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aaac T [04132890018 _
2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F_ KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992
"MHFNQ 98 - 0480597, SECRET
SENS IND
~PAGE :
SECRET FRP : 2
STAFF
ACTION IMS ESG (021 ) INFO CIC/CEG _ DC / EUR , IRO EUR / DCCI _ EUR / SG _
FSGE CEGKOR CIC/ LA CIc/OG _ CIC/ PRC ,
LA/ LGL LIMITED _ MDSX _ ODPD
EUR_ SGF IMDORECORD LA/FIG _ LA/FIGSC ,
CIC/EUR (7 /W)
ORMS / EUR , FILE_ C / EUR , C/LA_ CE / R , CE/R/xo ,
98 0480597 ASo
PAGE 001 IN 0480597 TOR 0917122 FEB 98 PARI 17502
S E € R E T 0917172 FEB 98 STAFF
CITE PARIS 17502
TO IMMEDIATE DIRECTOR
FOR : LIMITED DISSEM IMS ESG INFO CHIEF_ LA LA/ FIG _ LA/
DO/ IRO CHIEF_ 'EUR _ DC / EUR _
c/CE/R/xo
'FIGSC , CIC / LA _ EUR / SG CIC / EUR EUR / SGF
SLUGS WNINTEL_
* SUBJECT <JFK ASSASSINATION RECORDS
PROTECTION OF COVER
REVIEW BOARD (ARRB ) CONTINUED
REF : DIRECTOR 674771 98 0430861
TEXT :
COMBINE COMPLETE
1 ACTION REQUIRED PLEASE ADVISE IF WE CAN BE ASSISTANCE OF FURTHER
2 THE FOLLOWING ARE STATIONSRESPONSES TO QUESTIONS POSED REF :
A IF THE (3TATION IS_ JUNECLAREDH WOULD
CLOSER EMBASSY SCRUTINY OF OTHERWISE
THIS DISCLOSURE LEAD TO INTERFERE WITH OPERATIONS ?
WERE THE ARRB RELEASES TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC CONCRETE USE BY {PARTS STATION OF STATE
AND
FURTHER_RESTRICTIONS ON
COVER} THIS MIGHT CALL FQR
WDECLARED OFFTCERS
OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES `
BY OUR LTNILATER4R
FACTORS
UNDER STATE CQVER BECAUSE OF THE FOLLOWING
THAT WE HAVE
USED OFFICR INTELLIGENCE SERVICES ARE AWARE OF THE FACT
BELIEVE THAT'
ICIALi COVER HERE AND WILL ACr WHENEVER THEY WE ARE USING OFFTCERS UNDER THAT COTER IN A HRRMFTL TO FRENCH INTERESTS WE TAKE
MANNER
DO NOT SBE TS As A THREAT TO
PAINS TO ENSURE THAT THE FRENCH
AC= 'KNOWLEDGEMENT OF
THEM LOcALLY HOWEVER , OFFICTAL THIS COVER COULD WELL PROVIDE TO JOURNALISTS THE AMMUNITION WITH WHICH TO
PQLITTCIANS OR_
LOUR_ ACTIVITIES HERE_
COMPELL AN 1NVESTIGATION OF ADDEES_WILL_RECALI_THAT
IHE 1995 PARIS FLAP SECRET
DO /
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13-00000
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MHFNO . 98 - 0480597 SENSIND PAGE
IN WHICH SIX STATION OFFICERS WERE REMOVED FROM PARIS WAS DRIVEN IN
LARGE MEASURE BY AN UNSCRUPULOUS POLITICIAN LOOKING FOR HEADLINES
INTEGRATED STATE COVER OF OUR SMALL GROUP OF
UNILATERAL OFFICERS IS AMONG THE: STATION' S MOST EFFECTIVE MEANS
ACCESS TO NON- FRENCH TARGETS OFFICIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF OUR USE OF
OFFTCIAL COVER IN PARIS COULD PROMPT THEM , OR THEIR RESPECTIVE
SECURITY QFFICERS-CTO-REVIEW THEIR AMER ICAN TARGETS -
B OTHERWISE IS THE CIA UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE HOST GOVERNMENT
TO REDUCE PRESENCE _ OR MORE FULLY DECLARE PRESENCE OR UNDERTAKE NO
UNDECLARED ACTIVITIES? DESCRIBE PRESENCE DESCRIBE THOSE ACTIVITIES
TO RESTRICT THE CIA (E.G_ SERVICE TO SERVICE LEGISLATIVE
INITIATIVES OPPOSITION POLITICAL INITIATIVES AND MEDIA
ACTIVITIES )
TO DATE THE FRENCH HAVE NOT DEMANDED THE IDENTITIES
OF ALL STATION PERSONNEL ; HOWEVER , WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS
POSSIBILITY DUE TO OUR EXPECTATION THAT THE FRENCH MAY DECIDE TO
MIRROR ACTIONS OF OTHER EUROPEAN SERVICES WISHING TO RESTRICT CIA
PRESENCE IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES ARRB DISCLOSURES WOULD SERVE
AS A POSSIBLE CATALYST FOR FORCING THIS ISSUE BETWEEN US AND THE
FRENCH
C DESCRIBE SOME PARTICULAR ACTIVITIES WHICH COULD BE
IMPERILED?
UNILATERAL ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE STATION S
UNDECLARED OFFICERS OUT-OF COUNTRY CASE OFFICERS AND NOC ' S ARE
COMPARTMENTED AND CANNOT BE DISCUSSED IN THIS CHANNEL WE DEFER TO
EUR/ SG RE PROVISION OF SPECIFIC OPERATIONAL DETAILS
D ARE THERE NEW INITIATIVES WITH THE HOST GOVERNMENT AND
SERVICE WHICH COULD BE IMPERILED? DESCRIBE
FORWARD MOVEMENT ON OUR JOINT WORK WITH THE FRENCH
SERVICES MOST IMPORTANTLY IN COUNTERTERRORISM_ WAS SLOWED IN THE
YEAR FOLLOWING THE 1995 DEMARCHE OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS _ WE HAVE
SEEN SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN THE WILLINGNESS OF FRENCH SERVICES
TO RESUME ACTIVE AND PRODUCTIVE LIAISON OF PARTICULAR NOTE ARE OUR
CURRENT JOINT COUNTERTERRORISM INITIATIVES (E G _ SUPPORT FROM THE
FRENCH INTERNAL POLICE_ INTELLIGENCE SERVICES THE DST AND RG _ OF
CTC S 17 NOVEMBER TASK FORCE THROUGH TECHNICAL AND PHYSICAL
SURVEILLANCE OF 17N TARGETS LOCATED IN PARIS) AND AN IMPORTANT NEW
INITIATIVE WITH THE FRENCH EXTERNAL SERVICE THE DGSE TO WORK
JOINTLY AGAINST RUSSIAN SVR INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS IN LOCATIONS WHERE
'OUR COMBINED RESOURCES WOULD BE MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL QUESTIONS
RAISED IN THE PRESS OR WITHIN THESE SERVICES REGARDING THE
POSSIBILITY OF UNDECLARED UNILATERAL ACTIVITIES IN FRANCE WOULD PLACE
AT RISK THE CURRENT MOMENTUM WE HAVE WITH THE FRENCH SERVICES IN
THESE AREAS
E IS CIA PRESENCE INHERENTLY SENSITIVE BECAUSE OF HOSTILE
POPULATION ELEMENTS OR POLITICAL ACTIVITIES?
SECRET
THE
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1MHFNO : 98 - 04 80597 SENS IND ~PAGE :
THE FRENCH PRESS IS GENERALLY NEGATIVE REGARDING ANY
ASPECT OF CIA PRESENCE IN FRANCE FOR THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT AND
SERVICES THE DISTINCTION THEY HAVE DRAWN IS BETWEEN UNILATERAL
OPERATIONS THAT TOUCH ON FRENCH AREAS OF INTEREST AND SOVEREIGNTY , IN
OTHER WORDS THE ACTIVITIES OF OFFICERS UNDER STATE COVER AND / OR
NOC S _ AND THOSE JOINT AREAS OF OPERATIONAL ENGAGEMENT WHICH THE
FRENCH BELIEVE SERVE MUTUAL INTERESTS As WE HAVE SEEN HISTORICALLY ,
WHEN THE FRENCH DISCOVER THE FORMER THEY TAKE QUICK INVESTIGATIVE
AND DIPLOMATIC ACTION TO CLOSE THESE OPERATIONS DOWN
F IS THERE POSSIBILITY OF HOSTILE USE (E.G. RUSSIAN OR CUBAN)
TO DISCREDIT US EMBASSY AS A "NEST OF SPIES" OR SIMILAR?
THIS IS A POSSIBILITY _ BUT WE WOULD EXPECT THAT ANY HOSTILE
EXPLOITATION WOULD BE SEEN IN PRESS PLACEMENT PROPAGANDA RE A NEST
OF SPIES" VICE A DIPLOMATIC PROTEST WE WOULD NOT EXPECT THAT SUCH
PRESS COVERAGE _ IF UNSUBSTANTIATED , WOULD HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON
OUR SERVICE TO- SERVICE OR GOVERNMENT TO-GOVERNMENT RELATIONS IF
SUCH PRESS EXPLOITATION BY HOSTILE SERVICES DREW ON SPECIFIC AND
CONCRETE EXAMPLES OF PARIS STATION S USE OF STATE COVER _ IT COULD
INEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO SUSTAIN SOME UNILATERAL ACTIVITY DUE
TO A POSSIBLE INCREASE OF FRENCH SCRUTINY OF OUR OFFICERS (SEE
BELOW
G HAVE THERE BEEN PAST IMBROGLIOS OVER CIA PRESENCE OR
ACTIVITIES THAT THIS RELEASE COULD RESURRECT?
AS NOTED ABOVE _ IN EARLY 1995 THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT DEMARCHED
FHE U _ S AMBASSADOR TO FRANCE OVER INCOMPATIBLE ACTIVITIES OF A
STATION NOC AND SEVERAL UNDECLARED OFFICERS THE FRENCH REVEALED
TNVESTIGA TIVE MATERIAL INCLUDING THE RESULTS OF PHYSICAL AND
TECHNICAL SURVEILLANCE AND PHOTOGRAPHY OF OUR OFFICERS) THAT
BULWARKED THEIR CONTENTION THAT PARIS STATION WAS RUNNING UNILATERAL
OPERATIONS TARGETING FRENCH POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC INTERESTS BY
OFFICERS UNDER EMBASSY COVER AND NOC ' S THE FRENCH PRESS COVERAGE
WAS EXTENSIVE AND HOSTILE BY THE TIME THE FRENCH CONCLUDED THEIR
SERIES OF DEMARCHES THEY HAD INDICATED THEIR DESIRE FOR THE RECALL
OF SIX STATION OFFICERS _
WE HAVE GONE TO GREAT LENGTHS TO ENSURE THAT ANY /ALL UNILATERAL
ACTIVITY IN FRANCE IS CARRIED OUT UNDER STRINGENT OPERATIONAL
GUIDELINES TO PROTECT SUCH ACTIVITIES AGAINST FRENCH
COUNTER ESPIONAGE CAPABILITIES WHILE WE VIEW THIS AS AN ONGOING
REQUIREMENT _ ANY PRESS OR SERVICE APPREHENSION REGARDING OUR
PRESENCE SUCH As COULD RESULT FROM ARRB TYPE RELEASES COULD FORCE
Us TO FURTHER RESTRICT OUR UNILATERAL OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS
{SOMETHING WE WISH TO AVOID
H _ HAVE OFFICIAL USG RELEASES SUCH As FOIA EVER APPEARED IN THE
LOCAL MEDIA (E.G JAPAN AND CAMPAIGN FINANC ING OR PERU AND FOIA
RELEASED CONCERNING VLADIMIRO MOTESINOS TORRES) REFERRED TO BY HOST
GOVERNMENT EITHER ON THE RECORD OR OFF THE RECORD
CURRENT STATTON "PERSONNEL HAVE NO RECOLLECTTON_OF_SUCH
INCIDENTS IN_THE RECENT PAST WE DEFER TO HQS FOR ANY ADDITIONAL-
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND-
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PEEASE ADVTSE IF' WE CAN PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND
FILE: NONE DECL ON X1 ; CL REASON 1-5-@);-CL-BY: 0707476
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