Ulster Unionist Leader, Mike Nesbitt MLA, has welcomed the many statements made over the weekend by leading office holders in the Orange Order, calling for all to engage only in lawful and peaceful activities in the run-up to the 12th of July.
Mr Nesbitt said:
"Like it or not, the Parades Commission currently remains the legal authority for parades and their determinations for this Saturday are legally binding. I call on everyone to comply with the law.
"This must be an unambiguous call for lawful and peaceful activity and I welcome the many statements confirming that stance, not only from the Orange Order, but also from those who have influence on the ground.
"There is a clear understanding, based on the evidence of PSNI reports, that the Parades Commission has ruled based on the greater threat of violence.
"I utterly condemn the violence that came from the unionist community last July in north Belfast. That has informed some of the Parades Commission's thinking, but so should the violence from the nationalist community in recent years, which ranges from golf balls being thrown at the police, through petrol bombs, to live rounds.
"In the last few days, unionist political leaders have shown a rare unity of purpose, not least to demonstrate that lawlessness is not the way forward.
"Those who care for the Union must understand that violence will simply undermine a just cause and therefore cannot be tolerated."