¡¡¡¡BANGKOK, July 13 (Xinhuanet) -- A positive settlement is expected on Myanmar's blacklisting 15 Thai journalists, Thai Government Spokesmen Yongyudh Tiyapairat said here Saturday.

¡¡¡¡Yongyudh said that he expected the issue would be well-settled when sound understanding between the two neighboring countries resumes, according to a report of the Thai News Agency.

¡¡¡¡"It may take some time to resume sound understanding between the two countries, but when it comes, pending problems, including Myanmar's latest move to put the 15 Thai journalists on its blacklist, are believed to be well-settled," he said.

¡¡¡¡An AFP report said Friday that Myanmar had put 15 Thai journalists on its blacklist for writing anti-Myanmar articles.

¡¡¡¡The journalists -- four from the Nation Newspaper, one from theBangkok Post Newspaper, four from the Thai Rath Newspaper, and therest from other local newspapers -- would then be denied entry visa into Myanmar, indicated the AFP news report, which quoted Kyaw Win, Myanmar deputy chief of intelligence, as saying.

¡¡¡¡Thai-Myanmar relations have deteriorated after clashes along the border on May 20, leading to Myanmar's closure of its border checkpoints with Thailand.

¡¡¡¡Myanmar accused Thailand of assisting armed ethnic groups in fighting against Yangon forces. Thailand has totally denied the accusation.

¡¡¡¡Yongyudh said that the Thai press enjoys full freedom, and local journalists enjoy the freedom of expression, indicating thateven the government had been criticized.

¡¡¡¡The government would, however, try to maintain good relations and cooperation between all parties, he noted. Enditem

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