RIGA, April 4 (LETA) - Minister of Regional Development and Local Governments Aigars Stokenbergs (People's Party), said in an interview on the Latvian State Radio's broadcast "Krustpunkti" today that he does not reject the possibility of running for president. Stokenbergs emphasized that President Vaira Vike-Freiberga has raised the standard very high on how a president should be and has gained international authority, that will be hard to repeat. The minister tried to avoid reporter questions regarding his possible presidential candidacy and in the end said: "I have not said no".

Almost 40 pct of households in Latvia are not happy with the technical conditions of their dwelling. EU-SILC survey data on 2005 show that considerable part of the respondents are worried about such problems as leaking roof, moisture walls, ceiling, floors or house foundations, as well as rot in window framing. According to the information obtained the Community Survey on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC), carried by the Central Statistical Bureau, almost a half (49 pct) of surveyed households named these problems.
Source: Dienas Bizness

The tariffs of natural gas will grow on average by 33 pct from May 1 that can also affect the prices of electricity and heating. The Council of the Public Utility Commission yesterday had approved the new natural gas tariffs requested by the JSC Latvijas Gaze (LG). New tariffs will be enacted as from May 1, 2007 and their increase will be by 23 pct - 32 pct depending of consumption group of customers. The tariffs will be raised by 5 pct less than it was planned earlier as the tariff project submitted in January envisaged increase of tariffs by 38 - 40 pct.

Source: Dienas Bizness

Latvian Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov yesterday in Moscow signed the Latvian-Russian border agreement, initialed in 1997. The agreement, which now will have to be ratified by both countries' parliaments, recognizes that the former Abrene territory of Latvia (now Pytalovo Oblast) is now officially part of the Russian Federation's territory. Kalvitis does not expect any problems with ratification of the border agreement in Parliament because political debate in Latvia so far showed overwhelming support for ratification. Latvian Parliament on February 8 authorized in the final reading the Cabinet of Ministers to sign the border agreement. 69 Parliament members voted for the bill, 26 voted against it.

Source: Dienas Bizness

RIGA, March 27 (LETA) - March 22, 23 and 24 were the warmest days recorded in Latvia in 100 years, according to information from the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Agency.

Following the welcome of a Skrunda delegation in March 2007 in the Catering School located in La Guerche de Bretagne, a first project is already launched: the venue in Brittany of 4 teachers from the Skrunda catering school in October. Such education project will reinforce tke knowledge and links between Skrunda and Brittany. 

Photo: wine tasting with a producer during their visit.

RIGA, March 22 (LETA) - Slightly over one-fifth of employees in Latvia earned under LVL 100 a month in their main job at the end of the last year, according to the Central Statistical Bureau's data.

9.8 percent of employees were paid a net wage of up to LVL 81 per month, 12.2 percent received a wage within the range of LVL 81 to LVL 100.

22.3 percent were paid net wages of LVL 100 to LVL 150, 20.3 percent - LVL 150 to 200, 17.8 percent - LVL 200 to LVL 300, 8.3 percent - LVL 300 to LVL 500.

2.1 percent of employees were paid LVL 500 to LVL 1,000, and 0.4 percent - over LVL 1,000.

A part of wage and salary earners, 3.7 percent, refused to disclose the size of their remuneration.

The livelihood of the population usually comes from various sources of income and because of this the respondents indicated several sources of income during the survey. The compiled results show that for slightly more than a half of the population, 55.3 percent, the most essential sources of income were wages and salaries, for 32.3 percent it was support from relatives, friends or family members; 23.2 percent received a pension and 14.8 percent received some type of social assistance benefit paid by the State Social Insurance Agency.

Source: LETA

Saeima members invited to help achieve greater cooperation between Latvia and France

Totally 1,087,699 persons (60.1 pct of the total number of population aged 15-74 years) in the country were employed in 2006. Compared to the previous year, the number of employed in 2006 has increased (1,035,900 persons in 2005, as has the share of employed in the total number of population (in 2005 this indicator was 57.1 pct). Only 3.8 pct of these did not work for various reasons mentioned above. 8,100 persons (0.7 pct of the total number of employed) worked on own farm with an aim to produce goods for personal consumption.

Source: Dienas Bizness

The Pardon

The Pardon was the expression of popular devotion to a particular Saint, from whom grace or a pardon was requested. These are the modest chapel fetes or processions that flourished in Brittany in the late Middle Ages. Most were rooted in ancient rituals, uniting the sacred and the profane!

There are so many Pardons in Brittany that they have become specialised.

This patron’s fete, celebrating local saints each year saw the gathering together of the faithful in one or more parishes. The solemn mass was followed by a procession with banners, relics, statues and magnificent crosses worked in precious metal to the sound of Breton songs and canticles. The ceremony terminated with a secular fête, involving dancing, music and traditional games.

The Pardon of Sainte Anne d’Auray is one of the most popular in Brittany. The ceremony of the Pardons of the Sea was a little different, since once the procession arrived at the port, the clergy, children and reliquaries went on board a boat. The Priest then blessed all the vessels in the port, as during the Pardon Ceremony of Saint-Jacques at Locquirec (Finistère), or the Benediction of the Courreaux at Groix (Morbihan). 

A few dates for 2007

19 & 20 May       Pardon de Saint-yves – Tréguier (22)

24th June          Pardon de Sainte-Barbe – Le Faouët (56)

15th July           Grande Troménie – Locronan (29)

25 & 26th July   Pardon de Sainte-Anne – Ste Anne d'Auray (56)

15th August       Pardon de Notre Dame de la Clarté – Perros-Guirec (22)

                     Notre Dame de la Joie – Penmarc'h (29)

                     Pardon de la madone des motards – Porcaro (56)

                     Notre Dame de la Tronchaye – Rochefort en terre (56)

26th August       Sainte Anne le Palud – Plonévez-Porzay (29)

7 & 9th Sept.     Notre Dame du Roncier – Josselin (56)