On 31 August 1982, the Secretary-General of Western European Union (WEU) circulates a draft reply from the WEU Council, prepared by the British delegation, to Assembly Recommendation 383 on the problem of nuclear weapons in Europe. The WEU Council shares many of the Assembly’s views, particularly on the importance of the signing of the SALT II Agreement (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks) in 1979, the opening of the START negotiations (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) and the continuing discussions on intermediate nuclear forces (INF). The Council also believes that arms control and defence measures should complement each other in a balanced security policy. Furthermore, the Council agrees with the Assembly that preparations should be continued for the possible deployment of cruise missiles and Pershing II missiles in Western Europe.