UN General Assembly
1992

preserve our national identity, and on the other to give immigrants every opportunity to integrate into Latvia's society while preserving and developing their own languages and cultural traditions. The State of Latvia, of course, is interested in expanding its body of citizens, but not with retired officers of the former Soviet army who, even now, do not recognize the independence of Latvia. There are other States from which the armed forces of the former Soviet Union are being withdrawn but the possibility of granting the citizenship of these States to former Soviet officers has not been an issue. The current domestic debate suggests that the Latvian Parliament adopt a law on citizenship in which the principal criteria for granting citizenship would be a 10-year residency and a basic knowledge of Latvian. Such a law, if accepted by a referendum of citizens, would have legal force. Currently, all permanent residents of Latvia are being registered and are being given the opportunity freely to declare their intention to become citizens of Latvia or