On 11 February 1971, the Secretary-General of Western European Union (WEU) circulates a draft reply prepared by the United Kingdom delegation to Recommendation 202 of the WEU Assembly on the situation in the Middle East. It notes the efforts made by the international community to reach a peaceful settlement of the hostilities between Israel and the Arab countries in the region, while emphasising the usefulness of ministerial meetings on the subject to identify common interests and the means by which European countries can promote these interests through consultation and coordination.