Imphal, June 14: In a major step to secure peace in Nagaland, the Government today reached an accord with the dominant outfit National Socialist Council of Nagaland (IM) to extend the four-year-old cease-fire for another year from August one, covering Naga inhabited areas beyond the State�s borders.

The breakthrough came after two days of talks here between Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee�s special emissary K Padmanabhaiah and NSCN (IM) leader T Muivah.

A joint statement issued by the two sides said both parities agreed to extend the ceasefire for a period of one year with effect from August one and to abide by the ground rules, as revised on January 13.2001, in letter and spirit.

The ceasefire will now cover Naga inhabited areas in adjoining State including Manipur and Assam, a demand the Naga outfit had been making.

The ceasefire agreement is between the Government of India and the NSCN as two entities without territorial limits, the statement said.

Padmanabaiah told reporters it is agreed that the area of the ceasefire coverage has nothing to do with and has no bearing on any territorial issues.

The purpose of the ceasefire is to bring peace, a peaceful atmosphere is necessary for the dialogue to proceed smoothly and to succeed, he said.

Muivah said the peace talk is not a victory to NSCN but a very big step forward for peace.

He praised Padmanabaiah for the successful outcome of the talks and said it is through him and his efforts that the situation will �be safe...

he is smart and has proved himself.� Another issue which figured in the talks was extortion.

�The difference between him and me is about the extent and severity of extortion,� Padmanabhaiah said adding that a lot of attention was to be devoted to control extortions.

The statement also said that the government of India and the NSCN agreed to proceed with the peace process on substantive issues to bring about a lasting political solution to the issue.

It is recognized that there is a need for mutual trust and respect, the statement said.

The two sides will hold next round of talks in the last week of July or first week of August this year.

Both Muivah and Padmanabhaiah said the venue had not been decided on yet.

Muivah said the question of claiming for a Greater Nagaland is not there.

�Nagaland belongs to Naga; we don�t have Grater Nagaland or smaller Nagaland.

We have just 1200.000 Sq Km of land that belongs to us.� He said the talks were a success, �both for Indians and ourselves.� Muivah said most of the Nagas had come from Thailand, China and other places.

�We were never subjugated .Nagas were never part of India either by consent.� He said.

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