Ritchie address:SDLP minister Margaret Ritchie received a standing ovation for her call to the UUP conference to resist attempts by others to dominate the Executive and for her appeal for greater co-operation between their two parties.
Addressing delegates primarily on urban regeneration, Ms Ritchie also spoke on the need for the parties which were central to the Belfast Agreement to rebuild and to "prevail again".
Without mentioning the DUP or Sinn Féin by name, she said: "It is deeply regrettable that those who tried to destroy devolution from within, and those who poisoned the previous devolved administration through their refusal to decommission, now command nine of the 12 seats around the Executive table."
She praised the UUP's role in the peace process and for doing "all the heavy lifting and making all the sacrifices in taking the unionist community forward".
"Unlike others," she added, "you did things because it was right to do them despite the political difficulty. While others were opportunists, you brought hard work and principle to the process."
She also drew parallels between the SDLP and the Ulster Unionists claiming she shared their disappointment that the electorate "did not recognise and reward" the efforts that had been made to achieve political stability. "I am convinced that the parties with the right values will come to prevail again," she said.
Referring to her dispute with DUP finance minister Peter Robinson over the cutting of funding to a UDA-linked group, she said: "Attempts by anyone to establish a stranglehold in government must be resisted by all of us here." She thanked UUP ministers for their support. "I believe that my party and your party, in our different ways, can fight back and must do so with vigour." To rapturous applause, she added: "The message to those who might seek to dominate us is simple. No surrender."