I russi di Lettonia non hanno dubbi: nella nuova UE loro rappresentano i provinciali, affascinati dalle prospettive di miglioramento, ma allo stesso tempo spaventati dalle nuove dimensioni nelle quali saranno costretti a muoversi. Prosegue con un intervento di Nick Kabanov la nostra inchiesta nelle comunità minoritarie dell'"Europa dei 25". (in lingua inglese)

Not only is Nick Kabanov editor in chief of the Russian newspaper Vesti Segodnya in Riga (Latvia), but for the next four years he will be an MP of the Seym, the Latvian Parliament.

Mr. Kabanov - what hopes, fears and doubts do the readers of your minority newspaper have?

This question is quite sophisticated as our readers are coming from very different backgrounds. VESTI SEGODNYA is a big newspaper (37,000 copies, six times a week with three large supplements; two weekly tabloids for family readers with 100 pages each and one weekly business magazine). Our newspaper has to consider the different viewpoints of ethnic Russians in Latvia on EU enlargement.

In general there are four points of view:
1) People are frustrated by the increase in prices. Latvia has the highest inflation, largest unemployment and lowest per capita income rates within new EU members. Economically, the Russian minority is loosing more than the Latvians, which still control the state and municipal services.
2) Conversely, Russians in Latvia trust the EU government more than the Latvian government concerning human rights and minority issues. The Russian minority fears that as of September 1 of this year, the number of Russian secondary schools will be reduced. Currently, this has led to ethnic tensions, even violence, between Russians and Latvians.
3) Older generations are still emotionally connected to Russia. Unfortunately, since May 1, their visits to their mother country have become restricted. It is as if the "Iron Curtain" of the cold war has moved eastwards. As a result, families are losing their closeness.
4) Whereas, young Latvians and Russians want to move to the West for employment and education. They are increasingly choosing to marry Westerners.
 
We feel like a peasant boy coming to the big city. Or... maybe, like the little Sicilian coming to Milano. When I was visiting Italy, I felt much more "at home" in Siracusa than in Rome. But, this was my personal feeling.

How did your newspaper announce the May 1 EU enlargement?
The first day of Latvia as an EU member was covered by an article entitled "In EU - with the song". In Russian, this title is a play on words: "V ES s pESnej". The article focused on the song festivals, street concerts and other celebrations during enlargement day. Other May 1 articles included: interviews with the prominent leaders of Latvian political parties, "Will we be another country in May 1st?", and a report from the Seym, the Latvian Parliament, "Day before Eurounion".
Vesti Segodnya_010504 (pfd download)

Interview by Valentina Bergonzi

05.07.2004