YEREVAN, Dec. 4 (ArmenPress) - The crucial congress of the Armenian National Democratic Union (NDU) that kicked off on Saturday showed that the party, once regarded as the strongest opposition, is trying to find its place and ascertain its role in the current political field. The congress exposed at the very beginning that there is a serious division within the party.

The leader of the NDU Vazgen Manukian said that promoting the country's development remains one of the party's chief objectives. But the party alone can't assume this mission, Manukian said. "Perhaps we have to make some concessions to form a new power, a new party, which will take the central place and take the responsibility for the country's future," he said. "I reject the revolutionary means," Manukian said, saying that while remaining in opposition, the party should cooperate with the government on a number of key issues, such as political and legal reforms.

As for the standpoint of Shavarsh Kocharian, Arshak Sadoyan, Vahe Vartanian and others, it is necessary to define whether the NDU is in opposition or not. A draft resolution of the congress prepared by them was distributed among the 120 delegates, which states in particular that the party has assumed a passive attitude toward the systematic changes, which must have been at the base of its activity. It was also noted that the NDU assured its readiness to change the state power system which is hampering the country's progress.

Shavarsh Kocharian opposed David Vartanian's opinion that the party should not define clearly whether it is in opposition or not, regarding such a stance as unacceptable and leads to uncertainty, "which is profitable to the authorities as it helps them rule easily."

Lots of opinions were heard and discussed, yet the members didn't come to an agreement. Thus the congress was put off until December 16.