Thanks to Yehiel Amir 4X6YA, IARC secretary, the recorded proceedings of last month's council meeting provides plenty of news. The following are excerpts in free translation:

THE RAPID PACKET NETWORK: (reported by Eli Stern 4Z5IS, IARC Chairman) There is a number of companies ready to provide aid in the matter. This time the general manager of"Aquanet" was invited to the meeting. He expressed readiness to aid the Packet network and facilitate for the IARC a connexion to the Internet.

MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS: A memorandum of our last meeting shall soon be issued from the Ministry. It will deal with frequencies and changes in the amateurs' operating licences. New licences shall be issued on a card (like the IARC membership card) that will also serve as an amateur's certificate.

A "FUN DAY" was held for the children of prison guards of the Hadarim prison with the operation of an amteur station by Shlomo 4X4JO and a "fox-hunting" competition conducted by Leonid 4Z5FL. 4Z5IS proposed that the IARC purchase a number of sets of equipment for "fox-hunting". (Useful for tracking down repeaters jammers and stuck microphone switches. -ed.)

The Signal Corps Cadets expressed interest in amateur radio, and a meeting for getting acquainted will soon take place at Mikve Yisrael. The liason person will be Haim 4X6ZI.

REPEATER COMMITTEE chairman Itzik 4X6ZH reported that 2 metre repeater frequencies are experiencing interference in the Rishon LeTzion area coming from nearby Motorola equipment, thus attempts are being made during these days to prevent the interference.
   A number of IARC repeaters (such as R14) are located at Motorola sites, and since Motorola is reducing its activities from these sites, it's likely we'll have to move our repeaters and get ready to find other sites.

CONTEST AND CERTIFICATES manager Mark 4Z4KX: Amongst us was a Jewish ham from Russia, Victor UA1UM, that for whom all the Russian immigrant IARC members collected money and brought for a visit to Israel. Victor is a very active amateur who has spoken with numerous hams in Israel and his dream was to visit here. Yet he did not have the means to do so. During his stay a number of hams hosted him and took him around the country.
Victor thanks all those who donated and helped him to realise his dream. Victor took part in council meeting where he was received very warmly. In a few words he expressed his gratitude to all those who enabled him to visit Israel. Chairman Eli Stern 4Z5IS gave Victor a good-bye present present, a station UTC clock sporting a thermometer, hygrometer and the IARC emblem. UA1UM was very moved.

We are in debt to our honourary president Joseph Obstfeld, 4X6KJ for his articles on the IARU Region I conference of Lillehammer in Norway, which we are continuing in this and our next issue.

AGENDA OF FIRST PLENARY The official opening, the "Plenary" , commencing at 10.00 hours Introduction by the Chairman of IARU Region 1, Mr. Louis van de Nadort, PAoLOU,
(and a minute's silence observed remembering the Silent Keys, 4X6KJ ) Address by the Minister of Transport and Communication, Mr. Dag Jostein Fjaervoll Welcome by Honorary President of NRRL, Mr. Tom Victor Segalstad, LA4LN Address by the Director of the Norwegian P.T.T, Mr. Roald Ekholt Address by the Inspector of the Norwegian Signalcorps, Brigadier Nils H.Hveberg Address by the President of the I A R U, Mr. Larry F. Price, W4RA Official opening of the Conference by the Director of the Radiocommunications Bureau of the International Telecommunication Union, ITU., Mr Robert W. Jones.

Short break for Conference group picture and coffee. (Introduction of participating delegates. 4X6KJ ) To elect the Chairman and six members of the Credentials & Finance Committee, C2 To elect the Chairman of the General Administrative & Organizational Committee, C3 To elect the Chairman and two members of the Election & Ballot Committee, FBC, C6 Other business: The Roy Stevens Memorial Awarand Presentation by IARC To close the First Plenary Meeting. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND In 1996 the IARU established the "Future of Amateur Services Committee" or FASC, that has since submitted various papers and reports.

Meanwhile, for the last time at the Region 2 Conference in September 1998, all three IARU Regions deliberated on this matter more or less intensively. 3 FASC reports had been submitted until that time, whereupon a decision, was reached by the IARU Administrative Council (AC) and the final fourth FASC report was delivered.
The IARU Region 1 has had no opportunity so far to comment or to vote on the present version of draft Article S25. Furthermore, the discussion on this matter in Tel Aviv in 1996 yielded no satisfactory results. Indeed, in the meantime there have been new conclusions, which have to be taken into account.

On the WRC (World Radio Conference) to be held in 2002 or later, Amateur Service will most probably be under close scrutiny. Subject will be the revision of Article 32 of the Radio Regulations forming a constituent part of the International Telecommunication Treaty of 1982 (Constitution and Convention of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Geneva 1992 and Kyoto 1994, respectively). Article 32. ( Amateur Service and Amateur-Satellite Service ). As well as Article 1 (Amateur Radio Definitions) of the Radio Regulations, represent a form of worldwide constitutional law for the Amateur Service. As the member countries of the ITU committed themselves by signing to adhere to the International Telecommunication Treaty and to harmonize international co-operation in the field of telecommunication.

Article 32 is part of the Radio Regulations, which shall globally be revised by the ITU. Within this project Article 32 is renumbered Article S25. The ITU's contracting or Member States respectively, have obliged themselves to incorporate the regulations of the International Telecommunication Treaty, the Radio Regulations being part thereof, into national legislation. All national laws on Amateur Service will therefore be affected by any amendment of Article S25 in the long term. The main argument can be described as follows: Yes, CW shall be retained No, CW shall not be retained. CW The CW, as expected, will stay as is, but... there will be new developments. It was agreed that the M-XXX (FASC) will be accepted. The vote was 26 in favor, 6 against, 6 abstained.

                                                  Until next time, 73 de Ahron and Ron