Mr. Gryzlov's resolution, under the modest title "On the Situation of National Minorities in Latvia and Estonia", points out that "mass statelessness of Latvian and Estonian residents complicates the ongoing democratization process in the countries." "Refusal to grant citizenship because of one's nationality, race or religion is one of the most serious forms of discrimination," it reads. The document urges Latvia to create conditions for non-citizens to take part in the country's political life by giving them voting rights at local elections and recommends Latvia and Estonia "to accelerate the naturalization process for non-citizens."
Even if a number of amendments proposed by Latvian parliamentarians in an attempt to dilute the essence of the document are adopted, the fact that the Russian delegation to the OSCE went on the offensive for the first time is difficult to overestimate. At any rate, the resolution on the Baltic states will be adopted. Convinced that this would happen, Mr. Gryzlov left Edinburgh, Vremya Novostei reports.
