More diplomats working with the diaspora, support for weekend schools, and cooperation in researching and preserving exile culture are among plans put forth in a just-released report from the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The 29-page report, “Par Ārlietu ministrijas sadarbību ar Latvijas diasporu 2013.-2015.gadā” (The Foreign Ministry’s Cooperation with Latvia’s Diaspora, 2013-2015), details recent efforts to work with the growing diaspora and outlines what is expected to be done in the next two years.

The report was reviewed in a Feb. 21 meeting in Rīga between Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs and various experts, including Aldis Austers of the European Latvian Association, several University of Latvia academics, Pauls Raudseps of the news magazine Ir, and Dace Akule of the Providus Center for Public Policy, according to a press release from the ministry.

The document focuses on four main activities: maintenance of Latvian identity and links to the homeland; encouraging the diaspora’s political and civic participation in Latvian affairs; overall cooperation with the diaspora; and addressing the issue of re-emigration.

Among other plans outlined in the report is creation of “Globālais latvietis” (The Global Latvian), which is described as a unified communication platform that would inform the diaspora about what is happening in various Latvian communities abroad, as well as in Latvia itself.

Of course, many of the specific projects planned by the Foreign Ministry will rely not only on cooperation among Latvian government institutions, nongovernmental organizations and the diaspora, but on funding as well—a problem the report points to several times.

The full report, in Latvian, may be downloaded from the Foreign Ministry’s website, www.mfa.gov.lv (PDF, 523 K).

Ethnic Latvians and Livs, as well as their descendants, should be allowed to obtain dual citizenship regardless of where they live in the world, diaspora community leaders have told a Saeima committee ahead of a crucial vote.

The leaders of the World Federation of Free Latvians (Pasaules brīvo latviešu apvienība, or PBLA) and the Latvian Association of Australia and New Zealand (Latviešu apvienība Austrālijā un Jaunzēlandē, or LAAJ) addressed their concerns in an open letter dated Feb. 8, according to Jānis Andersons, head of the PBLA’s office in Rīga.

The Citizenship Law Amendments Subcommittee of the Saeima’s Legal Affairs Committee is scheduled to vote Feb. 12 on language that would clarify how dual citizenship could be obtained. Under the proposal, dual citizenship would be allowed regardless of ethnicity for citizens of countries that are members of the European Union, the European Free Trade Association or the NATO defense alliance. However, that would make it more challenging for Latvians and Livs who live in Australia, New Zealand and Brazil, three countries that are not members of any of the aforementioned blocs.

PBLA Chairman Jānis Kukainis and LAAJ Chair Pēteris Strazds want the subcommittee to not limit the list of countries. However, if the list is to be limited, they ask that Australia, New Zealand and Brazil be added, as those are countries that also are home to Latvian exiles and their descendants.

Here is the text of the letter, in Latvian:

Pasaules brīvo latviešu apvienības (PBLA) un Latviešu apvienības Austrālijā un Jaunzēlandē (LAAJ) vārdā vēlamies izteikt gandarījumu par Latvijas valsts likumdevēju apņēmību vistuvākajā nākotnē pieņemt Latvijas valstij jaunu Pilsonības likumu, kas dotu iespēju Latvijas pilsonību iegūt etniskajiem latviešiem ārzemēs un viņu pēcnācējiem, nezaudējot citu iegūto pilsonību. Aizvadītā gada laikā Jūsu komisijā ir paveikts nozīmīgs darbs, lai šo likumprojektu tuvāko nedēļu laikā varētu iesniegt Saeimas Juridiskajā komisijā technisko detaļu precizēšanai un par to nobalsotu trešajā, beidzamajā lasījumā Saeimā.

Saprotot to, ka valstu loks, ar ko Latvija pieļautu dubulto pilsonību, ir galvenokārt politiska rakstura izvēle, vēlamies tomēr aicināt Saeimas Pilsonības likuma grozījumu apakškomisijas deputātus nesašaurināt etnisko latviešu un līvu iespējas iegūt Latvijas pilsonību (nezaudējot citu iegūto pilsonību), pieprasot viņiem īpašu Ministru kabineta atļauju tikai tāpēc, ka viņiem nav palaimējies nokļūt kādā no trim Rietumu politisko un saimniecisko bloku (Eiropas Savienības, NATO un Eiropas brīvās tirdzniecības asociācijas) valstīm. Mūsuprāt, etnisko latviešu un līvu tiesības iegūt otru pilsonību nevajadzētu šķirot atkarībā no valsts, kurā tie nonākuši.

Ja tomēr politisku apsvērumu dēļ Saeimas Pilsonības likuma grozījumu apakškomisijas deputāti izšķirtos par Ministru kabineta atļauju nepieciešamību, aicinām iepriekš nosauktos politiski saimniecisko valstu blokus papildināt ar Austrāliju, Jaunzēlandi un Brazīliju. Tādējādi tiktu aptvertas visas tradicionālās latviešu politiskās trimdas un viņu pēcnācēju mītnes zemes.

The amendments to the Citizenship Law have passed their second reading in the parliament and are expected soon to see their third and final reading.