INTRODUCTION / WELCOME

The December 1998 decree by President Robert Kocharian to convene an Armenia-Diaspora Conference became reality on September 22-23, 1999, as more than 1200 people from nearly 70 countries, including Armenia and Artsakh, gathered in Yerevan.

Over 800 Diasporans joined local Armenian intellectuals, government officials, political and social leaders for the first-ever assembly of international Armenian communities. The huge Concert and Sports Complex (Hamalir) was the site of four plenary sessions held over two days.

Vartan Oskanian, Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, who chaired the Conference Steering Committee, summed up the general feeling. "For the first time ever, under one roof, representatives of Armenia and Diaspora organizations came together, heard each other’s concerns, and agreed to look for ways to continue to work together on matters of mutual benefit. Everyone seemed to agree with the basic premise that, now, more than ever, Armenia and Diaspora need each other, albeit in different ways, to secure their own survival and prosperity."