The Sinn FΘin leader, Mr Gerry Adams, has told the IRA that a "groundbreaking move" on the decommissioning issue could save the peace process.
Mr Adams yesterday told party activists in West Belfast that he and Mr Martin McGuinness had had discussions with the IRA.
"We have put to the IRA the view that if it could make a groundbreaking move on the arms issue that this could save the peace process from collapse and transform the situation," he said.
Mr Adams said he did not underestimate the difficulties disarmament presented to the IRA. However, he said it would also deprive those determined to wreck the devolved institutions of their main argument.
The party leadership's recommendation to the IRA to move on the arms issue comes after the resignation of five unionist ministers from the power-sharing Executive.
The withdrawal of the Ulster Unionist Party's three Stormont ministers was followed by the DUP's two ministers last week after a UUP motion to exclude Sinn FΘin from the Executive failed.
If the unionist ministers are not reinstated by Thursday the Northern Secretary, Dr John Reid, will have no choice but to suspend the institutions.
Mr Adams insisted that the implementation of the Belfast Agreement must never become secondary to the issue of IRA weapons.
The Sinn FΘin leadership had been working to create a context in which all of the key players in the crisis could share in the effort to end it, he said.
He stressed the need for unity both within the republican movement and among the pro-Belfast Agreement parties and the British and Irish governments.
Mr Adams called on the British government not to miss any advantage created by an IRA gesture.
"If the IRA takes yet another initiative on the arms issue then the British government needs to build upon the dynamics created by that," he said.
He said the Irish Government had a particular responsibility that went beyond party politics.
"It has a particular mandate and a responsibility to promote and defend Irish national and democratic interests, and to uphold the rights of all citizens and the sovereignty of the nation," he said.
Mr Adams said he had no intention of lecturing unionists on their responsibilities. "Our collective responsibility at this time is to settle our differences and I appeal to the leaders of unionism to join with us in doing that." Mr Adams said "genuine republicans" would have concerns about any move to decommission weapons.
"The IRA must stand out as an example of a people's army, in touch with the people, responsible to their needs and enjoying their genuine allegiance and support.
"Republicans in Ireland and elsewhere will have to strategically think this issue through."
Mr Adams's comments came eight hours after Dr Reid said an act of IRA decommissioning would be met with a generous response from the British and Irish governments and internationally.