The Orange Order has formally changed its policy about talking to residents' groups.
It has emerged that last March the Grand Lodge decided that local lodges could decide if they wanted to meet groups in their area to seek agreement on contentious parades.
Previously the Order had a policy of not engaging directly with residents.
A parade, involving 30,000 marchers, is to take place in Belfast this weekend to mark the centenary of the Ulster Covenant.
Yesterday, the Parades Commission in Northern Ireland ruled that only hymns are to be played as part of the parade passes St Patrick's Church in north Belfast.
It also said there should be no loyalist supporters on that section of the route, while the numbers of nationalist protesters have been limited to 150.
Last month, a number of police officers were injured when trouble broke out after several loyalist bands defied a Parades Commission ruling by playing music as they marched past the church.
