The British Prime Minister on a visit to Belfast to advocate a Yes vote in the Belfast Agreement referendum has issued a qualified welcome to the Sinn Fein leadership's historic decision to support the agreement.
Mr Tony Blair, who in an unprecedented move was joined by the former Tory prime minister, Mr John Major, also moved to calm unionist fears that the agreement was a staging post to a united Ireland, as Sinn Fein is insisting.
Mr Blair also met the Parades Commission at Stormont last night, and later at Garnerville RUC training centre he told recruits there was no question of the force being disbanded or of former paramilitaries running local police.
The visit to Northern Ireland by the serving and former prime ministers coincided with what amounted to a major shift in the long-standing republican policy of seeking a united Ireland by paramilitary means.
The Sinn Fein leadership yesterday confirmed that it would recommend at this Sunday's special ardfheis in Dublin that members should support the agreement in the North and the South.
This effectively is an acceptance that changes to the North can only take place through peaceful means, or by consent. It is also calling for the ardfheis to amend the party's constitution so that Sinn Fein politicians could take their seats in a future Northern Ireland assembly.
This too is highly significant as the passing of this motion would mean Sinn Fein abandoning its absentionist policy in the North and South, although it would still refuse to sit at Westminster.
The Sinn Fein chairman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, expressed confidence these proposals would be carried on Sunday. He added, however, that these recommendations were being made "in the context of our absolute rejection of partition, of the unionist veto, and of British rule".
"It is our view that the Good Friday agreement can be developed. It marks a phase and it is our firm intention to continue to make advances in the next phase," Mr McLaughlin added.
Meanwhile, the Church of Ireland Primate, Dr Robin Eames, has called for a statement of regret from IRA prisoners being released as part of the Belfast Agreement.
Many had been responsible for "ghastly atrocities" he said. The Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Walton Empey, also said he found it "somewhat unsettling" that those in prison had more say in the peace process than those who have suffered bereavement or injury.
Mr Blair, apparently suspicious that Sinn Fein might try to "cherry pick" only the elements of the agreement which it favoured, stressed that the agreement had to be accepted in its entirety.
Unionist opponents of the agreement cited the Sinn Fein leadership's decision to endorse the deal as further proof that it would destroy the North's union with Britain.
"It is clear evidence that the IRA recognises the advances towards a united Ireland contained in the agreement," said the DUP's deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson.
Mr Blair focused on the agreement declaration that any changes in the status of Northern Ireland could only come about with the consent of a majority of the people in the North.
In an implicit criticism of the No campaign, he said people should study the document and not listen to interpretation.
Mr Blair last night met the Lagan Valley MP, Mr Jeffrey Donaldson and other younger members of the Ulster Unionist Party who are opposed to the Belfast Agreement, in an attempt to assure them that the agreement posed no threat to constitutional politics.
He is to meet senior members of the Orange Order in London today.
