MR David Trimble held out hope yesterday that the crisis over the annual Drumcree Orange Order parade could be resolved peacefully this year.
The Ulster Unionist leader suggested a majority of residents of nationalism housing estates in the area would probably allow a march without band music, similar to one which took place in 1995, to go ahead.
"I very much hope that will bed the case and that those elements linked to Sinn Fein and those who have tried to exploit the situations are unable to do so," Mr Trimble, said in Bangor, Co Down, at the issuing of his party's election manifesto.
He said he knew "from contacts in the community, through nationalist persons as well, that probably the greater number of the people in Ballyoran and Churchill [housing estates on the Garvaghy Road] would be quite happy to see a repeat of the outcome of 1995".
He expressed similar views in an Internet Forum jointly organised this week by the Belfast Telegraph and the Boston Globe newspapers. "I see no reason why things should not proceed peacefully this year as they have for nearly 200 years until 1995," he said.
On the general Northern situation, Mr Trimble proposed "serious discussions" involving the main constitutional parties which could take place alongside the Stormont multi-party talks without displacing them. "Let us see what can be achieved and let us do something instead of this perennial talking, and talking about talking.
The UUP manifesto is entitled Secure the Union - Build your Future. In his introduction to the document, Mr Trimble stresses what he calls the UUP's positive approach. "The damage to the Union cannot be repaired by merely sitting on the sidelines shouting slogans."
The "flawed" Anglo-Irish pact of 1985 should be replaced by a British-Irish Agreement. "The broader agreement must look to the totality of relations within the British Isles which is the natural social and economic unit."
Such an agreement could include an appropriate cross-frontier relationship which would be based on pragmatic considerations of mutual benefit and not on a political agenda, he said.
The manifesto says Sinn Fein and the IRA are "intent on establishing a ghetto mentality between, the two traditions in order to provide a basis for an ultimate Bosnia-type civil conflict".
Proposing that "IRA/Sinn Fein, or any other advocates of terrorism be banned from the airwaves, the documents states: "We note that most broadcast journalists are unable to meet their promised commitment to challenge effectively the actions and morality of those who promote or endorse terrorism."
Carol Coulter adds from Belfast: Mr Trimble's SDLP rival in the Upper Bann constituency, Ms Brid Rogers, predicted nationalist voters would view his remarks, about Drumcree with "a large measure of cynicism".