Integration monitor is a daily Latvian press digest on ethnic minority and society integration issues. The Monitor reviews the biggest Latvian dailies: Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga (in Latvian language), Vesti Segodnya (in Russian language). In specific cases other information sources are used. Latvian Centre for Human Rights is not responsible for information published by the media.

• Residents of Liepaja are sending petitions against closure of schools providing education in Russian
• Chas features an interview with the Head of the PACEs Sub-Committee on Minority Rights Boriss Cilvecs
• State Language Centre fines director of the Ludza School of Evening Classes for insufficient use of the state language
• Latvijas Avize prints an article about a conflict between the Association of Ethnic Cultural Societies of Latvia and the IUMSILS

Chas reports that residents of Liepaja (city in the Northern part of Latvia) are sending protest letters against closure of some schools providing education in Russian to the European Parliaments Petitions Committee. The letters have been drafted by activists of For Human Rights in United Latvia and the Latvian National Democratic Party. As reported, the Liepaja City Council is planning to optimise the city school system and close several secondary schools teaching in Russian within 2007-2013.

Chas features an interview with MP, Head of the PACEs (Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe) Sub-Committee on the Rights of Minorities Boriss Cilevics (The Concord Centre) who have been re-elected to the post. Boriss Cilevics talks about activities of the Sub-committee in the field of ethnic minorities in various European countries.

Latvijas Avize reports that the State Language Centre has imposed a fine on the director of the Ludza School of Evening Classes in the amount of LVL 35 (EUR 50) for insufficient use of the Latvian language in official communication.

Latvijas Avize prints an article about a conflict between the Association of Ethnic Cultural Societies of Latvia (AECSL) and the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (IUMSILS in its Latvian acronym). Head of the AECSL Rafi Haradzanjans claims that some representatives of the IUMSILS are trying to split the organisation to take over the building which currently is owned by the AECSL. Mr. Haradzanjans believes that the Secretariat is not providing sufficient funding. However, the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens in an interview with the newspaper stated that the head of the AECSL has not claimed for a bigger funding and support. (12.02)