Previous versions discriminated against ethnic Russians.

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.