Pleased to start blogging

Diena.. Huh, really? :)

Diena.. May I repost it? :)

Saprotu par to ka ir daudz krievu kas vēlas, nē - pat vairāk - faktiski jau ir lielāki latvieši ( labā nozīmē) par pašiem latviešiem. An yes I also feel that it's just about time to move on - everybody who was going to leave Latvia I believe has done so. The rest - well one part of them should make reasonable attempt to integrate ( no to be mistaken with "forced to integrate" ), and the other part should just become smart enough to understand that many of those living here are here to stay. And one way to do so would be to "shoot in the head" any politician who uses any kind of nationality argument. I would gladly punch in the face those smart "asses" who are saying, well should have stayed with the Russia, cause look where EU and NATO has brought us - financial crisis. Or just any other argument of this sort. Well surely we did gain something with EU and NATO and lost something as well, but it is not just purely bad or purely good. After all it is what we made out of it. If we make a pile of $hit - well nobody is going to clean after us, it is not USSR any more.

WALA I am glad to live in Latvia, and think of Latvia as my home. As you say, history is a huge problem and it is important to note that BOTH Russians and Latvians distort history for their own reasons. However, this is 2009. Time to move on. I just wish people would not be so nationalistic as to be racist (that applies to Russians and Latvians as well). Bet saproties, ka Latvijaa ari dzivo krievi, kuri grib labi integreties un kuri mil sho tautu.

Mr Moon, I guess to start to see... Thanks to this blog, and more specifically, the comments accompanying it, you'll discover Latvian culture and spirit with all it's underpinnings and underwater debates. Yohohohoow! I am sure it will be like (re)discovering a new country and nation!

well there is no simple answer to this problem Russians vs Latvians. One part of it is reaaly the fact of occupation. But for the most part there, I believe, are two things - our pilitical pre election campaigns and fear of "Russians" coming to state power, and the second one ( which I have started to notice very often nowdays) many Russians talk about how bad everything is here in Latvia, and how good it would be in Russia - well if you feel so passionate about Russia - what are you waiting for ?!?!? We Latvians, you know, also have some pride despite in what $hit we are in at the moment.

Russia is and should be a strategic partner of Latvia. It's right next door for one thing!!! I think it's great when we have blogs in English but also good to have blogs in Russian as well. If we want to be 'European' then we must be more tollerant. For example, I have learned to speak Latvian and now try to find out as much as I can about the history and culture of this (wonderful) country. I enjoy traditional Latvian dances and songs. BUT I feel alienated when people keep portraying Russians as idiots or occupants. I also am interested in Russian culture and history. What's is wrong with that?

Great, now that you have said it, how about you give it a second thought. From where I stand this works both ways - if you let be screwed, it kind of seems logical that you will get F-ed sooner or later. And Russia being a real partner - where, how and when was that ??? P.S. By the way - every country that has its embassy here has at least some interests, or it wouldn't be here. High priced clothes - well what's wrong with that if there are people who buy them ?!?!? That's business - selling goods for the money or price that someone is ready to pay.

strategic partner? England? because they f... us, sending a lot of high priced clothes? a great strategy.. Russia however is a real partner, no a user of Latvia.

Just perfect! Go ahead! :)

Fully agree to "nv" (06.02.2009 20:55) ! - - - - - Man gan šķiet, ka labāk būtu, ja Diena.lv veidotu atsevišķu angļu valodas (ja gribat arī citu valodu) sadaļu, kur būtu galveno ziņu kopsavilkums, blogi, komentāri utt., kā to dara piem., Helsingin Sanomat. Tā samaisītā valodu Bābele nemaz nenāk par labu latviešu valodai.

You wrote about very sensitive fact. In Latvia we still dont offer ordinary life to people who are different but I hope that it will change in upcoming years. Thank you for this blog, it was very good and I will wait for more from you!

you can not compare English and Russian languages. English as well as Latvian is an official EU language while Russian is not. England is Latvia's strategic partner. Russia however is not. Besides blogger you mentioned knows Latvian very well but uses Russian language insted on purpose to irritate Latvians...

" I hope to cover a number of different topics in my blog, mainly - how Latvia looks from the perspective of a foreign diplomat - and to show more of what an embassies, these mysterious organisations, do." ___ Sounds good! You are more than welcome!

I guess, the "Apeiron" is the corrumpants, because I have been hearing about it sometimes. The member of this organization is the ex-member of Latvian Parlament from People's Party, and this Party does not have good references about. So, I don't be bad boy for this good deal as disabled people's persecutor, but I do not trust People's Party and their member and ex-member of Parlament Žanete Vasaraudze, the "Apeiron" boss. Please, ask about her in other organizations, for example, in the disabled people "Jūnijs" foundation.