1. Research of legislation, case-law, and policies on electronic media
in different countries, etc. (according to the project’s
timetable).
2. Publication of an article on language restrictions in the Radio and
Television Law "Kazhdomu svoje televidenie?" ("Should
everyone have his own TV?"); in "Today’s news" (in Russian); and in
"The new newspaper"(in Latvian) (Riga, February 1,
2002)
3. Preparation of first draft of policy paper (March-July, 2002).
4. Providing legal advice on the Gurov case challenging language restrictions
in the Radio and Television Law in domestic
courts (March-April, 2002)
5. Participation in the Policy Discussion on the Framework Convention
for the Protection of National Minorities organized by
Minority Rights Group (Budapest, April 19-20, 2002).
6. Participation in the Conference on Media Law, Media Freedom and Media
Policy in CEE in View of EU Accession
(Florence, May 24-25, 2002).
7. Publication of an article on the prospects of the National Radio
and Television Council drawing comparisons with
counterpart institutions in CEE states "Pozadi Evropi vsei" ("Behind
all the Europe"), the newspaper "Panorama Latvii"
(Riga, May 27, 2002).
8. Preparing a country report for the project "Minority-Language Related
Broadcasting in the OSCE" managed by the
Program in Comparative Media and Policy (PCMLP) at Oxford University.
(June 2002).
9. Participation at around-table discussion of the draft of a country
report on Latvia, "EU Accession Monitoring Program –
Minority Protection" (Riga, June 17-18, 2002).
10. Writing a chapter on media in minority language in Latvia in the
"shadow"(alternative) report. The report estimates Latvia’s
readiness to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of
National Minorities (FCNM). Further the report was
disseminated to Latvian policy-makers and international experts in
the field of minorities, including members of the Advisory
Committee on the FCNM (July-October 2002).
11. Completing interviews with policy makers in Latvia (June 2002 – January, 2003):
- Olgerts Tipans, Adviser to the President of Latvia;
- Miroslav Mitrofanov, Latvian MP, member of the European Affairs Committee;
- Anton Seiksts, Latvian MP, Chairman of the Human rights and Public Affairs Committee;
- Anta Rugate, Latvian MP;
- Reinis Aboltinsh, Director of the Department of the Integration of Society, Ministry of Justice;
- Nils Sakss, Director of the Society Integration Foundation;
- Arnolds Klotinsh, member of the Riga City Council;
- Alexander Gilman, member of the Riga City Council, journalist at the newspaper "Vesti Segodnja";
- Irina Vinnik, National TV channel (LTV2) program manager, director of integration programs;
- Grigory Nemcov, owner of the regional private TV channel "TV Million";
- Oleg Guschin, owner of the regional private radio channel "Maximum";
- Jurij Zhuravlev, owner of the private radio channel "Radio PIK".
- Boris Tsilevich, Latvian MP, Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe;
- Nikolaj Kabanov, Latvian MP; journalist at the newspaper "Vesti Segodnja";
- Gunta Lidaka, private TV channel (TV5), director;
- Janis Sikstulis, member of the National Radio and Television Council;
- Nil Ushakov, journalist, director of the office of Russian Information Agency in Latvia;
- Dace Buceniece, National Radio and Television Council, lawyer;
- Anastasia Petere, private TV channel (TV5), program manager;
- Arkadijs Karievs, private radio channel "Radio PIK", program manager;
- Ilmars Shlapins, member of the National Radio and Television Council;
- Ilona Madesova, National Radio channel "Dom Square", director;
- Richard Zaks, private radio channel "Super FM", director;
- Darija Jushkevicha, program director of the Latvian Television;
- Inara Ostrovska, Latvian MP;
- Zigmar Liepinsh, private radio channel "SWH", director
- Ina Druviete, Latvian MP, Chairman of the Human rights and Public Affairs Committee;
12. Providing legal advice on amendments to the Law on Radio and Television (September 2002).
13. Preparation of a project to the program of the Council of Europe
("Confidence-building measures") aiming to promote
INTERNET discussions on the usage of minority languages on TV and radio,
participation minorities in public life, etc.
(October-November, 2002)
14. Publication of an interview about minority languages on TV and radio
"Skoljko jazikov dolzhno bitj v efire?" ("How many
languages have to be used on TV?") in the newspaper "Today’s news"
(Riga, November 2, 2002).
15. A presentation "Electronic media regulatory authorities and minorities
in Europe" at the conference "Electronic mass media
and social integration" (Riga, November 22, 2002).
16. An interview with Fernand de Varennes (Senior Lecturer of the School
of Law – Murdoch University) on minority rights
and electronic mass media issues, (Riga, November 23, 2002).
17. Providing legal advice to Latvian MPs on the case challenging language
restrictions on Radio and television in the
Constitutional Court (December, 2002)
18. Participation at the seminar "National program "The Integration
of society in Latvia" and minority integration" (Riga,
December 13, 2002)
19. Preparation of the final version of the policy paper (January-March, 2003)
20. Participation at the Joint Round Table "Local Solution to Combat
Racism" organized by European Commission against
Racism and Intolerance (Strasbourg, March 21, 2003)
21. Presentation of a publication of the policy paper "Media Legislation,
Minority Issues, and Implications for Latvia" (Riga,
March 28, 2003)