Latvia, a Baltic country whose economy is going through a serious crisis, has given up on participating in the international mission in Kosovo in order to save money, and so 17 Latvian soldiers will be returning home on Monday, the Russian news agency Itar-Tass reported from the Latvian capital, Riga.

The Latvian authorities decided earlier to withdraw from two international missions - in Kosovo and in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Two Latvian soldiers will be returning home after October 9, 2009, the Russian news agency stated.

At the end of last year, because of the introduction of economy and financial restrictions, it was thought that Latvia might have to give up on several international military operations and cancel a number of agreements.