The North's new Civic Forum is an essential part of the peace process and must act as a gateway between politicians and society, the North's Deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon, has said.
All shades of opinion were represented at the launch of the forum, which had its first meeting yesterday, with a leading Orangeman, Mr Gordon Lucy, sitting beside a nationalist residents' group spokesman, Mr Donncha MacNiallais.
Mr Mallon said he believed the forum was "a crucial part of the architecture of the new dispensation" and was about more than reflecting traditional divisions. "We have to ensure people cannot be reduced to political affiliations but can find expression for all parts of their identity, be it feminists, farmers or students," he said.
The First Minister, Mr David Trimble, said he looked forward to developing the relationships between the Stormont Executive, the Assembly and the forum, and said members should not be afraid of arguments.
Mr Mallon defended the forum's role and rejected suggestions that it was an another unnecessary talking-shop.
"We have a population of 1.5 million people and all of them are politicians," he said. "The fact that we have a much heavier overlay points to that fact and the fact we are coming out of 30 years of conflict.
The forum chairman, Dr Chris Gibson, said that he looked forward to working with each member "to create the difference which will make this society second to none".
Once the First Minister and Deputy First Minister had left, the chairman admitted to a degree of uncertainty as to what the forum was about. "What I would like to do is find out why we are here," he said before inviting members to speak.
Representatives of community and voluntary, sports, arts, trades union, cultural and business sectors justified their presence by citing the many ways their sectors had helped Northern society through 30 years of violence.
As the forum met a DUP Assembly member, Mr Jim Wells, observed: "I can only recognise five people in that room today who are against the Agreement and that is totally unrepresentative of the people of Northern Ireland". Mr Wells called on the forum members' stance on the agreement to be made public.
The chairman closed the meeting with a request for volunteers to set up two committees.