DIMAPUR, MAY 28 (MExN): Defending the ‘opinion’ that an ‘interim agreement’ is not a final solution, nor, does it substitute or preclude a permanent and final solution being arrived at a future date, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has stated that in ‘certain cases of sensitive and difficult negotiations, as in the present Naga political dialogue, an interim agreement can reduce somewhat the pressures on the negotiating parties and act as a balm to reduce the tension and prevent the talks from breaking down out of frustration at not being able to make any headway. Rio expressed this opinion while responding to the press statement made by Hokheto Sumi, President NPCC in which the latter had criticized the Chief Minister’s suggestion for an interim agreement on the Naga political issue.
“I had presumed that it would be understood by everybody that interim agreement is not a final solution”, Rio stated in a press communiqué while going on to affirm that even the current ceasefire agreements and the on-going peace talks without pre-conditions are themselves in the nature of interim agreements.
Rio further pointed out that since the issue of Naga sovereignty was ‘dear to all of us’ but since it could not be obtained by force or without the concurrence of the Government of India, and “since each of the parties to the talk have a duty to understand the difficulties and concerns of the other party, I am simply expressing my opinion that a step by step approach in the form of interim agreement may offer the much needed breather, in case the negotiation on the issue of sovereignty proves too difficult and threatens to break down the peace process”.
Pointing out that a final solution to the Naga political issue concerns not only the parties to the present peace talk, but a number of State Governments and other organizations within India and also Myanmar as such, to expect or insist on a final political settlement in one go may amount to closing one’s eyes to the ground reality, Rio stated.
In this regard, Rio stated that there was no question of deviating from the stand of the Naga people or the DAN government to strive for a permanent and honorable solution to the Naga political issue, as alleged by the NPCC President.
