(26 Aug 2015) Latvia is getting ready to welcome around 250 migrants as part of a European Commission quota, drawing increasing interest in the lives of refugees already awaiting the outcome of their asylum applications.
Around 40 people live at Mucenieki reception centre, Latvia's only centre for asylum seekers, having made the journey from Afghanistan, Vietnam, Georgia, Russia and Syria.
For some, the Baltic states were their final destination, but for others it's an unwelcome transit, having been stopped by police on their journey towards Sweden or Germany.
Aras Omer Karim, a 34-year-old Kurd from northern Iraq, frequently speaks to local reporters and he is eager to dispel growing fears over immigration among Latvians, explaining that he is not here by choice.
But there is growing concern among the wider population of the effect that the arrival of more refugees, mostly from Muslim countries will have on national identity and national security.
Latvian President, Raimonds Vejonis, says opposition to immigration is being intensified by Latvian nationalists, and admits his country is somewhat prejudiced.
"We are a tolerant society, but at the same time we have a little bit of phobias," he told the AP.
Whilst these fears are real, he insists that his country wants to show solidarity with southern Europe and do their part to help with the migrant crisis.
But ahead of the arrival of the first group of 50 refugees, the Latvian government wants a proper integration plan, something it has never needed before.
"We need this first experience: how to deal with such persons, because it could be a problem. We will learn by our own mistakes," Vejonis said.
Hosams Abu Meri, Latvia's first Arabic lawmaker, agrees that integration is important among Latvia's immigrant groups.
Abu Meri says he understands Latvia's nationalist tendencies in country still very conscious of its occupation by Soviet forces for 70 years, but believes that refugees can benefit the country if integrated well - a point he put across to NGOs and government departments during a meeting ahead of the latest influx.
As the summer draws to an end, Latvia's only asylum centre is busy preparing for new arrivals, but hopes this former Soviet military base will become a spring board for a more integrated country.
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