Moves to distance Fianna Fáil is from merger talks with the SDLP will not prevent Northern nationalists from reaching out to parties across Ireland, Mark Durkan insisted today.
The SDLP leader also stressed the importance of cross-community ties during a policy meeting in Belfast today.
Fianna Fáil is announced earlier this month it was indefinitely putting off plans to organise and eventually contest elections in Northern Ireland.
Mr Durkan said: "The SDLP was born because our founders had the vision to imagine a new politics in a time of challenge.
"Now, again in a time of change, I believe that SDLP members will show the courage to embrace change so that we can shape a new political landscape."
Mr Durkan has questioned the value of the mandatory coalition form of power-sharing at Stormont in recent weeks. His party has also advocated better relations with unionism.
"It is also vitally important that we continue to reach out very positively to the unionist community in the North," he added.
"The development of new politics needs to happen on a cross-community basis, as well as a cross-border basis."
It is the SDLP's 40th anniversary in 2010 and a working group has been established to "re-shape" Irish politics.
Mr Durkan added: "The opportunity now exists to reshape politics in Ireland in ways will allow us to focus on vision for the future rather than division from the past.
"The SDLP is leading the way towards the development of new politics in Ireland in a coherent and strategic manner."
PA