SB DX @ WW KB8NW $OPDX.873.1
Ohio/Penn DX Special Bulletin No. 873.1

The Ohio/Penn DX PacketCluster
DX Special Bulletin No. 873.1
BID: $OPDX.873.1
September 1, 2008
Editor Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW
Provided by BARF80.ORG (Cleveland, Ohio)

Thanks to the Northern Ohio Amateur Radio Society, Northern Ohio DX
Association, Ohio/Penn PacketCluster Network, AB5K & the AR TelNet
Clusters Network, W8AV and OH2BH for the following DX information.

PRESS RELEASE: From the Desk of Martti Laine, OH2BH
For immediate release
September 1, 2008


UPDATE ON THE REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO

Many have been wondering what the status with regard to the Republic of
Kosovo is as of today, both in general and in amateur radio terms
specifically. Substantial progress has been made, and a new approach to get
Kosovo totally
on its own feet is well on its way. The United Nations (UNMIK) has scaled
down its administrative role while the European Union (EULEX) has initiated
its supporting role to help integrate the "interim administration" functions
into the local institutions.

The United Nations Frequency Management Office (FMO) is one of those local
institutions. This Office was responsible for authorizing Amateur Radio
operations before and after the Kosovar declaration of independence, but as
of today the FMO does not exist nor are licenses issued. You may still hear
some stations operating as YU8 since those licenses issued in the past have
not been specifically terminated.

Undoubtedly, Kosovo as a "country" has all required country requirements;
(A) a defined territory, (B) a permanent population and (C) a government and
(D) is capable of interacting with other countries with whom it has
established diplomatic relations. As of today, the Republic of Kosovo is
recognized by 46 countries representing many leading states and all
geographical continents.

From an Amateur Radio and DXCC perspective, a great deal of confusing
discussion has taken place; one side argues that the DXCC criteria needs to
be honored at all times. Others see the criteria as not being engraved on a
tablet of stone but that the rules facilitate "entities" dynamically in the
context of an ever-changing world. Both views have some merit and should be
appreciated.

Western Sahara (SO), another disputed DXCC country, is currently recognized
by 48 countries and even today it is not a member of the United Nations nor
does it have a dedicated ITU prefix. At the time Amateur Radio entered this
desert country, no one had argued that it belonged to DXCC. When Swains
Island was up for DXCC discussion it was decided that the DXCC criteria had
to be changed
and so Swains entered the scene. Swains was added not decades ago - but just
recently.

Before Swains Island, DXCC used three "measuring sticks"; UN membership, ITU
prefix or IARU society. In facilitating Swains, the ARRL Board of Directors
decided to keep the UN and ITU parts but changed the IARU rule to recording
of an event by the US Department of State, which again opened up another
gate for more DXCC entities.

Now Kosovo meets the highest US Department of State criteria - Kosovo is an
independent state recognized by the United States and easily passes the US
State Department gate, if that gate is honored in the right spirit. With
DXCC rules in place as they existed before Swains, Kosovo would enter
through the IARU gate because of its permanent amateur radio population and
its national society, SHRAK.

The above is just an illustration of the dynamics of the DXCC at any given
time, following the dynamics of the world.

The world outside Kosovo abounds with many other examples that offer a
slightly different perspective in the international arena. Another
oft-mentioned entity - Northern Cyprus - is recognized only by Turkey, and
the situation regarding Cyprus remains deadlocked. Two new cases - South
Ossetia and Abkhazia - are recognized by the Russian Federation and probably
soon by Belarus (EW) and Venezuela (YV). If they ever achieve wider
recognition apart from the countries subject to the current conflict, they
will become another set of DXCC candidates.

An immediate UN membership gate is pointed more in the direction of those
that get themselves established with no gun fire. The UN's potential for
resolving conflicts to its own satisfaction is seriously hampered by the
Security Council veto structure that plays a major role in eliminating new
countries at that gate.

So, the ARRL is left to define a workable recognition based country criteria
- be it qualitative and/or quantitative. Kosovo with its almost 50
recognitions is the first one at the gate. Delaying action on the Republic
of Kosovo so that it does not qualify for anything is not an option for the
ARRL. Kosovo is a country with a permanent amateur radio population and
therefore Kosovar amateurs should be welcomed to our community.

Back to the practical world; YU8/OH2R QSLs for the first amateur radio
operation from the Republic of Kosovo were printed last week by Gennady,
UX5UO and they will be in the mails in a few days. We thank Gennady for his
efforts and support in making these full-color cards meet the spirit of the
Kosovo case as they represent a special moment for those involved with the
Kosovo project and those who follow world events as well as the development
of the DXCC program.

You can view these cards at http://www.dailydx.com/Kosovo.htm

You may read more about YU8/OH2R and Kosovo at www.n4gn.com/yu8/
---------------------------------------------

PJ2, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES (Last Minute Announcement). NODXA member Goose,
W8AV, will be on the Island of Curacao (SA-006, WLOTA LH-0942) from the
PJ2T Signal Point station signing PJ2/W8AV, September 3-10th. He plans to
be on CW and RTTY (he will try to emphasize RTTY on this trip). This is
an antenna maintenance trip, so he will only be on the air as time permits
and his operating times may be somewhat limited.

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/EXIT
--
Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW - --or--
Editor of the "Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin" (OPDX - "DXer's Tool of Excellence")
President of the "Northern Ohio DX Association" (NODXA)
DX Chairman for the "Northern Ohio Amateur Radio Society
ARRL Assistant Director of the Great Lakes Division
Sysop of the "Basic Amateur Radio Frequency BBS" (BARF80.ORG)

Tedd Mirgliotta (KB8NW) wrote:

The world outside Kosovo abounds with many other examples that offer a
slightly different perspective in the international arena. Another
oft-mentioned entity - Northern Cyprus - is recognized only by Turkey, and
the situation regarding Cyprus remains deadlocked. Two new cases - South
Ossetia and Abkhazia - are recognized by the Russian Federation and probably
soon by Belarus (EW) and Venezuela (YV). If they ever achieve wider
recognition apart from the countries subject to the current conflict, they
will become another set of DXCC candidates.

Yes, that's exactly what the DXCC program has been missing: the ability
to expand to 600+ entities depending on the situation on the frontlines.
Blatant acts of occupation like the Neocon YI (soon to come EP)
adventure and the Russian retro-Stalinist theft of other people's land
must not go unrewarded. How much blood for a QSL should be sufficient?

Hell, why don't we just institute an open door policy and declare a DXCC
entity for whoever comes up with the flag design for his outhouse. Mine
is a giant middle finger on a taupe background. I bet I can get at least
ten countries to recognize me for a few bucks (I'm looking at you, Kim
Jong Il - call me, a'ight?). I want my DXCC. Long live the Republic of
Retardistan!


WA7AA