Belfast's first Sinn Féin mayor broke new political ground yesterday when - along with the Lord Mayor of Dublin - he laid a wreath at the site where thousands died in a first World War battle.
Sinn Féin's Mr Alex Maskey laid a wreath at a ceremony in Belgium in memory of those from North and South of Ireland who died in the Battle of the Somme in France.
He was joined by unionist politicians, including former loyalist paramilitary John White, and the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mr Dermot Lacey, at the event, which was organised by the Peace School in Messines, Belgium.
Both mayors laid wreaths at memorials in France and Belgium.
The move was Mr Maskey's second ground-breaking step on the issue after he became the first Sinn Féin member to lay a wreath in memory of those who died in the Battle of the Somme in Belfast in July.
He placed a laurel wreath at Belfast City Hall cenotaph just hours before an official memorial ceremony took place.
Sinn Féin had been uncomfortable about playing any part in Somme commemorations because of their opposition to the Army and the use of British flags and emblems. However, Mr Maskey said today that he wanted to visit the "tragic site" where so many people had lost their lives.
"I think it's also very important for me, as mayor of Belfast, to say I am prepared to do this," he said.
"I have said to people in the city that I want to make all genuine efforts that I can to show that I can give respect to other traditions and other cultures in the city of Belfast and I think this is another, I believe, important example of how I intend to do that.
"I think it should be seen first of all on its own merit, the right thing for me to do. And secondly, I think people should see it as a genuine initiative on my behalf to ensure that the unionist community, in particular, who have held this up as an important issue for themselves, that I am prepared to reach out to them and work with them and appeal to them to reach back to me in these circumstances."
The wreaths at Messines were laid at the end of a peace walk, which raised money for an international school for peace studies near the Island of Ireland Peace Park, which was inaugurated by the President, Mrs McAleese, four years ago.
Queen Elizabeth and Belgium's King Albert II attended the inauguration of the memorial.