A/HRC/7/19/Add.3 page 6 7. The history of Latvia would be profoundly affected by the start of the Second World War. The Molotov-Ribbentrop pact led to the first Soviet occupation in 1940-1941. In this period, some 35,000 Latvians were deported to the Soviet Union, particularly to Siberia. Latvia fell under Nazi Germany’s control from 1941 to 1944, leading to the extermination of the Jewish population; an estimated number of 70,000 Jews were killed in Latvia during the Holocaust. As the confrontation between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union approached Latvia, particularly in 1943-1944, the local population was divided: some groups joined the Red Army while others, most of whom were forcibly drafted, fought with the Waffen SS. 8. The second Soviet occupation started in 1944, as the war came to an end, and lasted until 1991. As in the other Baltic countries, the first years of occupation, in particular during Stalin’s era, were marked by high levels of repression, with forced deportation of more than 120,000 Latvians to the East and the fleeing of some 130,000 to the West to take refuge. Other policies implemented by the Soviet Union led to what many historians call an attempted Russification of Latvian society, in particular through the introduction of Russian as an official language and the arrival of large numbers of migrants from other parts of the Soviet Union, in particular a large Russian community. 9. With the restoration of independence in 1991, Latvia embarked on a process of close rapprochement with the West, particularly through the introduction of widespread economic reforms, including privatization, to integrate the economy into global markets. This process culminated in 2004, when Latvia was admitted to the European Union (EU) as well as to NATO. During this period, the adaptation of EU legislation in order to implement the acquis communautaire led to important changes in policies that directly affect the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. B. Demographic, ethnic and religious composition 10. Due to its historical legacy and geographical position, Latvia has developed a multicultural society with a core Latvian national identity. Out of its population of around 2.2 million, 59 per cent are of Latvian origin and 28.5 per cent of Russian descent. Other sizeable ethnic groups are Belorussians (3.8 per cent), Ukrainians (2.5 per cent), Poles (2.4 per cent), Lithuanians (1.4 per cent), Jews and Roma (0.4 per cent each). 11. There is an important demographic distinction between citizens, non-citizens and foreigners. The Government formally differentiates between non-citizens and stateless persons. It argues that non-citizens may not be regarded as stateless persons within the meaning of the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons due to the specific nature of their legal status, its temporary character and the broad scope of rights enjoyed thereby. The Government emphasizes that non-citizens are granted permanent residence in Latvia ex lege. It was also emphasized to the Special Rapporteur that non-citizens are entitled to visa-free travel within the EU. In 2007, 81 per cent of the population were Latvian citizens, 17.2 per cent were non-citizens and 1.8 per cent were foreign citizens. 12. Although there are no centralized statistics concerning religious affiliation, estimates indicate that around 22 per cent of the population are Catholic, 20 per cent are Lutherans and