LATVIA

Compiled from the December 2004 Background Note and supplemented with additional information from the State Department and the editors of this volume. See the introduction to this set for explanatory notes.

Official Name:
Republic of Latvia

PROFILE

Geography

Area: 64,100 sq. km. (25,640 sq. mi.); about the size of West Virginia.

Cities: (2002) Capital—Riga (739,232). Other cities—Daugavpils (112,609); Liepaja (86,985); Jelgava (65,754); Jurmala (55,156); Ventspils (44,010); Rezekne (37,777).

Terrain: Fertile low-lying plains predominate in central Latvia, highlands in Vidzeme and Latgale to the east, and hilly moraine in the western Kurzeme region. Forests cover one-third of the country, with over 3,000 small lakes and numerous bogs.

Land use: 20% arable land, 8% meadows and pastures, 45% forest and woodland, 26.7% other.

Climate: Temperate, with four seasons of almost equal length. January temperatures average ?5ºC (23ºF); July 17ºC (63ºF). Annual precipitation averages 57 centimeters (23 in.).

People

Nationality: Noun and adjective—Latvian(s).

Population: 2,331,480.

Growth rate: ?0.6%. Birth rate—8.6/1,000. Death rate—13.9/1,000. Divorce rate—2.5/1,000. Migration rate—1,500 immigrants, 3,300 emigrants. Density—36.4/1 km2. Urban dwellers—68.9%.

Ethnic groups: Latvian 58.5%, Russians 29%, Belarusians 3.9%, Ukrainians 2.6%, Poles 2.5%.

Religions: Lutheran, Orthodox, Roman Catholic.

State language: Latvian. Russian also is spoken by most people.

Education: Years compulsory—9. By 1989, 60% of the adult populace had finished high school, and 12% had completed college. Attendance—408,000 students in 1,057 schools and 90,000 university students. Literacy—99%.

Health: Infant mortality rate—9.8/1,000. Life expectancy—65.4 yrs. male, 76.8 yrs. female.

Work force: (989,000 people) Industry—16.9%; agriculture/forestry—14.9%; trade—14.9%; education—8.9%; transport/communications—8.7%; public administration/defense—6.9%; construction—6.1%; healthcare/social welfare—6.1%.

Government

Type: Parliamentary democracy.

Constitution: The law "On the Republic of Latvia Status as a State," passed by Parliament on August 21, 1991, provided for the reinstatement of the 1922 constitution.

Branches: Executive—President (head of state), elected by Parliament every 4 years; Prime Minister (head of government). Legislative—Saeima (100-member body). Judicial—Supreme Court. Administrative subdivisions: 26 "rural" districts and 6 districts in Riga.

Political parties: New Era—24 seats, People's Party—20 seats, Latvia's First Party—14 seats, Farmers and Greens—12 seats, National Harmony Party—9 seats, Fatherland and Freedom—7 seats, For Human Rights in United Latvia—6 seats, Latvia's Socialist Party—5 seats; there are three independent members.

Suffrage: 18 years universal.

Economy (2002 data)

GDP: $8.41 billion.

Growth rate: 6.1%.

Inflation rate: 1.9%.

Unemployment: 8.5%.

Average annual wages: $3,359.

Natural resources: Peat, limestone, dolomite, gypsum, timber.

Agriculture/forestry: (4.5% of GDP) Products—cattle, dairy foods, cereals, potatoes. Cultivable land—2.48 million hectares, of which 75% is arable, 25% meadow and pasture.

Manufacturing: (14.8% of GDP) Light electrical equipment and fittings, textiles and footwear, technological instruments, construction materials, processed foods.

Public services: 15%; construction—6.1%; energy/water—3.6%; trade—19.9%; transport and communications—14.5%; business services—11.1%; financial services—4.6%; other services—5.5%.

Trade: Exports—$2.28 billion: wood/wood products 33.6%; metals 13.2%, textiles 12.8%, machines 6.5%, food/food products 7.1. Major markets—Germany 15.5%, U.K. 14.6%, Sweden 10.5%, Lithuania 8.4%, Estonia 6.0%. Imports—$4.04 billion: energy 9.7%, machinery 21.3%, chemicals 10.4%, food/food products 21.8%, metals 8.4%, vehicles 9.8%. Partners—Germany 17.2%, Lithuania 9.8%, Russia 8.8%, Finland 8%, Sweden 6.4%.

GEOGRAPHY

Between 55.40 and 58.05 latitude and 20.58 and 28.14 longitude, Latvia lies on the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea on the level northwestern part of the rising East European platform. About 98% of the country lies under 200m elevation (640 ft.). The damp climate resembles New England's. With the exception of the coastal plains, the Ice Age divided Latvia into three main regions: the morainic Western and Eastern uplands and the Middle lowlands. Latvia holds over 12,000 rivers, only 17 of which are longer than 60 miles, and over 3,000 small lakes, most of which are eutrophic. Woodland, more than half of which is pine, covers 41% of the country. Other than peat, dolomite, and limestone, natural resources are scarce. Latvia holds 531km (329 mi.) of sandy coastline, and the ports of Liepaja and Ventspils provide important warm-water harbors for the Baltic littoral, although the Bay of Riga itself is rather polluted.

Today, Latvia is slightly larger than Denmark, Estonia, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Its strategic location has instigated many wars between rival powers on its territory. As recently as 1944, the U.S.S.R. granted Russia the Abrene region on the Livonian frontier.

PEOPLE

Latvians occasionally refer to themselves by the ancient name of "Latvji," which may have originated from a "Latve" river that presumably flowed through what is now eastern Latvia. A small Finno-Ugric tribe known as the Livs settled among the Latvians and modulated the name to "Latvis," meaning "forest-clearers," which is how medieval German settlers also referred to these peoples. The German colonizers changed this name to "Lette" and called their initially small colony "Livland." The Latin form, "Livonia," gradually referred to the whole of modern-day Latvia as well as southern Estonia, which had fallen under German dominion. Latvians and Lithuanians are the only directly surviving members of the Baltic peoples and languages of the Indo-European family.

Latvians look like and consider themselves Nordics, evidenced through the strong cultural and religious influences gained over centuries during Germanic and Scandinavian colonization and settlement. Eastern Latvia (Latgale), however, retains a strong Polish and Russian cultural and linguistic influence. This highly literate society places strong emphasis upon education, which is free and compulsory until age 16. Most Latvians belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church; a sizable minority are Russian Orthodox, and Eastern Latvia is predominantly Roman Catholic.

Historically, Latvia always has had a fairly large Russian, Jewish, German, and Polish minority, but postwar emigration, deportations, and Soviet Russification policies from 1939-89 dropped the percentage of ethnic Latvians in Latvia from 73% to 52%. In an attempt to preserve the Latvian language and avoid ethnic Latvians becoming a minority in their own country, Latvia's language law, education law, and citizenship law have caused many noncitizen resident Russians concern over their ability to assimilate, despite Latvian legal guarantees of universal human and civil rights regardless of citizenship.

Written with the Latin alphabet, Latvian is the language of the Latvian people and the official language of the country. It is an inflective language with several analytical forms, three dialects, and German syntactical influence. The oldest known examples of written Latvian are from a 1585 catechism. The Soviets imposed the official use of Russian, so most Latvians speak Russian as a second or first language while the resident Slavic populace generally speaks Russian as a first language.

HISTORY

Since 9,000 BC ancient peoples of unknown origin had inhabited Latvia, but by 3,000 BC the ancestors of the Finns had settled the region. A millennium later, pre-Baltic tribes had arrived and within time evolved into the Baltic Couranian, Latgallian, Selonian, and Semigallian groups. These tribes eventually formed local governments independently from the Finno-Ugric Livian tribe until the 13th century when they were conquered by the Germans, who renamed the territory Livonia.

German sailors shipwrecked on the Daugava River in 1054 had inhabited the area, which led to increasing German influence. Founded by the Germanic Bishop Alberth of Livonia in 1201, Riga joined the Hanseatic League in 1285 and shared important cultural and economic ties to the rest of Europe. However, the new German nobility enserfed the peasantry and accorded non-Germanic peoples only limited trading and property rights.

Subsequent wars and treaties ensured Livonia's partition and colonization for centuries. The Commonwealth's successes during the Livonian Wars (1558-83) united the Latvian-populated duchies of Pardaugava, Kurzeme, and Zemgale, but the Polish-Swedish War (1600-29) granted Sweden acquisition of Riga and the Duchy of Pardaugava, minus Latgale, leaving Latvia again split ethnically. In turn, victory over Sweden in the Great Northern War (1700-21) gave Russia control over the Latvian territories. From 1804 onward, a series of local decrees

gradually weakened the grip of German nobility over peasant society, and in 1849 a law granted a legal basis for the creation of peasantowned farms.

Until the 1860s, there still was little sense of a Latvian national identity, as both serfdom and institutional controls to migration and social mobility limited the boundaries of the peasants' intellectual and social geography. The large baronic estates caused a lack of available farmland for an increasing population, creating a large landless, urban class comprising about 60% of the population. Also in the face of stricter Russification policies, the Baltic German clergy and literati began to take a more benevolent interest in the distinctive language and culture of the Latvian peasantry. These patrons—with such Lettish names as Alunans, Barons, Krastins, Kronvalds, Tomsons, and Valdemars—soon formed the Young Latvian Movement, whose aim was to promote the indigenous language and to publicize and counteract the socioeconomic oppression of Latvians.

By 1901, "Jauna Strava" had evolved into the Latvian Social Democratic Party. Following the lead of the Austrian Marxists, the LSDP advocated the transformation of the Russian Empire into a federation of democratic states (to include Latvia) and the adoption of cultural autonomy policy for extraterritorial ethnic communities. In 1903, the LSDP split into the more radically internationalist Latvian Social Democratic Worker's Party and the more influential Latvian Social Democratic Union (LSDU), which continued to champion national interests and Latvia's national self-determination, especially during the failed 1905 Revolution in Russia.

The onset of WWI brought German occupation of the western coastal province of Kurzeme, and Latvians heroically countered the invasion with the establishment of several regiments of riflemen commanded by Czarist generals. As a defensive measure, Russia dismantled more than 500 local Latvian industries, along with technological equipment, and relocated them to central Russia. The sagging military campaign generally increased Latvian and LSDU support for the Bolsheviks' successful October Revolution in 1917, in the hopes of a "free Latvia within free Russia." These circumstances led to the formation of the Soviet "Iskolat Republic" in the unoccupied section of Latvia. In opposition to this government and to the landed barons' German sympathies stood primarily the Latvian Provisional National Council and the Riga Democratic Bloc. These and other political parties formed the Latvian People's Council which on November 18, 1918 declared Latvia's independence and formed an army.

The new Latvian Army faced rogue elements of the retreating German Army and squared off in civil war against the Soviet Red Army, comprised greatly of the former Latvian Riflemen. Soviet power resumed in Latvia one month later on December 17 by order of the Latvian SSR, which forcefully collectivized all land and nationalized all industries and property. By May 22, 1919, the resurgent German Army occupied and devastated Riga for several days. In response, the Latvian Army managed to win a decisive battle over the combined German-Red Army forces and thereafter consolidated its success on the eastern Latgale front. These developments led to the dissolution of the Soviet Latvian government on January 13, 1920, and to a peace treaty between Latvia and Soviet Russia on August 11 later that year. By September 22, 1921, Latvia was admitted to the League of Nations.

Having obtained independent statehood in which Latvians were an absolute majority, the government headed by Prime Minister Ulmanis declared a democratic, parliamentary republic. It recognized Latvian as the official language, granted cultural autonomy to the country's sizeable minorities, and introduced an electoral system into the Latvian constitution, which was adopted in 1922. The decade witnessed sweeping economic reform, as war had devastated Latvian agriculture, and most Russian factories had been evacuated to Russia. Economic depression heightened political turmoil, and on May 15, 1934, Prime Minister Ulmanis dismissed the parliament, banned outspoken and leftwing political parties, and tightened authoritarian state control over Latvian social life and the economy.

The effects of the infamous Molotov-Ribbentrop agreement of 1939 steadily forced Latvia under Soviet influence until August 5, 1940, when the Soviet Union finally annexed Latvia. On June 14 of the following year, 15,000 Latvian citizens were forcibly deported and a large number of army officers shot. The subsequent German occupation witnessed the mobilization of many Latvians into Waffen SS legions, while some Latvians joined the Red Army and formed resistance groups; others fled to the West and East. By 1945, Latvia's population dropped by one-third.

After the war, the U.S.S.R. subjected the Latvian republic to a scale of social and economic reorganization which rapidly transformed the rural economy to heavy industry, the strongly ethnically Latvian population into a more multiethnic structure, and the predominantly peasant class into a fully urbanized industrial worker class. As part of the goal to more fully integrate Latvia into the Soviet Union, on March 25, 1949, Stalin again deported another 42,000 Latvians and continued to promote the policy of encouraging Soviet immigration to Latvia. The brief "Krushchev thaw" of the 1950s ended in 1959, when the Soviets dismissed Latvian Communist Party and government leaders on charges of "bourgeois nationalism" and replaced them with more aggressive hardliners, mostly from Russia.

"Perestroika" enabled Latvians to pursue a bolder nationalistic program, particularly through such general issues as environmental protection. In July 1989, the Latvian Supreme Soviet adopted a "Declaration of Sovereignty" and amended the Constitution to assert the supremacy of its laws over those of the U.S.S.R. Pro-independence Latvian Popular Front candidates gained a two-thirds majority in the Supreme Council in the March 1990 democratic elections. On May 4, the Council declared its intention to restore full Latvian independence after a "transitional" period; 3 days later, Ivars Godmanis was chosen Council of Ministers Chairman, or Prime Minister.

In January 1991, Soviet political and military forces tried unsuccessfully to overthrow the legitimate Latvian authorities by occupying the central publishing house in Riga and establishing a "Committee of National Salvation" to usurp governmental functions. Seventy-three percent of all Latvian residents confirmed their strong support for independence March 3 in a nonbinding "advisory" referendum. A large number of ethnic Russians also voted for the proposition.

Latvia claimed de facto independence on August 21, 1991 in the aftermath of the failed Soviet coup attempt. International recognition, including the U.S.S.R., followed. The United States, which had never recognized Latvia's forcible annexation by the U.S.S.R., resumed full diplomatic relations with Latvia on September 2.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS

The Saeima, a unicameral legislative body, now is the highest organ of state authority. It initiates and approves legislation sponsored by the Prime Minister. The prime minister has full responsibility and control over his cabinet, and the president holds a primarily ceremonial role as head of state.

In autumn 1991 Latvia reimplemented significant portions of its 1922 constitution, and in spring 1993 the government took a census to determine eligibility for citizenship. After almost 3 years of deliberations, Latvia finalized a citizenship and naturalization law in summer 1994, which was further liberalized in 1998. By law, those who were Latvian citizens in 1940, and their descendants (regardless of ethnicity), could claim citizenship. Forty-one percent of Latvia's population is ethnically non-Latvian, yet almost three-fourths of all residents are citizens of Latvia Naturalization criteria include a conversational knowledge of Latvian, a loyalty oath, renunciation of former citizenship, a 5-year residency requirement, and a basic knowledge of the Latvian history. Dual citizenship is allowed for those who were forced to leave Latvia during the Soviet occupation and adopted another citizenship. Convicted criminals, agents of Soviet intelligence services, and certain other groups also are excluded from becoming citizens.

On March 19, 1991 the Supreme Council passed a law explicitly guaranteeing "equal rights to all nationalities and ethnic groups" and "guarantees to all permanent residents in the Republic regardless of their nationality, equal rights to work and wages." The law also prohibits "any activity directed toward nationality discrimination or the promotion of national superiority or hatred."

In the June 5-6, 1993 elections wherein more than 90% of the electorate participated, eight of Latvia's 23 registered political parties passed the 5% threshold to enter parliament. The Popular Front, which spearheaded the drive for independence with a 75% majority in the parliamentary elections in 1990, did not qualify for representation. The centrist "Latvia's Way" party received a 33% plurality of votes and joined with the Farmer's Union to head a center-right wing coalition government.

Through a U.S. initiative, on April 30, 1994 Latvia and Russia signed a troop withdrawal agreement. Russia withdrew its troops by August 31, 1994, and maintained several hundred technical specialists to staff an OSCE-monitored phased-array ABM radar station at Skrunda until the facility was destroyed in 1995.

The September 30-October 1, 1995 elections brought forth a deeply fragmented parliament with nine parties represented and the largest party commanding only 18 of 100 seats. Attempts to form right-of-center and leftist governments failed; 7 weeks after the election, a broad but fractious coalition government of six of the nine parties was voted into office under Prime Minister Andris Skele, a widely popular, nonpartisan businessman.

In the 1998 elections, the Latvian party structure began to consolidate with only six parties obtaining seats in the Saeima. Andris Skele's newly formed People's Party garnered a plurality with 24 seats. Though the election represented a victory for the center-right, personality conflicts and scandals within the two largest right of center parties—Latvia's Way and the People's Party—prevented stable coalitions from forming. Two shaky governments under Vilis Kristopans and Andris Skele quickly collapsed in less than a year. In May 2000, a compromise candidate was found in the form of Andris Berzins, the then Latvia's Way mayor of Riga. His fourparty coalition lasted until parliamentary elections in October 2002. Those elections left Latvia's Way, for the first time since 1993, with no seats in parliament. Einars Repse's New Era Party, which ran on an anticorruption platform, gained the most seats, and Repse headed a four-party coalition government until his abrupt resignation in February 2004 over issues relating to personalities and management of the ruling coalition.

A minority government led by Greens and Farmers Union leader Indulis Emsis, including the People's Party and the First Party and with the tacit support of leftist parties, took office on March 9, 2004. The new government was focused on smoothing Latvia's entry into NATO and the European Union. Latvia officially became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on March 29, 2004 after depositing its instruments of treaty ratification in Washington, DC. Latvia joined the European Union on May 1, 2004. Prime Minister Emsis's government collapsed on October 28, 2004 after parliament voted against the 2005 budget. A new coalition government, led Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis, took office on December 2, 2004.

In 1999, the Saeima elected Vaira Vike-Freiberga, a compromise candidate with no party affiliation, to the presidency. Though born in Riga in 1937, she settled in Canada during the years of the Soviet occupation, becoming a well-respected academic in the subject of Latvian culture and psychology. Since her election, she has become one of the most popular political figures in Latvia. She was overwhelming re-elected by parliament for another 4-year term in June 2003.

Latvia's flag consists of two horizontal, maroon bands of equal width, divided by a white stripe one-half the width. The national holiday is November 18, Independence Day.

Principal Government Officials

Last Updated: 12/14/04

President: Vike-Freiberga , Vaira
Prime Minister: Kalvitis , Aigars
Min. of Agriculture: Roze , Martins
Min. for Children & Families: Bastiks , Ainars
Min. of Culture: Demakova , Helena
Min. of Defense: Repse , Einars
Min. of Economy: Karins , Krisjanis
Min. of Education & Science: Druviete , Ina
Min. of Environment: Vejonis , Raimonds
Min. of Finance: Spurdzins , Oskars
Min. of Foreign Affairs: Pabriks , Artis
Min. of Health: Berzins , Gundars
Min. of Interior: Jekabsons , Eriks
Min. of Justice: Aboltina , Solvita
Min. of Regional Development & Local Government: Kucinskis , Maris
Min. for Social Integration: Latkovskis , Ainars
Min. for Special Assignment for E Government: Reirs , Janis
Min. of Transport: Slesers , Ainars
Min. of Welfare: Stake , Dagnija
Pres., Central Bank of Latvia: Rimsevics , Ilmars
Ambassador to the US: Riekstins , Maris
Permanent Representative to the UN, New York: Jegermanis , Gints

Latvia maintains an embassy in the United States at 4325—17th Street, NW, Washington DC 20011 [tel: (202) 726-8213].

ECONOMY

For centuries under Hanseatic and German influence and then during its inter-war independence, Latvia used its geographic location as an important East-West commercial and trading center. Industry served local markets, while timber, paper, and agricultural products supplied Latvia's main exports. Conversely, the years of Russian and Soviet occupation tended to integrate Latvia's economy to serve those empires' large internal industrial needs. Since reestablishing its independence, Latvia has proceeded with market-oriented reforms. Its freely traded currency, the Lat, was introduced in 1993 and has held steady, or appreciated, against major world currencies. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has noted that Latvia's economic performance the past several years had been among the best of the European Union (EU) accession countries. Real per capita GDP has grown by more than 50% compared to its 1995 level, while inflation has remained close to or below 3% since 1998. The government expects annual growth rates of about 6% in medium term. At the same time, current account deficit (ranging from 7% to 10% in the past 3 years) remains one of the key vulnerabilities of the Latvian economy. In addition, Latvian fiscal discipline deteriorated considerably at the end of 2002, when budget deficit rose to 2.7% of GDP, well above the government's target figure. However, the government's effort to improve tax administration, to fight gray economy, and to reintroduce strict budget discipline led to an improvement in the fiscal situation in the first 9 months of 2003.

Privatization in Latvia is almost complete. Virtually all of the previously state-owned small and medium companies have been privatized, leaving in state hands the electric utility, the Latvian railway company, and the Latvian postal system, as well as state shares in several politically sensitive enterprises. Despite the lack of transparency of the early stages of the privatization process, and certain difficulties in privatization of some of the largest companies, Latvian privatization efforts have led to the development of a dynamic and prosperous private sector, which accounted for 70% of GDP in 2002.

Foreign investment in Latvia remains high, as both Western and Eastern investors are trying to establish a foothold in the new EU member state, as well as to take advantage of Latvia's stable macroeconomic environment, central location in the region, and cheap labor. Representing 7.1% of Latvia's total foreign direct investment, the U.S. FDI stock in Latvia stood at $184 million at the end of 2002. In the same year, U.S. goods and services accounted for 1.6% of Latvia's total imports, while exports to the United States accounted for 4.2% of Latvia's total exports. Latvia is a member of the World Trade Organization since 1999. Latvia and the United States have signed treaties on investment, trade, and intellectual property protection and avoidance of double taxation.

In the long term, continued high economic growth in Latvia will depend on further improvements of the business environment, particularly successful drive to reduce corruption and strengthen the rule of law, and on Latvia's ability to use the opportunities presented by EU membership.

DEFENSE

Latvia's defense concept is based upon four basic pillars—collective defense as a member of NATO, professionalization of the armed forces, support and coordination with civil society, and international military cooperation. The armed forces consist of the land forces brigade with one deployable battalion, an air force focused on air surveillance and search and rescue, and naval forces focused on costal surveillance, assertion of sovereignty, mine countermeasures, and search and rescue. The land forces, navy, and air force comprise approximately 7,000 personnel. The "zemessardze," or home guard, is an autonomous 13,890-man-strong volunteer reserve organization which performs traditional national guard duties such as crisis response and support to military operations. There is a mandatory 1-year draft period of active duty, and alternative conscription for conscientious objectors is available. The Latvian National Armed Forces will be fully professional by the beginning of 2007. Defense spending has risen in recent years, and the government has committed 2% of its GDP for defense spending through 2008.

FOREIGN RELATIONS

Latvia became a member of the United Nations on September 18, 1991, and is a signatory to a number of UN organizations and other international agreements, including COE, IAEA, CERCO, ICES, ICAO, IAEA, UNESCO, UNICEF, IMF, and WB/EBRD. It also is a member of the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and of the North Atlantic Coordinating Council. Latvia officially became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on March 29, 2004 after depositing its instruments of treaty ratification in Washington, DC. Latvia officially joined the European Union on May 1, 2004.

Latvia maintains embassies in the United States, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, the People's Republic of China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Uzbekistan. It also operates missions to the United Nations in New York City and Geneva, the European Council, and non-member representation to the EU, Chemical Weapons Nonproliferation Organization, the OSCE, World Trade Organization, and the UN Council on Food and Agriculture. It also is represented at NATO.

Latvia has a Consulate General in Russia; Consulates in Belarus and Russia; Honorary Consulates General in Australia, Cyprus, India, Israel, and Norway; and Honorary Consulates in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Mexico, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, and Venezuela.

Russia expresses concern for how Latvia's language and naturalization laws affect Latvia's Russian-speaking population. Russians comprised 29% of the population in 2003. In turn, Latvia is interested in the welfare of ethnic Latvians still residing in Russia.

U.S.-LATVIAN RELATIONS

The United States established diplomatic relations with Latvia on July 28, 1922. The U.S. Legation in Riga officially was established November 13, 1922, and served as the headquarters for U.S. representation in the Baltics during the interwar era. The Soviet invasion forced the closure of the legation on September 5, 1940, but Latvian representation in the United States has continued uninterrupted for more than 70 years. The United States never recognized the forcible incorporation of Latvia into the U.S.S.R. and views the present Government of Latvia as a legal continuation of the interwar republic. Latvia has enjoyed most-favored-nation treatment with the United States since December 1991.

Principal U.S. Embassy Officials

RIGA (E) Address: 7 Raina Blvd., Riga LV-1510 Latvia; APO/FPO: PSC 78 Box R, APO AE 09723; Phone: +371-703-6200; Fax: +371-782-0047; Workweek: M–F/0830-1700; Website: http://www.usembassy.lv

TRAVEL

Consular Information Sheet

December 23, 2004

Country Description: Latvia is a stable democracy experiencing rapid economic growth. Most tourist facilities found in a western European city are available in Riga, the capital. However, many of the goods and services taken for granted in other countries are not yet available outside Riga.

Entry/Exit Requirements: A passport valid for at least three months after the planned stay in Latvia is required. No visa is required for travelers remaining up to 90 days in a half-calendar year (from January to June and from July to December). Travelers remaining in Latvia for more than 90 days, including 180-day periods that cross over two half-calendar years, must apply for temporary residence. A valid insurance policy, covering medical expenses while in Latvia, has to be presented when requesting the residency permit. Repatriation costs, including funeral and disposition of remains costs also have to be covered by the policy. For more information, travelers may contact the Latvian Embassy, at 4325 17 th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20011, tel: (202) 726-8213, see also http://www.latviausa.org. Within Latvia, contact the Ministry of Interior's Citizenship and Immigration Department at Raina bulv. 5, Riga, LV 1508, tel: (371) 721-9424 or (371) 721-9427, fax: (371) 782-0306, http://www.pmlp.gov.lv. or Foreigners Service Center at Alunana iela 1, Riga, LV 1050, tel: (371)-721-9639, fax: (371)-721-9655. Any traveler to Russia, even in transit, is advised to obtain a Russian visa prior to entry into Latvia. The process of obtaining a visa at the Russian Embassy in Riga can be lengthy, and involve surrender of the passport for an undetermined period of time. See our Foreign Entry Requirements brochure for more information on Name of Country and other countries. Visit the Embassy of Latvia web site for the most current visa information.

Safety and Security: Civil unrest is not a problem in Riga. However, Riga has seen a half dozen large, peaceful demonstrations last year related to internal political issues. While demonstrations have been peaceful, American citizens are nevertheless cautioned to avoid any large, public demonstrations. There have been no incidents of terrorism directed toward American interests. Incidents of anti-Americanism are rare.

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov where the current Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, Travel Warnings and Public Announcements can be found. Up-to-date information of safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-317-472-2328. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas. For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State's pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad.

Crime: Crime in Riga is generally non-violent, although there have been infrequent instances of serious violent assaults. Street crime is a serious problem, particularly for tourists. In addition to falling prey to pickpockets in all public areas, there have been cases of tourists and residents being drugged in bars and restaurants and then taken outside or to their residences and robbed. In any public area, one should always be alert to being surrounded by two or more people at once. It is not uncommon for groups of juvenile pickpockets to attempt to overwhelm their victim. In addition, Riga has one of the highest rates of car theft in the world.

Internet crime is a growing concern in Latvia. Common fraudulent schemes involve both Internet auction sites and Internet job search sites. In the first scam, criminals offer valuable items for sale at low prices on Internet auctions and request that payment be sent by wire transfer to a bank in Latvia or though a fraudulent escrow site that they have created themselves. In this scheme the money passes through a bank in Latvia and is quickly withdrawn by ATM or transferred to a bank in another country. It is very difficult in these cases to discover the identities of the account holders or recover the funds.

The second common scam involves identity theft through false job offers. In this scheme, a company claiming to be located in Latvia, but which has a non-existent address, offers the victim employment as a U.S.-based agent or freight forwarder. When the victim responds to the job offer, commonly posted on one of several popular internet job sites, a Social Security number and other identifying information – needed for the identity theft – is required under the guise of conducting a background check.

Information for Victims of Crime: The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, to contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed. See our information on Victims of Crime at http://travel.state.gov/travel/brochure_victim_assistance.html.

Medical Facilities and Health Information: Medical care in Latvia is steadily improving, but it remains limited in several important respects. There are a few private clinics with medical supplies and services, including disposable needles and basic modern diagnostics, which are nearly equal to Western Europe or U.S. standards. However, any major invasive procedures or surgeries in Latvia are not recommended because of lack of equipment and resources. Hospital services are not equal to Western standards. Most, but not all, antibiotics and prescription medications are available but as they are generally produced in Europe or Russia, they often have different names and instructions are usually not printed in English. Elderly travelers and those with existing health problems may be at risk due to inadequate medical facilities. Diphtheria, hepatitis and tick-borne encephalitis are widespread. According to the World Health Organization, tuberculosis is a significant problem in Latvia, with 9% of all cases being multi-drug resistant. State ambulance service for emergencies is available by dialing 112 anywhere in Latvia. However, quick response is poor in rural areas. Air ambulance service is available for medical evacuations. In general, private air ambulance services are very expensive.

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via the CDC's Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization's (WHO) website at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith.

Medical Insurance: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Latvia is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Latvia has one of the highest rates of automobile accidents and fatalities in Europe. Drivers should be alert for pedestrians and slow moving vehicles in traffic. Violation of traffic rules is common and it is not unusual to be overtaken by other automobiles, traveling at high speed, even in crowded urban areas. Drivers do not always yield to pedestrians, even at marked intersections. During winter, most major roads are cleared of snow. However, drivers should be alert for fog, snow, and ice while driving. Driving while intoxicated is a very serious offense and carries heavy penalties. Local authorities use roadblocks and Breathalyzer tests as enforcement tools. Drivers and pedestrians should be alert to the possibility of drunk drivers and drunken pedestrians wandering onto the road. Drivers must use their headlights at all times day and night. Speed limits are usually 50 km/hr in the city and 90 km/hr on the highways. Public transportation is generally considered safe, but travelers are encouraged to select well-marked taxis. Emergency services are fair and improving (see section on Medical Facilities above), but response may be especially slow in traffic or in rural settings. Dial 112 for ambulance service. U.S. driving licenses are not valid in Latvia and American tourists must possess a valid international driving permit, which can be obtained in the United States from the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the American Automobile Touring Alliance. For more information about road safety and traffic regulations in Latvia, please visit the website of the Latvian Road Safety Administration http://www.csdd.lv/en/index.htm.

Aviation Safety Oversight: Although direct commercial air service between Latvia and the United States has just begun, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Latvia's Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with ICAO international aviation safety standards. For more information, travelers may visit the FAA's internet web site at http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa/index.cfm.

Special Circumstances: Banks and currency exchange counters may refuse to accept U.S. currency that is crumpled, torn, discolored or defaced (even small pen strokes, hand written numbers and letters are considered defacing). If such notes are accepted for exchange, an additional processing fee, based on the size of the transaction, may be charged. ATMs are widely available in Riga and in other major towns. Telephone connections with the United States are reliable. However, 1-800 numbers cannot be accessed from Latvia. Please check with your long distance carrier before departure to see if they offer service in Latvia. Local Internet cafes offer computer access, and fax machines are widely available.

Latvian customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Latvia of items such as firearms, religious materials, antiquities, medications, business equipment, drugs etc. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of Latvia in Washington or one of Latvian consulates in the United States for specific information regarding customs requirements at http://www.latvia-usa.org.

Criminal Penalties: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offences. Persons violating Latvian laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Latvia are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in illicit sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States.

Children's Issues: For information on international adoption of children and international parental child abduction, see the Office of Children's Issues website at http://travel.state.gov/family/index.html.

Registration/Embassy Location: Americans living or traveling in Latvia are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Latvia. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located at 7 Raina Blvd. Riga, LV-1510, and may be reached by dialing +371-703-6200. The fax number for the consular American Citizen Services section is +371-781-4088. You can find us on the web at http://www.usembassy.lv.

International Adoption

January 2005

The information below has been edited from a report of the State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of Overseas Citizens Services. For more information, please read the International Adoption section of this book and review current reports online at www.travel.state.gov/family

Disclaimer: The following is intended as a very general guide to assist U.S. citizens who plan to adopt a child in Latvia and apply for an immigrant visa for the child to come to the United States. Questions involving foreign and U.S. immigration laws and legal interpretation should be addressed respectively to qualified foreign or U.S. legal counsel.

Please Note: Latvia periodically revises its laws pertaining to adoption process, including international adoption. Please check with the U.S. Embassy in Latvia for the most current information.

Adoption procedures in Latvia entail several extended trips by adoptive parents to Latvia to complete all requirements.

The American Embassy in Riga is responsible for preparing the I-604, Report of Orphan Investigation. However, the American Embassy in Warsaw, Poland is responsible for the issuance of all immigrant visas for applicants from Latvia, including adopted children.

Patterns of Immigration of Adopted Orphans to the U.S.: Recent U.S. immigrant visa statistics reflect the following pattern for visa issuance to orphans

Fiscal Year: Number of Immigrant Visas Issued
FY 2003: 15
FY 2002: 33
FY 2001: 28
FY 2000: 25
FY 1999: 28

Adoption Authority in Latvia: The Ministry for Family and Children's Rights (Ministry) is responsible for administering intercountry adoptions. Foreigners interested in adopting a Latvian child should express their interest in writing to the ministry at the following address:

Ministry for Family and Children's Rights
Basteja Blvd. 14 (3rd floor)
Riga, LV 1050, Latvia
Tel. (371) 735 6497;
Fax. (371) 735 6464
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.bm.gov.lv

Eligibility Requirements for Adoptive Parents: Both single individuals and married couples are eligible to adopt.

Residential Requirements: parent-child relationship requirement: Latvian Adoption Law requires that a parent-child relationship be established before the final decision can be made by the town or city court having jurisdiction over the child. It leaves to each orphan court to decide on a case-by-case basis how long it will take to establish the parent-child relationship. The interpretation of the childparent relationship among courts differs. Adoptive parents are advised that orphan courts can require them to take care of the adoptive children and share a household in Latvia for a time period, not exceeding six months, as set by the orphan court.

Time Frame: The time needed to complete adoption in Latvia from beginning to end varies depending on the age of the adopted child. There are very few newborn and younger children available for international adoption, and it can take several years before a child can be located and adoption completed. If a request is made to adopt a child from five to ten years of age the adoption process can take less than a year, as there currently are many older children available for international adoption.

Adoption Agencies and Attorneys: The U.S. Embassy in Riga has a list of agencies and attorneys known to work in Latvia. Neither the U.S. Embassy nor the Department of State can vouch for the efficiency or professionalism of any agent, facilitator, or interpreter.

Adoption Fees in Latvia: There are no government fees for adoption services in Latvia. However, adoptive parents should be prepared to cover fees related to translation and certification of documents and processing of new civil and travel documents for the adopted child.

Adoption Procedures: Foreign adoption is allowed if the orphan court having jurisdiction over child's place of residence has established that the child's upbringing in a family environment in Latvia cannot be ensured. Foreign adoptive parents are required to file adoption applications with the Ministry that reviews all applications and determines whether or not the applicant meets the requirements of the law. If the judgment is favorable, the Ministry provides adoptive parents with information on children who are available for adoption. After a child is chosen, the Ministry issues permission for the adoptive parents to meet the child. The permission and the adoptive parent's passport have to be presented to the orphanage Director (or other care-taking facility) before the family is acquainted with the child. The adoptive parents are given ten days to decide if they are willing to start taking care of the child. It is up to the responsible orphan court to decide how long time the parents will have to take care of the child. After the adoptive family has taken care of the child for the required time period and the orphan court has established that the adoption would (or would not) be in the child's interests, the Ministry is informed. The Ministry then prepares an adoption approval (or rejection) statement for submission to the Latvian Minister of Justice. The Justice Minister's adoption permission is valid for three months, and must be submitted, with other documentation pertaining to the adoption, to the town or city court responsible for the final adoption decree. Current law provides for a twenty-day period for the final court decree to become effective. After the final court decree becomes effective, the adoptive parent(s) can travel to Warsaw, Poland for the child's U.S. immigrant visa interview.

It is a requirement that for two years after the adoption, the orphan court having jurisdiction over the child's new place of residency will monitor the adopted child's well being. It has not been decided yet how the Latvian government will monitor the child's well being in the adoptive family residing abroad. The Ministry has suggested that adoptive families address this question to Ministry officials who will advise them on this issue.

Documents Required for Adoption in Latvia: All prospective parents must apply for adoption in Latvia by submitting the following documents (in duplicate) in the original, accompanied by an official Latvian translation to the Ministry:

• Application including information about reasons for adoption as well as information about the sex, age range, and religion of the child (children) you are interested in adopting
• A copy of your marriage certificate, under apostille (Please see further information about authentication of documents.).
• A copy of divorce decree (if applicable), under apostille.
• A statement about the dwelling space of the family (i.e., size, location, type of residence).
• An autobiography (curriculum vitae).
• Medical statements regarding the health of the family (hereditary illnesses, if any, and any specific illnesses).
• A home study, under apostille, conducted by a state adoption agency or a private organization licensed to perform such studies.

Authenticating U.S. Documents To Be Used Abroad: All U.S. documents submitted to the Latvian government/court must be authenticated. Prospective adopting parents should contact the Secretary of State of the state where documents originated from for instructions and fees for authenticating documents. Please visit our Web site at travel.state.gov for additional information about authentication procedures.

Latvian Embassy and Consulates in the United States:
Embassy of Latvia
4325 17th Street, N. W.
Washington, DC 20011
Tel: 202-726-6757; Fax: 202-726-6785
Email: Embassy@Latvia_USA.org
www.latvia-usa.org

Latvia also has honorary consulates in Los Angeles, California; Cleveland, Ohio; and Houston, Texas.

Polish Visas for Latvian Orphans: Immigrant visa processing for all Latvian residents, including adopted children, is conducted in Warsaw, Poland. Children traveling to Poland on their Latvian resident alien passports need to apply for a visa to Poland at Polish embassy in Riga.

Embassy of Poland
Visa Section
Mednieku 6B
Riga, LV-1010
Tel: 371-7031500; Fax: 371-7031549

Applying for an Immigrant Visa at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, Poland: Three business days notice is required to schedule an immigrant visa interview at U.S. embassy in Warsaw. It is suggested that prospective adoptive parents contact the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw and request their standard information packet:

American Embassy, Consular Section
IV Unit/Adoptions
Ul. Piekna 12
00-540 Warsaw, Poland
Tel: 011-48-22-628-3041
Consular Section
fax: 011-48-22-627-7434
E-mail: [email protected]
General e-mail inquiries:
[email protected]
http://www.usinfo.pl/

Additional Information: Specific questions about adoption in a particular country may be addressed to the U.S. Embassy in that country. General questions regarding international adoption may be addressed to the Office of Children's Issues, U.S. Department of State, CA/OCS/CI, SA-29, 4 th Floor, 2201 C Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20520-4818, tollfree Tel: 1-888-404-4747.