MONTHLY REPORT--NICOSIA BUREAU--JULY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86-00040R000300570005-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 8, 2010
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: August 6, 1985
• Content Type: MEMO

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/08: CIA-RDP86-00040R000300570005-6
MNC-5120
06 August 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, Foreign Broadcast Information Service
THROUGH Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT Monthly Report--Nicosia Bureau--July
A. The bureau chief travelled to Frankfurt, Germany, in early
July to discuss a variety of security issues that cropped up in
preparing the final draft plans for the new bureau. A number of
revisions were made to the plans, which were then forwarded to FBIS
Headquarters and R.;E.C.D. for review and approval. Headquarters
advised at month's end that the plans had been approved with minor
revisions.
B. The hot season in Nicosia, which usually begins in mid-July,
is proving much hotter than normal. Several news stories in late
July heralded the fact that Nicosia was recording the highest temp-
eratures of the world's capitals, with temperatures exceeding those
of such garden spots at Bahrain, New Delhi, Djakarta and Bangkok.
At month's end, we were experiencing readings of 105?F in the shade
almost daily.
C. A small ceremony was held at the bureau on 30 July to mark
STAT Senior Arabic Monitor retirement after 36 years of service.
STAT 0 was presented with the FBIS Retirement Medal, plus letters of
appreciation from the Director, FBIS and the bureau chief.
A. Monitorial/Editorial
1. Beirut Domestic Service's broadcasting facilities came
under attack twice in July. On 5 July, the radio itself reported that
a "bomb" had been thrown at the station's building. However, no
damage was noted, and the station maintained its regular programming.
On 21 July, the Phalangist military's clandestine Radio Free Lebanon
reported that Beirut Domestic Service had suspended transmission after
having been struck by a rocket. The radio remained unheard until early
on 22 July, when it resumed its transmission with a report on the attack,
citing "enormous" damage to its facility in Ra's Bayrut and praising
station personnel for remaining on duty to repair equipment.
2. Seasonal improvement in reception permitted the addition
to coverage of three television programs on 8 July: two from Cairo
(a roundtable discussion on current issues and a "spotlight" program
on world and regional news) and one from Beirut (also a roundtable
program on current events). We are recording the three programs from
Limassol for delayed selection and processing.
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3. A radio identifying itself as the Voice of All Lebanon
From the South was monitored with fair-poor reception on 12 July.
The bureau has continued to observe the station's announced experi-
mental broadcasts via our remote facility at Pissouri, though reception
is hampered by strong interference from a Syrian transmitter.
4. Cairo television announced on 21 July that a third TV
channel would begin experimental transmission. Bureau observed both
station identification and test card pattern for the new station on
the same day from Limassol, but no audio announcements were monitored.
5. Greek radio and television employees staged two 3-hour
strikes on 19 July in protest against taxation disparities. Normal
programming was resumed upon conclusion of the second strike.
6. The bureau has laid on ad hoc coverage of Beirut Tele-
vision whenever we have a report of a suicide car bomb attack. The
decision was made after it was learned that the station occasionally
broadcasts prerecorded interviews with the bombers, usually during
the evening news of the day the attack was carried out. But we have
not picked up any of the interviews thus far.
1. CYTA's problems with a radio tower at the Lara remote
site, which delayed the transfer of our remote equipment from Kili
to Lara, were resolved on 6 July. We have conducted our final pre-
installation survey, and expect to complete the move in late August
or early September.
2. The Cyprus Foreign Ministry has approved the installation
of a new beverage antenna, to improve reception of Lebanese trans-
mitters, at the remote site in Pissouri; we are now working with CYTA to
erect it.
3. Equipment received: One Digitech Word Generator Model
DT-113 and one Digitech Telegraph Signal Analyzer Model DT-613, both
from Paraguay Bureau.
III. ADMINISTRATION
A. Personnel
1. Editorial Trainee, arrived on 3-month TDY
on 1 July.
2. Bureau Chief,l (went TDY to Frankfurt, STAT
Germany, 30 June-5 July in connection with the bureau relocation
project.
3. Senior Editor, arrived PCS on 10 July.
4. Regional Engineer went TDY to Gulf Bureau 27-31 July
to deal with emergency generator problems.
STAT
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5. Senior Editor,
completed her tour.
6. Arabic Monitor,
36 years of service.
departed 31 July, having STAT
retired on 31 July, after / STAT
1. EOSG, Frankfurt, 30 July-2 August,STAT
in connection with the bureau relocation project.
STAT
ATTACHMENT: Production Report
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