The protection of the state language must be strengthened both in laws and through increased resources that can ensure this protection, the participants of the discussion "What is respect for the state language? What is disrespect for the state language?" stated today.
The discussion was opened by former president of Latvia Egils Levits. He stated that the Russian language should be recognized as the language of a former colonial power, which has no place in communication in Latvia.
First of all, it is necessary to recognize that the Russian language is not an ordinary foreign language, not an ordinary minority language, but a post-colonial language, said Levits.
In his opinion, Latvians must realize that they need to overcome the syndrome of colonial servility, which is incompatible with the self-respect of a national state.
Russians, for whom Russian is their native language, the language of family, in which they can speak, produce media, and use freely, must also understand this. But it should be understood that it is no longer a common language, as it was in the youth of their parents, said Levits.
