 History
THE CREATION AND REGISTRATION OF THE
FEDERATION OF BEEKEEPERS’ UNIONS – "APISLAVIA"
After the creation of the Bulgarian Beekeepers’ Union, in 1899, the management proceeded to discussing the possibility of developing the international activity of this organization. Upon celebration of the 10-year anniversary of the Bulgarian Beekeepers’ Union, in 1909, representatives of beekeepers in Russia, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Moravia and Dalmatia were invited and attended the event.
In this gathering, at the proposal of the Bulgarian Beekeepers’ Union, the issue of the creation of a Pan-Slavic Union of Beekeepers was raised.
During the meeting of Beekeepers’ Union in Russia, held in the autumn of the year 1909 in Kiev, a decision was made for beekeepers in Russia to support the proposal of Bulgarian beekeepers to create a Pan-Slavic Union of Beekeepers.
The first meeting of Slavic beekeepers took place in Sofia, in July 1910. Participants were representatives of beekeepers in Bulgaria, Russia, Serbia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Silesia, Galicia, Croatia, Slovenia, Dalmatia, Bosnia, Hertzegovina, Montenegro and Moravia.
The "Pan-Slavic Beekeepers’ Union" newly created decides: "to develop mutual relationships between beekeepers and beekeepers’ unions in the Slavic countries in the name of defending their interests and supporting the development of rational beekeeping."
The first meeting trusted the Czech delegation with the preparation of a statute draft for the new union.
As first president of the Pan-Slavic Beekeepers’ Union the famous Russian professor N.M. Kulaghin was elected, and as first secretary of the organization a Bulgarian professor of Russian origin was elected, P.I. Bahmetiev.
Included in the management of the organization were representatives of all founding countries.
The second meeting of the Pan-Slavic Beekeepers’ Union took place in 1911 in Belgrade, the third – in Moscow. The fourth meeting had to be organized in 1914 in Prague, but the world war stopped this. The fourth meeting was organized in Prague, but in the year 1927.
The fifth meeting of the Pan-Slavic Beekeepers’ Union took place in 1929 in Poznan, Poland. The sixth was organized in Belgrade, in 1934, and the seventh– in Sofia, in 1937.
During all these meetings, scientists and specialists in beekeeping delivered papers and demonstrated in exhibitions the latest novalties in beekeeping technology. For ordinary beekeepers, of special importance was the exchange organized. Participants in all meetings were no less than 150-200 beekeepers of each country.
After the seventh meeting, because of worse international situation, the activity of Pan-Slavic Beekeepers’ Union ceased.
Pan-Slavic Beekeepers’ Union left deep memories in the hearts of the Slavic beekeepers.
In 1988 the president of the Pan-Slavic Beekeepers’ Union in Poland, Dr Henryc Ostach, started his activity with the purpose to rebuild the activity of the Pan-Slavic Beekeepers’ Organization.
In 1990, at Dr. Ostach’s initiative, in the center of the Polish Beekeepers’ Union, the spa resort Kamiana, there was a meeting of representatives of beekeeping organizations in Slavic countries, with the purpose to recreate the beekeepers’ union. In the meeting, participants were representatives of beekeepers in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Russia, Bulgaria and Hungary.
The Slavic union of beekeepers thus recreated received a new name – "the Federation of beekeepers in Slavic and Danube countries." President of the Federation was elected Dr Henryc Ostach, and Secretary General – Eng. Bajani of Slovakia.
Actually, this meeting was the 8th Congress of the Pan-Slavic Union.
The 9th Congress of the Federation of Slavic and Danube countries took place in 1992 in Bratislava, Slovakia. In this Congress the new name of the organization was adopted – the Federation of Slavic and Danube countries "APISLAVIA".
The 10th Congress of "Apislavia" took place in 1994 in Velingrad, in Bulgaria. With this Congress, a new president was elected – Eng. Jozef Mandik of the Czech republic and a new general secretary – Eng. Marian Kandik of Slovakia.
The 11th Congress took place in 1996 in Moscow.
The 12th Congress took place in 1998 in Kiev. In this Congress, a new president was elected – Prof. Jozef Cizmarik of Slovakia.
The 13th Congress took place in 2000 in Belgrade.
The 14th Congress took place in 2002 in Prague. In this Congress a new president was elected – Arnold Gheorghievici Butov of Russia.
The 15th Congress took place in 2005 in Skopje, Macedonia.
The 16th Congress took place in Bratislava, Slovakia. In this congress A.G. Butov was reelected president. A new secretary general was elected – Pavel Hovorka of Slovakia. In the last congress in Bratislava, a decision was made to organize the 17th Congress of “Apislavia” in Kiev, Ukraine.
The proposal by Stefan Stefanov of Bulgaria was unanimously accepted according to which the 100-year anniversary of "Apislavia" should be celebrated in the 17th Congress of "Apislavia" Federation of the European Beekeepers’ Organizations in the year 2010 in Bulgaria, the country which a hundred years ago hosted the first congress that created this organization.
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