Previous versions discriminated against ethnic Russians.
Published:
16 December 1999 y., Thursday
The United States welcomed Latvia_s new language law on Tuesday and urged the government to follow through by observing its international obligations. Parliament approved an amended version of the controversial bill on December 9 after protests from Moscow and EU about an earlier draft. "The United States believes this law will promote and preserve the Latvian language, while respecting the privacy of Latvia_s private commercial activities and the private lives of all of Latvia_s residents," U.S. State Department said in a statement released by the embassy in Riga.
The law, which comes into force next September, boosts the use of Latvian language, which politicians say needs protection after it was marginalised by Russian during 50 years of Soviet rule.
Moscow has criticized the legislation saying it discriminates against 650,000 Russian speakers.
The U.S. statement recalled that social integration of non-Latvian speakers is a key goal of the U.S.-Baltic Charter of Partnership.
Šaltinis:
MSNBC
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
President Valdas Adamkus is attending the meeting of the European Council in Brussels. During the first day, the European Council discussed the issues of urgent importance to Europe, including the Lisbon Treaty, the current economic and financial crisis, energy security, and climate change.
more »
President Valdas Adamkus is leaving for a two-day working visit to Brussels to attend the European Council meeting.
more »
President Valdas Adamkus took part in the annual meeting of the executive directors and chairpersons of national UNICEF committees held in Vilnius.
more »
President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus congratulated the former President of Finland Mr. Martti Ahtisaari on receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for 2008.
more »
Viktor Popov started his duties as a new Lithuanian Honorary Consul in Ukraine.
more »
14 October Prime Minister Gediminas is leaving for Brussels to take part in the meetings of the European Council together with President Valdas Adamkus and Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas.
more »
On 13 October, during European Union’s General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting in Luxembourg, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Petras Vaitiekūnas and heads of diplomacy of other EU Member States discussed situation in Georgia and further development of the EU’s relations with Russia.
more »
Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas met with Ulrika Cronenberg-Mossberg, the new Ambassador of Sweden to Lithuania.
more »
President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus sent congratulations to His Majesty King Juan Carlos I of Spain on the occasion of the National Day.
more »
President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus had a telephone conversation with the President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves.
more »