New Delhi, June 30: Ending uncertainty over extension of seven-year long ceasefire with NSCN (IM), Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphu Rio said the peace talks between the Centre and the Naga outfit was going on �with right spirit and understanding� and a formal declaration on extending the truce would be made soon.

�The ceasefire with NSCN(IM) will be extended beyond July 31,� Rio told reporters here last night.

The ceasefire expires on July 31.The Chief Minister has met Union Minister Oscar Fernandes, who leads the Group of Ministers on the Naga issue and also held discussions with NSCN (IM) leaders including Thuingaleng Muivah.

The NSCN(IM) first entered into a ceasefire agreement with the Centre in 1997 and thereafter it had been extended regularly.

The Nagaland Chief Minister, who has been playing an important role in the talks between the Centre and the NSCN (IM), had reconstituted the Consultative Committee for Peace (CCP), which was formed soon after the Rio government came to power in March 2003 to facilitate the peace process.

The newly reconstituted 29-member committee comprises 10 of the 12 ministers of the cabinet, including the Chief Minister himself.

It also includes members of both Houses of Parliament and also senior members from the coalition partners of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland.

The CCP last week resolved to press both the Union Government and the NSCN (IM) to extend the ongoing ceasefire in order to find an honourable settlement of the vexed Naga issue.

The CCP had also urged the Government to show �absolute transparency and sincerity� with regard to the ongoing peace talks to bring an early solution to the five-decade old Naga political problem in a manner acceptable to the Naga people.

The peace talks had gained momentum after Naga leaders landed in India in Dec last.

Several rounds of meetings took place between the NSCN(I-M) and the Group of Ministers.

They had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.