text: underlying idea of the paragraph, which, it was remarkad, should also include some of the more important provisions of the articles on the Regulation of the Flow of Water of International Watercourses adopted by the International Law Association at Belgrade in 1980, particularly the substance of articles 4 and 6 thereof, inasmuch as such provisions might be helpful in resolving conflicts arising from the regulation of international watercourses, Emphasis was also placed on article 3 of that Regulation from which the Commission could draw inspiration to establish a link between paragraphs 1 and 2 of the draft article. 272. Some remarks were made on the drafting of paragraph 2 including the observation that the present wording could be construed to mean that, even in the absence of an agreement, watercourse States would be expected to pay towards a project simply because they happened to derive benefits from it. It was also suggested that the expression “In the absence of agreement to the contrary”, was unsatisfactory since even when there was agreement, its objective was the equiteble sharing of the burdens and the benefits. 273. One member postulated that the Commission should confine itself to preventing the unfavourable consequences of unilateral regulation. For that purpose it WOUI~ * be useful first to specify that each watercourse State could regulate an international watercourse, provided that. such regulation had no negative or harmful effects for any other watercourse State. Secondly he proposed that the States concerned be urged to co-operate in exploring - 120 -possibilities of regulation that would be profitable to all. Finally, in hie view, it would be useful to enunciate the principle of equitable distribution of the burden8 that might arise from joint regulation. 274. Sn summing up, the Special Rapporteur agreed with the suggestion that the
analysis: The text discusses the regulation of international watercourses and the distribution of burdens and benefits among watercourse States. It touches on the idea of equitable sharing and the prevention of unfavourable consequences of unilateral regulation. These themes suggest a connection to the management of natural resources and the environment.