[Dx-qsl] 7O1YGF: Let's Do Something Positive

[Ron Notarius W3WN]

I don't think there's a single soul who's commented in the recent 7O1YGF
thread who did NOT want the operation accredited for DXCC.  Problem is,
kvetching about it here or on other reflectors ad infinitum ad nauseum may
make us feel better, but won't change a thing.

So, let's try a different tack:  What will it take to get them accepted?

For starters, we know that the 7O/OH2YY operation WAS accepted.  So, what
did Pekka do?

I asked him.  Here's his response (only some paragraph formatting added):
------------------------------------------
Several months before my operation I had a business visit in Yemen meeting
with minister level persons. Our local agent, who unfortunately is no longer
in the country, had direct contacts to the head of the security service and
the President. Using his contacts he was helping me and rather soon I got a
verbal permission for the operation.

It took a while to get the permission in writing and even then it came in
pieces. So the documentation submitted to ARRL was a package of several
documents. If I remember right there were
some 7-8 documents. The main items were my application with detailed
description of the equipment and the intention of the operation, which was
asked by the security service, an application to the security service done
by my local sponsor, a hand written acceptance from the top of the security
service and copy of my passport where the immigration/customs had written a
detailed list of all my equipment and a requrement to take all the equipment
with me when departuring from the country.

The arrival was organised by the local authorities so that I was picked up
from the air plane, my passport was taken, I got to the country using a VIP
channel and all my luggage were taken somewhere, every item checked and then
several hours later brought to me together with my passport.

So, I never received a formal operating licence but there were documets
showing that the operation was approved by the authorities before the
operation and also followed up during the operation. There was a visit to my
station by two persons, one of them being an ex minister. A photo of this
visit was also part of the documentation.

I hope this will help your friends.
------------------------------------------
So:  Now we don't have to speculate.  There's no question that the 'YGF team
was in country, and the pictures that they turned over to N7NG at
Friedrichshafen were proof of that.  That was never the question, and that
obviously wasn't documentation enough to show that they had permission to
operate.  But now we know what's been accepted in the past.

So:  Did the 7O1YGF team have ANY paperwork similar to what Pekka got and
turned in?  Surely there had to be acceptance from internal security, or a
note or letter from customs indicating the equipment being imported and the
requirement to remove it after the fact.

In any event... now we know what the team needs.  I can't do any more from
this side of the pond.  Is there someone over in EU who can help them find
these documents?

Remember the goal:  Get them accepted.  No special exceptions or
"provisional" acceptance or anything like that; it's not fair to other
DXpeditions to demand special treatment, and will leave a question mark
hanging for a long time.  Let's do it right so we can put it behind us once
and for all.

For all of you waiting on that elusive credit, I hope this helps.

73, ron w3wn