The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, has cautiously welcomed the Ulster Unionist Party's decision to hold its council meeting on May 20th, but warned that any unionist attempts to set preconditions could "entirely undermine" the peace process.
"There will be a sense of relief that the Ulster Unionist Party leadership has called a UUC meeting for next week. However, there will be some concern that Mr Trimble has not fully embraced the opportunity which now exists and has chosen to continue to negotiate the deal which was concluded last Friday. This approach encourages the No camp, who will attempt to unpick the initiative," he said.
Mr Adams said there was "no more room for manoeuvre" in the republican community. Any concessions to unionists might very well unravel the initiative, he said.
"The fervent prayer of everyone who is interested in peacemaking in this country will be that the UUC comes to the right decision on foot of the right recommendation from their leadership and that recommendation has to be to accept and embrace this initiative."
Addressing a news conference at Sinn Fein headquarters, Mr Adams said the only reason behind the IRA's statement was to "give assurance" to unionists.
Mr Adams would not comment on whether the IRA's offer would be withdrawn if further concessions were made to unionism, particularly on RUC reform, stressing that that was a "question for the IRA". Sinn Fein would, however, not tolerate a dilution of the Patten recommendations.
"Concessions to unionism on the RUC, a dilution of the Patten recommendations or any other touchstone issue could undermine entirely the initiative," warned Mr Adams.
The SDLP has welcomed the UUP decision to call a council meeting. Ms Brid Rodgers, MLA, urged unionists to respond positively to the "present unprecedented opportunity for real progress".
"Northern Ireland is on the cusp of change. All our people, whatever their political persuasion, stand to benefit enormously from the full implementation of the Good Friday agreement. People have tasted what the future can be and they like it. We must, all of us, ensure the hope generated by the positive developments of last week are fulfilled."
The Sinn Fein MP, Mr Martin McGuinness, has been warned by the RUC that a death threat has been issued against him by a previously unknown organisation. The threat was phoned to a local paper and passed on to Mr McGuinness half-an-hour before he was due to appear at a news conference.