10 March 2004 06:37
Russia wants PACE to address ethnic minority rights in Latvia
MOSCOW. March 10 (Interfax) -.Chairman of the Russian State Duma international affairs committee Konstantin Kosachyov
told OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Rolf Ekeus that the Russian parliamentary delegation at PACE intends
to propose a draft resolution on the rights of ethnic minorities in Latvia at a July session.
Kosachyov told Interfax that, in a meeting with Ekeus on Wednesday, he suggested that the commissioner join the work
on this draft to ensure it is drawn up in a legally perfect form. According to the Duma deputy, Ekeus accepted the
offer.
"Ekeus believes that this situation is related to the overly
stringent requirements applicants have to meet to be given
"In the course of the conversation, Ekeus shared his impressions about his recent trip to Latvia and emphasized
that the situation with the rights of the Russian-speaking minority in that country causes concerns and requires the
OSCE's attention. In particular, Mr. Ekeus was concerned about the low rate at which the Russian-speaking
population is naturalized and granted citizenship, bearing in mind that there about 460,000 people living in Latvia
without citizenship," Kosachyov said.
citizenship," he said. [RU LV EUROPE ASIA EEU EMRG POL PRO] va aw <>
[Interfax] |
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