The Democratic Unionist Party has warned nationalists against refusing to recognise the opportunities afforded by the party's Devolution Now and North South East West proposals.
The DUP, now the confirmed leader of unionism, had declared the Belfast Agreement dead and is pressing for what its renegotiation.
The two policy papers, issued in February and earlier this month, lay out the DUP's vision of devolved institutions at Stormont and the sets of relations between Belfast and Dublin and between Ireland and Britain.
The papers were designed to mirror the formula employed by Strands 1, 2 and 3 of the Belfast Agreement.
Mr Jim Allister, the DUP European Parliament candidate, said yesterday: "In both Devolution Now and North South East West the Democratic Unionist Party has demonstrated not only new thinking and leadership for unionism, but also a new opportunity for the non-unionist community. That opportunity should not be squandered."
Renewing the party attack on the agreement and the power-sharing executive headed by Mr David Trimble and Mr Mark Durkan, he added: "Nationalists should be under no illusions. Unionists are not going back to the absurdity of terrorist apologists at the heart of government while their terror machine remains primed and ready for action."
He warned: "Make no mistake, if the devolution of the Belfast Agreement were to prove the only form of devolution available to Northern Ireland then the DUP will be rejecting it."
He challenged Sinn Féin, the SDLP and the Government, saying: "Nationalists must face up to the need for radical change. We have been imaginative in Devolution Now and North South East West in order to find a tenable basis for an accommodation.
"It would be a grave miscalculation for nationalism to think more is attainable. More could very quickly turn to less. We are a firmly devolutionist party but not at any price."
He said that responsibility for the next step now lay with others, adding: "It's time for nationalism to make a matching and considered response."
Sinn Féin privately believes the DUP is "playing a long game" and is content to live with direct rule until after the European elections in June and perhaps until after the next Westminster election, which some expect will be called next year.
Some in the DUP believe that of the remaining six Westminster seats held by Mr Trimble's Ulster Unionists, up to three - including Mr Trimble's - could be taken by Dr Paisley's candidates.
The Sinn Féin president, Mr Gerry Adams, wants the DUP to make it clear that it is earnestly searching for an accommodation with nationalists. He also wants the British government in particular to press the party to begin imminent and real negotiations.
Mr Adams has said he wrote to Dr Paisley following last October's Assembly elections requesting talks between their two parties. However, he has not received a reply.
The British and Irish governments are to convene proximity talks involving the parties later this month in London which should circumvent any DUP refusal to engage directly with Sinn Féin.
British sources were anxious to see the DUP publish its proposals, which are now in the public domain.