Mr David Trimble has said he expects to win Saturday's Ulster Unionist Council vote. At a press conference in Belfast yesterday, he said: "Saying yes, going forward, is the way to make further progress. Saying no will consign unionism to the wilderness, and who knows for how many years?
"The way will be clear for a return to direct rule, only this time it won't be as before. It will be direct rule with a heavy green tinge, with Dublin taking an even bigger say in our affairs, with unionists left with no say at all.
"Thanks to our negotiating team, only the Union flag will be flown from government buildings and the proud name of the RUC will be preserved in legislation. Unlike our opponents who talk a lot but never deliver, we actually managed to negotiate significant and tangible concessions."
Mr Trimble said unionists faced the choice of putting "the IRA to the test, or we can take the seemingly easier route and let them off the hook. The first option requires steady nerve and courage.
"Where we are at the moment is merely the beginning of the decommissioning process to which the IRA committed itself in its statement." He said the Provisional IRA's offer to allow international observers to inspect its dumps was merely the first stage of the decommissioning process.
While inspection was a welcome confidence-building measure, it was not a substitute for disarmament. "The IRA statement has gone further than ever before. It has broken new ground. We will maintain the pressure on them until they have completed the transition to peace and democracy."
He said anti-agreement unionists had delivered nothing. "If our unionist critics truly want peace and a society where all can live together they should help rather than continually obstruct. It is only because of the steadfastness and determination of the UUP that so much has been achieved for unionism.
"We are unionists. We are British. Our cherished heritage is protected." He said the IRA's offer on arms had no time-scale but it could be provided by the chairman of the international decommissioning body, Gen John de Chastelain. If the Provisional IRA did not keep its promises, the new government at Stormont would not be sustainable. "If it is not permanent for them, it is not permanent for us either."
Mr Trimble said the Belfast Agreement had brought tangible benefits for unionists. It had strengthened the Union and even though decommissioning had not been achieved, "the whole project is still worth persevering with".
He claimed most UUP members supported the Belfast Agreement and wanted to see the Executive restored. Mr Gerry Adams's refusal to recommend that republicans join the revamped police force was predictable but indefensible. ein to sustain its opposition to the new police force.
"They will not be able to continue to adopt that position in practice in an administration. That is the whole point, it puts them on the spot."
Meanwhile, UUP negotiator Sir Reg Empey predicted that if a new Executive was set up the DUP would not sit in it but would remain in the Assembly. "They will give up their ministerial positions but stay on to become an opposition. This will be their fudge," he said.