Latvia

After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars, Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940. It reestablished its independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 30% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia continues to revamp its economy for eventual integration into various Western European political and economic institutions.

• Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service industries after the country regained independence;
• the main environmental priorities are improvement of drinking water quality and sewage system, household and hazardous waste management, and reduction of air pollution;
• in 2001, Latvia closed the EU accession negotiation chapter on environment committing to full enforcement of EU environmental directives by 2010

party to:

Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:

Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

0-14 years:

15.8% (male 191,116; female 182,692)

15-64 years:

68.6% (male 775,481; female 847,261)

65 years and over:

15.6% (male 120,304; female 249,661) (2002 est.)

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.92 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.48 male(s)/female

total population:

0.85 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

total population:

69 years

female:

75.17 years (2002 est.)

male:

63.13 years

noun:

Latvian(s)

adjective:

Latvian

conventional long form:

Republic of Latvia

conventional short form:

Latvia

local short form:

Latvija

former:

Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic

local long form:

Latvijas Republika

chief of state:

President Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since 8 July 1999)

head of government:

Prime Minister Einars REPSE (since 7 November 2002)

cabinet:

Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament

elections:

• president elected by Parliament for a four-year term;
• election last held 17 June 1999 (next to be held by June 2003);
• prime minister appointed by the president

election results:

• Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA elected as a compromise candidate in second phase of balloting, second round (after five rounds in first phase failed to produce a clear winner);
• percent of parliamentary vote - Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA 53%, Valdis BIRKAVS 20%, Ingrida UDRE 9%

• Alliance of the Greens and Farmers Union or ZZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS (Farmer's Union); Indulis EMSIS (Green Party)];
• CENTER Political Alliance [Juris CELMINS];
• First Party of Latvia [Eriks JEKABSONS];
• For Fatherland and Freedom or LNNK [Maris GRINBLATS];
• For Human Rights in a United Latvia or PCTVL [Janis JURKANS], a coalition of the People's Harmony Party or TSP, the Latvian Socialist Party or LSP, and the Equal Rights Movement;
• Freedom Party [Ziedonis CEVERS];
• Land of Mara [Irena SAPROVSKA];
• Latvian Rebirth Party [Andris RUBINS];
• Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDSP [Juris BOJARS];
• Latvia's Way Union or LC [Andris BERZINS];
• Light of Latgale or LG [Rihards EIGIMS];
• New Era Party [Einars REPSE];
• Our Land Party [Ilmars ANCANS];
• Party of Latvians [Aivars GARDA];
• People's Party [Andris SKELE];
• Progressive Center Party [Inta STAMGUTE];
• Russian Party [Mihails GAVRILOVS];
• Social Democratic Union or SDS [Egils BALDZENS];
• Social Democratic Welfare Party or SLP [Juris ZURAVLOVS];
• United Republican Party of Latvia or LARP [Eriks Andrejs SAULUNS, Janis PUKIS, Sarmite JEGERE]

chief of mission:

Ambassador Aivis RONIS

FAX:

[1] (202) 726-6785

telephone:

[1] (202) 726-8213, 8214

chancery:

4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

chief of mission:

Ambassador Brian E. CARLSON

embassy:

7 Raina Boulevard, Riga LV-1510

mailing address:

American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE 09723

telephone:

[371] 703-6200

FAX:

[371] 781-4088

lowest 10%:

3%

highest 10%:

26% (1998) (1998)

• buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles;
• note - dependent on imports for energy and raw materials

• grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables;
• beef, pork, milk, eggs;
• fish

general assessment:

• inadequate, but is being modernized to provide an international capability independent of the Moscow international switch;
• more facilities are being installed for individual use

domestic:

expansion underway in intercity trunk line connections, rural exchanges, and mobile systems; still many unsatisfied subscriber applications

international:

international connections are now available via cable and a satellite earth station at Riga, enabling direct connections for most calls (1998)

total:

2,412 km

broad gauge:

2,379 km 1.520-m gauge (271 km electrified)

narrow gauge:

33 km 0.750-m gauge (2001)

total:

59,178 km

paved:

22,843 km

unpaved:

36,335 km (1998 est.)

total:

6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 30,119 GRT/30,572 DWT

note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Greece 3 (2002 est.)

ships by type:

cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 4

• the Russian Duma refuses to ratify boundary delimitation treaty with Latvia;
• the Latvian Parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rights