Republicans could transform the state of the Northern Ireland peace process by committing themselves to the same democratic principles as other parties, an Ulster Unionist claimed today.
Former Ireland rugby international Mr Trevor Ringland told a meeting of nationalist SDLP councillors that unionist concerns about Sinn Fein's links with the IRA were not sectarian.
Mr Ringland also said he wanted to see an end to the in-fighting within his own party, with the Ulster Unionists instead working with other parties like the SDLP to deliver a better society in Northern Ireland.
He said after his meeting in Belfast: "The majority unionist community wants this process to work but they have genuine concerns. "Nationalists have tended to see these concerns as some sort of unionist versus nationalist thing, but it is not.
"What they (the unionists) want and expect from the Republican Movement is for them to abide by the same democratic rules as everyone else. "The whole political environment in Northern Ireland could be changed dramatically if the Republican Movement were to move on the weapons issue and agree to basic democratic principles which we apply to everyone else.
"I am fed up with the way republicans' response to this issue has determined the relationship between parties in this process." Mr Ringland was commenting as rival sections of the Ulster Unionist Party prepared for a showdown early next month.
The party's ruling council has been convened to debated disciplinary action against three MPs who have defied UUP policy and have resigned the whip at Westminster.
Supporters of UUP leader Mr David Trimble have put on hold disciplinary action against the rebel MPs - the Reverend Martin Smyth, Mr Jeffrey Donaldson and Mr David Burnside - until the 900-member council has voted on whether they should face sanctions.
PA