Sinn Féin president Mr Gerry Adams today appealed to Ulster Unionists to run on a pro-Belfast Agreement platform in this year's Assembly elections.
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Accusing the Democratic Unionists of wanting to get rid of the Agreement rather than renegotiate it, he said: "Those battling within unionism need to give the electorate a choice.
"If both unionist parties are on an anti-Agreement kick, or there is a perception that they are on an anti-Agreement kick, they will both confuse and demotivate unionist voters - particularly those who want this Agreement to actually succeed.
"It is not for me to give advice to David Trimble but if I were David Trimble, I would be actively advancing, promoting, arguing for the Agreement and, of course, the best evidence of all of that is to be in the Executive and to be actually able to show people that all of this works.
Mr Adams issued his plea just 24 hours after the UUP completed its full list of Assembly candidates.
Forty-four Ulster Unionists will seek election in 18 constituencies. However, they are likely to face a tough battle for the top position within unionism from the Reverend Ian Paisley's DUP.
The presence of leading anti-Agreement UUP candidates like Lagan Valley MP Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, South Antrim MP David Burnside and honorary secretary Ms Arlene Foster will also pose problems for Mr Trimble.
Mr Adams accused the DUP today of engaging in a "sham fight" on the Agreement following East Londonderry MP Mr Gregory Campbell's claim that his party could trigger a renegotiation of the accord by thwarting the election of a First and Deputy First Minister at Stormont.
"The Good Friday Agreement is now an international treaty and the Good Friday Agreement, if the unionists could just see it, is for everybody's benefit with very modest issues like equality and entitlements across a range of socio-economic issues," Mr Adams went on.
PA