Unionists have been urged to unite in the peace agreement by the Ulster Unionist president.

In his new year's address, South Belfast MP the Rev Martin Smyth urged members of the party to learn from previous mistakes.

"The wish of the unionist populace for greater unity amongst our people remains to be fulfilled and it will be needed as ever in 2003," he said.

"Unionism must learn from its mistakes as we advance with the future of the Belfast agreement and its institutions uncertain. We have seen the weaknesses which emerged from unionism not standing firmly together in the past. Unionist people do not want to see that happen again."

He called on members to unite behind all unionist candidates if elections to the Stormont assembly, which was suspended in October, go ahead, but warned against using negative campaign techniques.

"Unity will be important if there are elections. All parties must impress upon their own supporters the importance of voting down the unionist ticket," he said.

"By giving preference to all unionists, one increases the chances of obtaining extra unionist seats and another unionist place on a reformed Stormont executive. By giving preference to all unionists, one can maximise the unionist presence in the Assembly or other proportionally elected body."

Smyth also directed comments to nationalist supporters, claiming that his party had "no difficulty in working with them," but warned that active terrorism was a threat to peaceful cooperation.

"We cannot be expected to co-operate with those who still prepare for and are active in terrorism against the British way of life. Unionism has stretched and divided itself in attempts to engage with nationalism," he argued.

"That spirit has not been evident to the same extent on the nationalist side. We can work with nationalists but they have to demonstrate good faith and abandon those from your community who are wedded to violence - whether in public or behind the door.

"It is difficult for unionism to have confidence in working with nationalism when it fails to stand up to the front men for violence, beyond mealy-mouthed lip service, refuses to eject terrorists from democratic government and when the majority of it now votes for the representatives of those terrorists."