Visit of the President of the International Federation of Beekeeping Associations Apimondia, Mr. Gilles Ratia, to Luhansk

In accordance with the Program of the President Official Visit agreed upon with Apimondia Secretariat Mr. Gilles Ratia visited the Luhansk National Agrarian University on 9 April 2013. Mr. President had a very warm receipt. The girls in Ukrainian national garments met Mr. Gilles Ratia with traditional bread (korovai) and salt. Apimondia President torn off a small piece of bread, put it into salt and ate it in keeping with the ancient Ukrainian tradition of guests receipt being act of hospitality and demonstration of mutual respect and trust. The Rector of the Luhansk National Agrarian University, Ms. Valentina Tkachenko, and the management of the University welcomed Apimondia President upon his arrival to the Eastern Ukraine and invited him to official meeting.

The following persons participated in the aforementioned meeting: the President of the International Federation of Beekeeping Associations Apimondia, Mr. Gilles Ratia, the Rector of the Luhansk National Agrarian University, Ms. Valentina Tkachenko, the Deputy Head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration Mr. Serhiy Volodymyrovych Masliyov, the Director of the Agribusiness Department of Luhansk Regional State Administration, Mr. Andriy Olehovych Horoshko, and the President of the XXXXIII International Apicultural Congress, Mrs. Tetiana Yuriivna Vasylkivska. The Scientific Work Prorektor of LNAU, Mr. Mykola Volodymyrovych Braginets, and other members of the University Management, the Head of the Beekeepers’ Associations of Luhansk Region, Mr. Oleksander Viktorovych Papchenko, and the members of the Organizing Committee, namely Technical Coordinator, Mr. Anatoliy Tkachenko, and the managers of foreign trade activities Miss Katherine Idiartova and Miss Anastasia Basyuk, were present at the meeting.

The President of the International Federation of Beekeeping Associations Apimondia, Mr. Gilles Ratia, told the LNAU Rector, Ms. Valentina Tkachenko, and the present persons about the activities of Apimondia and the positive impact of its Congresses on the development of global beekeeping.

The Rector of the LNAU, Ms. Valentina Tkachenko presented the Deputy Head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration Mr. Serhiy Masliyov, and the Director of the Agribusiness Department of Luhansk Regional State Administration, Mr. Andriy Horoshko, to Mr. Gilles Ratia. She specially emphasized that Luhansk Region is exceptional for the authorities actively cooperate with the representatives of agro-production sector, with the Management of the University and with the scientists, protecting their interests in authorities. The photo was made.

The President of the XXXXIII International Apicultural Congress, Mrs. Tetiana Vasylkivska told Mr. Gilles Ratia about the participation of the University in organization of the XXXXIII International Apicultural Congress in keeping with the Protocol of Intentions signed by the Luhansk National Agrarian University and the Organizing Committee concerning the organization of the XXXXIII International Apicultural Congress aiming at involving leading scientists, researchers and educators to the Congress Scientific Program. The dean of the Biology and Technical faculty of the LNAU, the head of the Academic Department breeding and genetics of agricultural animals, the candidate of agricultural sciences, PhD Volodymyr Yuriyovych Afanasenko was invited to become the President of the Scientific Commission “Beekeeping for Rural Development”. The LNAU lector, the Head of the Beekeepers’ Associations of Luhansk Region, Mr. Oleksander Papchenko, was invited to become the head of the Luhansk Region working commission of the Organizing Committee of the XXXXIII International Apicultural Congress. The NGO “Brotherhood of Ukrainian Beekeepers” and the GO “Beekeepers’ Associations of Luhansk Region” signed Memorandum on Cooperation on fostering beekeeping in Ukraine and on the Congress holding.

The LNAU Rector, Ms. Valentina Tkachenko, told Mr. President about the Luhansk National Agrarian University and its 200 years old development from a small state exemplary farm, where the agriculture basis was studied, to one of the leading Universities of Ukraine, and about its numerous achievements. The Rector specially emphasized that a substantial scientific and studying work conducted in the University is dedicated to the beekeeping. The range of beekeeping facilities were established in the Universities, namely the Scientific-Educational Production Center of Luhansk Region Beekeeping and the apiary, headed by the Head of the Beekeepers’ Associations of Luhansk Region, Mr. Oleksander Papchenko.

The Rector of the Luhansk National Agrarian University spoke about the peculiarities of the Donbas Region (Luhansk region being a part of it) beekeeping pointing out the great temperature fluctuations in summer and winter, the lack of precipitation during the year and the outstanding work of the Center of Luhansk Region Beekeeping and the University apiary in breeding Ukrainian Steppe honey bee.

The President of the International Federation of Beekeeping Associations Apimondia, Mr. Gilles Ratia, the Rector of the Luhansk National Agrarian University, Ms. Valentina Tkachenko, and the President of the XXXXIII International Apicultural Congress, Mrs. Tetiana Yuriivna Vasylkivska, discussed fruitful cooperation of the International Federation of Beekeeping Associations Apimondia, the Organizing Committee of the XXXXIII International Apicultural Congress and the Luhansk National Agrarian University in terms of holding the XXXXIII International Apicultural Congress.

After meeting Apimondia President, Mr. Gilles Ratia, the LNAU Rector, Mrs. Valentina Tkachenko, and the President of the Organizing Committee of the XXXXIII International Apicultural Congress, Mrs. Tetiana Vasylkivska, went to the Conference Hall, where the journalist and the operator of the Luhansk Cable Television, and were interviewed for the 10 minutes TV program dedicated to the Ukrainian beekeeping.

After the interview Mr. Ratia visited beekeeping exposition, made a report at the III International Scientific and Preactical Conference “Beekeeping as an integrating element for the sustainable development of the agrarian sector” and visited the concert of the leading ensembles and dancing teams.

The IFBA Apimondia President, Mr. Gilles Ratia, the LNAU Rector, Mrs. Valentina Tkachenko, the Deputy Head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration Mr. Serhiy Masliyov, and the Director of the Agribusiness Department of Luhansk Regional State Administration, Mr. Andriy Horoshko, the President of the Organizing Committee, Mrs. Tetiana Vasylkivska, the members of the University Management and the members of the Organizing Committee participated in the banquet was after the Concert. In a friendly and unconstrained ambience the guests enjoyed the meals and discussed the future conduction of the XXXXIII International Apicultural Congress. Almost all the meals including honey were made of products produced at the LNAU facilities.

Mr. Gilles Ratia visited the Anatomical Museum of the Veterinary Medicine Faculty of the LNAU after the banquet. The Dean of the Faculty, Mr. Vasyl Ivanovych Sharandak, conducted an interesting tour around the museum, showing the educational exhibits of animals, their systems and organs, which he manufactured with other enthusiasts. Mr. Gilles Ratia was impressed by the marvelous exposition and wished further fruitful work to the Faculty Dean and his colleagues.

Mr. Ratia, Mrs. Tetiana Vasylkivska and Mr. Oleksander Papchenko participated in the TV Program “Important People” of the IRTA Channel of Luhansk Region. They spoke about the Congress of Apimondia, the IFBA Apimondia and global beekeeping.

Mr. President and Mr. Oleksander Papchenko visited the Scientific-Educational Production Center of Luhansk Region Beekeeping and the apiary of the Luhansk National Agrarian University, where he planted trees with the students of the University and thus founded the Apimondia Park on 10 April 2013. Mr. Gilles Ratia had an opportunity to see the apiary, where the scientific researched are held by the students and the professors of the University. Later Mr. Ratia went on the excursion around Luhansk city.