tional Democratic Party or LNDP
; Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party (Social
Democrats) or LSDSP ; Latvian Socialist Party or LSP
; Latvian Unity Party or LVP ;
Latvia's Way or LC ; National Harmony Party or TSP
; New Party ; "Our Land" or MZ [M.
DAMBEKALNE]; Party for the Defense of Latvia's Defrauded People
; Party of Russian Citizens or LKPP [V. SOROCHIN, V.
IVANOV]; Political Association of the Underprivileged or MPA [B.
PELSE, V. DIMANTS, J. KALNINS]; Political Union of Economists or TPA
; People's Party

International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC,
EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NSG, OAS (observer),
OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate
partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Aivis RONIS
chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: (202) 726-8213, 8214
FAX: (202) 726-6785

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James H. HOLMES
embassy: Raina Boulevard 7, LV-1510, Riga
mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE 09723
telephone: 721-0005
FAX: 782-0047

Flag description: three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white
(half-width), and maroon

@Latvia:Economy

Economy - overview: In 1999 Latvia, a transitional economy,
experienced zero GDP growth as it continued to feel the impact of the
August 1998 Russian financial crisis. Latvia officially joined the
World Trade Organization (WTrO) in February 1999 - the first Baltic
state to join - band was invited at the Helsinki EU Summit in December
1999 to begin accession talks in early 2000. Unemployment reached 9.6%
in 1999, up from 9.2% in 1998 and 6.7% in 1997. Privatization of large
state-owned utilities, especially the energy sector, faced more delays
in 1999, but is expected to accelerate in the next two years. Latvia
projects 3.5% GDP growth, 3% inflation, and a 2% fiscal deficit in
2000. Preparing for EU membership by 2003 remains a top foreign policy
priority.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $9.8 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 0% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,200 (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 29%
services: 63% (1998)