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<p> Today, a Riga City Council’s Committee on Demonstrations and Pickets gave its permission for the March organised by Mozaika, the Latvian Alliance of LGBT People and Their Friends. </p>

<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">The March is a finale of the first Baltic Friendship Days which are taking place in Riga between 15 and 17 May. The manifestation and the March will take place next Saturday, 16 May 2008, between 12:00 and 16:00 at <i>Vermanes Darzs</i>. </p><p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">During the meeting between the Committee, Mozaika and police representatives, it has been agreed that the March will take place around <i>Vermanes Darzs</i> at <i>Terbates</i> and <i>Elizabetes</i> streets. Mozaika wanted a longer route but the police representatives expressed a view that it would be more difficult to provide security. </p><p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">5 members of the Committee voted to allow the March and two voted against ( Helmi Stalite and Aina Krukule). During the meeting they both called upon the organisers to abandon the idea of the March as it ‘threatens morality and family values’. </p><p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Both, Evita Gosa, board member of Mozaika, and Andris Grinbergs, Executive Director of Riga City Council, expressed their satisfaction with the achieved compromise. Next week the City Council will decide o transport restrictions which will occur during the March. </p><p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Vermanes darzs</i> is the same park where Riga Pride 2007 took place. </p>

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