Russian doesn't stand a chance in Latvia

A referendum will take place in Latvia on February 18 to decide whether Russian should become the country's second official language. The online daily Ir doesn't believe the initiative can be successful, but nonetheless recommends turning out to vote: "The collection of signatures was conceived as a provocation right from the start. The official goal is impossible to achieve, and not even those behind the referendum see any hope of victory. What they are really trying to do is forcibly initiate a debate on questions about which there is nothing to discuss, and which will all come to nothing. That is an insult to common sense. Nevertheless the issue of whether Latvian should remain the sole official language is of vital importance to our country. Every Latvian citizen must take a stand on this issue, independently of whether someone initiates a referendum on it or not. ... And those who believe that Russian should not attain the status of the second official language should come out and say it."

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