SB DX @ ARL $ARLD026
ARLD026 Montenegro is newest ARRL DXCC entity

ZCZC AE26
QST de W1AW  
DX Bulletin 26  ARLD026
From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington CT  June 29, 2006
To all radio amateurs   

SB DX ARL ARLD026
ARLD026 Montenegro is newest ARRL DXCC entity

A new ARRL DXCC entity has come into being! As expected, the United
Nations admitted the Republic of Montenegro as its 192nd member June
28, and that action automatically makes the tiny Balkan nation the
336th current DXCC entity.

"According to the ARRL DXCC List criteria, entities on the UN list
of member-states qualify as political entities," said ARRL
Membership Services Manager Wayne Mills, N7NG. "Therefore, effective
June 28, 2006 (UTC), ARRL has added The Republic of Montenegro to
the DXCC List. Claims for DXCC credit will be accepted immediately."

Current Montenegrin radio amateurs reportedly may continue using
their YU/YT/YZ/4O/4N-prefix call signs until the International
Telecommunication Union designates a new call sign block for the new
country.

In anticipation of Montenegro's new nation status, the International
DX Festival Montenegro, with information on the web at,
http://www.yu6scg.cg.yu/international-dx-festival.html, has been set
for July 20 until August 12. That's when several international
operators will join forces with Montenegrin Amateur Radio operators
from at least three different stations using a common call sign in
an effort to meet the DX community's need to work the newest DXCC
Entity.  Festival organizers have set the ambitious goal of 200,000
contacts for the event, which will use all HF bands.

Montenegro declared its independence on June 3 following a national
referendum May 21.
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