New Delhi, February 19: Strongly supporting unification of all Naga-inhabited areas in the North east as demanded by militant outfit NSCN(IM), Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has said integration of areas that "rightfully belonged to them" is the birthright of the Nagas.

"No one can deny that demand for integration of Naga homeland is the birthright of the Nagas.

In fact, it has become a matter of faith, touching our innermost sentiments and emotions," Rio said while delivering a speech on 'Governance in troubled times the Nagaland experience' here last evening.

Observing that the issue of integration of "Naga homeland" has become one of the main "stumbling blocks" in the ongoing Naga peace talks between NSCN (IM) and the Centre, the Nagaland Chief Minister said he was ready to make way for any new political dispensation that may emerge as a result of the peace talks.

"Nagas are not after any land that belongs to, or that is under the present occupation of any other community.

What the Nagas are asking is only integration of lands that rightfully belonged to them from time immemorial and that are under their active possession till today.

"My government is committed to the peace process, and is actively playing the role of a facilitator.

We have also declared our readiness to make way for any new political dispensation that may emerge from the ongoing political dialogue," he said.

Rio said the people of Nagaland now want peace and there is growing realisation amongst the Nagas, both overground and underground, that the ongoing peace process and the political talks are the best options available.

We need to make best use of this opportunity, he said.

Identifying the effects of more than five decades of insurgency, the Nagaland Chief Minister said good governance had been the major casualty in the state and people tend to look at the state as a stop-gap arrangement pending the final political solution.

"One of the major casualties of such a long and intense insurgency of more than five decades had obviously been good governance, especially in the remote rural areas, where a sort of parallel governance exists.

To further complicate the matter, the people in such situation tend to look at the state as a stop-gap arrangement, pending the final political settlement.

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