The Irish and British governments will launch a fresh bid to resurrect Northern Ireland's peace process after next month's Assembly election, they vowed tonight.
As the North's politicians began to focus on the November 26th poll, the Taoiseach and Downing Street insisted the Belfast Agreement would remain the template for any political progress.
Both Governments urged parties to engage in a "positive and constructive" election campaign over the next five weeks.
Mr Ahern tonight appealed to politicians to strike a positive note during the election campaign and to bear in mind that there would be another push to revive the Assembly in a review after the elections.
Earlier, the Taoiseach insisted that despite last week's setback in the North, the Belfast Agreement remains the only viable basis for an agreed way forward.
The Irish and British governments both released statements this morning with both parties effectively admitting the failure of last week's initiative.
However, Mr Ahern welcomed as "significant" last week's statement by Sinn Féin president Mr Gerry Adams and the latest act of decommissioning by the IRA.
He said these latest developments "represent a key advancement in the peace process on this island" and his Government would be in talks with the British as to how to respond to these developments.
Insisting that the Belfast Agreement remained "the only viable basis for an agreed way forward," Mr Ahern insisted that "its fundamental values, principles and protections are not up for negotiation."
Meanwhile, the British government confirmed that elections would go ahead next month, despite the failure to end the stand-off between the UUP and Sinn Féin.
"It has not proved possible to resolve all the differences that emerged on the issue of decommissioning and move forward into the election on the basis of agreement," Prime Minister Tony Blair's office said in a statement.
Ulster Unionist leader Mr David Trimble put on hold last week a series of pre-planned moves to bolster the Belfast Agreement because of concerns over the IRA's third act of decommissioning.
Unionists had wanted more detail about the putting of IRA weapons beyond use.
Downing Street was, however, criticised by the UK Unionists and Northern Ireland Unionists for insisting the Agreement would not be replaced after the election.
Sinn Féin's chief negotiator Mr Martin McGuinness echoed London and Dublin's comments, insisting progress had been made.
With David Trimble's Ulster Unionists facing a fierce challenge from the Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists, the Mid Ulster MP also signalled his party would work with whoever unionists chose to represent them.
"We all know as we come into contact with one another - and we do that on a regular basis when we treat one another with the respect and the dignity each of us deserve - that relationships can be built," he said.
"We can actually break down the barriers that have prevented us from moving forward in the past.
"If we can do that with the Ulster Unionist Party, can we do that with the Democratic Unionist Party? I think we can."
At the launch of his party's Assembly Election broadcast, featuring Guildford Four member Mr Gerry Conlon, nationalist SDLP leader Mr Mark Durkan said it was understandable if voters had been turned off by politics after five years of instability.
But the Foyle Assembly candidate said: "I would say to anyone feeling that way - don't let your disillusionment keep you at home.
"Bad politicians are elected by the good people that don't vote.
"So I am asking people to get out and vote on the 26th. Send a clear message that after all the stop-go politics we need non-stop progress."
Downing Street was tonight accused by the cross community Alliance Party of "acting like an election agent" for Sinn Féin and the Ulster Unionists in its statement.
Lagan Valley Assembly candidate Mr Seamus Close said: "Statements from Downing Street should recognise that there are parties that are part of the solution that have never sullied their reputation with weapons or tribalism.