The conference attracted totally about 400 participants. The
international participants represented 14 Arab countries and 7 European
countries. FIG was represented by President Holger Magel, who gave a
keynote presentation at the opening ceremony on "FIG
Meets the Arab World of Surveyors" and by Klaus Rürup, Chair of
FIG Commission 1, who also represented CLGE as its President. Further
Markku Villikka, Director of FIG office attended the conference.
The conference was organised under the high patronage of His
Excellency The President of the Republic of Lebanon General Emile Laahoud,
who also invited the international representatives to a visit in the
Presidential Palace during the conference. At the opening and closing
ceremonies the Lebanese government was represented by Ministers , Deputy
Ministers and MPs. It was easy to understand how well the Order of Lebanese
Seuveyors is respected by the decision-makers in the country that is still
recovering from the hard times after the civil war. The key-player in
promoting the profile of surveyors has been Dr. Sarkis Fadous,
President of the Order of Lebanese Surveyors. In addition to Dr. Fadous that
other keyperson behind the conference was Mr. Yaacoub Saade, the Congress
Director. Mr Saade, who has also been elected as the chair elect of FIG
Commission 1, gave an interesting presentation in the conference about the
Role of a Surveyor - A Human Vision
beyond the Technique.
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/loc_250.jpg)
The organising committee chaired by Dr. Sarkis Fadous welcoming
the participants at the Metropolitan Hotel. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/opening_audience_2_250.jpg)
Audience waiting at the ball room for the conference to start. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/opening_audience_250.jpg)
Audience at the opening ceremony - Syrian delegation in the front. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/opening_panel_250.jpg)
Keynote speakers at the opening session. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/opening_ministers_250.jpg)
Representative of the Lebanese President and Ministers at the opening. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/opening_fadous_250.jpg)
Dr. Sarkis Fadous, President of the Order of Lebanese Surveyors. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/opening_magel_250.jpg)
President Holger Magel giving his opening address. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/fig_flag_250.jpg)
President Magel and Yaacoub Saade and the new FIG flag produced
by the Order of Lebanese Surveyors. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/magel_rurup_map_250.jpg)
President Magel and Klaus Rürup and the conference map. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/saade_250.jpg)
Yaacoub Saade, Chair Elect of Commission 1 giving his presentation. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/exhib_open_250.jpg)
President Fadous, Minister of Finance Mr F. Sanyoura and
President Magel opening the exhibition. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/exhibit_250.jpg)
Commercial exhibition was a big success - as empty as this only before
the opening in the morning. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/algeria_250.jpg)
President Magel together with the Algerian delegation led by M. A.
Ben Issa, President of the Order of Algerian Surveyors and President
Fadous. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/cairo_250.jpg)
President Magel had also discussions on the arrangements of the FIG
working week in Cairo in April together with Dr. Dalal S. Alnaggar
and Dr. Mohsen Badawy. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/dalal_klaus_250.jpg)
Klaus Rürup and Dr. Dalal S. Alnaggar. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/closing_audi_minister_250.jpg)
Audience at the closing ceremony. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/closing_magel_250.jpg)
President Magel giving his closing remarks. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/closing_panel_250.jpg)
The recommendations and final statement of the conference were given by
Aziz Hilali, Vice President of the Arab Union of Surveyors. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/lahoud_pres_250.jpg)
Aziz Hilali, Holger Magel and Sarkis Fadous waiting for Gen. Emile
Lahoud, President of the Republic of Lebanon. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/lahoud_handshake_250.jpg)
H. E. President Gen. Lahoud greeting presidents of FIG and AUS. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/lahoud_shake_250.jpg)
... and delegations from the Arab countries. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/lahoud_magel_250.jpg)
President Magel making his speech at the Presidential Palace. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/lahoud_group_250.jpg)
Group photograph after the reception with President Gen. Lahoud. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/gift_250.jpg)
President Magel given the FIG globe to Dr. Fadous. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/cake_250.jpg)
Conference cake. |
|
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/beirut_oldtown_250.jpg)
The old town of Beirut has been rebuilt after the war in the pre-war
style. Lebanon just received an award from UN -Habitat in rebuilding the
country. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/surv_office_250.jpg)
President and Ansi Magel visited also a local surveying company (Ets
Melhem Osta) during their visit to Lebanon. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/baalbeck_arch_250.jpg)
Archaeological surveys in Baalbeck - Prof. Ritter from TU Gottbus with
his assistant and President Magel. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/hm_surveyor_250.jpg)
Surveyor in his work. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/ciders_250.jpg)
You cannot visit Lebanon without seeing the thousands of years old
cedars. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/ciders_magel_250.jpg)
The protected cider woods cover about 5 per cent of the area of Lebanon
- President Magel visited the Barouk Cedar Forest at Massief El Mir
Site. |
![Click picture for bigger format](http://cia.fig.net/news/archive/news_2004/beirut_2004/lunch_250.jpg)
Typical lunch in Chouf in Lebanon ... no need to mention that the social
events were top throughout the conference. |
|