Ulster Unionist leader Mr David Trimble today claimed in a party election broadcast for Northern Ireland's Assembly poll that much had been achieved over the past five years.
The return of devolution had ended 28 years of direct rule, the Anglo Irish Agreement and the Government's constitutional claim on Northern Ireland.
However, devolution was suspended last October because of "a catalogue of misdeeds by republicans", Mr Trimble said: "Now despite huge efforts on all sides republicans remain wedded to a private army.
"They were prepared to decommission any amount of material but they were not prepared to say that the conflict was over and to end all paramilitary activity".
This was disappointing but was an indication of just how far politics in Northern Ireland had moved, he said.
The radio broadcast marked the official beginning of the campaign despite uncertainly over whether voting on May 29th would go ahead.
The nationalist SDLP was due air its election broadcast tomorrow and several of the parties were also planning events to introduce their candidates.
PA