Nationalists throughout Ireland wish to see the end of the IRA, SDLP leader Mr Mark Durkan said last night.
In a response to a major speech by Sinn Féin president Mr Gerry Adams, Mr Durkan said IRA activity was playing into the hands of anti-Agreement unionists.
Mr Adams told elected Sinn Féin representatives from both sides of theborder in Monaghan yesterday that he could envision a future without the IRA.
He also admitted that "alleged" IRA activities were boosting the cause of those opposing the Northern Ireland peace process.
However, he also told British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair that the IRA would never disband in response to ultimatums.
Mr Durkan called on the IRA to cease all activity.
"Gerry Adams says that the IRA will never disband in response to ultimatums from the British Government and from unionists," he said.
"He needs to recognise, however, that the Agreement requires an end to paramilitarism and that nationalists throughout this island fervently want one.
"It is time that republicans took heed of their call."
The former Deputy First Minister in the devolved administration at Stormont said he welcomed Mr Adams' recognition that IRA activity is exacerbating the difficulties within unionism.
"The reality is that IRA activity is playing right into the hands of anti-Agreement unionists. And letting the nationalist community badly down," he said.
"It is also welcome that Gerry Adams has begun to recognise Sinn Féin's credibility crisis.
"Too often republican denials have proved to be false in the past - be it over Colombia or Florida.
"This too has served only to create distrust and destabilise the Good Friday Agreement," he added.
In a major speech billed by his party as a considered reply to Mr Blair's demand for an end to republican-linked violence, Mr Adams said yesterday: "Our view is that the IRA cessations effectively moved the army out of the picture - and allowed the rest of us to begin an entirely new process."
His speech was understood to have been handed in advance to the two governments.
PA