The Orange Order have given the Parades Commission a date for face to face talks between them and nationalist residents to end the Drumcree marching dispute, it emerged tonight.
Following a meeting with Portadown Orangemen, the Parades Commission welcomed the offer of talks with the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition and offered to facilitate them.
It expressed hope that the talks would lead to an accommodation.
"We welcome today's meeting and the fact that Portadown District LOL No1 has again publicly restated its commitment to entering a face to face dialogue process without preconditions and with no predetermined outcomes," the commission's chairman Roger Poole said.
"The commission has repeatedly stated that it is only through such engagement that long term settlements can be reached throughout Northern Ireland.
"The District has suggested a date for the commencement of this dialogue and the commission will liaise with all relevant parties to establish its suitability.
"This could be the beginning of a process which will present challenges for many different people. I and my colleagues will provide all appropriate support and we hope that through genuine engagement an equitable accommodation can be reached."
Representatives from the loyal order in Portadown announced yesterday they were ready to hold face to face talks with nationalist residents opposed to their campaign.
They accused the Parades Commission of doing nothing to advance their proposals to meet under an independent chairman in a bid to finally settle the row.
The row over Orangemen's demands to march on the contested route has in past years plunged Northern Ireland into violence.
Ever since 1998 the Order has been banned from returning along the staunchly Catholic Garvaghy Road from an annual July service at Drumcree Church.