NewmaiNews Network
Shillong | July 22
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today advocated for an ‘interim agreement’ to keep the Naga peace process alive. Ahead of the scheduled Naga peace talks on July 28, Rio said, “If an immediate settlement becomes too difficult, an interim agreement must be evolved. This issue should be handled step by step,” Rio said during a visit to Shillong.
Exuding optimism that the Naga problem would be resolved, Rio said, “all human problems have a solution and this issue is no different”.
Refusing to divulge any formula that Nagaland may suggest to the centre and the NSCN on the peace process, Rio said, “the state government is a facilitator and would not like to intervene directly in the peace talks between the centre and NSCN”.
Rio informed that the chief interlocutor between the Government of India and NSCN parleys Oscar Fernandez has also visited Nagaland and met members of the civil society including church leaders.
“This was done to elicit their opinions prior to the next round of talks,” Rio stated.
When asked, Rio said, the present crisis faced by the Naga community was ‘disunity’. “There are many players in the state and there is disunity which is causing problems for the state”.
On the issue of integrating Naga-dominated areas, Rio said, his government was ‘not forcing’ anyone to integrate into the territorial boundary of Nagaland. “Anyone wishing to integrate with Nagaland is welcome”.
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