regulation was not an obligation for watercourse States, was viewed as correct because a watercourse State had a right to regulate the part of an international watercourse within its territory. Thus, it was observed, paragraph 1 was a concrete application of article 9, and co-operation under article 25 should therefore be based on general principles of international law such ae sovereign equality and territor-ial integrity. 270. Another view was that the obligation to co-operate should be cast in lees ’ mandatory terms because watercourse States might have different priorities with regard to the regulation of a watercourse, It was also po!nted out that iu.ivThe text of article 25 as proposed by the Special Rappocteur read as follows a “PART VI REGULATION OF INTERNATIONAL WATERCOURSES 1. Watercourse States shall co-operate in identifying needs and opportunities for regulation of international watercourses. 2. In the absence? of agreement to the contrary, watercourse States shall participate on an equitable basis in the construction and maintonanco or, as the case may be, defrayal of costs of such regulation works as they may have agreed to undertake, indivLdually or jointly. ” - 119 -co-operation could be effected either directly or through regional or international organisations as well. It was further pointed out that in an instrument intended for world-wide use it was important that modalities for co-operation should be flexible so as to allow the discharge of the duty to co-operate in cases when political realities did not favour direct co-operation, 271. As for m the residual rule contained therein was viewed as superfluous since it was inconceivable that a watercourse agreement on regulation works would neglect to provide for a sharing of the burdens. Besides, the general r;rle of participation on an equitable basis had tlready been set out in article 6. Support was, on the other hand, expressed for the
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the regulation of international watercourses and the cooperation between states that share these watercourses. The focus is on the obligations and modalities of cooperation, rather than specific economic or environmental outcomes. However, the text does touch on the importance of flexibility and equity in the cooperation process, which suggests a connection to economic development and natural resources.

**Category**
Natural resources and environment, Economic development