Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid was today urged to show a "surety of touch" to safeguard the North’s power-sharing government.
The call went out from the SDLP’s Mr Alban Maginness as Dr Reid prepared to become immersed in negotiations aimed at overcoming the latest setback in the peace process.
Mr Maginness warned that the "spectre of violence" remained as efforts continued to strike a deal over policing, decommissioning and demilitarisation.
"The new Secretary of State, Dr Reid, enters the local political fray with heavy responsibility resting upon his shoulders," said Mr Maginness.
"The need for clear thinking and surety of touch is paramount if he is not to experience Direct Rule through the collapse of the political structures set down by the Agreement."
Dr Reid succeeded Mr Peter Mandelson as Northern Ireland Secretary on Wednesday and is set to meet the political parties tomorrow for the first time.
His arrival comes as pro-Agreement parties and the two governments try to find a way of meeting nationalist demands on reform of the RUC and a scaling down of security as well as unionist calls for the IRA to re-engage with General John de Chastelain's weapons decommissioning body.
Mr Maginness said Dr Reid must ensure that the new beginning for policing was got right and urged Dr Reid to resist pressure to "privatise" each issue, making a particular party responsible for one or another in the hope of bringing it all together in the end.
"When agreement is reached, each party must be made aware of what is on offer.
Everyone must be clear what can be achieved, what everyone has undertaken to do, what everyone has to gain," he said.
"As a strong exponent of joined-up government, let us hope that he favours a joined-up agreement."
PA