Riga -- As the economic crisis develops, many nations are reassessing basic tenets of their pasts and presents, including their national flags.

This is case in Latvia where, despite major problems such as a collapsing economy, riots in the capital city and a constitutional face-off between parliament and president, part of the Latvian government is turning its attention to whether the national flag is the right colour. 



The Baltic state's foreign ministry has noticed that several different shades of red are being used on flags that are commercially available. 



As a result, it is proposing the establishment of a "national symbols commission" which would regulate the quality of flags and their compliance with uniform standards. 



"The intention is to set up a commission that would regulate the exact size, shape and colour of the flag," said a foreign ministry spokesman. "It is important that exactly the right Pantone colour is used -- the dark red that we call Latvian red.”

The spokesman said there is also a plan to introduce an official pennant, similar to those in many of the Scandinavian countries. “This would prevent flagpoles being empty for much of the year.”

Some foreign diplomats eager to observe correct protocol have been confused by the variety of "Latvian" flags and the symbols commission could also encourage the use of the European Union flag alongside the national flag on government buildings, the spokesman added. The commission would have the power to restrict what could be sold as a Latvian flag and would issue permits to certified flag makers. 



Latvia's flag consists of a red-and-white striped triband with the central white band half as thick as the red bands. According to legend, it originated from a white sheet used to carry a mortally wounded tribal chief from the battlefield. Soaked with his blood on two sides, the warriors raised the sheet as their banner. 



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