MONTHLY REPORT--NICOSIA BUREAU--OCTOBER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-00733R000100080003-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 13, 2012
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: November 6, 1987
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/13: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100080003-3
ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
SUBJECT: (Optional)
Monthly Report -- Nicosia Bureau
FROM:
EXTENSION
NO.
Chief, Operations Group
DATE
ST
October 1987
TO: (Officer designation, room number, and
buildin
)
DATE
OFFICER'S
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
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RECEIVED
FORWARDED
INITIALS
to whom. Draw a line across column after each comment.)
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Admin Staff
14.
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Exec. Reg.
FORM 61 O USE PREVIOUS
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/13: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100080003-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/13: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100080003-3
FBIS-4801-87
6 November 87
-7
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, Foreign Bro` c(caTst' In4carmation Service
THROUGH : Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT : Monthly Report --- Nicosia Bureau -- October
Iranian-U.S. clashes in the Persian Gulf during October came just
at the time the new Associate ROSET dish became fully operational at
Nicosia Bureau, enabling the bureau to add timely new Tehran radio and
television coverage. This combination of events pushed production of the
Persian section to a new monthly record of 78,000 words, plus 22 video
selection lists. This was in addition to extensive overtime to provide
coverage of crisis events, with Persian monitors and editors coming in
early an 10 days of the month to ensure live coverage of early morning
Tehran newscasts. In these periods we maintained open watch on Tehran
radio during the bureau's coverage hours, kept close watch on Tehran
television, and filed numerous FYIs reporting on Tehran media behavior.
The first special coverage effort of the month came in response to
a telephoned request from the Wire Service on 3 October, asking that the
bureau open up early the next morning to cover two Tehran morning
newscasts live. Western agencies later reported that at this time Iranian
speedboats were massing in the Gulf and that they dispersed after U.S.
units moved toward Iran. We were able to file Tehran's versian of these
events from our live coverage that morning. The next incident started on
8 October with agency reports that U.S. helicopters had fired on Iranian
speedboats. We advised Headquarters that the bureau would again open
early to cover Tehran morning casts live on 9 October, and we maintained
expanded coverage and early hours through 12 October.
The third and longest special effort started on 16 October,
following reports that a U.S.-flagged tanker had been struck by a missile
in the Gulf. At the same time the BBC had lost coverage of the Iranian
news agency IRNA due to a local line problem, and Nicosia was attempting
without success to locate the agency's transmissions via satellite with
the ROSE-" in order to provide backstop coverage. Because of the
combination of a major event in the area and the loss of an important
coverage source, the bureau advised that it would again open early on 17
October to provide increased live coverage of Tehran. This effort
continued after the BBC recovered coverage of IRNA, through the U.S.
strike against Iranian oil platforms in 19 October, through the filing of
initial Iranian reports and comments on the strike, and concluded on 21
October. Following these events the bureau filed a 22 October Tehran item
threatening a "crushing riposte... which will endanger U.S. interests
throughout the world" and reports from Lebanese and Iranian radios on 23
October citing the Islamic Jihad as threatening "suicide operations"
against U.S. and European interests in the Gulf. Tehran comment on U.S.
Gulf policy was the topic of an AG analysis note on 30 October.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/13: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100080003-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/13: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100080003-3
A. Monitorial/Editorial
1. With the ROSET becoming operational at the end of
September, the bureau added 9 hours of Tehran Persian television coverage
a week from satellite. We also found Tehran domestic service radio
transmissions on the same satellite, which immediately gave us excellent
reception for most of the day for this source, which has been a constant
reception problem for both Nicosia and the BBC. An initial survey of
program content showed that the satellite radio beam carries different
material from the terrestrial shortwave beams heard by the bureau and the
BBC for a few hours each day. An additional 18 hours a week of radio
coverage has been added from this, plus still more experimental coverage.
With two Persian monitors in the section, the bureau now provides live
coverage of Tehran media on all dayshifts--thus giving priority to
coverage of Tehran radio morning casts--and on three evenings a week.
Evening television programs on the other four days a week, when there is
no evening monitor, are recorded for processing the next morning.
Following these coverage additions, MOD told the bureau: "Hqs is
very pleased with bureau responsiveness and initiative on Tehran radio and
television. The timing of the debut of your new dish could not have been
better. Know this is a strain on your staffers, but their efforts are
most appreciated."
To make time for the new coverage the bureau, with Headquarters
approval, has dropped some Moscow Persian casts. We also dropped coverage
of the Persian--language clandestine Radio Iran and a Baghdad cast beamed
to Iran that have been unmonitorable lately.
2. As previously planned with the ROSET in operation, Nicosia
took over the Tehran television coverage provided over the summer by a Tel
Aviv contractor. This involves providing daily air courier delivery to
London of videotapes of the Tehran 1630 GMT television newscast as well as
the Friday prayers and sermons, which are often highly political. London
relays these to Headquarters over INTERNET. A few of the tapes are
delivered in as little as 1 1/2 days from the original broadcast, but some
take as long as 4 1/2 days. Some tapes from other TV casts that yield VSL
material are also sent to London via the same courier runs. This
expedited delivery was especially requested by Headquarters to meet one
consumer request for a 10 October Tehran telecast of a military exercise
demonstrating Iranian speedboat operations. When London's INTERNET
capability was interrupted on 13 October, Nicosia temporarily rerouted the
daily air shipment of Tehran videotapes to Reston for 8 days until London
was ready to resume INTERNET relays. Delivery time ranged from 3 to 7
days from the broadcast time for the scheduled daily 'TV newscasts,
including handling and delivery in the headquarters area.
3. The bureau increased coverage of Beijing in Persian from
days a week to daily from 2() through 25 October in response to a request
from Analysis Group for any Beijing comment on developments in the Persian
Gulf for a Trends article. The bureau filed two responsive Beijing
commentaries by the end of the month.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/13: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100080003-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/13: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100080003-3
4. Egyptian President Mubarak's address marking the beginning
of his second term, carried by Cairo Domestic Service on 12 October was
texted by Nicosia in 28 takes, including a 5-take out-of-turn excerpt.
This elicited a message of thanks from the U.S. Ambassador in Cairo, who
said, "We recognize how much time and effort goes into translating such a
lengthy address." He also commented that the embassy "found the excerpt
on foreign policy especially useful." Chief, Operations Group, passing
along the message, added, "Our compliments to the bureau, particularly the
Arabic and editorial staffs."
5. When Iraq returned from summer time to standard time a
month before Jordan did, it left Amman Bureau a problem of covering the
last hour- of Baghdad's INA agency transmission, which continued after- the
bureau's normal close of business. At Amman's request, Nicosia assumed
coverage of the final hour of INA each evening for the entire month until
Jordan returned to standard time.
6. In response to a BBC request on 18 October, prompted by
news reports of public disturbances in Soviet Armenia, the bureau recorded
one Yerevan Armenian-language newscast and airmailed it to the BBC for
processing.
7. The bureau took over backstop coverage of AFF' for Vienna
Bureau, normally the Wire's responsibility, for 5 hours on 26 October at
the Wire's request because of an AFF' outage at headquarters.
B. Lateral Services
London Bureau relayed an "urgent request" from the U.S.
Ambassador in London on 29 October for the text of an exclusive interview
with former Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, General Bernard Rogers,
published by Istanbul HURRIYET on 25 October. It was requested that the
bureau attempt to file the interview against a 4-hour deadline since the
Ambassador was leaving on a trip to Washington later that day. The bureau
managed to file the first installment in time for the Ambassador to have
it prior to his departure. He indicated that he was satisfied to wait to
see the second installment after his return. The interview was also filed
to headquarters.
C. Technical
1. Work has started on the construction of several long-wire
antennas inside the compound. Trenches have been dug leading to the
locations for the antenna poles so that the lead-in wires can be run
underground, enclosed in F'VC piping. With the return of the senior
technician from annual leave, work has also begun to finish the cruising
room.
2. A new equipment rack was installed in the ROSET room for
the receiver, spectrum analyzer, and other equipment necessary for
operating the ROSETs. The bureau purchased five long-play multisystem
VCR's and two multisystem television sets for use with the new ROSET
antennas. A plan has been prepared specifying the equipment to be
installed for television recording and processing positions in the Arabic
and Persian sections.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/13: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100080003-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/13: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100080003-3
3. A ten-channel long-play tape recorder was installed in the
teletype room and put into operation. Its primary use is to backstop
record the KU--band satellite signal of Tehran radio.
1. Regional Engineer visited Jordan Bureau (5--B
October) and Tel Aviv Bureau (27 October-1 November).
Senior Technician returned to the bureauSTAT
on 26 October, following annual leave after attending the FSN Orientation
Program in Headquarters in September.
B. Security
The embassy issued a series of notices reminding personnel to
maintain heightened security awareness as events in the Persian Gulf grew
increasingly serious during the month. The appearance of suspicious
characters at a Persian monitor's home set off a flurry of activity until
it was determined that they were merely inept but legitimate door-to-door
salesmen. The bureau advised the RSO of one Nicosia newspaper report of
increased security measures at Larnaca airport that noted the possibility
of "increased terrorist activity." However, the RSO was also advised
later of a press report that the measures were the result of internal
Dutch Airlines procedures and did not focus an Cyprus, per se. The bureau
revised and reissued instructions for the contract guards and the
Emergency and Evacuation Plan. All American staff rechecked and confirmed
that they can communicate with the bureau using their emergency radios.
Visitors to Cyprus: Former FBI Cyprus hand STAT
7-20 October and 6-13 October.otr Couples spent STAT
days in the bureau chiefs' house at the old Medburo, touring northern
Cyprus and rekindling old memories. A party in their honor was hosted by
the-] with contemporaries of both couples attending. STAT
STAT
B r bau Chief
ATTACHMENT: Production Report
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/13: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100080003-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/13: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100080003-3
1'~li.i_casia~. Bureau Production Report for October 1987
TOTAL_ PL.JE:3L I SHAE3LE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: -'42820
TOTAL NON--PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH. 1.24340
TOTAL- NUMBER OF PUBL I. SHABLE. ITEMS FILED DURING MONTH- 928
BROAD-- PRESS PURL I--
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
I I . INPUT OF REGULAR COVERAGE., 1.l . 2c,), Z_)ti 2.22f c), 00 11.x;, C)c"~
m1. nLAt.es or" I ssUFAQs per- L'ee{k;:) mi n. fnl n. l ssues
111. OUTPUT FROr'l ALL SOURCES
(pL.tbl isha.ble words per month)
CI-l 11\IA
Beijing in
Persian to Iran
CLANDESTINE
(Clandestine) Radio Free Lebanon in
Ar-'abi.`-
(Clandestine) Voice of Palestine in
Arab i c
(Clandestine) Voice of the Mountain in
Arab i c
(Clandestine) Voice of the People in
Arabic
C::YPRUS
Nic::osia Domestic:: Service in
Gr'ee < 1415C)
Nicosia. Television Service in
E n g 1. i {-h'1 170
Nicossiaa Television Service in
Greaek 166)
Nicosia BIRL.IE.` in
Tu.rI. i s h
Nicosia CYPRUS MAIL in
English
Nicosia EL..EV'THEROTIPIA I-IS
DHEFTERAS in
Greek
Nicosia EL..EVTHEROT.IF'.I.A in
Greek
Nicosia. I SIMERINI TIS DHEFTERAS in
Greet:
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/13: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100080003-3 .
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/13: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100080003-3
Nicosia I SIMERI:N:L in
Gr_ee1::
Nicosia 1-`:F1ARAVY I DI-1EFTERAS in
G r e e k:
Nicosia k::HARAVYI in
Greek
Nicosia 0 FILELEVTHEROS TIS
DHEFTEFtA S i. n
Greek
Nicosia 0 F I LELEVTHER:OG in
Greek:
Nicosia THE CYPRUS WEEKLY in
Enci i