CCPR/CO/79/LVA page 5 private sector, restrictions in the area of ownership of agricultural land, as well as social benefits (art. 26). The State party should prevent the perpetuation of a situation where a considerable part of the population is classified as “non-citizens”. In the interim, the State party should facilitate the integration process by enabling non-citizens who are long-term residents of Latvia to participate in local elections and to limit the number of other restrictions on non-citizens in order to facilitate the participation of non-citizens in public life in Latvia. 19. The Committee is concerned about the impact of the State language policy on the full enjoyment of rights stipulated in the Covenant. Areas of concern include the possible negative impact of the requirement to communicate in Latvian except under limited conditions, on access of non-Latvian speakers to public institutions and communication with public authorities ( art. 26). The State party should take all necessary measures to prevent negative effects of its language policy on the rights of individuals under the Covenant, and, if required, adopt measures such as the further development of translation services. 20. While noting the explanation provided by the State party for the adoption of the Education Law of 1998, particularly the gradual transition to Latvian as the language of instruction, the Committee remains concerned about the impact of the current time-limit on the move to Latvian as the language of instruction, in particular in secondary schools, on Russian-speakers and other minorities. Furthermore, the Committee is concerned about the distinction made in providing State support to private schools based on the language of instruction (arts.26 and 27). The State party should take all necessary measures to prevent negative effects on minorities of the transition to Latvian as the language of instruction. It should also ensure that if State subsidies are provided to private schools, they are provided in a non-discriminatory manner. 21. The Committee is concerned about the social and economic situation of the Roma minority and its impact on the full enjoyment of their rights under the Covenant, as well as the potentially negative effect on them of the present regulations regarding the entry of ethnic origin in passports and identity documents. (arts. 2, 26 and 27). The State party should take steps to remove obstacles to the practical enjoyment by the Roma of their rights under the Covenant, and, in particular, abolish the provisions allowing for entry of ethnic origin in passports and identity documents. 22. The State party should widely publicize the present examination of its second periodic report by the Committee and, in particular, these concluding observations. 23. The State party is asked, pursuant to rule 70, paragraph 5, of the Committee’s rules of procedure, to forward information within 12 months on the implementation of the Committee’s recommendations regarding naturalization (para. 16), the status of non-citizens (para. 18), State language policy (para. 19) and the education law (para. 20). The Committee requests that