explolting lts natural resources up to a distance of 2OO niles froE the baselinea - Eubject of course to tlelimitation nlth nelghbouring stales - whatever the PhyElcal . or geological features of Che sea-bed wlthin the area comprised bettfeen the coagt and the 200-ni1e linit. 21,/ 26. The court, n*"rr", ,lurned that the introduction of the cr iter lon of distance did not have the effect of establishing a principle of rabaolute proxlmlty" or of conferring upon the eguidistance nethoal of dellr[ltation the statua of a general rul-e' or an obligatory method of alellnttatlon, or of a priority nethott to be tested in every case. It further obgerved that the fact that, ln the circunsEanceE of the ca6e, the drawing of a median line constl.tuteal an apPropriate ftrst sEep in the tlelinitation process did not mean that an equitliGtance line stll be an appropriate beginning ln all cases, or ev€n in cases of delinitatlon with respect to states wi.th opposite coasts. ?21A/ 40 /9 23 English Page l0 2'1 . The Court' as it has done before. &/ d,id not consi.der that tra alelimitationshould be influenced by the relative econonic posilion of the two states inguestion, in such a way tha! the area of continental shelf regarded as appertainingto the less rich of Ehe two States irould be sonenhat increased in order toconpensate for the inferiorily in ecooonic resources,'. 24,/ 28. The rncernational court of Justice has continued to endorse the relevantproeisions of the 1982 convention and to deverop in partlcurar che jurisprudencerelating eo the derimitation of naritime areas by investing the derinit.ationprovisions of lhe Convention rritb a specific content. IV. OTHER DEVELOPMENTS RELATING TO THE LAW OF THE SEA A, peaceful uses
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the law of the sea and the delimitation of maritime areas, specifically the continental shelf. It mentions the use of natural resources and the economic implications of delimitation. The text also references the International Court of Justice and its interpretation of the law.

**Category**
Natural resources and environment, International trade