The Irish and British governments tonight confirmed they would begin efforts to try and restore devolution in Northern Ireland after hardline unionists and republicans triumphed in the Assembly election.
In a joint statement issued tonight, Dublin and London and said they would contact parties over the coming days to "seek a political way forward and to secure a basis on which the Assembly can be restored and a functioning executive quickly established".
However, they also insisted that the Belfast Agreement remained "the only viable political framework" in Northern Ireland and they insisted it was not "open to negotiation".
"Working with the parties, we will do our utmost to achieve those objectives, mindful that any devolution must be stable and fully inclusive," the statement said.
"In our firm view, the Good Friday Agreement remains the only viable political framework that is capable of securing the support of those communities in Northern Ireland.
"We are determined that its wide-ranging provisions will continue to be implemented. The Good Friday Agreement has been endorsed in referendums in both parts of the island."
With the DUP emerging as the largest unionist party and Sinn Féin the largest nationalist party at Stormont, both Governments said they respected the mandates all sides had received.
However, they warned that "with success comes responsibility.
"The vast majority of the people of Northern Ireland want to see devolved Government. The future of devolution now lies in the hands of those elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly."
In the coming days parties will be asked to submit their views about how the four-year review of the Belfast Agreement should be conducted and what its agenda should be.
They said they hoped to finalise and present proposals for the review early in the New Year after receiving responses from the parties.
"This is a review of the operation of the Agreement," they said. "It's fundamentals are not open to re-negotiation."
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern and the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair will meet before Christmas to review the prospects for political progress after contacting the parties.
They met in Cardiff this morning while counts continued in the Assembly election.