Kohima, January 18: A Nagaland Government-constituted peace forum today appealed to both the Centre and NSCN (I-M) to extend the ceasefire which expires this month end and expedite peace talks for finding a lasting settlement to the vexed political problem at the earliest.

A joint meeting of the Consultative Committee on Peace and Democratic Alliance of Nagaland Sub-committee on Peace held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio reviewed situation in the State and advocated extension of ceasefire, official sources said here.

The meeting also resolved to dissolve the present DAN Sub-committee on Peace and constitute a Joint Legislative Forum on Peace Affairs in the State, the sources said.

The meeting appreciated the Assembly Speaker's initiative in organising a meeting of all legislators to discuss the on-going peace process in the State.

The Opposition Congress has been demanding that the Government-constituted peace forum should take Opposition parties into confidence in dealing with issues like peace and political problems.

The sources said the meeting appreciated the role of Churches, NGOs and Naga civil society organisations in ensuring peace and called upon all overground and underground organisations to desist from issuing provocative statements.

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