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 joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.

• 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, as well as 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, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.48 male(s)/female

total population:

0.86 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

noun:

Latvian(s)

adjective:

Latvian

conventional long form:

Republic of Latvia

conventional short form:

Latvia

local long form:

Latvijas Republika

local short form:

Latvija

former:

Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic

• Independence Day, 18 November (1918);
• note - 18 November 1918 is the date Latvia declared itself independent from Soviet Russia;
• 4 May 1990 is when it declared the renewal of independence;
• 21 August 1991 is the date of de facto independence from the Soviet Union

chief of state:

President Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since 8 July 1999)

head of government:

Prime Minister Aigars KALVITIS (since 2 December 2004)

cabinet:

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

elections:

• president reelected by Parliament for a four-year term;
• election last held 20 June 2003 (next to be held by June 2007);
• prime minister appointed by the president

election results:

Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA reelected president; parliamentary vote - Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA 88 of 94 votes cast

• First Party of Latvia or LPP [Juris LUJANS];
• For Human Rights in a United Latvia or PCTVL [Tatjana ZDANOKA, Jakovs PLINERS];
• For the Fatherland and Freedom/Latvian National Independence Movement or TB/LNNK [Janis STRAUME];
• Harmony Center or SC [Sergejs DOLGOPOLOVS];
• Latvian Green Party or LZP [Indulis EMSIS, Viesturs SILENIEKS, Raimonds VEJONIS];
• Latvian Farmer's Union or LZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS];
• Latvian Social Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDSP [Juris BOJARS];
• Latvian Socialist Party or LSP [Alfreds RUBIKS];
• Latvia's Way or LC [Ivars GODMANIS];
• New Democrats or JD [Maris GULBIS];
• New Era Party or JL [Einars REPSE];
• People's Harmony Party or TSP [Aivars DATAVS];
• People's Party or TP [Atis SLAKTERIS];
• Social Democratic Union or SDS [Egils BALDZENS]

chief of mission:

Ambassador Maris RIEKSTINS

chancery:

4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

telephone:

[1] (202) 726-8213, 8214

FAX:

[1] (202) 726-6785

chief of mission:

Ambassador Catherine TODD-BAILEY

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] 782-0047

lowest 10%:

2.9%

highest 10%:

25.9% (1998)

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

• 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

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:

country code - 371; international connections are now available via cable and a satellite earth station at Riga, enabling direct connections for most calls (1998)

total:

2,303 km

broad gauge:

2,270 km 1.520-m gauge (257 km electrified)

narrow gauge:

33 km 0.750-m gauge (2004)

total:

60,472 km

paved:

57,206 km

unpaved:

3,265 km (2002)

total:

19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 53,153 GRT/37,414 DWT

by type:

cargo 7, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 5, roll on/roll off 1

registered in other countries:

86 (2005)

• 19 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript service obligation - 12 months;
• 18 years of age for volunteers;
• Latvia plans to phase out conscription, tentatively moving to an all-professional force by 2007 (August 2004)

• the Latvian-Russian boundary treaty of 1997 remains unsigned and unratified with Russia linking it to better Latvian treatment of ethnic Russians and Latvian politicians demanding Russian agreement to a declaration that admits Soviet aggression during the Second World War and other issues;
• the Latvian parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rights;
• as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Latvia must implement the strict Schengen border rules

• transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Central and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia and Latin American cocaine and some synthetics from Western Europe to CIS;
• vulnerable to money laundering despite improved legislation due to nascent enforcement capabilities and comparatively weak regulation of offshore companies and the gaming industry;
• organized crime (including counterfeiting, corruption, extortion, stolen cars, and prostitution) accounts for most laundered proceeds