Sinn Fein would be advising its supporters against giving transfers to the Ulster Unionists, Mr Martin McGuinness MP said in Belfast yesterday. This was because the UUP was not "pro-dialogue" and had refused to meet Sinn Fein bilaterally, he said.
The ardchomhairle member told reporters that the Progressive Unionist Party and the Ulster Democratic Party had also refused to meet bilaterally with Sinn Fein. He added: "How could I in conscience advise anyone to vote for a party that is not prepared to respect the electoral mandate of Sinn Fein or the people that we represent?"
After its supporters had voted for Sinn Fein, the party was asking them "to vote for other nationalist candidates of their choice and also, if they wish, to go down the board and vote for those parties which are pro-dialogue and who are for co-operating with Sinn Fein to manage the essential change which has to take place."
There was a demand from nationalists right across the North "that the nationalist parties combine together to get the strongest possible mandate." That was the message Sinn Fein was sending.
"Many people are still sceptical about David Trimble, very sceptical about the Ulster Unionist Party, because this is a party going forward in an election with people who are opposed to the agreement, opposed to change and attempting to minimise change."
He said Mr Trimble had said yes once, to the Belfast Agreement, but the entire nationalist community would be watching to see if he also said yes to: (1) working in an assembly with Sinn Fein; (2) working in an executive with Sinn Fein; (3) working on the all-Ireland bodies with Sinn Fein, the SDLP and the Irish Government; and (4) working to implement the equality agenda, the creation of a new policing service, the release of prisoners and the promotion of the Irish language.
"I hope that we can see the UUP move forward in a very proactive way with the rest of us, and when they do that, when they cross that Rubicon and recognise the rights of the people who vote for our party and indeed the rights of the entire nationalist community, then we will be in a position to say that the UUP have changed," he said.
He continued: "I am specifically saying that Sinn Fein voters should not vote for an Ulster Unionist Party which has yet to make up its mind as to whether or not it is going to be involved in a proactive and decisive way with the rest of us to bring about change on this island."
Mr McGuinness said he would support the proposal that families of paramilitary victims would be officially informed when those convicted of the crime were about to be released. But, he said, the issue of families whose relatives were killed by the British army and the RUC should also be urgently addressed.
On decommissioning, he said: "Any attempt by the British government to link that particular issue with the right of Sinn Fein, on the back of what will hopefully be a strong electoral mandate, to take positions in an executive cabinet, would be a mistake of gigantic proportions."
The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, said in Newry last night: "We are looking forward to playing a full and active part in the Assembly, the Executive and the all-Ireland Ministerial Council.