DNB publishes “Barometer of Latvia” August 2014.
25% think that Latvia is developing in the rigth direction, 53% - in the wrong direction. Only 10% evaluates their economic situation as good.
▻https://www.dnb.lv/sites/default/files/dnb_latvian_barometer/documents/2012/dnb-latvijas-barometrs-petijums-nr72.pdf
#Latvia #DNB_barometer #August2014 #Economic_situation #political_situation
Window on Eurasia — New Series: Window on Eurasia: What Putin Intends to Provoke in the Baltic Countries
▻http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2014/09/window-on-eurasia-what-putin-intends-to.html
Yesterday, Latvian Defense Minister Raimonds Vejonis said that Moscow may carry out a provocation on Latvian territory when Riga assumes the chairmanship of the EU Council given that the Russian authorities carried out “a multiplicity of provocations” against Lithuania when it assumed that position (regnum.ru/news/polit/1850004.html).
Unfortunately, it is clear that Moscow is not going to wait that long in Latvia or in her neighbors, Estonia and Lithuania. The illegal seizure of an Estonian security officer by Russian security agencies, actions by the Russian embassy in Riga to recruit militants, and the drumbeat of articles against Lithuania among other things demonstrate that.
Moscow has three obvious purposes by such actions. First, the Putin regime wants to promote fear among the governments and peoples of the Baltic countries the Russian military is about to move and that NATO will not be able or willing to respond to whatever Putin decides to do whenever he decides to do it.
Second, it wants to promote defeatist attitudes there, leading some in the three Baltic countries to conclude that they cannot possibly resist a Russian move and therefore should try to make the best deal they can with Moscow. Even if such people are not numerous, their appearance will divide these countries and make a common defense more difficult.
And third, the Russian government wants to provoke some Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians into making the kind of hyperbolic statements and taking the kind of actions that will isolate them from the West and provide ammunition to those in Western capitals who argue that no one should “die for Narva,” to use one phrase such people have already put about.
Each side in Ukraine crisis accuses the other of using foreign fighters. But what is the truth ? - The Independent
▻http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/diplomatic-channels-each-side-in-ukraine-crisis-accuses-the-other-of-
Even in the surreal surroundings of the People’s Republic of Donetsk, Beness Aijo stood out – a slight figure in combat fatigues too big, his part-Nigerian heritage making him an incongruous figure among the “army of Slav warriors” proclaiming the re-establishment of Novorossiya.
Où l’on reparle, plutôt bizarrement, de Aijo,…
According to British newspapers Aijo was a member of an elite squad of separatist gunmen: one report spoke of his “links to high-ranking Russian political figures”. The fact that he had once worked at Heathrow airport was used to hint at the security risk such a dangerous character may have posed.
In reality Aijo, a former microbiology student at London University’s Birkbeck College, turned out to be a polite and earnest young man. He knew little of Novorossiya – the dream of a “New Russia” carved out of Ukraine – but was keen to talk about Marxist-Leninism and the ultimate triumph of the proletariat. His decision to attach himself to various campaigns had led to prison spells in Latvia, Holland and Ukraine; he was not a soldier of fortune.
Messy and disorganised conflicts attract adventurers from abroad. Some are harmless idealists like Aijo; some are fantasists; but there are also real fighters and there were certainly plenty of them drifting into Ukraine.
On avait déjà croisé ce harmless idealist, par ailleurs, militant #nazbol par ici, ▻http://seenthis.net/messages/262696
De l’autre côté, équilibre oblige, on a un nazi suédois,…
Private armies, funded by oligarchs, fighting for the Kiev government, have attracted hard-right recruits. The Azov Battalion is particularly popular for foreign volunteers because of its English-language social pages. Mikael Skillt, a 37-year-old former Swedish soldier, joined after his “warrior soul was awakened” by the Maidan protests against Yanukovych’s government.
Skillt, who says he is proud to be a National Socialist, was “fighting for the freedom of the Ukrainian people against Putin’s imperialist front”. His next campaign is going to be in Syria, fighting for the regime. But isn’t Putin the regime’s ally? “Yes, but Assad is standing up to international Zionism and that is of the utmost importance,” was the response.
It remains unclear if and when Skillt will make it to Syria. He was based at a disused summer school in the village Shyrokyne, outside Mariupol, when it came under heavy fire two weeks ago, forcing his unit to retreat, abandoning weapons.
The attack was carried out by an artillery unit manned by Russians to the north-east who were in Ukraine, they said, “on holiday”.
Et donc, à ma droite extrême (pro-russe), Aijo…
et à ma droite extrême (pro-ukrainienne), dans les rangs du bataillon Azov, Skilt,
Är du nazist ?
– Nä, etnisk nationalist är väl det raka svaret.
Es-tu nazi ?
Non, nationaliste ethnique serait plus exact.
▻http://nyheteridag.se/han-ar-svensk-dodsnazist-pa-riktigt
Il a été membre du Svenskarnas Parti, Parti des suédois,
▻http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_the_Swedes
Un an plus tard, Skillt toujours au poste mais, dit-il, plus nazi.
▻http://seenthis.net/messages/397644
Obama commits US to war against Russia in defense of Baltic states - World Socialist Web Site
▻http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2014/09/08/pers-s08.html
In a series of speeches and press conferences in connection with last week’s NATO summit in Wales, President Barack Obama publicly declared that the United States military will maintain a permanent presence in the Baltic states of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia, which border Russia. He vowed that US air and ground forces will remain poised forevermore to respond to claims of Russian aggression by the governments of these countries by attacking Moscow.
In appearances in the Estonian capital of Tallinn and later in Wales, Obama announced a series of military moves against Russia by the United States and NATO as well as expanded economic sanctions and pledges to bolster the military forces of the former Soviet republics of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova. He made clear in addition that Washington will push for all three countries to join the US-dominated NATO military alliance.
L’exercice militaire OTAN-Ukraine Rapid Trident en Ukraine occidentale, initialement programmé en juillet aura finalement lieu du 16 au 26 septembre.
U.S., allies to stage exercises in West Ukraine as battles rage in East - Yahoo News
▻http://news.yahoo.com/u-allies-stage-exercises-west-ukraine-battles-rage-174112556.html
As fighting between the army and Russian-backed rebels rages in eastern Ukraine, preparations are under way near its western border for a joint military exercise this month with more than 1,000 troops from the United States and its allies.
The decision to go ahead with the Rapid Trident exercise Sept. 16-26 is seen as a sign of the commitment of NATO states to support non-NATO member Ukraine while stopping well short of military intervention in the conflict.
The annual exercise, to take place in the Yavoriv training center near Ukraine’s border with Poland, was initially scheduled for July, but was put back because early planning was disrupted by the crisis in the eastern part of the country.
(…)
In addition to staging air force exercises, the United States is moving tanks and 600 troops to Poland and the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania for joint maneuvers in October, replacing a more lightly armed force of paratroopers.
But Rapid Trident will entail the first significant deployment of U.S. and other personnel to Ukraine since the crisis erupted.
President Barack Obama will visit Estonia on Wednesday to reassure the former Soviet Baltic states of U.S. support, and Estonia’s prime minister on Tuesday called for a more visible NATO presence in eastern Europe.
(…)
The United States European Command (EUCOM) says the exercise this month will involve about 200 U.S. personnel as well as 1,100 others from Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Britain, Canada, Georgia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Romania and Spain.
Focused on peacekeeping, it will include command post drills, patrolling and dealing with improvised explosive devices.
While it involves many NATO members as well as countries such as Ukraine, who are part of NATO’s broader “Partnership for Peace,” the exercise is not formally a NATO drill.
More broadly, under a broad program titled “Operation Atlantic Resolve” meant to show U.S. commitment to the European allies, NATO is running what officials say is a ramped up version of its regular summer and autumn training schedule.
BBC News - Royal Navy warship in Baltic Sea exercise amid Ukraine tension
▻http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-27752744
HMS Montrose, a Type 23 frigate, will take part in a two-week long security exercise which will begin on Monday.
Exercise Baltops, the largest multinational maritime exercise in the Baltic Sea this year, will test the maritime capabilities among Baltic sea countries and allied nations.
More than 100 British soldiers will also take part in live-fire training in Estonia and Latvia as part of exercise Sabre Strike, which began on Sunday.
They join personnel from the US, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Norway.
Suit le détail de l’ensemble des actions menées et programmées par la Grande-Bretagne pour « rassurer nos alliés »
Meanwhile, around 200 British infantry troops will take part in a live fire exercise in Poland in September, along with up to 7,000 personnel from the US and Canada.
It follows action already taken by the UK to reassure Nato’s Eastern European members, the MoD said.
In April, four RAF Typhoons helped to carry out Nato’s air policing role of the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania as part of a long-standing rotation.
And in May, British soldiers from the 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment joined 6,000 troops from Nato states in Estonia for a training exercise.
On Friday the Central Statistical bureau of Latvia announced that in the beginning of the May the population in Latvia dropped below 2 mill. It was 1 997 500 inhabitants in Latvia in the May of 2014. The analysts argue that it is both due to depopulation and emigration.
Although in the last months the birth rate has been growing, there are still more people dying. The second reason - emigration - was also caused by economic situation during the financial crisis. Latvia has now recovered from crisis but people still are emigrating - many of them to Norway.
TVNET :: Latvijā - Iedzīvotāju skaits Latvijā noslīdējis zem diviem miljoniem
▻http://www.tvnet.lv/zinas/latvija/513377-iedzivotaju_skaits_latvija_noslidejis_zem_diviem_miljoniem
2014.gadā iedzīvotāju skaits Latvijā turpina samazināties - maija sākumā valstī dzīvoja 1 997 500 iedzīvotāju. Iedzīvotāju skaits samazinās gan dabiskā pieauguma (mirušo skaita pārsvars pār dzimušo skaitu), gan migrācijas dēļ.
« Šāda iedzīvotāju skaita samazināšanās ir satraucoša, » šodien preses konferencē atzina CSP priekšniece Aija Žīgure. Lai gan dzimstība uzlabojas, diemžēl mirstība saglabājas augstāka, līdz ar to dabiskais pieaugums joprojām ir negatīvs, viņa sacīja.
#demography #Latvia #population #depopulation #negative_birth_rate #CSP #CSB #emigration
The number of population is decreasing – the mark has dropped below 2 million | Latvijas statistika
▻http://www.csb.gov.lv/en/notikumi/number-population-decreasing-mark-has-dropped-below-2-million-39639.html
At the beginning of 2014 the number of population in Latvia comprised 2 million 1468, a drop of 22.4 thousand persons compared to the previous year. Compared to 1.03 % in 2012, the population decrease in 2013 comprised 1.10 %. Of total population 917.1 thsd or 45.8% were males and 1084.4 thsd (54.2%) – females.
In 2014 the number of population in Latvia continues to reduce – at the beginning of May there were 1 million 997.5 thousand persons living in Latvia. The number of population is decreasing both due to natural increase (the number of deaths prevails the number of births), and due to migration.
Une très belle collection de photos sur la lettonie, libr de roits sur demande
Photo Gallery Latvia is a high-resolution image service featuring images of Latvia. The images may be used free of charge only for the purpose of promoting Latvia to:
Foreign media,
Latvian and foreign embassies,
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exhibitions, conferences, CD-ROMs, broadcasting media and the Internet etc.)
Soviet Radio Telescopes | English Russia
▻http://englishrussia.com/2009/06/25/soviet-radio-telescopes
Somewhere between Ventspils and Kolka cape in Latvia (ex-Soviet country) is located two radio telescopes (also known as “zvjozdachka” – the star), that in those days were one of most secret elements in soviet army. There are two antennas left – RT-32 (main dish is 32 meters in diameter) and RT-16 (16 meters). The smallest one – RT-10 – was taken away when soviet soldiers left Latvia in 90-ies. With those antennas Russian forces were able to spy phone calls everywhere they wanted.
Latvian constitutional referendum, 2012, on Russian as second official language in Latvia - Wikipedia
▻http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latvian_constitutional_referendum,_2012
Puisqu’on est en Lettonie et qu’on parle de la population russe (ou russophone), voici cette carte très intéressante sur le résultat du référundum (et un peu de contexte)
A constitutional referendum on the “Amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia” was held on 18 February 2012.[1] Proposed amendments included Articles 4, 18, 21, 101 and 104 of the Constitution of Latvia by adding the condition about Russian as the second official language, as well as prescribing two working languages — Latvian and Russian for self-government institutions. The referendum’s question was "Do you support the adoption of the Draft Law “Amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia” that provides for the Russian language the status of the second official language?".[2]
Crimea invasion could be just a beginning
EUobserver / Nato chief: Crimea invasion could be just the beginning
▻http://euobserver.com/foreign/123545
Russia invaded and annexed Crimea on the pretext of protecting the ethnic Russian majority in the Ukrainian region.
It has long complained that ethnic Russians in Estonia and Latvia are also mistreated. But the Russian diplomat on Wednesday linked the situation in the Baltic states to what Russia is doing in Ukraine.
According to minutes of the meeting seen by Reuters, he noted that “language should not be used to segregate and isolate groups,” adding that Moscow is "concerned by steps taken in this regard in Estonia as well as in Ukraine.”
#Baltic_states #Latvia #Crimea #Russia #EU #NATO #Ethnic_Russians
Crimea crisis sharpens Latvia ethnic tensions
BBC News - Crimea crisis sharpens Latvia ethnic tensions
▻http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-26720549
They have come here to commemorate those who died defending Latvia against the Soviet Union in the war.
But with Russian troops now in nearby Ukraine, many in the Baltics are alarmed that history may be about to repeat itself.
“If Ukraine falls, then Russian ambitions won’t stop with this. I believe we will be next in Russia’s list of actions,” said one young man who had come to take part in the procession.
“It shows the attitude of Russia - how it goes into another country very easily and acts in an aggressive manner,” said another.
Crimée : conséquence de la crise entre l’Ukraine et la Russie, les pays baltes, très inquiets, demandent au Danemark d’envoyer ses F-16 pour patrouiller le long de la frontière avec la Russie...
Il y a 50 % de Russes en Lettonie.
Danske jagerfly til Baltikum - Nyheter, tv og radio fra hele verden - NRK.no
▻http://www.nrk.no/verden/danske-jagerfly-til-baltikum-1.11632249
Danmark sender jagerfly til Baltikum
Danmark sender seks F-16 jagerfly til Baltikum for å patruljere luftrommet over de tre landene Estland, Latvia og Litauen som alle føler seg truet av Russlands militære nærvær.
NATO har siden 2004 fløyet patruljer i luftrommet over de tre NATO-landene, som ikke har avanserte nok fly til oppgaven selv. Det danske bidraget er muligens en opptrapping av den eksisterende tilstedeværelsen.
C’est un renforcement des patrouilles OTAN organisées depuis 2004 qui sont réalisées par des rotations des forces aériennes des différents pays. Les É.-U. ont doublé leur contingent de F15 le 6 mars
Cf. l’article Baltic Air Policing de WP ▻http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltic_Air_Policing où l’on trouve la liste des rotations effectuées depuis 2004 avec l’ajout (le 23/03) des deux dernières lignes du tableau (F16 danois et Typhoon britannique) ainsi que du commentaire en pied de tableau
Additional deployment of six F-15C’s was carried out 6th March, 2014, four F-16AM’s and one Eurofighter Typhoon’s will be carried out on April, 2014, due to the Crimean crises.
D’ailleurs, et c’est un grand classique, les pays baltes se querellent entre eux à ce sujet…
Row Over NATO Air Policing Rotation Clouds Baltic Cooperation (23/10/13)
▻http://www.lithuaniatribune.com/54511/row-over-nato-air-policing-mission-rotation-clouds-baltic-cooperat
The Baltic States have still failed to settle the dispute on the future of NATO’s air-policing mission: Lithuania insists that it sees no reasons for shifting a part of the mission to Estonia, as requested by Tallinn.
Meanwhile, Latvia maintains that it is the efficiency, not the rotation of the mission that is important, however, is worried that the Baltic cooperation is “experiencing not the best times.”
NATO fighter jets have been patrolling the Baltic skies since the three countries achieved fully-fledged membership in the Alliance in 2004. The mission is performed from the Lithuanian Air Force Aviation Base in Šiauliai, northern Lithuania, while Estonia wants one in three rotations hosted by its renovated Amari base after 2015. A request has been rejected by Lithuania, which maintains that rotation would only make the successful mission more expensive, whilst not giving any added value.
“For now, we see no added value in moving the mission from one airport to another. NATO emphasises #smart_defence and rational use of resources. This would not be the case, if the mission has to move from one airport to another,” Lithuanian Defence Minister Juozas Olekas told BNS.
He said Lithuania was ready to support other NATO projects in Estonia, for instance, efforts to enhance the Baltic Defence College.
Nevertheless, Estonia wants to use the new Amari base, saying it is willing to cover the additional costs.
Entre les deux, la Lettonie s’énerve…
Latvia, in its turn, believes that the disagreements reflect the cooperation problems the Baltic States are faced with.
“The Baltic cooperation in some ways is at this time experiencing not the best times. I am very much hoping that we will be able to overcome [discrepancies] sooner than later. Latvia is between Estonia and Lithuania and is very much worried that our disagreements: either it is about energy, or it is about transport, or it is about military cooperation, that are hijacked by one or another issue and not letting us to see the wider perspective. The wider perspective is that we have to stick together and we have to go on as soon as possible will all projects where we can find a common language,” Latvia’s Defence Minister Artis Pabriks said.
“As far as a concrete rotation, it’s not about rotation, it’s about a more efficient way of how we can preserve the security of our air defence. That’s the core issue. It’s not the question of who is doing what, it is the question of how we can do together better,” the Latvian minister said in comment of the Lithuanian-Estonian disagreements.
Et il faut ajouter qu’il y a à Riga une panique grandissante... Peut-être un peu fantasmée, mais un sentiment réel de menace, de danger.
18 Reasons Latvia Is Europe’s Best Kept Secret
▻http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/24/lativa-travel_n_4981083.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063
We’re constantly looking for the next great destination... something underrated and under-the-radar, a place that will satisfy nature lovers, culture buffs and urban explorers, and, of course, a place that is breathtakingly beautiful.
Not long ago, we fell in love with Norway. Now, we draw your attention to a country that’s a quick flight from good old Norway... Welcome to Latvia.
Once upon a time, Latvia’s image was mostly colored by its complex history during its Soviet Union days. Latvia regained its independence when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. Since then, the country has worked to recreate its image... and it’s definitely worked.
Latvia - 18th eurozone country
Latvia has joined eurozone and now is 18th country in EU which has euro currency.
EUobserver.com / Headline News / Latvia heralds ’big opportunity’ as it joins eurozone
▻http://euobserver.com/news/122622
Joining the currency is “a big opportunity for Latvia’s economic development,” Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis said as he became the first Latvian to withdraw euro banknotes in Riga.
Dmitry Trenin: Latvia has the closest economic relations with Russia among Baltic States :: The Baltic Course | Baltic States news & analytics
▻http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/direct_speech/?doc=85290
Latvian-Russian relations can develop successfully if the Latvian government is interested in this, Carnegie Moscow Center Director Dmitry Trenin points out in an interview with LETA.
The fact that Latvia has the closest economic relations with Russia among all Baltic States is an important precondition for successful development of mutual relations. Moreover, Russian residents feel much more comfortable in Riga than in Tallinn or Vilnius. Riga is a large and historically international city. It is not a capital of small province, it is a large regional center, points out Trenin.
Latvia 2013 The Year of Struggles | Latvian History
▻http://latvianhistory.wordpress.com/2013/12/28/latvia-2013-the-year-of-struggles
Latvia 2013 The Year of Struggles
Another year is coming to an end and as always I will gather all what was important in Latvia during the 2013. The year 2012 was labeled by me as the year of quarrels, now in 2013 these quarrels have become a full time struggles. Struggles between various political forces and forces within the society have resulted in many calamities like the burning of the Riga Castle, the Zolitūte disaster and the breakdown of the Valdis Dombrovskis government. The results of these struggles are yet to be foreseen for next year as they are still unfolding in full strength. This was truly the year of Snake as the unpridicatbaly of the Snake was the eminent within the events of Latvia and elsewhere.
Latvia’s government: Badly built | The Economist
▻http://www.economist.com/blogs/easternapproaches/2013/11/latvias-government?fsrc=scn%2Ffb%2Fwl%2Fbl%2Fbadlybuilt
THE tragedy was the worst in Latvia’s peacetime history: 54 people killed and dozens injured when a supermarket roof in the capital Riga collapsed. That exemplified, many felt, the corruption and weakness in parts of state administration which has plagued the country since it regained independence in 1991. Was the building constructed in defiance of building codes? Or was a winter garden on the roof poorly drained, so that sodden earth brought concrete beams crashing down on crowds of shoppers?
Answers to that should probably come from the Riga municipality, the public body directly responsible. But the government’s lacklustre response also epitomised a government failing: a detached and unsympathetic approach to Latvians’ human and daily concerns. That seems to be why the prime minister, Valdis Dombrovskis, suddenly tendered his resignation after an unscheduled meeting with the president, Andris Berzins on November 27th.
Latvia is mourning. It is impossible to describe everything that happened. It is impossible to explain what is happening now. It is awful and very, very sad. My course mate lost her father and sister in one day. Other my friends are happy that they did not need to go to a supermarket that day.
Night clubs were closed, concerts were delayed. I live far from Zolitūde, but people are putting candles and flowers next to “Maxima” here as well. At almost every “Maxima” people put candles and flowers. There are almost no ques in “Maxima” these days. Just few want to go for shopping to “Maxima”. Instead they choose other shops nearby.
We are only 2 millions what makes this tragedy even more sad. Latvia is crying because it should not have happened. No one deserved to die there. It is hard to say when we will know the exact cause of this building collapse. But i really hope that this is not going to repeat.
#Latvia's_tragedy #Maxima #supermarket_collapse
BBC News - Latvia president calls supermarket collapse ’murder’
▻http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25068291
Fifty-four people have died since part of the roof collapsed on Thursday, and at least seven people remain missing.
Late on Saturday afternoon, the last remaining section of the roof caved in, causing panic in the surrounding area.
Risk of poverty greatest in Bugaria
Alongside Bulgaria and Romania, Latvia has been named as the third country in EU where is the highest percentage of citizens at risk of poverty.
EUobserver.com / Regions & Cities / Risk of poverty greatest in Bulgaria
▻http://euobserver.com/regions/121692
Bulgaria has the highest percentage of citizens at risk of poverty in the EU, while the UK is home to the greatest wealth disparity between regions.
According to statistics published on Monday (7 October) by Eurostat covering 2008 to 2011, almost half of Bulgarians (49.1%) risk falling into poverty or social exclusion, with 40.3 percent of Romanians in the same situation and 36.6 percent of Latvians.
The New Interpretations and Appropriations of Architecture
in the Baltic States
A seminar within the series “Autour de la Baltique”, CERI-Sciences Po, Paris.
Marija Drėmaitė (Vilnius University) ‘Critical Practices in the Baltic Architecture of the Soviet Period’
Lukas Aubin (Institut Français de Géopolitique) ‘The Appropriation of Urban Spaces in Jurmala by the Elites’
Discussant: Eric Le Bourhis (EHESS)
Time: 17:15 pm, Monday 23 September 2013
Place: CERI, salle du Conseil / 56 rue Jacob, 4e étage
Marija Drėmaitė holds PhD in the History of Art and is a Lecturer at the History Department of Vilnius University, Lithuania. She has published widely about the industrial heritage and the history of Soviet architecture in Lithuania, most recently, the monograph ’Architecture in Soviet Lithuania’ (2012) co-authored with Vaidas Petrulis and Jurate Tutlyte.
Lukas Aubin has completed his MA thesis about the urban spaces in Jurmala, Latvia, at the Institut Français de Géopolitique, Paris.
Eric le Bourhis conducts his doctoral research project at Centre de recherches historiques, EHESS. His research interests include the urbanisation and the planning of cities in the Soviet Union after 1945 and the history of architecture and city planning in Latvia during the 20th century.
The session will be held in English / Free entrance /
Please let us know if you would like to receive news about the seminar via email.
Una BERGMANE, Phd Candidate at Sciences Po, una.bergmane@sciencespo.fr
Philippe PERCHOC, postdoctoral researcher at l’Université catholique deLouvain, p.perchoc@gmail.com
Egle RINDZEVICIUTE, Researcher at Sciences Po,egle.rindzeviciute@sciences-po.fr
Drama before Israeli’s President’s visit to Latvia
Today Israeli President Shimon Peres is arriving to Latvia for two days visit. But shortly before it last week there was small scandal - Israel argued that President Andris Bērziņš does not want to attend a Holocauset memorial ceremony.
Delegates from Israel usually have hard program in Latvia - they attend Holocaust Memorials and other places where Jewish people were tortured or killed in Latvia. Usually it also includes apologizing from Latvia’s side for those Latvians who participated in killing Jewish.
Latvia denies these allegations that Andris Bērziņš does not want to attend Holocaust Memorial and stresses that this year Shimon Peres will have opportunity to attend Žanis Lipke- man who saved many Jewish during war- museum and see that there were also Latvians who helped.
Latvia’s President Avoiding Holocaust Memorial - Jewish World - News - Israel National News
▻http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/170162
Latvian President Andris Berzins is making an effort to avoid attending a Holocaust memorial ceremony together with Israel’s President Shimon Peres during his upcoming visit to Latvia next week.
Berzins aides responded to a request from senior Israeli staff that he attend the ceremony at the Rumbula Forest with Peres, saying Berzins was too busy. They also reportedly told Israeli aides there is a state policy in the country preventing the Latvian president from accompanying visiting presidents to ceremonies, according to Israeli media.
The ceremony commemorates the deaths of 24,000 Jews from Riga and 1,000 German Jews murdered in the forest in November-December 1941 by the Einsatzgruppen units of the SS Nazi police, assisted by Latvian police and volunteers. They were transported to the forest by train and thrown into pits dug by the German Jews at the site.
#Latvia #Israel #Shimon_Peres #Andris_Bērziņš #Žanis_Lipke #Jewish #Rumbula_forest
Latvia wins silver in European basketball championship
Starting Monday with a good news - yesterday Latvia won silver medal in European basketball championship. In a game against Italy they lost 60:67 and got second place. Spain which Latvians won few days ago is third.
Sport has always been important for Latvia and Latvians therefore such victory is huge. Time after time Latvians just need feeling they can achieve something big and this kind of victory can help it.
This also prompts politicians to think about improvements in legislation. This morning Latvia’s minister of education and science Vjačeslavs Dombrovskis promised he will set in agenda question about bonus fund for this kinds of victories. Till now basketball players are not included in bonus fund for winning European championship.
TVNET :: Basketbols - Latvijas izlase izcīna sudraba medaļas Eiropas čempionātā
▻http://www.tvnet.lv/sports/basketbols/472123-latvijas_izlase_izcina_sudraba_medalas_eiropas_cempionata
Latvijas U-20 vīriešu basketbola izlase Tallinā notikušā Eiropas čempionāta finālspēlē svētdien zaudēja Itālijas vienaudžiem, izcīnot vēsturiskas sudraba godalgas. Aizvadītajā spēlē Latvijas izlase piedzīvoja neveiksmi ar rezultātu 60:67 (13:9, 18:14, 11:23, 18:21). Šī ir otrā reize valsts basketbola vēsturē, kad Latvijas izlase spēlēja EČ finālā. Neviena cita Latvijas vīriešu un sieviešu komanda ne pieaugušo, ne jauniešu un junioru vecumā nekad līdz finālam nebija tikusi.
High hospital costs make problems both to patients and to hospitals
Hospitals in Latvia receive too less financing therefore they have to increase hospital costs for those having to stay there. The ques are also very long and people cannot have surgeries as fast as they should have. After meeting with social affairs committee doctors did not get feeling politicians understand this huge issue what has to be dealt as fast as possible.
TVNET :: Viedokļi - Augstā ārstēšanas maksa - noziegums pret iedzīvotājiem
▻http://www.tvnet.lv/zinas/viedokli/471865-augsta_arstesanas_maksa_noziegums_pret_iedzivotajiem
« Problēma ir ļoti sena un tikai viena – finansējums medicīnai ir neatbilstošs, » sarunas sākumā ar TVNET atzīst Liepājas reģionālās slimnīcas valdes priekšsēdētājs Edvīns Striks. Slimnīcu vadītāji trešdien Saeimas Sociālo lietu komisijā tikās ar tās pārstāvjiem, kā arī Veselības ministrijas ierēdņiem, tomēr no viņu teiktā noprotams, ka īpašs progress valsts atbalstā medicīnai nav panākts.
Latvia will lend euro paper currency
Latvia is getting ready very actively to join eurozone in January 1st, 2014. News are overwhelmed with information. Today the news services inform that Latvia will not print euros by itself but will lend from one central bank in eurosystem. Later paper currency will cost around 7,1million lats (~10 million euro).
Financenet :: Viedokļi - Latvijai vajadzīgās eiro banknotes aizņemsimies
▻http://financenet.tvnet.lv/viedokli/471528-latvijai_vajadzigas_eiro_banknotes_aiznemsimies
Eiro banknotes Latvijas vajadzībām atsevišķi nedrukāsim, bet pēc Eiropas Centrālās bankas (ECB) kārtības aizņemsimies no kādas centrālās bankas Eirosistēmā un turpmākajos gados atdosim (kad banknotes plānotā kārtībā ECB saskaņoti un virsuzraudzībā tiks nodrukātas).
Vēlākās banknošu izgatavošanas un piegādes izmaksas lēšamas aptuveni 7.1 miljona latu apmērā.