The North's First and Deputy First Ministers have said the local parties should use President Clinton's visit next month as a deadline for making political progress.
Mr David Trimble and Mr Seamus Mallon said they hoped the problems in the peace process could be resolved before the President's third visit to the North, the final visit of his term.
Mr Mallon said Mr Clinton's arrival would set a target date for ironing out the present difficulties over decommissioning and Sinn Fein attendance at North-South Ministerial Council meetings.
Mr Mallon said: "The date of his coming is the date, I hope, that all of these issues will be resolved. I do not go along with the theory that he is here to cook the books.
"I believe that will have to be done beforehand so all the tension goes out of the air, and when the President does come here, he comes to celebrate."
Mr Trimble said the visit was a demonstration of both the US administration's, and President Clinton's, interest in the North. The First Minister said he hoped that when Mr Clinton arrived it would be in the context of movement towards the full implementation of the Belfast Agreement by everyone. He urged republicans to "show us things have changed and are different".
The Pro-Agreement Ulster Unionist MP, Mr Cecil Walker, also welcomed the visit, but said President Clinton must realise the Provisional IRA had to decommission if progress was to be made.
The Sinn Fein chairman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, hoped the visit could provide the basis for a political breakthrough. The Sinn Fein Mayor of Derry, Mr Cathal Crumley, expressed hope that President Clinton would visit the city.
However, the DUP Lord Mayor of Belfast, Mr Sammy Wilson, said he would not be inviting President Clinton to City Hall. He accused him of "anti-unionist bias" and said he had "elevated terrorists to the level of statesmen" by inviting them to the White House.
Mr Wilson's decision was condemned by Alliance, the SDLP and Sinn Fein.
Sinn Fein councillor Mr Tom Hartley said: "Once again Sammy Wilson is out of step with the vast majority of the citizens of this city. Mr Wilson is supposed to be the mayor for all the people of Belfast, not simply the tiny minority who support the DUP."
President Clinton may address the Assembly during his visit. The DUP has notdecided whether to remain in the chamber for the address.
The party's deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson, said: "I don't think we would take kindly to being lectured and may want the opportunity to be able to reply. After all, it is our Assembly."