It is only a matter of time before Sinn Féin joins other Northern Ireland parties in signing up to policing reforms, US special envoy to Northern Ireland Mitchell Reiss claimed today.
Mr Reiss told a police graduation ceremony in east Belfast it was widely believed Northern Ireland had one of the best police services in Europe.
But he said that having come through considerable reform, the PSNI faced more challenges when all sides signed up to policing.
He told the graduates: "One day soon, all of Northern Ireland's political parties will move to fully support the PSNI. I believe it is only a question of 'when', not 'if'.
"That's what I'm working to bring about: that's what my colleagues in Belfast, London, and Dublin are all working toward. When this happens, you will have to build trust and confidence across the community," he said.
All parties except Sinn Féin have signed up to police reforms in Northern Ireland, which transformed the Royal Ulster Constabulary into the PSNI.
After meetings with the DUP, Alliance Party, Sinn Féin and the Ulster Unionists, the Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde and the Assets Recovery Agency, the US envoy said he was upbeat about the state of the peace process.
"Everyone I talked to wants to find a way forward to restore the Stormont Assembly and return local government to people of Northern Ireland," he said.
"The way forward is only possible with an inclusive, all-party process that deals with all issues - a process in which the DUP engages with Sinn Féin, and Sinn Féin engages with PSNI officials.
"The United States has always supported the British and Irish Governments in their efforts to secure a lasting, stable peace in Northern Ireland.
"We remain steadfast in that commitment, and commend the tireless efforts of Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern."