Latvia must take in migrants

The Latvian parliament on Thursday started a debate on whether to take in refugees. The country has yet to adopt a clear stance on the issue. The liberal daily Diena is not convinced by arguments against the move: "What difference does it make that Latvia is a poor country? Countries like Lebanon and Jordan, which are currently taking in refugees in the Middle East, certainly aren't the richest or most stable countries. Think of how angry we'd be if Lebanon suddenly declared that it can't afford to take in any refugees, stopped giving them food and shelter, and sent them all to Europe. Even Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma's statement that the culture and religion of assylum seekers from African and Asia are too different from our own is absurd. ... We can't just play possum: the problem is going to get worse from month to month, and now that Latvia holds the EU Council presidency it must lead this discussion."

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