Kohima: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today (Dec 16, 2004) said a conducive environment prevailed in the State and that Naga peace talks were progressing in the right direction towards finding an honourable settlement to the prolonged Naga political conflict.

Informing the assembly members about his meeting with top NSCN-IM (National Socialist Council of Nagalim - Isak Muivah) leaders after their arrival in New Delhi recently with the full knowledge of the Union Home Ministry, Rio said, ''After meeting them, we had an impression that the peace talks were moving in the right direction towards finding a settlement."

The State Government was not a party to the ongoing negotiations between the Centre and NSCN-IM leadership, the Chief Minister clarified, asserting his Government had been facilitating the peace process through Cabinet Committee on Peace (CCP), NGOs, churches and civil society groups.