Mr David Trimble last night explained to Ulster Unionist Party members why his political tactics must be followed.
About 70 party members, including MPs, Assembly members, councillors and senior officers listened as their leader outlined his position on devolution, decommissioning and other issues.
Last night's meeting was part of Mr Trimble's "Feedback" tour to explain current political developments to senior party members and the grassroots.
Speaking to reporters before the private meeting in the Glenavna Hotel, Whiteabbey, on the outskirts of Belfast, Mr Trimble again rejected Mr Gerry Adams's assertion that there is nothing in the agreement that precludes Sinn Fein from taking two ministerial posts in the executive ahead of IRA decommissioning.
The North's First Minister said the agreement clearly placed the duty on the Assembly to exclude those who were not committed to peaceful means as a democratic process. Sinn Fein would fall into this category if the IRA did not start disarming, he said.
Those he had to persuade last night were anti-agreement MPs Mr Clifford Forsythe and Mr Roy Beggs, and his son, Mr Roy Beggs jnr, an Assembly member who, while obeying the party whip, has indicated he would not accept any compromise on decommissioning.
Mr Trimble did not accept that the UUP was a divided party. "It contains within it people who have got a variety of views on tactics and more fundamental matters as well," he added.
Mr Trimble said he would do what he could to avoid having to "park" the process, as he indicated at the weekend; but he may have to do it if the IRA refuse to begin decommissioning.
"We will do our utmost to ensure that the possibilities are realised, that the progress that can be made is achieved. But I hope people will realise that the Ulster Unionist Party can't do this alone. We are not in control of the entire situation," he said.
"Other people have a part to play. Some of those other people, particularly the paramilitaries, have conspicuously failed to play their part so far, and obviously that has consequences. But we can only do so much," said Mr Trimble.
