The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, said he does not underestimate the particular difficulties which Mr David Trimble and his party must surmount to ensure the implementation of the Belfast Agreement.
Mr Adams, speaking five hours after the IRA said it would appoint an intermediary to deal with the decommissioning body, said this week had seen "some very significant developments in the search for a lasting peace settlement".
The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, said the IRA statement was very welcome. "It underlines the clear link between the full implementation of the Good Friday agreement and the achievement of lasting peace," he said.
"It marks a further advance towards the establishment of all the political institutions of the agreement and the process of decommissioning.
"The significance of this step should not be underestimated." Sinn Fein negotiators Mr Martin McGuinness and Mr Gerry Kelly met Gen John de Chastelain's decommissioning body yesterday afternoon. Mr McGuinness, who is Sinn Fein's link with the decommissioning body, described the meeting as "frank and constructive".
Mr Adams said the current degree of progress was achieved through hard work and the taking of tough decisions by all the pro-agreement leaderships.
The success of the next phase of the peace process depended on sure-footed and calm political leadership. He was confident outstanding difficulties could be overcome "if the momentum created this week is seized upon and utilised for the common good".
"The success of this next phase may depend on everyone taking a measured and accurate approach in the period ahead. At every slow painful point in the search for peace republicans have taken initiatives which have created a momentum to take the process forward.
"No one out there within the British establishment or within the wide unionist constituency should underestimate the limits to which Sinn Fein have stretched ourselves and our constituency in our endeavours to make this review work," Mr Adams said.
"We want a just and lasting peace. So do the vast majority of people in these islands, especially the people of Ireland who voted for the Good Friday agreement. Let us ensure that none of us fails the people."
