[Dx-qsl] Republic of Kosovo

[Dave Raycroft]

I.C.P.O. (Islands, Castles & Portable Operations)
UPDATE -
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THE REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO ENTERS A NEW PHASE AS OF DECEMBER 9, 2008

"EULEX will switch on and UNMIK will switch off", as EULEX's head put it
today!

http://www.eulex-kosovo.eu

It was just a few days ago in the United Nations Security Council where
the UN Secretary-General's fresh report on Kosovo highlighted the
considerable progress made in Kosovo since its independence in February
of this year. All Council members supported the decision by the
Secretary-General to adapt the UN's role to this new, positive reality
by accelerating the downsizing of the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and
the transfer of rule of law authorities to the European Union's mission,
EULEX as of  December 9, 2008.

There is no doubt in anyone's mind that the Republic of Kosovo, as it is
called in UN terms, is there to stay as it is recognized by fifty-three
UN member states today. Even those European countries not recognizing
Kosovo because of their own minorities, voted unanimously to let the
EULEX take over the next phase of the new country's development work.
This is also another historical event where, for the first time, the
European Union is working together and with the United States on a peace
settlement issue.

This same day also signifies a wonderful occasion to the 2008 Nobel
Peace Prize Laureate, Martti Ahtisaari, who acted as the UN Special
Envoy for Kosovo and whose "peace roadmap" is now in implementation. Mr.
Ahtisaari has served as mediator in many complex negotiations in which
there is no standard outcome. Kosovo's road to independence marks a
unique case in which the only winners are the people of Kosovo. We all
salute Mr. Ahtisaari for his mission under complicated circumstances and
congratulate him on winning the Nobel Peace Prize which he will receive
on this same day. Amateur Radio operators are grateful to Mr. Ahtisaari
for his support of Amateur Radio Mission Goodwill Kosovo currently under
implementation in Kosovo.

A special postage stamp is issued in Finland on December 10 in Mr.
Ahtisaari's honor, and the next 1000 direct QSL envelopes released by
OH2BH/OH2BN/OH2TA/OH2UA  for YU8/OH2R, CN2B, CU2X, FJ/OH2AM, OH0X, OH8X,
OJ0B, TC4X will bear that stamp.
http://www.stampnews.com/stamps/stamps_2008/stamp_1225051444_791911.html
[Martti Laine, OH2BH]
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73 and Good DX!
Dave Raycroft - VA3RJ
Home of ICPO: http://webhome.idirect.com/~va3rj/
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