OSI's effort in the NIS thus became primarily directed to support of the Section 7 (formerly Section 17) of the General Surveys. These can be described as a comprehensive but concise coverage of the basic characteristics of an area for the high-level consumer. Generally the implementation of this new program has meant that OSI is providing less detailed subject coverage on many more countries in much less time. OSI produces an average of 10 Section 7s annually for the General Survey. These sections are revised and up-dated every three to four years.
Although the General Surveys are done on a world-wide basis, OSI -- through the same general SIC mechanism described above for the Chapter VII -- participates by preparing Section 7s only on selected countries which have major scientific and technical capabilities or on countries which are of strategic importance or are attempting to develop a scientific capability. In some cases they provide the only scientific intelligence coverage of a country. Currently, about 37 countries receive Section 7 coverage. They include the USSR and Communist China, all the Bloc countries
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