submitted an amended budget to Parliament for approval -- a key component to win the next tranche of a euro7.5 billion ($10.6 billion) bailout package from the International Monetary Fund.
10) The budget amendments call for a 9.2 percent budget deficit, far more than the 5 percent agreed upon in talks with the IMF in December.
11) On Friday EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said he was confident Latvia would make the tough decisions and made additional budget cuts.
12) "I recognize the difficult situation of Latvia, but at the same time I am confident that the adequate decisions will be adopted, that the updated program to overcome the Latvian economic difficulties will be voted by the parliament," Almunia told reporters in Warsaw, Poland.
13) He expressed hope that there would be no "negative spillover" to Latvia's neighbors -- Estonia and Lithuania.
14) Latvia's government is hoping to reach an agreement with an IMF-led mission next week in order to receive the next tranche of the bailout loan worth euro1.2 billion.
15) Dombrovskis has said that if Latvia didn't receive these funds the country would become insolvent.
16) Latvia's economy nose-dived 18 percent in the first quarter compared with the same period last year. The government's latest forecast calls for a 18 percent drop in gross domestic product for 2009.
17) Associated Press writer Marta Kucharska in Warsaw, Poland contributed to this report.
2009-06-08
Russian party wins big in Latvia
(APW_ENG_20090608.0247)
1) Results from Latvia's municipal and European Parliament elections show that voters are looking to an ethnic Russian party to rescue the Baltic state from its economic crisis.
2) Nearly complete results Monday show that the center-left Harmony Party has won two of Latvia's eight seats in the next European Parliament and over one-third of the vote in municipal election in Riga, the country's capital and largest city.
3) The result signals a significant shift in voter sentiment. Latvia's ethnic Russian parties have fared poorly since the country gained independence in 1991.
4) Many center-right parties took a drubbing in Saturday's double ballot.
5) Latvia is currently in a severe economic crisis. The economy is expected to shrink by 18 percent this year.
Russian party wins big in Latvia
(APW_ENG_20090608.0271)
1) Recession-weary Latvia awoke Monday to an altered political landscape, with an ethnic Russian party scoring a major victory in both European Parliament and municipal elections.
2) Nearly complete results from the Central Election Commission indicate that the center-left Harmony Center, a party mainly made up of ethnic Russians, won over one-third of the votes in Riga, Latvia's capital and largest city.
3) In the European Parliament ballot, Harmony Center won two of Latvia's eight seats, while another pro-Russia party gained one. By contrast, four years ago pro-Russia parties obtained only one seat in the EU legislature.
4) Analysts say that by throwing support behind Harmony Center, a party with social democratic views, crisis-plagued Latvians opted to give some new faces the chance to rescue the country from a severe recession.
5) Latvia's shift to the left contrasts with the overall trend in Europe, where many voters showed a preference for conservative parties.
6) Latvia is currently undergoing a severe economic crisis, with gross domestic product expected to plunge 18 percent this year.
7) Though they currently have representatives in Parliament and municipalities, Harmony Center and other pro-Russia parties have mainly been shut out of power, since Latvian parties regard them as a threat to independence and try to circumvent them while forming coalitions.
8) About one-third of Latvia's 2.3 million people are ethnic Russian, but many are still considered non-citizens since they moved to Latvia while it was occupied by the Soviet Union after World War II.
9) There are currently some 350,000 non-citizens, who do not have the right to vote, and this remains a thorny issue in relations with neighboring Russia.
Crisis-hit Latvia contemplates deeper cuts
(APW_ENG_20090608.0442)
1) Latvia's government on Monday weighed more painful spending cuts as it struggled to qualify for a desperately needed international bailout loan -- and stave off collapse of its currency peg to the euro.
2) The crisis-hit Baltic nation is under pressure to cut its budget deficit to qualify for the next installment of a euro7.5 billion ($10.3 billion) bailout package agreed upon in December.
3) Last week the center-right government announced measures that would leave a 9.2 percent deficit in public finances, but further cuts are expected as a mission led by the International Monetary Fund reviews the government's fiscal policy this week.
4) The mission comes as Latvia -- the European Union's fastest shrinking economy -- continues to fight speculation of a devaluation of its national currency, which is pegged to the euro.
5) Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis has said that Latvia risks becoming insolvent unless it receives the next installment of euro1.2 billion ($1.6 billion) on its international bailout package soon. It is not clear when the IMF would make a decision on the payment.
6) "If they provide the funding, then it will certainly take away some of the short-term pressure on the markets," said Martins Kazaks, chief economist at the Latvian branch of Swedbank.
7) Finance Minister Einars Repse said Monday that the government would propose 400 million-500 million lats ($550 million-$700 million) in spending cuts in addition to those sent to Parliament last week. Public employees such as teachers and police have already seen their pay slashed.
8) Latvia's central bank announced Monday it was forced to spend nearly euro240 million ($335 million) last week -- or 8 percent of its total reserves at the end of May -- propping up the lat, the largest weekly intervention so far this year.
9) The government and central bank argue that a devaluation would spark inflation, a sharp rise in loan defaults, and possibly the collapse of the banking industry. In addition, Sweden's banking system would be dealt a severe blow given its exposure to Latvia and the two other Baltic states -- Estonia and Lithuania.
10) Still, many economists believe that Latvia will eventually have to devalue the lat in order to boost exports.
11) Latvia is being forced to make the additional cuts as forecasts for its economy worsen. In December, while negotiating the bailout deal with the IMF, gross domestic product was predicted to fall 5 percent. The latest forecast, however, calls for an 18 percent drop.
Crisis-hit Latvia contemplates deeper cuts
(APW_ENG_20090608.0882)
1) Latvia's government on Monday weighed more painful spending cuts to qualify for a desperately needed international bailout loan, while a ratings agency warned about a possible further downgrade for the troubled Baltic country.
2) Latvia, with the European Union's fastest shrinking economy, is under pressure to cut its budget deficit so it can qualify for the next installment of a euro7.5 billion ($10.3 billion) bailout package agreed upon in December. Officials are also struggling to avoid a traumatic currency devaluation.
3) Last week the center-right government announced measures that would leave a 9.2 percent deficit in public finances, but further cuts are expected as a mission led by the International Monetary Fund reviews the government's fiscal policy this week.
4) Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis has said that Latvia risks becoming insolvent unless it receives the next installment of euro1.2 billion ($1.6 billion) on its international bailout package soon. It is not clear when the IMF would make a decision on the payment.
5) "If they provide the funding, then it will certainly take away some of the short-term pressure on the markets," said Martins Kazaks, chief economist at the Latvian branch of Swedbank.
6) Meanwhile, the Standard & Poor's rating agency said Monday it had put Latvia on its watch list for a possible long-term rating downgrade of its BB+ rating due to a higher than expected unemployment and a fall in gross domestic product.
7) "Despite continued government efforts to contain the fiscal deficit and ensure the inflow of funds from multilateral lenders, we believe the likelihood of a currency adjustment in the next few months has substantially increased," the agency said in a statement.
8) Latvia's debt currently has a junk rating by major credit agencies, meaning its bonds are considered below investment grade.
9) Latvia's central bank announced Monday it was forced to spend nearly euro240 million ($335 million) last week -- or 8 percent of its total reserves at the end of May -- propping up the lat, the largest weekly intervention so far this year.
10) The government and central bank argue that a devaluation would spark inflation, a sharp rise in loan defaults, and possibly the collapse of the banking industry. In addition, Sweden's banking system would be dealt a severe blow given its exposure to Latvia and the two other Baltic states -- Estonia and Lithuania.
11) Still, many economists believe that Latvia will eventually have to devalue the lat in order to boost exports.
12) Finance Minister Einars Repse said Monday that the government would propose 400 million-500 million lats ($550 million-$700 million) in spending cuts in addition to those sent to Parliament last week. Public employees such as teachers and police have already seen their pay slashed.
13) President Valdis Zatlers told the press Monday that lawmakers and ministers had pledged to work closely on the new cuts.
14) "Today all the participating parties stressed the importance of working together...for the sake of the country's benefit," said Zatlers after meeting with coalition leaders.
15) Latvia is being forced to make the additional cuts as forecasts for its economy worsen. In December, while negotiating the bailout deal with the IMF, gross domestic product was predicted to fall 5 percent. The latest forecast, however, calls for an 18 percent drop.
16) The economy shrank 11.2 percent in the first quarter compared to the quarter before.
2009-06-12
Latvian premier: country saved from bankruptcy
(APW_ENG_20090612.0365)
1) Latvia's prime minister said Friday that the country has been saved from bankruptcy after last-minute budget cuts paved the way for the Baltic country to receive funds from international lenders.
2) Valdis Dombrovskis told Latvian public radio that the government's decision late Thursday to slash 500 million lats ($1 billion) in budget expenses was "very difficult" but necessary if Latvia wants to receive the next installment in a euro7.5 billion ($10.6 billion) bailout plan agreed upon in December.
3) "Yesterday's decisions saved the country from bankruptcy," Dombrovskis said.
4) Parliament will review and vote upon the budget changes next week.
5) Officials from the European Union had indicated that Latvia would receive the next loan installment -- worth $1.2 billion ($1.7 billion) -- in the near future if the center-right government cut expenses and lowered the budget deficit.
6) Latvia's economy, the hardest-hit in the 27-member European Union, is expected to shrink by 18 percent this year.
2009-06-15
Latvian premier confident over bailout loan
(APW_ENG_20090615.0422)
1) Latvia's prime minister on Monday expressed confidence that the government will receive desperately needed funds from international lenders as the recession-hit country braces itself for fresh protests.
2) Latvia, whose economy is contracting by about one-fifth this year, is counting on a euro1.2 billion ($1.7 billion) payment from lenders such at the International Monetary Fund and the European Union to ward off bankruptcy.
3) "I am sure we will get the loan," Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis told the LTV television station.
4) His statement came after the government met late Sunday to finalize a number of budget amendments that will trim expenses by 500 million lats ($1 billion). Lenders have demanded that Latvia's center-right government reduce the burgeoning budget deficit to qualify for the loan.
5) Dombrovskis admitted the spending cuts -- including a 10 percent cut in pension and a 20 percent salary reduction for public sector workers -- were painful, but without them the government would have to take even more drastic measure.
6) Latvia's trade unions have announced that they would protest outside Parliament on Wednesday and hold a mass demonstration on Thursday on a downtown Riga boulevard to express anger over the pension and salary cuts.
7) Dombrovskis asked the protesters to avoid the violence that broke out during the anti-government demonstrations in Riga in January, when over a hundred were arrested and dozens wounded.
8) "I would like to call on the event's organizers to be mindful of their responsibilities and ensure the demonstrations are peaceful," he said.
9) Parliament is expected to approve the budget amendments on Wednesday and Thursday.
10) An IMF-led group of lenders last December approved a three-year, euro7.5 billion ($10.5 billion) bailout loan for Latvia which is being disbursed in installments.
2009-06-16
Latvian lawmakers approval painful cuts
(APW_ENG_20090616.1189)
1) Latvia's parliament approved large spending cuts for the current budget on Tuesday, clearing the final hurdle for receipt of desperately needed bailout funds from international lenders.
2) Lawmakers backed the steep cuts -- amounting to $1 billion -- by a 63-30 vote, with the remaining seven in the 100-seat legislature either absent or abstaining.
3) Legislative approval of the budget amendments was the last obstacle for recession-plagued Latvia to obtain a euro1.2 billion ($1.6 billion) payment from international lenders to fill a budget gap.
4) Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis has said that without the payment, the country -- which now has the European Union's worst economy -- would go bankrupt.
5) In Washington, the No. 2 official at the International Monetary Fund said Latvia's fiscal package "contains some important and courageous measures," which the lending institution and the European Commission were assessing.
6) The IMF "will continue to work closely with the Latvian authorities, the European Commission and other international partners to help Latvia overcome the crisis and return to growth," John Lipsky said.
7) But the budget cuts are painful, and include a 10 percent reduction in pensions and a 50 percent cut in child care for working parents.
8) "We acknowledge that the decisions taken today are very unpopular. However, we also recognize that in the current situation we have no choice," said Latvia's parliament speaker, Gundars Daudze.
9) Latvian labor unions and professional associations have slammed the cutbacks and are organizing protests in several cities Thursday.
10) Latvia's gross domestic product is expected to shrink by up to 20 percent this year. First quarter GDP contracted 18 percent year-on-year.
11) To prevent insolvency, the previous government signed a euro7.5 billion ($10.6 billion) bailout deal in December with a group of lenders led by the International Monetary Fund and the EU.
2009-06-30
Latvia ' s retail sales plunge 26 pct
(APW_ENG_20090630.0522)
1) Latvia's retail sales plunged 26.4 percent in the 12 months to May, the statistics office announced Tuesday, underscoring the Baltic state's steep recession.
2) Latvia Statistics said that trade of non-industrial goods such as food fell 18.9 percent in May compared with a year ago, while trade of industrial items like clothes plummeted 29.9 percent.
3) The steep decline in sales was expected given the deteriorating economic conditions in Latvia. Gross domestic product is expected to decline by up to 20 percent this year, the steepest fall in the European Union.
4) Unemployment continues to rise, and the government has been forced to slash expenditures in order to maintain a manageable budget deficit and qualify for an international bailout loan.
5) Latvia's center-right government is waiting on a final decision on the next payment of the loan -- worth euro1.2 billion ($1.7 billion) -- from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.
6) Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis has said Latvia will go bankrupt if it does not receive the payment.
2009-08-27
IMF approves release of $279 million for Latvia
(APW_ENG_20090827.1127)
1) The International Monetary Fund has completed a review of Latvia's economy that allows for the immediate release of about $279 million to the struggling country.
2) The review followed Latvia's signing onto a package of IMF belt-tightening measures.
3) The IMF said in a statement Thursday that Latvia's economy is suffering worse than officials predicted in 2008, with government revenues significantly eroded. The fund says authorities have stayed committed to continuing changes meant to spur growth.
4) Latvia has the worst economy in the 27-member European Union. Its gross domestic product is expected to fall 18 percent this year.
2009-10-06
Latvia aims to shield troubled homeowners
(APW_ENG_20091006.0751)
1) Latvia's prime minister on Tuesday asked legal experts to draft legislation that would protect financially troubled homeowners from banks out to collect the full value of mortgages or foreclose on real estate.
2) Valdis Dombrovskis wants to see amendments that would allow banks to collect only the collateral on a mortgage loan and not the full size of the original loan. In nearly all cases the collateral is much smaller than the mortgage, since property prices have fallen by up to 70 percent in recession-hit Latvia.
3) In addition, the prime minister wants to prohibit banks from being able to evict residents from a property if it is the only one they own. One solution that could be used would be to allow banks to propose residents to move to a smaller apartment or home, according to a statement from the government.
4) Latvia's center-right government has considered such a move for months. But the decision to proceed comes as the country's economic crisis -- one of the worst in Europe -- deepens and more Latvians are unable to meet their loan obligations.
5) If such legislation were enacted, it would primarily affect Scandinavian banks -- Swedbank, SEB, Nordea -- which together control approximately one-half of Latvia's banking system.
6) The banking sector in the Baltic states is suffering major losses, with Swedbank posting a euro240 million loss in Latvia in the second quarter.
7) According to Latvia's Finance and Capital Markets Committee, the number of problematic loans at the end of the second quarter amounted to 3.1 billion lats (euro4.3 billion euros), or nearly one-fifth of all loans.
8) The committee said mortgage loans account for nearly 84 percent of all loans.
2009-10-07
Latvia faces choice of bad and worse, premier says
(APW_ENG_20091007.0231)
1) Latvia will have to choose between "bad and really bad scenarios" for its economy as it struggles to satisfy international lenders and avert rising frustration at home, Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis said Wednesday.
2) Dombrovskis explained in an interview with Latvian Radio that the bad scenario would be to further reduce the budget deficit, while the worse scenario would be to forego the painful cuts and jeopardize the international bailout program, without which Latvia could go bankrupt.
3) "Larger cuts in expenditures will mean a steeper fall of Latvia's economy," Dombrovskis acknowledged.
4) In recent days Latvia has come under intense pressure from lenders such as the European Union and the International Monetary Fund to adhere to a pledge made last summer to reduce the deficit in next year's budget by 500 million lats ($1 billion).
5) Latvia's center-right government, however, has only been able to reach a figure of 325 million lats through a combination of cuts and new taxes.
6) The EU's financial chief, Joaquin Almunia, issued a stern statement Tuesday insisting that Latvia fulfill its promises.
7) Dombrovskis said that the 500 million lat number shouldn't be "an end in and of itself" and the goal should be the resuscitation of Latvia's economy, now one of the worst-off in the EU.
8) The prime minister also seemed to increase the stakes on Tuesday when he asked the government's legal experts to draft legislation that would protect homeowners from banks out to repossess property.
9) The initiative would prohibit banks from evicting families from their only home or apartment and from going after other assets in cases of default on individual mortgages.
10) If adopted, the legislation would deal a severe blow to Scandinavian banks such as Swedbank, SEB and Nordea, who are heavily exposed to Latvia's property market and are already suffering huge losses.
11) Experts say the move could be a step toward currency devaluation -- which Latvia has doggedly avoided so far for fear that Latvians who took loans in euros would be hit hard. If a law is passed protecting these households from repossession, the government would have fewer reasons not to devalue its currency.
12) Last year Latvia was forced to sign a ⁈llion ($10.5 billion) bailout deal with the IMF, EU and other lenders in order to avoid bankruptcy. The country recently received payments worth ⁈llion -- money that Dombrovskis said would run out early next year.
Latvia faces choice of bad and worse, premier says
(APW_ENG_20091007.0232)
1) Latvia will have to choose between "bad and really bad scenarios" for its economy as it struggles to satisfy international lenders and avert rising frustration at home, Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis said Wednesday.
2) Dombrovskis explained in an interview with Latvian Radio that the bad scenario would be to further reduce the budget deficit, while the worse scenario would be to forego the painful cuts and jeopardize the international bailout program, without which Latvia could go bankrupt.
3) "Larger cuts in expenditures will mean a steeper fall of Latvia's economy," Dombrovskis acknowledged.
4) In recent days Latvia has come under intense pressure from lenders such as the European Union and the International Monetary Fund to adhere to a pledge made last summer to reduce the deficit in next year's budget by 500 million lats ($1 billion).
5) Latvia's center-right government, however, has only been able to reach a figure of 325 million lats through a combination of cuts and new taxes.
6) The EU's financial chief, Joaquin Almunia, issued a stern statement Tuesday insisting that Latvia fulfill its promises.
7) Dombrovskis said that the 500 million lat number shouldn't be "an end in and of itself" and the goal should be the resuscitation of Latvia's economy, now one of the worst-off in the EU.
8) The prime minister also seemed to increase the stakes on Tuesday when he asked the government's legal experts to draft legislation that would protect homeowners from banks out to repossess property.
9) The initiative would prohibit banks from evicting families from their only home or apartment and from going after other assets in cases of default on individual mortgages.
10) If adopted, the legislation would deal a severe blow to Scandinavian banks such as Swedbank, SEB and Nordea, who are heavily exposed to Latvia's property market and are already suffering huge losses.
11) Experts say the move could be a step toward currency devaluation -- which Latvia has doggedly avoided so far for fear that Latvians who took loans in euros would be hit hard. If a law is passed protecting these households from repossession, the government would have fewer reasons not to devalue its currency.
12) Last year Latvia was forced to sign a euro7.5 billion ($10.5 billion) bailout deal with the IMF, EU and other lenders in order to avoid bankruptcy. The country recently received payments worth euro1.6 billion -- money that Dombrovskis said would run out early next year.
2010-03-11
EU pays bailout loan installment to Latvia
(APW_ENG_20100311.0583)
1) The European Union says it has paid Latvia euro500,000 ($680,725) the third part of a bailout loan for the Baltic state.
2) Latvia was under pressure last year from the EU and the International Monetary Fund to make budget cuts in return for a euro7.5 billion ($10.2 billion) loan package. The EU is providing euro3.1 billion ($4.2 billion.)
3) EU Economy Commissioner Olli Rehn says he welcomes Latvia's commitment to cutbacks and economic reforms as "the basis for a sustainable recovery."
2009 worst year on record for Latvia, Estonia
(APW_ENG_20100311.0767)
1) Latvia and Estonia said Thursday that their economies last year suffered the steepest contraction since independence nearly two decades ago, as they were hit particularly hard by the global financial crisis.
2) Economic output in Latvia, one of the most troubled economies in the 27-member European Union, fell a staggering 18 percent last year, Latvia Statistics said, while Estonia's tech-savvy economy contracted by 14.1 percent, according to Statistics Estonia.
3) Fourth quarter data, by contrast, showed that both countries have put the worst behind. Latvia's gross domestic product dropped 16.9 percent annually in the October to December period, down from a 19 percent fall in the third, while Estonia's GDP contracted 9.5 percent, down from 16.1 percent.
4) All three Baltic countries, including Lithuania, are undergoing an unprecedented correction after years of lightning-fast growth that followed EU membership in 2004. A flood of EU funds and cheap, accessible loans fueled domestic consumption and triggered a real estate bubble.
5) In Latvia, a country of 2.3 million people, unemployment has reached a staggering 23 percent, the highest in the EU, while domestic demand in Estonia, which has 1.3 million people, has declined 24 percent. Some sectors have been devastated by the recession, with the retail market in Latvia shrinking by 30 percent.
6) Baltic leaders, however, insist that the worst is over. "We expect to return to economic growth in the second half of this year," Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis told journalists Thursday, adding that exports were continuing to rise, which provided a basis for optimism.
7) For its part, Estonia is fighting to meet the Maastricht criteria on inflation, budget deficit and debt levels so that it can adopt the euro as early as January next year.
8) Latvia is the only Baltic nation that was forced to resort to international finance to avert bankruptcy. In December 2008 it was forced to sign a (EURO)7.5 billion ($10.2 billion) emergency bailout deal with the EU, the International Monetary Fund, and other lenders. On Thursday the European Union disbursed (EURO)500 million as part of this loan.
9) Dombrovskis said that in the near future Latvia would likely draw less from the bailout package since the country has sufficient cash to meet its current obligations.
2009 worst year on record for Latvia, Estonia
(APW_ENG_20100311.0768)
1) Latvia and Estonia said Thursday that their economies last year suffered the steepest contraction since independence nearly two decades ago, as they were hit particularly hard by the global financial crisis.
2) Economic output in Latvia, one of the most troubled economies in the 27-member European Union, fell a staggering 18 percent last year, Latvia Statistics said, while Estonia's tech-savvy economy contracted by 14.1 percent, according to Statistics Estonia.
3) Fourth quarter data, by contrast, showed that both countries have put the worst behind. Latvia's gross domestic product dropped 16.9 percent annually in the October to December period, down from a 19 percent fall in the third, while Estonia's GDP contracted 9.5 percent, down from 16.1 percent.
4) All three Baltic countries, including Lithuania, are undergoing an unprecedented correction after years of lightning-fast growth that followed EU membership in 2004. A flood of EU funds and cheap, accessible loans fueled domestic consumption and triggered a real estate bubble.
5) In Latvia, a country of 2.3 million people, unemployment has reached a staggering 23 percent, the highest in the EU, while domestic demand in Estonia, which has 1.3 million people, has declined 24 percent. Some sectors have been devastated by the recession, with the retail market in Latvia shrinking by 30 percent.
6) Baltic leaders, however, insist that the worst is over. "We expect to return to economic growth in the second half of this year," Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis told journalists Thursday, adding that exports were continuing to rise, which provided a basis for optimism.
7) For its part, Estonia is fighting to meet the Maastricht criteria on inflation, budget deficit and debt levels so that it can adopt the euro as early as January next year.
8) Latvia is the only Baltic nation that was forced to resort to international finance to avert bankruptcy. In December 2008 it was forced to sign a euro7.5 billion ($10.2 billion) emergency bailout deal with the EU, the International Monetary Fund, and other lenders. On Thursday the European Union disbursed euro500 million as part of this loan.
9) Dombrovskis said that in the near future Latvia would likely draw less from the bailout package since the country has sufficient cash to meet its current obligations.
2010-06-07
EU-member Latvia promises to reduce 2011 deficit
(APW_ENG_20100607.0726)
1) The European Union's executive says Latvia will reduce next year's budget to bring the 2011 deficit down.
2) The European Commission says the Latvian government agreed to cut spending by $666 million to $741 million ((EURO)557 million to (EURO)620 million) after holding talks on Monday with the EU, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Swedish government, which together provided a (EURO)7.5 billion bailout to Latvia in 2008.
3) The EU says Latvia is "within reach" of its goal to bring the 2010 deficit down to 8.5 percent of gross domestic product.
4) It says the new cuts are needed to take the deficit down to 6 percent next year and more will have to be done to allow Latvia adopt the euro by 2014.
EU-member Latvia promises to reduce 2011 deficit
(APW_ENG_20100607.0727)
1) The European Union's executive says Latvia will reduce next year's budget to bring the 2011 deficit down.
2) The European Commission says the Latvian government agreed to cut spending by $666 million to $741 million (euro557 million to euro620 million) after holding talks on Monday with the EU, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Swedish government, which together provided a euro7.5 billion bailout to Latvia in 2008.
3) The EU says Latvia is "within reach" of its goal to bring the 2010 deficit down to 8.5 percent of gross domestic product.
4) It says the new cuts are needed to take the deficit down to 6 percent next year and more will have to be done to allow Latvia adopt the euro by 2014.
2010-08-09
Latvian economy grows slightly in Q2
(APW_ENG_20100809.0311)
1) Latvia's economy, one of Europe's most troubled, posted its second straight quarter of growth in the April to June period, the nation's statistics office announced Monday.
2) Economic activity in the second quarter increased a slight 0.1 percent compared with the first three months of the year, according to Latvia Statistics' initial estimate. During the first quarter the economy registered a 0.3 percent quarterly uptick.
3) Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis said the data proved that the country had firmly emerged from recession, Latvia's worst since gaining independence in 1991.
4) "The recession is over, and on the basis of certain indicators it can be expected that in the second part of the year Latvia's economy will regain growth in terms of both quarterly and annual indicators," Dombrovskis told reporters.
5) Still, on an annual basis the economy fell 3 percent as the construction and services sectors continue to languish, the statistics office said. By comparison, manufacturing is up 14 percent year-on-year in the second quarter.
6) Latvia's gross domestic product plummeted 18 percent last year -- the worst in the European Union -- as the country recovered from four years of strong growth that saw the economy expand by nearly 50 percent.
7) As the economy overheated, the country of 2.3 million became insolvent and to stay afloat was forced to borrow (EURO)7.5 billion ($10.5 billion) from international lenders in December 2008.
8) Government officials and analysts largely agree that the worst of the crisis is over and that the country could return to annual growth in 2011. Latvia's economy is expected to shrink about 2 percent this year.
2010-10-02
Russian party set to win Latvian election
(APW_ENG_20101002.0100)
1) A center-left ethnic Russian party looks poised to top the polls in Latvia's general election Saturday, the first time in the country's 20 years of independence that a pro-Russia party would win the most seats in Parliament.
2) Harmony Center, which predominantly consists of ethnic Russians living in Latvia, almost certainly will not win a majority in the 100-seat legislature -- nor would it be guaranteed a role in the next government.
3) However, a strong showing would most likely allow the party to sit in a future coalition given the high rate of government turnover in the tiny Baltic state.
4) Many people fear that Harmony Center would steer Latvia, a country of 2.3 million people, away from NATO and the European Union -- it joined both in 2004 -- and toward Russia.
5) Harmony Center leaders deny the accusation, though they acknowledge they would like to recall Latvia's troops from the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan.
6) Regardless, the next government will immediately be tasked with making large budget cuts and tax hikes as part of an austerity program put together by the International Monetary Fund and the EU.
7) After four years of stellar growth fueled by a borrow-and-spend boom, Latvia's economy nose-dived two years ago and has since shed some 25 percent of its size -- one of the worst recessions in the world. Unemployment reached nearly 25 percent, and tens of thousands of young people fled for greener pastures in countries like England and Ireland.
8) Only a (EURO)7.5 billion ($10.3 billion) emergency bailout package put together by the IMF and the EU in December 2008 saved Latvia from bankruptcy.
9) President Valdis Zatlers, who has the right to nominate the next prime minister, has said that one of the criteria in his selection will be a strict adherence to the bailout program. He also said he would not allow any shifts in foreign policy, a clear hint that he would be reluctant to let Harmony Center form the next government.
A glance at Latvia on election day
(APW_ENG_20101002.0140)
1) A look at Latvia's national election Saturday:
2) VOTERS:
3) 1.5 million people out of a population of 2.3 million.
4) The population consists of 60 percent ethnic Latvians, and approximately 35 percent people who use Russian as their first language -- Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians. Many minorities do not have citizenship and thus lack the right to vote, which remains an issue of contention.
5) AT STAKE:
6) The 100-seat parliament (Saeima). Traditionally Latvian parties have been divided along ethnic lines, though this year there have been attempts to breach the divide. The election's probable winner, the center-left Harmony Center, mainly consists of ethnic Russians, though its leader, Janis Urbanovics, is Latvian. The pro-Russia party has spent the past four years in opposition, so many voters consider it untainted by the country's debilitating economic recession.
7) The second-place bloc, Unity, consists of Latvian parties that run the current center-right government. Their leader, Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis, is hoping to continue ruling with the same coalition.
8) The party to watch is the Greens and Farmers Union, which will likely finish third and therefore become the kingmaker in any coalition.
9) ECONOMY:
10) Latvia's economy has been one of the worst-hit in the world during the global downturn. GDP has collapsed by 25 percent over the past two years. Facing bankruptcy two years ago, the country was forced to turn to the IMF and EU for bailout funds. In return for a pledge of (EURO)7.5 billion ($10.3 billion), Latvia was forced to agree to harsh austerity measures, including tax hikes and salary cuts.
11) HISTORY:
12) Latvia has been part of other nations throughout nearly all its history, changing hands between Germans, Swedes, and Russians. After World War I the country acquired independence, only to be swallowed up by the Soviet Union in a secret pact with Nazi Germany on the eve of World War II. For the next 50 years Latvia was one of 15 republics of the Soviet Union, but eventually regained independence in 1991. Ethnic Russians who moved to Latvia during the occupation did not receive automatic citizenship and are considered noncitizens. In order to receive citizenship, and thus the right to vote, they must pass a Latvian language and history exam.
Russian party set to win Latvian election
(APW_ENG_20101002.0193)
1) A center-left ethnic Russian party looks poised to top the polls in Latvia's general election Saturday, the first time in the country's 20 years of independence that a pro-Russia party would win the most seats in Parliament.
2) Harmony Center, which predominantly consists of ethnic Russians living in Latvia, almost certainly will not win a majority in the 100-seat legislature -- nor would it be guaranteed a role in the next government.
3) However, a strong showing would most likely allow the party to sit in a future coalition given the high rate of government turnover in the tiny Baltic state.
4) Many people fear that Harmony Center would steer Latvia, a country of 2.3 million people, away from NATO and the European Union -- it joined both in 2004 -- and toward Russia.
5) Leaders of Harmony Center, which controls the city council in the capital, Riga, deny the accusation, though they acknowledge they would like to recall Latvia's troops from the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan.
6) Regardless, the next government will immediately be tasked with making large budget cuts and tax hikes as part of an austerity program put together by the International Monetary Fund and the EU.
7) After four years of stellar growth fueled by a borrow-and-spend boom, Latvia's economy nose-dived two years ago and has since shed some 25 percent of its size -- one of the worst recessions in the world. Unemployment reached nearly 25 percent, and tens of thousands of young people fled for greener pastures in countries like England and Ireland.
8) Only a (EURO)7.5 billion ($10.3 billion) emergency bailout package put together by the IMF and the EU in December 2008 saved Latvia from bankruptcy.
9) President Valdis Zatlers, who has the right to nominate the next prime minister, has said that one of the criteria in his selection will be a strict adherence to the bailout program. He also said he would not allow any shifts in foreign policy, a clear hint that he would be reluctant to let Harmony Center form the next government.
10) Analysts agree that the probable third-place winner, the populist Greens and Farmers Union, will be the kingmaker in any future coalition as it will hold enough seats to give a majority to either Harmony Center or Unity.
Russian party set to win Latvian election
(APW_ENG_20101002.0295)
1) A center-left ethnic Russian party looks poised to top the polls in Latvia's general election Saturday, the first time in the country's 20 years of independence that a pro-Russia party would win the most seats in Parliament.
2) Harmony Center, which predominantly consists of ethnic Russians living in Latvia, almost certainly will not win a majority in the 100-seat legislature -- nor would it be guaranteed a role in the next government.
3) However, a strong showing would most likely allow the party to sit in a future coalition given the high rate of government turnover in the tiny Baltic state.
4) Many people fear that Harmony Center would steer Latvia, a country of 2.3 million people, away from NATO and the European Union -- it joined both in 2004 -- and toward Russia.
5) Leaders of Harmony Center, which controls the city council in the capital, Riga, deny the accusation, though they acknowledge they would like to recall Latvia's troops from the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan.
6) Regardless, the next government will immediately be tasked with making large budget cuts and tax hikes as part of an austerity program put together by the International Monetary Fund and the EU.
7) After four years of stellar growth fueled by a borrow-and-spend boom, Latvia's economy nose-dived two years ago and has since shed some 25 percent of its size -- one of the worst recessions in the world. Unemployment reached nearly 25 percent, and tens of thousands of young people fled for greener pastures in countries like England and Ireland.
8) Only a (EURO)7.5 billion ($10.3 billion) emergency bailout package put together by the IMF and the EU in December 2008 saved Latvia from bankruptcy.
9) President Valdis Zatlers, who has the right to nominate the next prime minister, has said that one of the criteria in his selection will be a strict adherence to the bailout program. He also said he would not allow any shifts in foreign policy, a clear hint that he would be reluctant to let Harmony Center form the next government.
10) Analysts agree that the probable third-place winner, the populist Greens and Farmers Union, will be the kingmaker in any future coalition as it will hold enough seats to give a majority to either Harmony Center or Unity.
11) "I voted for Harmony Center," said Sergei Nosov, a Russian who moved to Latvia 25 years ago and passed the citizenship exam. "I've seen that something's being done in Riga. They're doing exactly what they promised before municipal elections."
12) Raivis Lazdins, a Latvian, said Harmony Center couldn't be trusted. "They're friends with the Kremlin party United Russia, which is led by (Russian Prime Minister Vladimir) Putin, so voting for them would be crazy," said Lazdins, adding that he was going to cast his ballot for Unity.
13) The Central Election Committee said voter turnout was 35.7 percent with four hours remaining before polls closed, which is less than the same time four years ago. Lines have formed at some voting stations and led some potential voters to walk away, according to reports.
Russian party set to win Latvian election
(APW_ENG_20101002.0328)
1) A center-left ethnic Russian party looks poised to top the polls in Latvia's general election Saturday, the first time in the country's 20 years of independence that a pro-Russia party would win the most seats in Parliament.
2) Harmony Center, which predominantly consists of ethnic Russians living in Latvia, almost certainly will not win a majority in the 100-seat legislature -- nor would it be guaranteed a role in the next government.
3) However, a strong showing would most likely allow the party to sit in a future coalition given the high rate of government turnover in the tiny Baltic state.
4) Many people fear that Harmony Center would steer Latvia, a country of 2.3 million people, away from NATO and the European Union -- it joined both in 2004 -- and toward Russia.
5) Leaders of Harmony Center, which controls the city council in the capital, Riga, deny the accusation, though they acknowledge they would like to recall Latvia's troops from the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan.
6) Regardless, the next government will immediately be tasked with making large budget cuts and tax hikes as part of an austerity program put together by the International Monetary Fund and the EU.
7) After four years of stellar growth fueled by a borrow-and-spend boom, Latvia's economy nose-dived two years ago and has since shed some 25 percent of its size -- one of the worst recessions in the world. Unemployment reached nearly 25 percent, and tens of thousands of young people fled for greener pastures in countries like England and Ireland.
8) Only a (EURO)7.5 billion ($10.3 billion) emergency bailout package put together by the IMF and the EU in December 2008 saved Latvia from bankruptcy.
9) President Valdis Zatlers, who has the right to nominate the next prime minister, has said that one of the criteria in his selection will be a strict adherence to the bailout program. He also said he would not allow any shifts in foreign policy, a clear hint that he would be reluctant to let Harmony Center form the next government.
10) Analysts agree that the probable third-place winner, the populist Greens and Farmers Union, will be the kingmaker in any future coalition as it will hold enough seats to give a majority to either Harmony Center or Unity, a centrist bloc that controls the current government and is expect to finish second.
11) "I voted for Harmony Center," said Sergei Nosov, a Russian who moved to Latvia 25 years ago and passed the citizenship exam. "I've seen that something's being done in Riga. They're doing exactly what they promised before municipal elections."
12) Raivis Lazdins, a Latvian, said Harmony Center couldn't be trusted. "They're friends with the Kremlin party United Russia, which is led by (Russian Prime Minister Vladimir) Putin, so voting for them would be crazy," said Lazdins, adding that he was going to cast his ballot for Unity.
13) The Central Election Committee said voter turnout was 35.7 percent with four hours remaining before polls closed, which is less than the same time four years ago. Lines have formed at some voting stations and led some potential voters to walk away, according to reports.
Russian party set to win Latvian election
(APW_ENG_20101002.0365)
1) Latvia's center-right government is fighting off a challenge from a center-left pro-Russia party that if it won Saturday's election would throw into question a financial bailout program for one of the world's most recession-scarred economies.
2) A victory by Harmony Center, which predominantly consists of ethnic Russians living in Latvia, would also raise acute concerns for Latvia's NATO allies, given the party's close ties with the Kremlin.
3) Polls indicate that the Harmony Center, which is currently in the parliamentary opposition, would not win a majority of seats in the 100-member legislature, nor would finishing first guarantee it a role in the next government.
4) But a victory by the predominantly ethnic Russian party would be unprecedented in Latvia's 20 years of independence and where memories of the Soviet occupation are still painful.
5) President Valdis Zatlers, who has the right to nominate the next prime minister has said that one of the criteria in his selection will be strict adherence to the (EURO)7.5 billion ($10.3 billion) emergency bailout package put together by the IMF and the EU in December 2008.
6) The bailout saved Latvia, where the economy had overinflated after four years of double-digit growth, from bankruptcy, but it also shackles any future government to harsh budget cuts and tax hikes -- something that will not sit well with a population that saw unemployment reach nearly 25 percent last year.
7) Leaders of Harmony Center, which brands itself as the only social-democratic party in Latvia, have said in the past they would like to renegotiate part of the IMF-led program.
8) Harmony Center officials, who control the city council in the capital, Riga, also say they would like to pull Latvia's troops from the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan, a drastic foreign policy shift that the president said could not be tolerated.
9) Analysts agree that the probable third-place winner, the populist Greens and Farmers Union, will be the kingmaker in any future coalition, because it will hold enough seats to give a majority to either Harmony Center or Unity, a centrist bloc that controls the current government and is expect to finish second.
10) "I voted for Harmony Center," said Sergei Nosov, a Russian who moved to Latvia 25 years ago and passed the citizenship exam. "I've seen that something's being done in Riga. They're doing exactly what they promised before municipal elections."
11) Raivis Lazdins, a Latvian, said Harmony Center couldn't be trusted. "They're friends with the Kremlin party United Russia, which is led by (Russian Prime Minister Vladimir) Putin, so voting for them would be crazy," said Lazdins, adding that he was going to cast his ballot for Unity.
12) Lines have formed at some voting stations and led some potential voters to walk away, according to reports.
TV exit poll: Latvian government wins re-election
(APW_ENG_20101002.0524)
1) An exit poll showed Latvia's center-right government winning re-election in one of the world's most recession-scarred economies with about 55 percent of the vote Saturday.
2) If the result stands it would likely mean that Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis stays in power at the helm of a coalition of center-right parties that took office in March 2009 after the previous government collapsed amid political and economic turmoil.
3) The exit poll by the BNS news service and LTV television showed the main challenger -- the pro-Russia Harmony Center party -- winning about 30 percent of the vote.
4) The exit poll included 3,377 voters. The margin of error was not announced.
5) A victory by the center-left Harmony Center would have thrown into question a financial bailout program for Latvia, whose economic output has plunged 25 percent over the past two years.
6) President Valdis Zatlers, who has the right to nominate the next prime minister has said that one of the criteria in his selection will be strict adherence to the (EURO)7.5 billion ($10.3 billion) emergency bailout package put together by the IMF and the EU in December 2008.
7) The bailout saved Latvia, where the economy had overinflated after four years of double-digit growth, from bankruptcy, but it also shackles any future government to harsh budget cuts and tax hikes -- something that will not sit well with a population that saw unemployment reach nearly 25 percent last year.
8) Leaders of Harmony Center, which brands itself as the only social-democratic party in Latvia, have said in the past they would like to re-negotiate part of the IMF-led program.
9) Harmony Center officials, who control the city council in the capital, Riga, also say they would like to pull Latvia's troops from the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan, a drastic foreign policy shift that the president said could not be tolerated.
10) The fault lines between ethnic Latvians and the Russian minority run deep in this small Baltic nation, and the idea of Russian influence evokes painful memories of 50 years of Soviet occupation. Ever since Latvia's independence in 1991, politics here have been dominated by center-right governments steering the country on a pro-Western course, culminating in NATO and European Union membership in 2004.
11) Russian-speakers, mostly ethnic Russians but also Ukrainians and Belorussians, represent one-third of Latvia's 2.3 million population. But given that many traditional Latvian parties are blamed for the recession, some Latvians are willing to vote for the center-left Harmony Center. The party last year won a municipal election in Riga, the capital.
12) Analysts agree that the probable third-place winner, the populist Greens and Farmers Union, will be the kingmaker in any future coalition, because it will hold enough seats to give a majority to either Harmony Center or Unity, a centrist bloc that controls the current government.
13) Unity had 33 percent in the exit poll while the Greens and Farmers Union got 15 percent and the third coalition partner, the right-wing For Fatherland and Freedom, had 7 percent.
14) The Central Election Commission said preliminary results showed voter turnout was 61 percent.
15) "I voted for Harmony Center," said Sergei Nosov, a Russian who moved to Latvia 25 years ago and passed the citizenship exam. "I've seen that something's being done in Riga. They're doing exactly what they promised before municipal elections."
16) Raivis Lazdins, a Latvian, said Harmony Center couldn't be trusted. "They're friends with the Kremlin party United Russia, which is led by (Russian Prime Minister Vladimir) Putin, so voting for them would be crazy," said Lazdins, adding that he was going to cast his ballot for Unity.
TV exit poll: Latvian government wins re-election
(APW_ENG_20101002.0622)
1) Voters in Latvia, one of the world's most recession-scarred economies, have extended the mandate to the current center-right government to continue painful economic reforms, results of an exit poll and partial count of Saturday's election show.
2) An exit poll by the BNS news service and LTV television showed the three parties comprising the current center-right government of Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis winning 55 percent of the vote. The exit poll included 3,377 voters. The margin of error was not announced.
3) The Central Election Committee reported that, with 29 percent of the ballots counted, the government has 64 percent of the vote.
4) If the trend continues, it is all but certain that Dombrovskis, who took office in March 2009 after the previous government collapsed amid political and economic turmoil, would remain in power.
5) Both the exit poll and partial results show the centrist Unity bloc, which Dombrovskis leads, gaining the most votes among the five parties passing the 5 percent barrier -- a surprise turnaround after nearly all pre-election polls had suggested a victory by the pro-Russia Harmony Center.
6) A victory by the center-left Harmony Center would throw into question a financial bailout program for Latvia, whose economic output has plunged 25 percent over the past two years.
7) President Valdis Zatlers, who has the right to nominate the next prime minister, has said that one of the criteria in his selection will be strict adherence to the (EURO)7.5 billion ($10.3 billion) emergency bailout package put together by the IMF and the EU in December 2008.
8) The bailout saved Latvia from bankruptcy after the economy had overinflated after four years of double-digit growth, but it also shackles any future government to harsh budget cuts and tax hikes -- something that will not sit well with a population that saw unemployment reach nearly 25 percent last year.
9) Leaders of Harmony Center, which brands itself as the only social-democratic party in Latvia, have said in the past they would like to re-negotiate part of the IMF-led program.
10) Harmony Center officials, who control the city council in the capital, Riga, also say they would like to pull Latvia's troops from the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan, a drastic foreign policy shift that the president said could not be tolerated.
11) The fault lines between ethnic Latvians and the Russian minority run deep in this small Baltic nation, and the idea of Russian influence evokes painful memories of 50 years of Soviet occupation. Ever since Latvia's independence in 1991, politics here have been dominated by center-right governments steering the country on a pro-Western course, culminating in NATO and European Union membership in 2004.
12) Russian-speakers, mostly ethnic Russians but also Ukrainians and Belorussians, represent one-third of Latvia's 2.3 million population. But given that many traditional Latvian parties are blamed for the recession, some Latvians are willing to vote for the center-left Harmony Center. The party last year won a municipal election in Riga, the capital.
13) The Central Election Commission said preliminary results showed voter turnout was 62.6 percent, slightly more than the last election.
14) "I voted for Harmony Center," said Sergei Nosov, a Russian who moved to Latvia 25 years ago and passed the citizenship exam. "I've seen that something's being done in Riga. They're doing exactly what they promised before municipal elections."
15) Raivis Lazdins, a Latvian, said Harmony Center couldn't be trusted. "They're friends with the Kremlin party United Russia, which is led by (Russian Prime Minister Vladimir) Putin, so voting for them would be crazy," said Lazdins, adding that he was going to cast his ballot for Unity.
Latvians opt for political stability in key poll
(APW_ENG_20101002.0670)
1) Voters in Latvia, one of the world's most recession-scarred economies, have extended the mandate to the current center-right government to continue painful economic reforms, results of an exit poll and partial count of Saturday's election show.
2) An exit poll by the BNS news service and LTV television showed the three parties comprising the current center-right government of Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis winning 55 percent of the vote. The exit poll included 3,377 voters. The margin of error was not announced.
3) The Central Election Committee reported that, with 61 percent of the ballots counted, the government has mustered 61 percent of the vote.
4) If the trend continues, it is all but certain that Dombrovskis, who took office in March 2009 after the previous government collapsed amid political and economic turmoil, would remain in power with commanding control in the 100-member legislature.
5) Both the exit poll and partial results show the centrist Unity bloc, which Dombrovskis leads, gaining the most votes among the five parties passing the 5 percent barrier -- a surprise turnaround after nearly all pre-election polls had suggested a victory by the pro-Russia Harmony Center.
6) A victory by the center-left Harmony Center, which consists primarily of ethnic Russians, would throw into question a financial bailout program for Latvia, whose economic output has plunged 25 percent over the past two years.
7) President Valdis Zatlers, who has the right to nominate the next prime minister, has said that one of the criteria in his selection will be strict adherence to the (EURO)7.5 billion ($10.3 billion) emergency bailout package put together by the IMF and the EU in December 2008.
8) The bailout saved Latvia from bankruptcy after the economy had overinflated after four years of double-digit growth, but it also shackles any future government to harsh budget cuts and tax hikes -- something that will not sit well with a population that saw unemployment reach nearly 25 percent last year.
9) The economic difficulties will continue regardless of who is part of the next government, which will have to make some 400 million lats ($770 million) in both tax hikes and budget cuts to bring the 2011 budget deficit down to 6 percent as mandated by the IMF-led deal.
10) Analysts say the budget negotiations could led to tension in the next coalition and possibly even a collapse.
11) The Central Election Commission said preliminary results showed voter turnout was 62.6 percent, slightly more than the last election.
12) "I voted for Harmony Center," said Sergei Nosov, a Russian who moved to Latvia 25 years ago and passed the citizenship exam. "I've seen that something's being done in Riga. They're doing exactly what they promised before municipal elections."
13) Raivis Lazdins, a Latvian, said Harmony Center couldn't be trusted. "They're friends with the Kremlin party United Russia, which is led by (Russian Prime Minister Vladimir) Putin, so voting for them would be crazy," said Lazdins, adding that he was going to cast his ballot for Unity.
Latvians opt for political stability in key poll
(APW_ENG_20101002.0692)
1) Voters in Latvia, one of the world's most recession-scarred economies, have extended the mandate to the current center-right government to continue painful economic reforms, according to a preliminary count of over four-fifth of the votes in Saturday's election.
2) With 81 percent of the ballots counted, the government of Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis has mustered more than 60 percent of the vote, according to the Central Election Committee.
3) With most of the uncounted votes concentrated in the capital Riga, where support for the government is strong, it is all but certain that Dombrovskis, who took office in March 2009 after the previous government collapsed amid political and economic turmoil, will remain in power.
4) Results show the centrist Unity bloc, which Dombrovskis leads, winning the election with over 31 percent of votes -- a surprise turnaround after nearly all pre-election polls had suggested a victory by the pro-Russia Harmony Center.
5) Dombrovskis said the results showed voters had rejected populism and opted for stability.
6) "The existing coalition parties will begin talks on forming a new government tomorrow," he told journalists.
7) A victory by the center-left Harmony Center, which consists primarily of ethnic Russians, would throw into question a financial bailout program for Latvia, whose economic output has plunged 25 percent over the past two years.
8) President Valdis Zatlers, who has the right to nominate the next prime minister, has said that one criterion in his selection will be strict adherence to the (EURO)7.5 billion ($10.3 billion) emergency bailout package put together by the IMF and the EU in December 2008.
9) The bailout saved Latvia from bankruptcy after the economy had overinflated during four years of double-digit growth, but it also shackles any future government to harsh budget cuts and tax hikes -- something that will not sit well with a population that saw unemployment reach nearly 25 percent last year.
10) The economic difficulties will continue regardless of who is part of the next government, which will have to make some 400 million lats ($770 million) in both tax hikes and budget cuts to bring the 2011 budget deficit down to 6 percent as mandated by the IMF-led deal.
11) Analysts say the budget negotiations could led to tension in the next coalition and possibly even a collapse.
12) The Central Election Commission said preliminary results showed voter turnout was 62.6 percent, slightly more than the last election.
13) "I voted for Harmony Center," said Sergei Nosov, a Russian who moved to Latvia 25 years ago and passed the citizenship exam. "I've seen that something's being done in Riga. They're doing exactly what they promised before municipal elections."
14) Raivis Lazdins, a Latvian, said Harmony Center couldn't be trusted. "They're friends with the Kremlin party United Russia, which is led by (Russian Prime Minister Vladimir) Putin, so voting for them would be crazy," said Lazdins, adding that he was going to cast his ballot for Unity.
2010-10-03
Latvian gov ' t wins election, painful reforms ahead
(APW_ENG_20101003.0134)
1) Latvia's center-right government is poised to stay in power after voters backed its plans to continue painful reforms required by an international bailout program to fix the Baltic country's crippled economy.
2) A near-complete vote count Sunday shows Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis' coalition winning more than 57 percent of the vote in Latvia's parliamentary election. That would give it approximately 60 seats in the 100-member legislature.
3) The preliminary results show Dombrovskis' Unity party finished first with 31 percent of the vote, while a pro-Russia opposition party came in second with 26 percent.
4) The prime minister says he will start coalition talks on Sunday.
5) Latvia's economy plunged 25 percent in two years, the worst drop in the European Union.
Latvian gov ' t wins election, painful reforms ahead
(APW_ENG_20101003.0156)
1) Latvia's center-right government was poised to stay in power Sunday after voters backed its plans to continue painful reforms required by an international bailout program to fix the Baltic country's crippled economy.
2) With about 98 percent of precincts counted, Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis' minority coalition had mustered more than 57 percent of the vote in Latvia's parliamentary election Saturday. That would likely give it more than 60 seats in the 100-member legislature.
3) Dombrovskis' centrist Unity bloc finished first with 31 percent of the vote, while a pro-Russia opposition party, Harmony Center, came in second with 26 percent.
4) "The existing coalition parties will begin talks on forming a new government," he told reporters as the results came in.
5) The 39-year-old Dombrovskis, one of Europe's youngest prime ministers, took office in March 2009 after a wave of unrest related to Latvia's double-digit recession led to the collapse of the previous coalition.
6) He has promised further austerity measures to comply with the terms of a a (EURO)7.5 billion ($10.3 billion) bailout package designed by the International Monetary Fund and European nations to help Latvia stave off bankruptcy.
7) Latvia's economy started nose-diving in 2008, plunging 25 percent in two years -- the worst drop in the European Union.
8) The next government will have to make some 400 million lats ($770 million) in both tax hikes and budget cuts to bring the 2011 budget deficit down to 6 percent as mandated by the IMF-led deal.
9) Opinion polls before the election had suggested that the left-leaning Harmony Center, a party catering mainly to Latvia's Russian-speaking minority, would make strong gains by plugging into discontent over austerity measures.
10) Leaders of Harmony Center have said they would like to re-negotiate part of the bailout package.
11) Russian-speakers, mostly ethnic Russians but also Ukrainians and Belorussians, represent one-third of the 2.3 million population in the former Soviet republic, which joined the EU and NATO in 2004.
12) Coalition talks were scheduled to begin Sunday afternoon between Unity and its current partners: the populist Greens and Farmers Union, which finished third in the election, and the right-wing bloc For Fatherland and Freedom.
13) Dombrovskis said Saturday that he did not rule out cooperation with the center-left Harmony Center and that Unity would search for "touchstones" in bilateral talks Sunday.
14) However, it is unlikely that Harmony Center, which has signed a cooperation agreement with the Kremlin party United Russia, will be invited to take part in the next government given the intense animosity with the nationalist Fatherland party.
15) President Valdis Zatlers, whose responsibility is to name the next prime minister, has hinted he would like to see the Dombrovskis-led government stay in office.
Latvian gov ' t wins election, painful reforms ahead
(APW_ENG_20101003.0333)
1) Members of Latvia's center-right coalition government on Sunday agreed to keep working together after voters backed their plans for painful reforms required by an international bailout program to fix the Baltic country's crippled economy.
2) With over 99 percent of precincts counted in Saturday's election, Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis' minority coalition mustered more than 57 percent of the vote in Latvia's parliamentary election Saturday and earned 63 seats in the 100-member legislature, the Central Election Committee announced.
3) Dombrovskis' centrist Unity bloc finished first with 31 percent of the vote -- giving it 33 seats -- while a pro-Russia opposition party, Harmony Center, came in second with 26 percent, or 29 seats, according to preliminary results.
4) "Today we discussed further opportunities for cooperation and are ready to continue our joint work," he told reporters Sunday after meeting with the third- and fourth-place parties that together with Unity will comprise the coalition.
5) The three parties agreed on a timeframe that would allow for the new government to be confirmed on Nov. 2, when the new Parliament first convenes.
6) The 39-year-old Dombrovskis, one of Europe's youngest prime ministers, took office in March 2009 after a wave of unrest related to Latvia's double-digit recession led to the collapse of the previous coalition.
7) He has promised further austerity measures to comply with the terms of a a (EURO)7.5 billion ($10.3 billion) bailout package designed by the International Monetary Fund and European nations to help Latvia stave off bankruptcy.
8) Latvia's economy started nose-diving in 2008, plunging 25 percent in two years -- the worst drop in the European Union.
9) The next government will have to make some 400 million lats ($770 million) in both tax hikes and budget cuts to bring the 2011 budget deficit down to 6 percent as mandated by the IMF-led deal.
10) Opinion polls before the election had suggested that the left-leaning Harmony Center, a party catering mainly to Latvia's Russian-speaking minority, would make strong gains by plugging into discontent over austerity measures.
11) Russian-speakers, mostly ethnic Russians but also Ukrainians and Belorussians, represent one-third of the 2.3 million population in the former Soviet republic, which joined the EU and NATO in 2004.
12) Dombrovskis said Sunday that he would meet with the center-left Harmony Center to find common ground for future cooperation.
13) However, it is unlikely that Harmony Center, which has signed a cooperation agreement with the Kremlin party United Russia, will be invited to take part in the next government given the intense animosity with the nationalist Fatherland party.
14) President Valdis Zatlers, whose responsibility is to name the next prime minister, has hinted he would like to see the Dombrovskis-led government stay in office.
2010-10-12
Obama thanks Latvian leader for Afghanistan help
(APW_ENG_20101012.1064)
1) President Barack Obama is congratulating Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis on his re-election and thanking him for Latvia's support to the NATO contingent in Afghanistan.
2) Obama also thanked Dombrovskis for leading Latvia's economic rebound, the White House says.
3) The statement said Tuesday that Obama particularly thanked Dombrovskis for Latvia's contribution to the 2-year-old Northern Distribution Network, established to supply troops from the north rather than through difficult southern routes through Pakistan.
4) The U.S. Defense Logistics Agency reported completion of a two-truck test run from Germany to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan in 49 days, a significantly better time than previously possible.
Obama thanks Latvian leader for Afghanistan help
(APW_ENG_20101012.1072)
1) President Barack Obama is congratulating Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis on his re-election and thanking him for Latvia's support to the NATO contingent in Afghanistan.
2) In a phone call to Dombrovskis, Obama also thanked him for leading Latvia's economic rebound, the White House says.
3) The statement said Tuesday that Obama particularly thanked Dombrovskis for Latvia's contribution to the 2-year-old Northern Distribution Network, established to supply troops from the north rather than through difficult southern routes through Pakistan.
4) The U.S. Defense Logistics Agency reported completion of a two-truck test run from Germany to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan in 49 days, a significantly better time than previously possible.
2010-10-22
Latvia ' s center-right coalition to form new govt
(APW_ENG_20101022.0360)
1) Latvia's ruling center-right coalition has agreed to form a new government after winning a majority in Oct. 2 parliament elections.
2) The new coalition will be led by Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis' Unity party. The populist Greens and Farmers Union and a nationalist alliance will make up the other two-thirds.
3) Coalition talks dragged on over concerns that including the increasingly nationalist alliance would harm Latvia's image in the West and damage fragile relations with neighboring Russia.
4) Dombrovskis said Friday he decided to cooperate with the nationalists after they pledged not to touch the Baltic state's sensitive ethnic policy issues.
5) The nationalist alliance will have eight seats in the 100-seat parliament -- up from 5 in the previous parliament.
Latvia ' s center-right coalition to form new govt
(APW_ENG_20101022.0430)
1) Latvia's ruling government has agreed to form a new ruling coalition that will include a multiparty alliance containing some ultra-nationalists, Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis said Friday.
2) After the center-right government won the Oct. 2 parliamentary election, coalition talks dragged on over concerns that including an alliance with increasingly nationalistic views would harm Latvia's image in the West and damage fragile relations with neighboring Russia.
3) The alliance -- All for Latvia-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK -- has five members in the outgoing 100-member legislature and will have eight in the new one.
4) Overall, the coalition -- whose heavyweights will be the Dombrovskis-led Unity party and the populist Greens and Farmers Union -- will control 63 seats.
5) Many of the incoming lawmakers from the All for Latvia party, part of a grouping that calls itself the patriotic alliance, are young and inexperienced -- one is 22 years-old -- and renowned for ultra-nationalist views.
6) Dombrovskis told journalists he had decided to cooperate with the nationalists after they pledged not to touch the Baltic state's sensitive ethnic policy issues.
7) Some ultra-nationalists from All for Latvia, which is widely credited with rejuvenating the alliance, have suggested that Latvia should solve its ethnic problems though "repatriation" -- a code word for sending ethnic Russians to Russia.
8) Repatriation is a fringe idea and rejected by most Latvians.
9) All for Latvia members have also said that all public education in the Baltic state should be in Latvian, a move that would enrage the native Russian speaking part of the population, or about one-third of the country's 2.3 million people.
10) Currently native Russian speakers can receive most of primary school education in Russian and some 40 percent of high school instruction as well, with the remainder given in Latvian.
11) Dombrovskis said the nationalist alliance had agreed not to raise issues of education and repatriation while cooperating in the coalition.
12) However, Raivis Dzintars, the chairman for All for Latvia, said in a statement Friday that although the party had agreed to waive these issues for now, it would continue working on them.
13) Dombrovskis said the parties were still negotiating over ministerial positions, though it was likely that national alliance would receive one post.
2010-10-25
Latvian coalition to exclude nationalists
(APW_ENG_20101025.0351)
1) In a sharp reversal of a decision made last week, Latvia's prime minister announced Monday that the new government would not include a group of radical nationalists.
2) Valdis Dombrovskis said the new coalition, which is expected to receive formal approval in early November, would instead consist of the centrist Unity alliance, which Dombrovskis helps lead, and the populist Greens and Farmers Union. Together the two parties will control 55 seats in the 100-member Parliament.
3) Dombrovskis on Friday had said that the new coalition would include the nationalist alliance -- All for Latvia-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK -- but over the weekend a group within the Unity alliance threatened to pull out if the nationalists, who will have eight seats in the legislature, were invited into the government.
4) Several members of the All for Latvia party who will now have seats in Parliament have expressed ultra-nationalist views.
5) One of them, Janis Iesalnieks, 25, suggested two years ago in an interview with DDD, a fringe nationalist newspaper, that up to 400,000 people would have to be forcibly ostracized from Latvia as part of a "decolonization" program that would rid the Baltic state of "disloyal" subjects.
6) He also recommended that a government agency be established to assess each person's loyalty and decide whether he or she needed to be "repatriated."
7) Latvians comprise a slight majority in the country of 2.3 million people, while approximately one-third consists of native Russian speakers, many of whom moved to the Baltic state during the Soviet occupation after World War II. Prior to WWII, ethnic Russians made up just 9 percent of Latvia's population.
8) Some members of the Unity alliance, which won the national election earlier this month, had hoped to include the nationalists to strengthen the next ruling coalition, which could fracture over anti-corruption and budget-cutting measures.
9) Dombrovskis extracted a pledge from the nationalists that, if they were invited to take part in the government, they would not raise issues of ethnicity.
10) Still, many of the prime minister's allies were unimpressed and argued that the nationalists' presence in the coalition would damage Latvia's reputation in the West and complicate relations with Moscow, which are currently undergoing a thaw.
11) Parliament is expected to confirm the next government in the first week of November.
Latvian coalition to exclude nationalists
(APW_ENG_20101025.0366)
1) In a sharp reversal of a decision made last week, Latvia's prime minister announced Monday that the new government would not include a group of radical nationalists.
2) Valdis Dombrovskis said the new coalition, which is expected to receive formal approval in early November, would instead consist of the centrist Unity alliance, which Dombrovskis helps lead, and the populist Greens and Farmers Union. Together the two parties will control 55 seats in the 100-member Parliament.
3) Dombrovskis on Friday had said that the new coalition would include the nationalist alliance -- All for Latvia-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK -- but over the weekend a group within the Unity alliance threatened to pull its support if the nationalists, who will have eight seats in the legislature, were invited into the government.
4) "I believe the most difficult issues facing Latvia right now are economic and social, so we don't need to add ethnic problems," Aigars Stokenbergs, a lawmaker who spearheaded the weekend revolt within the Unity alliance, told The Associated Press.
5) Several members of the All for Latvia party who will now have seats in Parliament have expressed ultra-nationalist views.
6) One of them, Janis Iesalnieks, 25, suggested two years ago in an interview with DDD, a fringe nationalist newspaper, that up to 400,000 people would have to be forcibly ostracized from Latvia as part of a "decolonization" program that would rid the Baltic state of "disloyal" subjects.
7) He also recommended that a government agency be established to assess each person's loyalty and decide whether he or she needed to be "repatriated."
8) Latvians comprise a slight majority in the country of 2.3 million people, while approximately one-third consists of native Russian speakers, many of whom moved to the Baltic state during the Soviet occupation after World War II. Prior to WWII, ethnic Russians made up just 9 percent of Latvia's population.
9) Russians and other minorities who moved to Latvia during the Soviet period did not receive citizenship after the Baltic state won independence in 1991. They were instead classified as noncitizens -- meaning they cannot vote in elections or hold public office until the pass a Latvian language and history exam.
10) Latvia still has over 300,000 noncitizens.
11) Some members of the Unity alliance, which won the national election earlier this month, had hoped to include the nationalists to strengthen the next ruling coalition, which could fracture over anti-corruption and budget-cutting measures.
12) Dombrovskis extracted a pledge from the nationalists that, if they were invited to take part in the government, they would not raise issues of ethnicity.
13) Still, many of the prime minister's allies were unimpressed and argued that the nationalists' presence in the coalition would damage Latvia's reputation in the West and complicate relations with Moscow, which are currently undergoing a thaw.
14) Parliament is expected to confirm the next government in the first week of November.
2010-11-02
Latvia ' s Dombrovskis gets nod from president
(APW_ENG_20101102.0281)
1) Latvia's president has nominated Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis as the leader of the next government.
2) Dombrovskis' center-right Unity alliance last month won a parliamentary election seen as a mandate to continue painful reforms in the recession-scarred Baltic country.
3) President Valdis Zatlers told Parliament on Tuesday that the government and lawmakers needed to work together to pull Latvia out of its severe economic crisis. Output dropped 18 percent last year, the steepest fall in Europe.
4) The 39-year-old Dombrovskis took office in March 2009 as the country struggled to implement austerity measures required by a (EURO)7.5 billion ($10.5 billion) bailout package designed by the International Monetary Fund.
5) Lawmakers are expected to confirm his government Wednesday.
2010-11-03
Latvian lawmakers approve new government
(APW_ENG_20101103.0449)
1) Latvia's Parliament has confirmed the new government of Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis.
2) Sixty-three lawmakers voted in support, while 35 were against and two were absent in the 100-member legislature.
3) The Wednesday confirmation came one month after the centrist alliance that Dombrovskis leads won the national election in what was widely perceived as a mandate to continue painful reforms in the recession-hit country.
4) Dombrovskis told lawmakers that Latvia's economy has turned the corner but that current growth is fragile and could easily evaporate if tough decisions aren't passed.
5) Over the next months Latvia's new government must approve measures to reduce next year's deficit to meet requirements of a (EURO)7.5 billion international bailout loan agreed on two years ago.
Latvian lawmakers approve new government
(APW_ENG_20101103.0690)
1) Latvia's prime minister warned lawmakers on Wednesday that more tough choices lie ahead as the recession-scarred Baltic country grapples with a fresh round of tax hikes and budget cuts needed to slash the deficit.
2) In a speech to Parliament before it formally approved his government, Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis said the worst was over for Latvia, whose economic plunge was described by the International Monetary Fund as the steepest in the global downturn.
3) "The first post-crisis results give cause for optimism, but this growth is very fragile and even small fluctuations can result in negative consequences," the prime minister said.
4) Dombrovskis, who at 39 is one of Europe's youngest prime ministers, took over the Baltic state's government in March 2009 after the previous coalition failed to cope with austerity measures needed to rescue the nearly bankrupt economy.
5) Last month the centrist Unity alliance that Dombrovskis leads won the parliamentary election despite the unpopular measures it adopted over the past year-and-a-half as voters entrusted him to complete the painful economic healing process.
6) The vote also calmed international bond markets, which over the past two years have speculated that Latvia might be forced to devalue its currency to regain lost competitiveness -- a move that could have sparked similar currency moves throughout Eastern Europe.
7) The new government's priority will be to adopt next year's budget, which will require drastic spending cuts and new taxes in order to reduce the deficit to 6 percent of GDP from an approximate 8 percent this year. By 2012 the deficit should reach 3 percent, Dombrovskis said.
8) Currently the specifics of how the government will attain the target are unclear, but some form of tax hikes -- most likely on property and the value-added tax -- are inevitable.
9) "The ability to secure financial discipline and eventually a reduction of debt will send a clear signal to the international community that Latvia is a country that can stick to its goals," Dombrovskis said.
10) The deficit reduction is required by international lenders such as the IMF and the European Union, who in December 2008 pledged a (EURO)7.5 billion international bailout loan to Latvia.
11) The three-year loan program aims to iron out inefficiencies in Latvia's public sector and restore competitiveness, which was all but erased after four years of double-digit growth that ended in 2007.
12) Since then Latvia's economy has shed 25 percent of its value. Last year alone it lost 18 percent, a fall that the IMF described as the worst in the world.
13) Sixty-three lawmakers voted to support the new government, while 35 were against and two were absent in the 100-member legislature.