Friday, October 28 2005 18:54 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Guwahati: The sooner the ULFA and the Centre entered into an agreement for ceasefire the better were the prospects of peace returning to Assam, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said today (Oct 28, 2005).

The 'positive note' struck at the first meeting between the Prime Minister and ULFA representatives in Delhi would bring about the ceasefire in the near future and pave the way for direct talks between the government and the outfit to end the 26-year-old insurgency in Assam, Gogoi hoped.

The Chief Minister was talking to reporters on his return here after attending the first meeting between the Prime Minister and ULFA representatives in Delhi on October 26.

Asked if the government would directly communicate with the ULFA on the ceasefire issue, he said, "It has to be done now through via-media (Peoples Consultative Group set up by the ULFA to hold initial talks with the Centre)". Replying to questions, he said, "If the ULFA restrain them selves, then the state will also reciprocate". He said the talks in Delhi were held in a cordial atmosphere and ended on a positive note.

Thanking both the Peoples Consultative Group and the facilitator of the talks Dr Indira Roisam Goswami, Gogoi was also grateful to the Prime Minister for his 'personal interest and concern' for the development of Assam.

Gogoi said he told the PCG that the ultimate objective of the ULFA and the government was development of Assam, removal of poverty and unemployment. The only difference with the ULFA was "we say we want to stay within India and they outside".