The horrific terrorist attacks in the US could have a profound effect on the decommissioning issue in Northern Ireland, the Duty First Minister Seamus Mallon said today.
With the political structures again closing in on possible collapse because of the IRA's continued failure to disarm, Mr Mallon said maybe things had changed because of events in New York and Washington.
He said he still hoped a start to IRA decommissioning would happen and stop the devolved administration plunging into fresh crisis.
"Time is short, the issues are clear, there is no doubt about what has to happen and I still happen to believe we must have hope that that will happen," he said.
"Now, if we are going to go by the past then there isn't much basis for that hope. But maybe things have changed in terms of attitudes."
He suggested world opinion against all acts of terrorism could force a change of heart by the IRA.
"Maybe people throughout the world might be asking themselves in relation to the problems here, why it is necessary to hold on to the weapons of terrorism when in effect there is no longer going to be that type of violence and that type of terrorism.
"That key question, `Why does anyone need these weapons in a situation of peace and growing stability', is a question that will keep coming to the top, and it is a question it is impossible to answer with any logic or any validity."
Mr Mallon, the deputy leader of the nationalist SDLP, said the best way Northern Ireland could repay America for its support down the years was by making the peace process work.
In the Belfast Agreement Northern Ireland had been given the tools to solve its problems, he said.
If it was made to work it could form the basis for solving other conflicts around the world, he said on BBC Radio Ulster's Inside Politics.
"I think there is a complete realisation in this country and outside that in effect the type of arrangements made on Good Friday in the Agreement are the type of arrangements that will become a template for other countries throughout the world that have divisions and that have the type of conflict we had."
Making it work "creating the unthinkable and unbelievable" by resolving the problems which had bedevilled the region for so long would be "our contribution in international terms," said Mr Mallon.
Meanwhile an interdenominational service of prayer for America was held in Belfast's St Anne's Cathedral today.
Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid and other local politicians joined hundreds at the service at which Church of Ireland primate, Archbishop Robin Eames led Catholics and Protestants in united prayer.
The service was conducted by the Cathedral Dean, Houston McKelvey and Monsignor Tom Toner of Belfast's St Peter's Catholic Cathedral.
Two Books of Condolence were opened in each Cathedral and later will be sent to the Catholic and Anglican cathedrals in New York.