September 30, 2005

SERGEI KRIKALEV SENDS GREETINGS TO IARU REGION 1 GENERAL CONFERENCE

The International Amateur Radio Union comprises three Regions. Region 1 covers Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Northern Asia. Region 1 convened its tri-annual General Conference in Davos, Switzerland 11-15 September 2005.

150 delegates from 56 countries participated and considered over 130 papers, giving rise to 70 Recommendations.

At the opening ceremony, Sunday 11 September, the delegates were surprised to receive greetings from Space. A video was shown with Sergei Krikalev, U5MIR, ISS Expedition 11 Commander, sending greetings to the General Conference.

Krikalev’s message was in Russian. It should be considered as a token of appreciation of Rosaviacosmos / Energia towards the amateur radio community. The message translates:

“Dear delegates to the Conference of the International Amateur Radio Union,

“In the name of the crew of the International Space Station I congratulate you to the opening of the Region 1 meeting and wish you successful proceedings.

“Here onboard of the International Space Station we also have an amateur radio station and when we have spare time we work and contact with pleasure radio amateurs of the whole world.

“Great success to you and good bye !!”

The video message is hereto appended.

Among the Recommendations approved by the Conference is the creation of a permanent Region 1 working group in charge of amateur radio activities related to Space Exploration.

73

Gaston Bertels, ON4WF

ARISS-Europe chairman

video