Minority issues in Latvia, No. 11

December 14, 1999


Content

- The State Language Law has been adopted

- Latvia does not intend to ratify the Framework Convention

- Our URL address

 
The State Language Law has been adopted
 
On December 9 the Saeima (Parliament) of Latvia adopted the new State Language 
Law (with 52 voices for vs 26 against). The new law will come into force on September 
1, 2000. On July 14, 1999, the law was not promulgated and was returned to the Saeima 
by the President of Latvia Mrs. Vaira Vike-Freiberga, under pressure of international 
organizations. 

The most essential amendments introduced in comparison with the "July version" are 
the following:
 
1. Now the law regulates using of language in providing information and reports in 
private sphere only to the extent that this information is related to legitimate 
public interest (public safety, health, moral, healthcare, consumer rights and 
employee rights, workplace safety, supervision by public administration).

2. Public events organized by private persons and private organizations can be 
held in other languages than the state one, however, the Cabinet of Ministers is 
to adopt regulations which will establish exceptions from this general rule (i.e. 
the cases when translation to Latvian must be mandatory provided). 

3. It will not be obligatory to dubb or provide with the voice-over in the Latvian 
language films intended for children of pre-school age, these movies can be shown 
with the original sound track and subtitles in the Latvian language.

4. The Cabinet of Ministers by its regulations can permit usage of foreign languages, 
along with the Latvian language, in the texts of stamps, seals and letterheads of 
state and local authorities, courts and other judicial institutions, as well as 
private organizations. In that case the text in the Latvian language shall be in the 
foreground, and should not be smaller or narrower in size and contents as the text in 
a foreign language.
 
5. On the other hand, all state and municipal institutions, as well as enterprises in 
which state or local self-governments own the biggest share, can accept applications, 
complaints and other documents from private persons only if these documents are in the 
state language or provided with the translation approved by a notary or according to 
other procedure to be established by the Cabinet of Ministers' regulations. (According 
to the Language law currently in force, also applications in English, German or Russian 
must be accepted). 

6. Providing any information for public by the state, municipal, as well as state- and 
municipally- controlled enterprises and institutions, in other languages than the state 
one is explicitly prohibited. Also in this respect the Cabinet of Ministers must adopt 
special regulations which will envisage some special cases when other languages can be 
used along with the Latvian language. (The version of the language law currently in 
force stipulates that written answers to applications can be either in the state 
language or in the language of application, while language of spoken communications 
is not regulated at all).  

It is revealing that most crucial issues are not established by the law itself but 
left for the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers. 

The same evening the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Max van der Stoel 
issued the following Statement regarding the adoption of the State Language Law by 
the Latvian Parliament: 

"I welcome the adoption of the State Language Law by the Saeima. 

Analysis of the revised text of the State Language Law adopted by the Saeima today 
leads me to the conclusion that the law is now essentially in conformity with Latvia's 
international obligations and commitments.

I trust that the Cabinet of Ministers will follow the letter and spirit of the Law in 
elaborating implementing regulations, as foreseen in certain provisions of the Law, 
and in supervising public administration of the Law."

Similar statements have been released by the Council of Europe (a bit more reluctant) 
and by the European Commission (a bit more generous).  

While the adopted law undoubtedly is much more in compliance with the European 
Convention on Human Rights (with regard to freedom of speech and non-interference in 
private sphere), it contains more clauses which clearly run contrary to the 
provisions of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities 
(using minority languages in communication with public authorities, in public
information, etc.).

The Latvian Human Rights Committee (F.I.D.H.) held a picket against adoption of the 
State Language Law ("Funeral of the integration") near the Saeima on December 9.
 


Latvia does not intend to ratify the Framework Convention
 
Five MPs from the pro-minority faction "For Human Rights in Integrated Latvia" 
submitted a parliamentary question to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Indulis 
Berzinsh, asking about the Ministry's view on the possibility to ratify the 
Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The answer was 
given on November 30. The Foreign Ministry considers that initiating the 
ratification process would be "premature", it can be discussed only after 
adoption of the State Language Law (adopted on December 9) and the Framework 
Document of Integration of the Society of Latvia (also adopted in early December
with some amendments - will be covered in the next issue of "Minority issues in 
Latvia"). The Framework Convention was signed by Latvia in May 1995, but since
then no attempt to ratify it was ever made.


 
Our URL address
 
The Latvian Human Rights Committee is glad to invite you to visit our
newly opened web site (in the beginning of
creation now). 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
 

Alexei Dimitrov
Latvian Human Rights Committee (F.I.D.H.)