Republicans must be ready to accept the disbandment of the IRA to make progress in the peace process, Mr Gerry Adams said last night.
But Mr Adams said the IRA could be persuaded to give up its weapons only in return for substantial concessions from London and the unionists.
Gerry Adams
"I personally feel that while there are justifiable fears within unionism about the IRA and while people have concerns about the IRA, I think political unionism uses the IRA and the issue of IRA arms as an excuse," Mr Adams told the BBC in Belfast yesterday.
"I think republicans need to be prepared to remove that as an excuse, but we who are in leadership will only be empowered to do so if there is a context in which we can make progress."
The North's political leaders are preparing for crucial talks next month at which the disarmament and end of the IRA will be the key demand of unionists.
Next month London and Dublin will begin what they say is a final attempt to rescue the Belfast Agreement.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, and Northern Secretary Paul Murphy will initially chair the discussions. They will culminate in a three-day process at Leeds Castle in Maidstone, Kent, in mid-September.
Mr Blair and Mr Ahern have warned that if a deal is not struck they may have to alter their approach to the political process.
Mr Adams also said yesterday that there was "too much focus at this time on the DUP and Sinn Féin. It isn't down to the DUP and Sinn Fein even though we have considerable roles to play.
"Our main job is to get everyone to encourage unionism to move forward and that is a responsibility which rests particularly with the British and Irish governments.
"Will the British government keep to its commitment on an inquiry into the murder of (Belfast solicitor) Pat Finucane, as his family has demanded?
"Will we see something constructive on the hundreds of other victims of collusion (between British security forces and loyalist paramilitaries)?
"Will the DUP do the right thing about working the institutions, acknowledging other people's mandates and rights?
"Will the British also honour commitments on policing, human rights, equality, demilitarisation, on-the-runs? All those issues have to be tackled as well as armed groups."