THE Sinn Fein president said yesterday there was an onus on unionist leaders to use their influence to ensure that the various loyal institutions talked to the people from areas through which they wanted to walk.
They should seek the consent of the local people. What was needed was a comprehensive settlement which would end the annual crisis created by the marching season, Mr Gerry Adams said. That would make a significant contribution to the climate in which a search for a lasting peace was conducted.
"All of us have to see beyond this difficult period so that the challenging task of rebuilding a real peace process can be accomplished," Mr Adams said.
He would continue to use his influence to appeal to nationalists and republicans for discipline and restraint. He made the same appeal to loyalists and unionists.
Sinn Fein accepted the right of the loyal institutions to march. There was no plot or conspiracy or desire to deny unionists their tradition or culture.
There were over 3,000 parades by the loyal insititutions. Less than 1 per cent of these marches were a source of contention. "Is it beyond our ability to find an accommodation?" he asked.
At a press conference in west Belfast yesterday morning, Mr Adams had also expressed the view that last night's nationalist march in Derry should be rerouted away from areas where residents might object to it taking place.
The Presbyterian Moderator, Dr Harry Allen, urged the Apprentice Boys of Derry to carry through their parade "with dignity and restraint".
He said in a statement: "I would also call upon everyone to co operate with the police and uphold the rule of law to continue working and praying for a just resolution to the present problems, and for an end to the un Christian acts of intimidation, boycotting and divisiveness that have been spreading recently."
A DUP councillor, Mr Sammy Wilson, last night claimed the decision of the Bogside group to reroute its march was not based on tolerance or understanding, but was "a cynical propaganda exercise to boost Sinn Fein and shine up its tarnished image".
He alleged that Sinn Fein had first got "its front organisation" to plan "a provocative and confrontational march", and then had arranged for well known Sinn Fein spokespersons "to ride in at the last minute after all other pleas had failed and call for a rerouting of the march".
In this manner, Sinn Fein had managed to be seen as the reasonable reconcilers, he claimed.