Terrorist groups must lift death threats against people forced to flee Northern Ireland before the issue of paramilitary fugitives is dealt with, Alliance leader Mr David Ford said today.
Mr Ford, speaking at his party's annual conference, said he believed the issue of so-called "on-the-runs" (OTRs) was close to a satisfactory solution after this week's marathon session of talks at Hillsborough Castle.
"We cannot deal with 'on-the-runs' in isolation. We also have to take account of those exiled by paramilitaries, forced to leave Northern Ireland by threats," said Mr Ford.
"We will continue to insist that before there is movement on OTRs paramilitaries must remove the threats to the exiles."
The issue was one of a number of concessions demanded by republicans as the British and Irish governments attempted to reach a deal to restore devolved Government to Northern Ireland.
Unionists who are fiercely opposed to an amnesty for OTRs, have demanded that the IRA empty their arms dumps and declare the war is over before they agree to go back into Government with Sinn Fein.
It is believed that the governments have proposed that the 30 or so fugitives will face a judicial process that would see them released on licence as part of an overall deal.
But it was the issue of sanctions against parties that break the rules that was the main stumbling block which prevented a deal being struck this week.
This demand by unionists would see Sinn Fein ministers expelled from the Assembly if the IRA resumed its military operations.
Sinn Fein believe that sanctions demanded by unionists were aimed primarily at them and have declared them unacceptable.
Mr Ford expressed disappointment that the governments were proposing the setting up of an outside body to deal with this issue.
"It is a considerable disappointment that the only way of resolving our difficulties is to give further responsibilities to others. Another commission to monitor the state of progress towards a peaceful society, a new judicial body to deal with OTRs and more powers for the Secretary of State.
"They do not indicate a mature political society capable of taking responsibility for its own actions."
He called for an amending of the 1998 Northern Ireland act to provide for a range of sanctions to imposed against wrong-doers.
This would involve a change in the current voting system which requires a majority of both nationalists and unionists in the Assembly before any action can be taken.
"There is something supremely bizarre that the Government is not prepared to be a persuader for change to a voting system that both reinforces sectarian division and patently doesn't work, just like sanctions," he added. PA