Sinn Féin President Mr Gerry Adams has said republicans, both Sinn Fein and the IRA, are committed to exclusively peaceful means.
Speaking in Belfast this morning, Mr Adams welcomed this morning's confirmation that Assembly elections will take place on November 26th adding: "We will be seeking an endorsement of our strategy."
Mr Adams speech was the second step in a series of choreographed events planned for today after Sinn Féin and the UUP reached a deal last night.
"I appeal to the electorate to use their vote and use it wisely," he added.
"We are totally committed to building this peace process.
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"The IRA's discipline in face of ongoing British and loyalist activities show that it too is genuinely interested in building the peace process.
He continued: "The IRA leadership wants the full and irreversible implementation of the Good Friday Agreement in all its aspects and they are determined that their strategies and actions will be consistent with this objective.
"I have set out a peaceful direction which I trust everyone will follow."
Mr Adams said Republicans were "opposed to any use or threat of force" in any political procesand said he wanted to see "all guns taken out of Irish society.
"Sinn Féin is totally committed to establishing a democratic and harmonious future with our unionist neighbours. Like it or not we are in this together."But he said it wasn't "just down to Republican and it never was. Making this process work is a collective responsibility. Republicans need to known that the governments will honour their commitments."
Turning to his own constituents, Mr Adams said: "I want to appeal to Republicans throughout Ireland and abroad to continue to support Sinn Féin's peace strategy. Initiatives by republicans cause pain and difficulty for all of us."
Appealing to dissident Republican groups who are opposed to the peace process Mr Adams said: "I appeal to them to join with the rest of us, republicans and unionists, nationalists and loyalists in taking a leap forward together and collectively building a new future based on justice and peace."
The Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister are to arrive at Hillsborough Castle this afternoon, while the UUP will declare a commitment to work the institutions of the Belfast Agreement.
An IRA statement is expected to follow Mr Adams's statement endorsing his comments. The IRA will not specify what paramilitary activities it is ending, but sources said the IRA statement would be sufficient to convince the governments and the Ulster Unionists that it is winding down as a paramilitary force.
The full activation of the Independent Monitoring Commission, due at the end of November and which will check if paramilitaries are ceasing activity, is also a "critical factor" in persuading Mr David Trimble to accept this form of wording from republicans.
It is understood Gen John de Chastelain left Belfast last night to oversee a third act of IRA decommissioning. That decommissioning is due to be confirmed today both by Gen de Chastelain's decommissioning body after the IRA statement.
