SDLP leader Mr Mark Durkan called on republicans to take the actions needed to save the peace process after meeting Mr Richard Haass, US special advisor on Northern Ireland.
After the meeting in Belfast Mr Durkan said "Many people, including people in the American political situation, do believe that the Republican movement certainly has the capacity and has the room to make a significant movement.
"They also recognise that is what the process needs. They also recognise that is what the (Belfast) Agreement requires.
"So it's down to the Republican movement to make the moves that are needed and that everybody else knows has to be made and can be made."
The SDLP was the first in a series of parties today to discuss efforts to revive the Stormont Assembly and power sharing institutions with Mr Haass, who was later due to meet the cross-community Alliance Party, the Women's Coalition, the loyalist Progressive Unionist Party, as well as Sinn Féin and the DUP.
Mr Durkan's comments come after a senior Sinn Féin source moved last night to dampen down speculation of an imminent move by the IRA.
Recent press speculation about a fresh initiative from the IRA had "no basis" the source insisted.
Mr Haass said after a meeting in Dublin yesterday with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, that there was a real opportunity now to make progress in the North, and that the US was urging that everything should be done to take advantage of it.
"We, for our part, stand ready to help in the on-going efforts to solve the situation in Northern Ireland. We are doing whatever we can to bring about action," he said.
"And what we are calling for at this time is bold thinking and bold acting," he added.
PA