Sinn Féin’s Mr Martin McGuinness has refused to speculate on the expected timescale for a response from the IRA following today’s announcement that his party had urged them to move on weapons decommissioning.
"I am content to await the response of the IRA and think all of us should be content to do that. This is a difficult issue for Irish Republicans."
He comments came after a speech he made in New York that mirrored the one delivered by Mr Gerry Adams in Belfast earlier this evening.
Mr McGuinness also refused to comment on what would happen if Sinn Féin was not successful in seeking "a breakthrough" from the IRA.
He would not divulge exactly what he and Mr Adams had told the IRA leadership in their talks, which he said had taken place at the same time as talks with the Irish, British and American governments.
Mr McGuinness said, however, that there was intense pressure on all sides as a result of the resignations of unionist ministers from the Northern Ireland Executive.
"All of us within the political process are very, very conscious that the Ulster Unionist ministers have resigned their positions on the Executive and that in itself is a real difficulty for all of us in the political system because we are told that six days after these resignations they cannot be legally reversed.
He also made an appeal for the support of the Irish-American community, which he said was "four-square" behind Sinn Féin.
"I want to appeal to friends of peace, of equality, justice and Irish freedom here in the United States to stand by the Good Friday Agreement at this most critical time in our history."
Mr McGuinness said he wanted the events of September 11th to be used to produce a positive outcome to the peace process.
"For me the events of September 11th in New York and Washington and in Pennsylvania have given added urgency and incentive to those of us in Northern Ireland who want to bring our peace process to a conclusion."