The Northern Ireland Assembly has accepted a proposal for new government structures by an overwhelming vote of 77 to 29.
After two days of debate only one Ulster Unionist voted with anti-agreement unionists against the proposals detailing government departments, North-South co-operation, the civic forum and the British-Irish council.
The passing of the report prepared by the North's First and Deputy First Ministers clears the way for the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, to put in place the necessary standing order in the assembly to allow for the formation of an executive.
The North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, said he was "very happy with the outcome". Only one Ulster Unionist member, Mr Peter Weir, voted against his party. Mr Weir had already lost the whip after voting against his party on January 18th.
A threatened defection by Mr Roy Beggs jnr failed to materialise when the vote was recorded.
Amendments tabled by the DUP were defeated in a series of recorded votes. In a final vote the same number of unionists voted to approve the report as to reject it - 29.
Explaining his decision, Mr Beggs said in a statement that, despite certain reservations, he had been reassured that his party would not allow the appointment of Sinn Fein ministers until the IRA had made a credible start to decommissioning.
"Public opinion across the British Isles is solid on this issue," he said. "Unreconstructed terrorists cannot sit in a democratic government. The stance of the Irish Prime Minister and the main Irish newspapers says decommissioning must start before Sinn Fein can take executive positions. I have received concrete assurances from my party leader and feel I can stand over my election pledges.
"Today's news should never have been about unionists' votes. The only issue now unresolved and preventing the establishment of a four-party executive is the intolerable refusal of republicans to show that the war is over and that they are committed to peace by starting to disarm and disband their organisation."
Earlier, concluding the debate on his joint report with Mr Seamus Mallon, Mr Trimble said that he recognised progress had been made on reducing the level of violence in recent weeks. "I recognise that there has been some progress in the last fortnight . . . there appears to be an end to paramilitary beatings and shootings by republicans. I hope that's not just a temporary response to our call, but something more substantial."
The First Minister said that there also appeared to have been a reduction in UVF beatings and shootings. He added: "I hope that it becomes total and that they follow the example of republicans."
Mr Trimble also welcomed the call from Mr John White, of the Ulster Democratic Party, for the UDA to do likewise, saying: "I want to see all organisations of this nature ending those attacks."