Guys, The Z60K situation is beginning to get interesting. The Serbians are madder than hornets over the Z60K operation. It seems that the UN won't admit Kosovo because although 90 countries have recognized it, Serbia, China and Russia have not; and China and Russia will veto any application of Kosovo to the UN. Similarly, the ITU can't really release a call block until the UN recognizes Kosovo- although E4 is an example of where a call block was released and there is no UN membership. The ARRL says that ITU call block and UN membership are the criteria for a new country. The Serbians quickly point out that these two conditions won't be met any time soon! Meanwhile the Serbians are apparently all over the place signing Z60K just to mess the whole operation up. I heard 2 stations signing Z60K at the same time on 17 CW this morning circa 13Z, and 3 stations signing Z60K on 20 CW at the same time. Meanwhile, as two of the 20 CW operators logged calls as Z60K on 14026, a Serbian ham kept sending "Kosovo is Serbia forever" on the same frequency over and over. According to Marti Lain [sic], who XXXXX spoke on the phone with a couple of hours ago, the club log entries for Z60K are up to date through 15Z September 18; the real Z60K guys know there are pirates about; and they suggest we all monitor club log to see if our contacts are real. . I contacted both of the 17 CW ops and one of the 20 CW operators this morning, but show up NIL on club log for those contacts! So apparently most of what we are now hearing are pirates! No word from the ARRL on accepting Kosovo. What a mess.
We should get ahead of this and be seen to be involved and aware.
The League should issue a statement - on the website and perhaps by email - explaining to the membership what Dave has explained to the ODV. Dave, since you are our resident whiz kid on this, perhaps you should be the author of the piece.
It should point out, as Dave does below, how current contacts may be used/counted and that the ARRL stands ready to add Kosovo to DXCC as soon as the conditions for being counted are met. It should explain the steps to approval. It probably shouldn't editorialize, but a recognition of the stumbling blocks to approval could be done without editorial comment.
We should make clear the ARRL takes no sides in what is a nasty fight on the world stage between groups that hate each other (and have US constituencies) and major powers using the combatants for their own purposes in the Grand Game. The piece should repeat the ARRL's position that it welcomes all amateurs worldwide and we look forward to being able to add Kosovo to DXCC
-----------------------------------------------------
John Robert Stratton
N5AUS
West Gulf Division
Vice Director
West Gulf Division
Legislative Action Chair
Office telephone: 512-445-6262
Cell: 512-426-2028
PO Box 2232
Austin, Texas 78768-2232
-----------------------------------------------------