The DUP will not "weaken" its stance in opposing Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol, party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said.
He pledged to continue to "stand firm" until the party had "properly secured and protected" Northern Ireland's place within the UK.
Sir Jeffrey said last year's Stormont election in which Sinn Féin became the largest party should be a "wake-up call for all unionists".
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Addressing his party's manifesto launch in Belfast ahead of next week’s council elections, he called for "unity of purpose" among unionists.
He added: "Divided votes hands seats to the opponents of the Union - full stop."
For more than a year the DUP has been blocking devolved government at Stormont in protest against post-Brexit trade barriers with Great Britain under the Northern Ireland Protocol.
While the UK Government negotiated the Windsor Framework with the EU in a bid to address issues, the DUP said the deal "doesn’t adequately address the concerns".
"Some said after the Assembly elections that we would weaken our position. It was a lie then and it is a lie now," Sir Jeffrey said to applause.
"Those who seek to steal votes from the DUP and divide unionism on the basis of that lie serve no purpose in what we're all trying to achieve, which is the restoration of Northern Ireland's place within the United Kingdom and our ability to trade with the rest of the United Kingdom.
"Let me be clear, we are pledged to continue to stand firm after this election until we have properly secured and protected our place within the United Kingdom.
"The truth that many political representatives don't want to hear is that the protocol upset the delicate political balance in Northern Ireland, and was not supported and is not supported by the unionist community.
"Our judgment and our principled position in opposing the protocol in Parliament and at Stormont has been vindicated. When others said there would be no renegotiation and no change, our determination has proven what can be achieved."
He said the Windsor Framework "undoubtedly represents significant progress across a number of areas" but it "does not deal with some of the fundamental problems".
The DUP is standing 152 candidates in the council election on May 18. It won the most seats in the last local government vote in 2019 with 122 councillors elected.
But opinion polls suggest the DUP could be overtaken by Sinn Féin in a repeat of what happened in last year's Stormont election.
Speaking at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Belfast, Sir Jeffrey urged unionists to "work together in a spirit of cooperation of common purpose".
He said: "This party stands for the unity of unionism and for cooperation with our fellow unionists.
"Now is not the time for more division, and throughout our engagements on the doors in this campaign, it is clear that those who support the Union want to see a unity of purpose among their elected representatives."
He said the "transfer of votes will matter" and the last Assembly election "must act as a wake-up call for all unionists", adding: "Divided votes hands seats to the opponents of the Union - full stop."
Sir Jeffrey said he has been "greatly heartened" by the response during his visits to council areas as part of the election campaign, insisting the DUP vote is "not only holding up well, but advancing".
He described his party has having a "positive plan for local government in Northern Ireland".
"Our goal for every council is to deliver the best services at the lowest possible cost to rate payers," he said.
"The Democratic Unionist Party has always championed the cutting of wasteful spending and keeping the rates burden to a minimum for hard-pressed ratepayers."
In a message to voters to conclude his speech, Sir Jeffrey said: "Next Thursday, if you want Northern Ireland to move forward together where everyone is respected, then use your vote to strengthen our hand and ensure unionism speaks with a strong and united voice."
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