From the ARRL Letter:ARRL Responds to Ukrainian Amateur Radio League
Regarding DXCC Status of Crimea
The ARRL has responded to an appeal from the Ukrainian Amateur Radio
League (UARL) to "consider the information regarding the status of
Crimea as temporarily occupied territory." UARL President Vladimir
Grishchenko, UT0FT, told the ARRL on May 3, that Russia's "illegal
annexation" of Crimea "does not change the status of this territory,
which legally belongs to Ukraine." ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, on May
21 acknowledged the UARL's position and reiterated the ARRL Awards
Committee's determination that the annexation did not lend Crimea status
as a new DXCC entity.
"We appreciate the high regard you have expressed for the DXCC program,"
Sumner wrote. "However, the list of DXCC entities is simply for the
purpose of giving radio amateurs a consistent way to compare their DX
achievements. It is not intended to express a position with respect to
sovereignty and should not be regarded as such."
The Awards Committee has concluded that a QSL with a call sign issued by
Ukraine and showing the entity name as Ukraine counts as Ukraine, while
a QSL with a call sign issued by Russia and showing the entity name as
Russia counts as Russia. "A QSL that satisfies neither condition does
not count for either entity," the committee said.
Grishchenko had pointed out that the UN does not recognize Crimea's
annexation, and that the US government is "currently working actively to
preserve the territorial integrity of Ukraine." He further asserted
that, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU),
Ukraine is responsible for spectrum usage in Crimea, and that only
Ukraine can issue licenses, despite what he called Crimea's "temporary"
status as an occupied territory.
Grishchenko had asked the ARRL to consider this information when
determining "the conditions of meeting award requirements, as well as in
determining the winners of competitions held."
Sumner told Grishchenko that the ARRL Awards Committee's determination
"is consistent with the treatment, for DXCC purposes, of other territory
that may be described as either 'temporarily occupied' or disputed."
"We join the world community in the hope that the difficulties and
uncertainties currently being faced by the people of Ukraine will be
resolved peacefully and with full regard for human rights," Sumner
concluded.
(end of quote)
Unprecedented, ARRL legitimizing Russian occupation of Ukrainian
territory.
Now can South Korea "issue" licenses for North Korea too?
Looks like Putin has some power over ARRL.
Until situation is resolved politically, ARRL has no business
legitimizing "annexation" of Crimea by masked thugs.
Yuri, K3BU
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