Talks with Centre positive: Rajkhowa

Guwahati, Feb 15 (PTI) ULFA ''chairman'' ArabindaRajkhowa today said that the first round of talks with theCentre was "very positive" and it was "quite satisfied" withthe response of the government.

"We had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last eveningat his residence in Delhi and we are happy with his approachtowards resolving Assam''s problems," Rajkhowa told reportershere after his arrival from the national capital.

"The prime minister has assured us of an honourableand acceptable solution to the problems of Assam and our talkswith him were very cordial," he said.

"The prime minister also appreciated our initiative tocome forward for peace talks and our resolve to solve theproblem through dialogue," he said.

The ULFA was considering to come forward for talksafter receiving the prime minister''s letter dated May 25, 2005where he had wrote about holding talks on all issues, Rajkhowapointed out.

The ULFA leadership had also met Union Home MinisterP Chidambaram on February 10 prior to their detailed talkswith Union Home Secretary G K Pillai and both theconsultations were "very positive".

Besides Rajkhowa, the other leaders of the group whoattended the meetings in New Delhi were ''vice chairman''Pradip Gogoi, ''political advisor'' Bhimakanta Buragohain,''foreign secretary'' Sasha Choudhury, ''finance secretary''Chitrabon Hazarika, ''cultural secretary'' Pranati Deka,''publicity secretary'' Mithinga Daimary and ''deputycommander-in-chief'' Raju Barua.