Central Asia, between China and Kazakhstan
Map references:
Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - Central Asian States,
Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
198,500 sq km
land area:
191,300 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries:
total 3,878 km, China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 km, Tajikistan 870 km,
Uzbekistan 1,099 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
territorial dispute with Tajikistan on southwestern boundary in Isfara
Valley area
Climate:
dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical in southwest
(Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone
Terrain:
peaks of Tien Shan rise to 7,000 meters, and associated valleys and
basins encompass entire nation
Natural resources:
small amounts of coal abundant hydroelectric potential; significant
deposits of gold and rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil
and natural gas; other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead,
and zinc, natural gas, oil, nepheline, rare earth metals, mercury,
bismuth, gold, lead, zinc, hydroelectric power
Land use:
arable land:
7%
permanent crops:
NEGL%
meadows and pastures:
42%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
51%
Irrigated land:
10,320 sq km (1990)
Environment:
current issues:
water pollution; many people get their water directly from
contaminated streams and wells and as a result, water-borne diseases
are prevalent; increasing soil salinity from faulty irrigation
practices
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
NA
Note:
landlocked
@Kyrgyzstan, People
Population:
4,698,108 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.53% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
26.33 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
7.36 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-3.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
46.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
67.92 years
male:
63.69 years
female:
72.35 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.35 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Kyrgyz(s)
adjective:
Kyrgyz
Ethnic divisions:
Kirghiz 52.4%, Russian 21.5%, Uzbek 12.9%, Ukrainian 2.5%, German
2.4%, other 8.3%
Religions:
Muslim 70%, Russian Orthodox NA%
Languages:
Kirghiz (Kyrgyz) - official language, Russian widely used
Literacy:
age 9-49 can read and write (1970)
total population:
100%
male:
100%
female:
100%
Labor force:
1.836 million
by occupation:
agriculture and forestry 38%, industry and construction 21%, other 41%
(1990)
@Kyrgyzstan, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Kyrgyz Republic
conventional short form:
Kyrgyzstan
local long form:
Kyrgyz Respublikasy
local short form:
none
former:
Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph:
KG
Type:
republic
Capital:
Bishkek
Administrative divisions:
6 oblasttar (singular - oblast); Chuy Oblasty, Jalal-Abad Oblasty,
Naryn Oblasty, Osh Oblasty, Talas Oblasty, Ysyk-Kol Oblasty
note:
the administrative center for Chuy Oblasty is Bishkek; the
administrative center for Ysyk-Kol Oblasty may be Ksyk-Kol or Karakol;
all other oblasttar have administrative centers of the same name as
the oblast
Independence:
31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
National Day, 2 December; Independence Day, 31 August (1991)
Constitution:
adopted 5 May 1993
Legal system:
based on civil law system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Askar AKAYEV (since 28 October 1990); election last held 12
October 1991 (next to be held NA 1996); results - Askar AKAYEV won in
uncontested election with 95% of vote and with 90% of electorate
voting; note - president elected by Supreme Soviet 28 October 1990,
then by popular vote 12 October 1991; note - AKAYEV won 96% of the
vote in a referendum on his status as president on 30 January 1993
head of government:
Prime Minister Apas DZHUMAGULOV (since NA December 1993); First Deputy
Prime Minister Almambet MATURBRAIMOV (since NA)
cabinet:
Cabinet of Ministers; subordinate to the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Zhogorku Keneshom:
elections last held 25 February 1990 for the Supreme Soviet (next to
be held no later than NA November 1994 for the Zhogorku Keneshom);
results - Communists 90%; seats - (350 total) Communists 310
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Social Democrats, Ishenbai KADYRBEKOV, chairman; Kyrgyzstan Democratic
Movement (KDM), Kazat AKHMATOV, chairman; National Unity, German
KUZNETSOV; Communist Party, Dzhumalbek AMANBAYEV, chairman; Erkin
(Free) Kyrgyzstan Party, Topchubek TURGUNALIYEV, chairman
Other political or pressure groups:
National Unity Democratic Movement; Peasant Party; Council of Free
Trade Unions; Union of Entrepreneurs; Agrarian Party
Member of:
CIS, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
ILO, IMF, IOC, NACC, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
(vacant)
chancery:
(temporary) Suite 705, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone:
(202) 347-3732/3
FAX:
(202) 347-3718
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Edward HURWITZ
embassy:
Erkindik Prospekt #66, Bishkek 720002
mailing address:
use embassy street address
telephone:
7-3312 22-29-20, 22-26-93, 22-29-89
FAX:
7-3312 22-35-51
Flag:
red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays representing
the 40 Krygyz tribes; on the obverse side the rays run
counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the sun
is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized
representation of the roof of the traditional Kyrgyz yurt
@Kyrgyzstan, Economy
Overview:
Kyrgyzstan is one of the smallest and poorest states of the former
Soviet Union. Its economy is heavily agricultural, producing cotton
and tobacco on irrigated land in the south, grain in the foothills of
the north, and sheep and goats on mountain pastures. Its small and
obsolescent industrial sector, concentrated around Bishkek, is heavily
dependent on Russia and other CIS countries for customers and for
inputs, including most of its fuel. Since 1990, the economy has
contracted by almost 40%. Kyrgyzstan's inflation was high in 1993,
about 23% per month, but rates were declining at the end of the year.
Kyrgyzstan introduced its national currency, the som, in May 1993, it
has privatized 28% of its former state assets, and plans call for a
massive voucher privatization in 1994. Although Kyrgyzstan will
receive relatively large flows of foreign aid, ongoing economic
restructuring will continue to be painful with an anticipated increase
in unemployment as uneconomic enterprises close. President AKAYEV will
be under strong political pressure to backtrack on some reform
measures.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $11.3 billion (1993 estimate from
the UN International Comparison Program, as extended to 1991 and
published in the World Bank's World Development Report 1993; and as
extrapolated to 1993 using official Kirghiz statistics, which are very
uncertain because of major economic changes since 1990)
National product real growth rate:
-13.4% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$2,440 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
23% per month (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
0.2% includes officially registered unemployed; also large numbers of
unregistered unemployed and underemployed workers
Budget:
revenues:
$NA
expenditures:
$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
$100.4 million to countries outside the FSU (1993 est.)
commodities:
wool, chemicals, cotton, ferrous and nonferrous metals, shoes,
machinery, tobacco
partners:
Russia 70%, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and others
Imports:
$105.8 million from countries outside the FSU (1993 est.)
commodities:
grain, lumber, industrial products, ferrous metals, fuel, machinery,
textiles, footwear
partners:
other CIS republics
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate -27% (1993 est.)
Electricity:
capacity:
4,100,000 kW
production:
11.8 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
2,551 kWh (1992)
Industries:
small machinery, textiles, food-processing industries, cement, shoes,
sawn logs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, and rare
earth metals
Agriculture:
wool, tobacco, cotton, livestock (sheep, goats, cattle), vegetables,
meat, grapes, fruits and berries, eggs, milk, potatoes
Illicit drugs:
illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for CIS
consumption; limited government eradication program; used as
transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe and North
America from Central and Southwest Asia
Economic aid:
recipient:
$80 million in 1993 and an anticipated $400 million in 1994
Currency:
introduced national currency, the som (10 May 1993)
Exchange rates:
NA
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Kyrgyzstan, Communications
Railroads:
370 km; does not include industrial lines (1990)
Highways:
total:
30,300 km
paved and graveled:
22,600 km
unpaved:
earth 7,700 km (1990)
Pipelines:
natural gas 200 km
Ports:
none; landlocked
Airports:
total:
52
usable:
27
with permanent-surface runways:
12
with runways over 3,659 m:
1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
4
with runways 1,060-2,439 m:
13
note:
a C-130 can land on a 1,060-m airstrip
Telecommunications:
poorly developed; 342,000 telephones in 1991 (also about 100,000
unsatisfied applications for household telephones); 76 telephones per
1,000 persons (31 December 1991); microwave radio relay is principal
means of intercity telephone links; connections with other CIS
countries by landline or microwave and with other countries by leased
connections with Moscow international gateway switch and by satellite;
2 satellite earth stations - 1 GORIZONT and 1 INTELSAT (links through
Ankara to 200 other countries and receives Turkish broadcasts);
broadcast receivers - radios 825,000, TVs 875,000, radio receiver
systems with multiple speakers for program diffusion 748,000
@Kyrgyzstan, Defense Forces
Branches:
National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops), Civil
Defense
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,123,959; fit for military service 912,516; reach
military age (18) annually 44,528 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA% of GDP
@Laos, Geography
Location:
Southeastern Asia, between Vietnam and Thailand
Map references:
Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
236,800 sq km
land area:
230,800 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than Utah
Land boundaries:
total 5,083 km, Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km, Thailand
1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
boundary dispute with Thailand
Climate:
tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December
to April)
Terrain:
mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Natural resources:
timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Land use:
arable land:
4%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
3%
forest and woodland:
58%
other:
35%
Irrigated land:
1,200 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion
natural hazards:
subject to floods, drought, and blight
international agreements:
party to - Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but
not ratified - Law of the Sea
Note:
landlocked
@Laos, People
Population:
4,701,654 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.85% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
43.23 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
14.74 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
101.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
51.68 years
male:
50.16 years
female:
53.28 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.07 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Lao(s) or Laotian(s)
adjective:
Lao or Laotian
Ethnic divisions:
Lao 50%, Phoutheung (Kha) 15%, tribal Thai 20%, Meo, Hmong, Yao, and
other 15%
Religions:
Buddhist 85%, animist and other 15%
Languages:
Lao (official), French, English
Literacy:
age 15-45 can read and write (1993)
total population:
64%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
1-1.5 million
by occupation:
agriculture 85-90% (est.)
@Laos, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Lao People's Democratic Republic
conventional short form:
Laos
local long form:
Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
local short form:
none
Digraph:
LA
Type:
Communist state
Capital:
Vientiane
Administrative divisions:
16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) and 1 municipality*
(kampheng nakhon, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamsai,
Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louang Namtha, Louangphrabang,
Oudomxai, Phongsali, Saravan, Savannakhet, Xekong, Vientiane,
Viangchan*, Xaignabouri, Xiangkhoang
Independence:
19 July 1949 (from France)
National holiday:
National Day, 2 December (1975) (proclamation of the Lao People's
Democratic Republic)
Constitution:
promulgated 14 August 1991
Legal system:
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President NOUHAK PHOUMSAVAN (since 25 November 1992)
head of government:
Prime Minister Gen. KHAMTAI SIPHANDON (since 15 August 1991)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the president, approved by the
Assembly
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Third National Assembly:
elections last held on 20 December 1992 (next to be held NA); results
- percent of vote by party NA; seats - (85 total) number of seats by
party NA
Judicial branch:
Supreme People's Court
Political parties and leaders:
Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), KHAMTAI Siphandon, party
president; includes Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC); other
parties moribund
Other political or pressure groups:
non-Communist political groups moribund; most leaders fled the country
in 1975
Member of:
ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador HIEM PHOMMACHANH
chancery:
2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 332-6416 or 6417
FAX:
(202) 332-4923
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Victor TOMSETH
embassy:
Rue Bartholonie, Vientiane
mailing address:
B. P. 114, Vientiane, or American Embassy, Box V, APO AP 96546
telephone:
[851] 2220, 2357, or 3570, 16-9581
FAX:
[851] 4675
Flag:
three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with
a large white disk centered in the blue band
@Laos, Economy
Overview:
Laos has had a Communist centrally planned economy with government
ownership and control of major productive enterprises. Since 1986,
however, the government has been decentralizing control and
encouraging private enterprise. Laos is a landlocked country with a
primitive infrastructure; it has no railroads, a rudimentary road
system, limited external and internal telecommunications, and
electricity available in only a limited area. Subsistence agriculture
is the main occupation, accounting for over 60% of GDP and providing
about 85-90% of total employment. The predominant crop is rice. For
the foreseeable future the economy will continue to depend for its
survival on foreign aid from the IMF and other international sources;
aid from the former USSR and Eastern Europe has been cut sharply.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $4.1 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
7% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$900 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.8% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
21% (1989 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$83 million
expenditures:
$188.5 million, including capital expenditures of $94 million (1990
est.)
Exports:
$133 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
electricity, wood products, coffee, tin
partners:
Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, FSU, US, China
Imports:
$266 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
commodities:
food, fuel oil, consumer goods, manufactures
partners:
Thailand, FSU, Japan, France, Vietnam, China
External debt:
$1.1 billion (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 12% (1991 est.); accounts for about 18% of GDP (1991 est.)
Electricity:
capacity:
226,000 kW
production:
990 million kWh
consumption per capita:
220 kWh (1992)
Industries:
tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural
processing, construction
Agriculture:
accounts for 60% of GDP and employs most of the work force;
subsistence farming predominates; normally self-sufficient in
nondrought years; principal crops - rice (80% of cultivated land),
sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, cotton; livestock
- buffaloes, hogs, cattle, poultry
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis, opium poppy for the international drug
trade, third-largest opium producer (180 metric tons in 1993)
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-79), $276 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $605
million; Communist countries (1970-89), $995 million
Currency:
1 new kip (NK) = 100 at
Exchange rates:
new kips (NK) per US$1 - 720 (July 1993). 710 (May 1992), 710
(December 1991), 700 (September 1990), 576 (1989)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
@Laos, Communications
Railroads:
none
Highways:
total:
27,527 km
paved:
bituminous 1,856 km
unpaved:
gravel, crushed stone, improved earth 7,451 km; unimproved earth
18,220 km (often impassable during rainy season mid-May to
mid-September)
Inland waterways:
about 4,587 km, primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional
kilometers are sectionally navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m
Pipelines:
petroleum products 136 km
Ports:
none
Merchant marine:
1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,370 GRT/3,000 DWT
Airports:
total:
53
usable:
41
with permanent-surface runways:
8
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
15
Telecommunications:
service to general public practically non-existant; radio
communications network provides generally erratic service to
government users; 7,390 telephones (1986); broadcast stations - 10 AM,
no FM, 1 TV; 1 satellite earth station
@Laos, Defense Forces
Branches:
Lao People's Army (LPA; including naval, aviation, and militia
elements), Air Force, National Police Department
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,015,357; fit for military service 547,566; reach
military age (18) annually 49,348 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA% of GDP
@Latvia, Geography
Location:
Eastern Europe, bordering on the Baltic Sea, between Sweden and Russia
Map references:
Arctic Region, Asia, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
64,100 sq km
land area:
64,100 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total 1,078 km, Belarus 141 km, Estonia 267 km, Lithuania 453 km,
Russia 217 km
Coastline:
531 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
the Abrene section of border ceded by the Latvian Soviet Socialist
Republic to Russia in 1944
Climate:
maritime; wet, moderate winters
Terrain:
low plain
Natural resources:
minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite
Land use:
arable land:
27%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
13%
forest and woodland:
39%
other:
21%
Irrigated land:
160 sq km (1990)
Environment:
current issues:
air and water pollution because of a lack of waste conversion
equipment; Gulf of Riga and Daugava River heavily polluted;
contamination of soil and groundwater with chemicals and petroleum
products at military bases
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
party to - Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified
- Biodiversity, Climate Change
@Latvia, People
Population:
2,749,211 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.5% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
13.84 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
12.61 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
3.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
21.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
69.44 years
male:
64.37 years
female:
74.75 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.98 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Latvian(s)
adjective:
Latvian
Ethnic divisions:
Latvian 51.8%, Russian 33.8%, Byelorussian 4.5%, Ukrainian 3.4%,
Polish 2.3%, other 4.2%
Religions:
Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Languages:
Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other
Literacy:
age 9-49 can read and write (1970)
total population:
100%
male:
100%
female:
100%
Labor force:
1.407 million
by occupation:
industry and construction 41%, agriculture and forestry 16%, other 43%
(1990)
@Latvia, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Latvia
conventional short form:
Latvia
local long form:
Latvijas Republika
local short form:
Latvija
former:
Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph:
LG
Type:
republic
Capital:
Riga
Administrative divisions:
26 counties (singular - rajons) and 7 municipalities*: Aizkraukles
Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons, Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons,
Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons,
Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons, Jurmala*, Kraslavas
Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Leipaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons,
Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preiju Rajons, Rezekne*,
Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons,
Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils
Rajons
Independence:
6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 18 November (1918)
Constitution:
newly elected Parliament in 1993 restored the 1933 constitution
Legal system:
based on civil law system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Guntis ULMANIS (since 7 July 1993); Saeima elected President
ULMANIS in the third round of balloting on 7 July 1993
head of government:
Prime Minister Valdis BIRKAVS (since 20 July 1993)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the Supreme Council
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Parliament (Saeima):
elections last held 5-6 June 1993 (next to be held NA June 1996);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (100 total) LC 36, LNNK
15, Concord for Latvia 13, LZS 12, Equal Rights 7, LKDS 6, TUB 6, DCP
5
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Latvian Way Union (LC), Valdis BIRKAVS; Latvian Farmers Union (LZS),
Alvars BERKIS; Latvian National Independence Movement (LNNK), Andrejs
KRASTINS, Aristids LAMBERGS, cochairmen; Concord for Latvia, Janis
JURKANS; Equal Rights, Sergejs DIMANIS; Christian Democrat Union
(LKDS), Peteris CIMDINS, Andris SAULITIS, Janis RUSKO; Fatherland and
Freedom (TUB), Maris GRINBLATS, Roberts MILBERGS, Oigerts DZENTIS;
Democratic Center (DCP), Ints CALITIS; Popular Front of Latvia (LTF),
Uldis AUGSTKALNS
Member of:
BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE (guest), CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM
(observer), ITU, LORCS, NACC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Ojars Eriks KALNINS
chancery:
4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone:
(202) 726-8213 and 8214
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Ints M, SILINS
embassy:
Raina Boulevard 7, Riga 226050
mailing address:
use embassy street address
telephone:
46-9-882-0046
FAX:
46-9-882-0047
Flag:
two horizontal bands of maroon (top and bottom), white (middle,
narrower than other two bands)
@Latvia, Economy