Minority Lives Matter: also of the Russians in Latvia!

It is undoubtable that memberships of the European Union, the institutions of the EU as well as the harmonisation of laws have brought positive changes for the minorities of the member states in many areas. However, there is still a lot to achieve, especially in Latvia. National issues that are not handled appropriately might easily cause conflicts. A new European Union initiative has been made in order to avoid all that.

How does one become a minority?

Until now EU laws have only considered those groups minorities that are represented in lower numbers than the rest of the inhabitants, those who consist a nation. Nevertheless, EU laws have not been able to resolve a certain issue which caused minorities problems that slow them down and stop them from developing and thriving. Namely, in those areas where minorities are represented in large numbers, furthermore, they might consist the majority, why are they not entitled similar rights to the majority of the entire nation?

Let’s think of the region of Latgale

and the Russians who live there and who make up more than half of its population. Russians have become an inseparable part of Latvia’s cultural image, history and economy.

Economy is a very important matter when it comes to the EU legislation mentioned in the introduction. A certain minority can live in the highest security if their access to resources of survival does not depend on the will of the majority, or the centralised institutions. Furthermore, the minority should not be forced to be dependent on the “mother nation” exclusively, which can often mean a system of relations that is a burden for both parties, thus resulting the disappearance of unique cultural characteristics, even if the aim is the direct opposite.

What do those say who launched this EU Initiative?

According to Székelys, who are a majority themselves within their territory of Székelyland in Romania, the European Union should create the institution of „National Regions”. This would mean that those territories that can be circumscribed geographically and a certain minority is represented as majority or has a large number of inhabitants should be recognised by the European Union. Those who live there should have autonomy from state institutions when it comes to using EU resources, developmental directions and so on.

As a result, Latgale,

for instance, would have access to EU resources by its own right, which resources could be used for aims and goals that are considered most important by those who live there in a significant number, the Russians; or at least in a way where the economic, cultural, educational and developmental aspects of the Russian minority are not neglected or treated as secondary by the majority state institutions, which develop such projects.

The state and the majority that consists its nation, Latvians, should receive this initiative positively, as a really bad scenario can be avoided this way. A scenario when a minority can only have its self-identity in ghettos, leaving, in many cases, impoverished territories. Based on the principle that economic development is the fundamental interest of not only the minority but also the state and its majority nation, that the opportunity of growth can be the secret of eternal peace, a citizen who thinks responsibly using European parameters can do no other but sign the EU initiative about National Regions, which you can do here. For further information, please visit the initiative’s website or see our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube channel!

(Nethuszár)

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Nethuszár