Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams today urged loyalist paramilitaries to follow the IRA and decommission their weapons.
Mr Adams also challenged Democratic Unionist leader the Rev Ian Paisley to face to face talks in a bid to revive Northern Ireland's power sharing administration.
Mr Adams claimed the IRA's decision to abandon its armed campaign created an unparalleled opportunity which must be grasped by all sides involved in the political process.
Even though bosses within the main loyalist paramilitary organisations have pledged to retain their weapons, the West Belfast MP insisted it was time to leave violence behind.
"I would like to think that as the import of the IRA's decision starts to play out, sensible people within loyalism will follow the example," he said.
"Sensible people within all those other armed groups will take pause for thought on these matters."
Despite yesterday's declaration by the Provisionals that it will now follow a purely political and democratic process, Mr Paisley and his senior party colleagues demanded action rather than words.
A major new push by the British and Irish governments to restore devolution in Northern Ireland could now depend on the DUP and Sinn Fein agreeing to work together.
Although Mr Paisley has refused to enter any direct negotiations with republicans, Mr Adams claimed Unionists now faced a responsibility to work together.
"They need decisive leadership and that's for Ian Paisley and his colleagues to come to terms with," the Sinn Fein leader said. "I believe it's now time for dialogue between us."