The conference began on September 18 with opening speeches by President Robert Kocharian, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, President Arkady Ghoukassian of Nagorno Karabagh, as well as the heads of pan-Armenian organizations. They addressed the various issues on the conference program, as well as the general issues of Armenia-Diaspora agenda. (Statements can be found at www.armeniaforeignministry.com.)

The second session, on the same afternoon, focused on Rural Poverty Eradication - a program launched at the conference to encourage Diaspora individuals and organizations to sponsor specific villages and undertake the infrastructure rebuilding and economic development of Armenia's border communities. The first speaker at this session was Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, who spoke about the impact of rural poverty on Armenia's economic development and emphasized the importance of such a pan-Armenian undertaking. Sitting around the table were those who had already agreed to sponsor a village, as well as those individuals and organizations, including international NGOs, who are prepared to partner with the program.

A decision was taken to create a Council with participation of the Diaspora Secretariat to oversee the planning, organization and implementation of the program. Implementation of the rural poverty eradication program will begin in spring 2007.

Also, during a special meeting in the margins of the conference with the representatives of organizations and communities, a decision was taken to create a consultative body (composed of the same representatives) that would ensure continuity between conferences by coordinating communication and maintaining ties and links among the participants, and between the participants and the Armenia Diaspora Secretariat.

The third session of the Conference began on the morning of Tuesday, September 20, with the start of a forum entitled 'New Answers to Old Questions: Armenians in the 21st Century'. Tigran Torosyan, Chairman of the National Assembly, made the opening statement.
Answers to Old Questions- Arm
The Forum consisted of four panels and concluded on Wednesday morning. Forty speakers and discussants from eight countries addressed issues of culture and identity, and their application to diasporas, to cooperation and exchange, and specifically, to Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora.

During Panel 2 and Panel 3, Armenia-Diaspora relations were discussed from the practical viewpoint. The participants were seeking answers to the following questions: What direction can be given to future cultural and socio-economic relations between Diaspora and homeland, as well as questions having to do with emigration and repatriation.

The final panel entitled 'A Look at Diaspora 2020', featured four different perspectives on what the Diaspora might look like in 2020, and how to arrive at more efficient Armenia-Diaspora relations.

Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian delivered the Forum's concluding statement.

At the conclusion of the conference, a declaration was adopted. President Robert Kocharian addressed the participants and thanked them for their comments and input.