Brussels, 05/09/2000 (Agence Europe) - The French Presidency of the Council published the following declaration on behalf of the European Union:
"The European Union welcomes the adoption by the Latvian Government, on 22 August 2000, of the decrees implementing the law on the official language, enabling the latter to take effect on 1 September, in accordance with the panned schedule.
The European Union fully subscribes to the declaration relating to the decrees implementing the law on the official language made by the High Commissioner for National Minorities of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Mr. Max Van der Stoel, in which he stresses, notably, the conformity of these texts with the law and to the undertakings made by Latvia at international level. It notes with satisfaction that practically all the recommendations of the High Commissioner have been finally taken into account, and is confident in the will of the Latvian Government to respect its undertaking to proceed with the complementary adjustments before November 2000.
The Union considers that the new legislation is an important step for the sound unfolding of the integration process in Latvia. It urges the Latvian Government to ensure that the institutions responsible for implementing the new legislation do so in a liberal spirit. It will, to this effect, continue to provide its backing for Latvia".