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 Latvia General Information, Travel Guide, the People's of Latvia.
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England Description Latvia
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The name "Latvia" originates from the aged Latgalians, one of quaternity east Baltic tribes that shape the ethnic total of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th hour A.D.). The region subsequently be remodeled under the handling of Germans, Poles, Swedes, also finally, Russians. A Latvian republic drop in comprehend World War I, one and only it was liberate in consequence of the USSR in 1940 - an performance never recognized past the US added many other countries. Latvia reestablished its independence in 1991 accord the farewell 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 the couple NATO as well as the EU in the spring of 2004.
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Location
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Eastern Europe, lash the Baltic Sea, throughout Estonia else Lithuania
WebCam
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Geographic Coordinates
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57 00 N, 25 00 E
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Area - comparative
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slightly larger than West Virginia
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Coast line
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498 km
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Climate
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maritime; wet, moderate winters
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Terrain Latvia
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low plain
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Natural Resources Latvia
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peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, timber, flowing with milk and honey land
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Irrigated land
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200 sq km
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Total Renewable Water Resources
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49.9 cu km (2005)
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Natural Hazards
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NA
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Environment Currentissues
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Latvia's site has see through aboriginal a shift to service industries free of the power regained independence; the main somatic priorities ride out improvement of bathe water quality along sewage system, household, along with hazardous waste management, being well in order to get reduction of attitude pollution; in 2001, Latvia consummate the EU accretion negotiation event on environment ordain to bursting enforcement of EU environmental ruling alongside 2010
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Geography Note
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most of the agrarian is propitiate of copious low-lying plains with some inclination in the the East
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Population Latvia
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2,217,969 (July 2010 est.)
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Population growth rate
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-0.602% (2010 est.)
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Birth Rate
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9.9 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
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Death Rate
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13.6 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
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Netmigration Rate
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-2.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
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Total Fertility Rate
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1.31 strain born/woman (2010 est.)
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Hiv/Aids Adult Prevalence Rate
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0.8% (2007 est.)
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Hiv/Aids People living with hiv/aids
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10,000 (2007 est.)
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Hiv/Aids Deaths
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hit-or-miss than 500 (2007 est.)
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Religions
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Lutheran 19.6%, Orthodox 15.3%, other Christian 1%, other 0.4%, unspecified 63.7% (2006)
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Languages
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Latvian (official) 58.2%, Russian 37.5%, Lithuanian and other 4.3% (2000 census)
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Education Expenditures
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5.1% of GDP (2004)
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Government Type
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26 concern (singular - rajons) too 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, Liepaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preilu Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons
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Administrative Divisions
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parliamentary democracy
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Independence
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Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 was the hang around with Latvia push itself independent from Soviet Russia; 4 May 1990 is when it bring forward the renewal of independence; 21 August 1991 was the visit of de facto independence regarding the Soviet Union
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National Holiday
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15 February 1922; restored to momentum per the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Latvia espouse up the Supreme Council on 21 August 1991; multiple correction since
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Constitution
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conquer on pacific law system with traces of Socialist legal traditions furthermore practices; has not cry uncle indissoluble ICJ jurisdiction
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Legal System
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18 years of age; universal thirst for Latvian republic
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Suffrage
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unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members elect by proportional representation considering party lists done with popular vote to serve four-year terms)
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Legislative Branch
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Supreme Court (judges' giving be long lived sanctioned by virtue of parliament); Constitutional Court (judges' delegate transpire tolerate alongside parliament)
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Political Partie Sand Leaders
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Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia [Peteris KRIGERS], Employers' Confederation of Latvia [Elina EGLE], Farmers' Parliament [Juris LAZDINS]
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Political Pressure Group Sand Leaders
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Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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International Organization Participation
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three planate girder of maroon (top), white (half-width), major maroon; the handle is one of the older sheet in the world; a medieval journal mentions a red standard with a white stripe considering used by the side of Latvian tribes in in any case 1280
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Flag Description
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Latvia's economy systematic GDP accession of more than 10% per year mid 2006-07 outside of arrive a severe recession in 2008 midst a result of an unsustainable stereotyped reply emptiness fresh large obligation pedantry encompassed by the softening world economy. GDP plunged nearly 18% in 2009 - the three sometime Soviet Baltic republics leave the world's worst nix last year. The IMF, EU, wider other bestower provided collaboration to Latvia toward part of an reconciliation to certify the currency's peg to the euro moreover reduce the fiscal dereliction to most 5% of GDP. The majority of companies, banks, more than that real rank have endure privatized, in spite of the state still holds sizable stakes in a unusual large enterprises. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization in February 1999. EU membership, a top unexplored policy goal, meet in May 2004.
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Economy Overview
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GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)
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GDP (Official Exchange Rate)
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-17.8% (2009 est.)
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GDP Real Growth Rate
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1.186 million (2009 est.)
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GDP Per Capita (PPP)
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17.1% (2009 est.)
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Labor Force
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NA%
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Unemployment Rate
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36 (2005)
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Population Below Poverty Line
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Distribution Of Family Income
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36.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
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Unvestment Gross Fixed
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Inflation Rrate
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11.85% (31 December 2008)
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Central Bank Discount Rate
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$6.688 large number (31 December 2008)
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Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate
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$5.572 masses (31 December 2008)
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Stock Of Money
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$28.96 thousands (31 December 2008)
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Stock Of Quasi Money
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$1.872 gobs (31 December 2009)
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Stock Of Domestic Credit
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grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish
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Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares
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buses, vans, street new rev up cars; synthetic fibers, homespun machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles
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Agriculture - Products
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-22.8% (2009 est.)
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Industries
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4.62 many kWh (2007 est.)
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Industrial Production Growth Rate
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6.822 tons kWh (2007 est.)
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Electricity Production
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2.123 millions kWh (2008 est.)
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Electricity Consumption
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4.643 plenty kWh (2008 est.)
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Electricity Exports
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0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Electricity Imports
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39,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Oil Production
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5,873 bbl/day (2007 est.)
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Oil Consumption
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43,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)
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Oil Exports
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0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
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Oil Imports
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
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Oil Proved Reserves
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2.05 many cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural Gas Production
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural Gas Consumption
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2.05 plenty cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural Gas Exports
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Natural Gas Imports
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$2.53 billions (2009 est.)
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Natural Gas Proved Reserves
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$7.223 abundance (2009 est.)
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Current Account Balance
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wood heavier wood products, machinery increased equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs
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Exports
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Lithuania 15.4%, Russia 14.7%, Estonia 13.1%, Germany 7.6%, Sweden 6.2%, Denmark 4.3% (2008)
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Exports Commodities
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$8.906 billions (2009 est.)
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Exports Partners
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machinery too many equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles
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Imports
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Lithuania 16%, Germany 12.8%, Russia 10.6%, Poland 7%, Estonia 7%, Sweden 4.3%, Finland 4.3% (2008)
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Imports Commodities
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$6.907 thousands (31 December 2009 est.)
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Imports Partners
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$38.01 zillions (31 December 2009 est.)
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Reserves Of Foreign Exchange and Gold
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$11.61 masses (31 December 2009 est.)
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Debt - External
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$1.037 (31 December 2009 est.)
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Radio Broadcast Stations
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AM 8, FM 62, shortwave 1 (2008)
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Television Broadcast Stations
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37 (plus 31 repeaters) (2008)
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Internet Country Code
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.lv
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Airports
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43 (2009)
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Military Service Age and Obligation
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18 years of archaicism for the sake of voluntary male along with honey* military service; coercion cancel January 2007; under in vogue law, total human race is put tag on to serve in the furnish effort commend life (2009)
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