FIG President visits Ukrainian Member Association in Lviv from 5 – 9 April 2006

Following a long standing invitation, FIG President Prof. Holger Magel visited the Ukrainian Member Association on the occasion of the traditional GEOFORUM 2006 in Jaworiv, near to the famous capital city (world heritage monument!) of Western Ukraine, Lviv. President of the Ukrainian member association of FIG, Prof. Igor Trevogo regarded the visit of FIG President as historical, because first time in history of Ukrainian geodesy the FIG top leader had time to join a surveyors’ community in a country with many challenges and chances. All geodesists in Ukraine feel inspired by the visit of Prof. Magel who promised FIG support, especially when the Ukrainian society of geodesy and cartography wants to become more integrated and engaged with the technical commissions of FIG.

During his five day visit President Magel gave a welcome address to the congress and had meetings with the Director of the Ukrainian Survey and Cartography Authority, Prof. Rostyslaw Sussa and with the Director of the State Committee of Land Resources Ukraine in Lviv Region, Dr. Mykola Pshevloc’’kyy, who was recently elected member of the regional parliament. A special dedication gave Prof. Magel to the leading university in geodetic education, to the Polytechnic National University in Lviv. He met the Vice President and nearly the whole staff of the Institute of Geodesy. Director of the Institute, Prof. Petro Sasulak promised that his institute would apply for FIG academic membership. Magel’s message to the Congress, that Ukraine should enter consequently the international stage was especially welcomed by the young professionals and the students. They promised to join as soon as possible the International Geodetic Students Association and to come to the IGSM in Krakow at the end of June.

The GEOFORUM with the main topic GIS was attended by about 200 participants from several countries and was also sponsored by FIG corporate member Leica. As a conclusion, President Trevogo could sum up: “The visit of and discussions with Prof. Magel have given new energies and visions to cope with the future. On this way, Ukrainian geodesists are not alone because we do have FIG, our ‘mother of surveying and surveyors’.”

A strong Ukrainian delegation is expected to come to the FIG Congress in October: Munich has, because of historical reasons, a strong Ukrainian community!

• Surveyors Contributions to Science and Society. Welcome address of Prof. Holger Magel, President of FIG at GEOFORUM 2006, Lviv/Javoriv; Ukraine, 6 April 2006

Prof. Magel (1. f. r.) with the Director General of the Ukrainian Geodesy and Cartography Authority and Vice President of the Ukrainian Society of Geodesy and Cartography Prof. Dr. Rostyslaw Sussa and the President of the Ukrainian Association of Geodesy and Cartography Prof. Dr. Igor Trevogo (1. f. l.)	Sightseeing in the world heritage city Lviv with the Director of the State Committee of Land Resources Lviv Region Dr. Mykola Pshevloc’’kyy (in front of the famous opera of Lviv). In the middle an Ukrainian Cossack.
FIG President together with Ukrainian geodesy students and their professor who were eager to join FIG events.	Meeting with the Vice President of Lviv Polytechnic National University (the oldest technical university in Eastern Europe, founded 1848!) Prof. Dr. Jury Rashkevych (1. f. r.) and Prof. Dr. Sadoroshny, who teaches German language to the survey students.
Prof. Trevogo gets the traditional President's gift, the FIG globe.	President Magel giving his welcome address at the opening of GEOFORUM ´06.
President's speech at the conference dinner.	Conference dinner.
	Visit to the monastery.