Naga talks progressing in right direction: Government, NSCN-IM

The government and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (IM) on Friday said their ongoing negotiations were on the right track and they were closer to a final settlement.

"We assure the people that the talks have been progressing in right direction with determination. We are closer than ever before to the final settlement and hope to conclude it sooner than later," said a joint communique from the NSCN (IM) and the government.

The communique was issued by R.N. Ravi, the Indian government interlocutor for the talks, and T. Muivah, General Secretary of the NSCN-IM.

"The political initiative of the government of India and NSCN(IM) to amicably resolve the Naga political issue has received a new urgency and impetus during the last two years," it said.

"The talks have become more purposeful, less ritualistic, more forthright and far more frequent," it said.

The communique added that in the last two years, both the parties had met more times than all the years before and this had helped build unprecedented mutual understanding and trust.

The communique admitted that the death of former chairman of NSCN(IM) Isak Chisi Swu had affected the talks.

The Naga Framework Agreement was inked between the government and the NSCN (IM) on August 3, 2015 with a view to end six decades of conflict in Nagaland.

--IANS

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