Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Ha Noi, Feb. 11 (VNA) -- The U.S. State Department has affirmed that Virginia's House of Delegates bill HB-2829 allowing the display of the flag of the former South Viet Nam regime runs counter to the U.S. Constitution.

The U.S. has formally recognised the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, and said a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Ha Noi, adding Viet Nam's gold-starred red flag is on public display in the U.S. along with other nations with which the U.S. has diplomatic relations.

The U.S. spokesman was quoted by the foreign press as saying that the U.S. State Department is seeking ways to prevent the Virginia bill, which would allow the display of the old yellow flag of the former Saigon administration at public schools in Virginia state. The department fears the bill may cause diplomatic friction at a time when U.S.-Viet Nam relations are improving.

The spokesman said the department expressed concern over the legislation recognising the flag of the former South Viet Nam regime, saying it amounted to Virginia conducting its own foreign policy."We have raised our constitutional concerns involving the sole power of the president of the United States to conduct foreign relations," he added.