On 5 March 1980, the Secretary-General of Western European Union (WEU) circulates a draft reply prepared by the French delegation to Assembly Recommendation 341 on the impact of the evolving situation in the Near and Middle East on Western European security. The text is subsequently reproduced in full in the final reply by the Council (C(80)50). The draft reply sets out the position of the WEU Council on the situation of the American hostages in Iran and raises the question of the settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, referring to the statement issued by the Nine on 18 June 1979. Finally, the Council notes that the Member States are determined to continue their efforts to secure a settlement of the Middle East conflict. The document will be examined by a working group at a forthcoming meeting.