Sinn Féin's decision to get involved in policing is a step forward, the Rev Ian Paisley acknowledged today.
But the Democratic Unionist leader insisted the republicans have to deliver co-operation with the police on the ground if there is to be political progress at Stormont.
He also stated his belief that Assembly Elections scheduled for March 7th would go ahead.
DUP leader Rev Ian Paisley
Dr Paisley said: "We have made headway. I wouldn't deny that. If you had told me 20 years ago that they [republicans] would be repudiating the very fundamentals of Sinn Féin/IRA, I would have laughed but that is what they have done.
"Of course, they have done it on a post-dated cheque. Now a post-dated cheque is no good to you until the day comes and the time for paying out. They have to pay out now.
"I talked to the prime minister this morning and I put it to him that I thought I had spelt it out in plain language that our demands were a return to pure democracy . . . that they [Sinn Féin] accept . . . the police, the law enforcement officers of the crown and the courts and the rules of law," the DUP leader said.
"That is not asking anything of anybody, really. It is the done thing."
Dr Paisley was commenting after the vast majority of delegates at a special Sinn Féin conference voted to support their leader Gerry Adams's call on republicans to support the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Sinn Féin's motion made its pledge of support to the police conditional on either of two scenarios.
The party's preferred situation would be devolved government returning to Northern Ireland on March 26th with a guarantee that Stormont ministers would have policing and justice powers transferred to them from Westminster by May 2008.
Alternatively, the party also agreed to consider supporting the police if, in the event of there being no power-sharing government, Mr Blair and the Taoiseach bring forward joint partnership proposals acceptable to republicans.
The party's move has been welcomed by Mr Blair, Bertie Ahern and Sir Hugh Orde, but it has been criticised by some former republican comrades.
Earlier today, former IRA prisoner Gerry McGeough confirmed he would stand against Sinn Féin in the Fermanagh and South Tyrone constituency in the upcoming Assembly election.