Le cadre juridique régissant les ressources hydrauliques partagées dans la région de l’Est Méditerranéen dite du Levant souffre d’insuffisances manifestes et semble inadapté à la réalisation de la tâche que ses géniteurs lui ont assigné. Produit essentiellement de conventions bilatérales dont les dispositions s’avèrent parfois contradictoires, il est le fruit d’un contexte politique tendu, sévissant depuis longtemps dans cette partie du monde au point d’en constituer le trait de marque et valorisant une logique de confrontation entre des volontés souveraines peu soucieuses des intérêts des Etats tiers. Il dénote ainsi fermement une absence de prise de conscience du caractère commun des ressources hydrauliques et la nécessité de leur partage au sein d’une communauté d’intérêts. Il se trouve, par ailleurs, en retrait des mutations que connaît dernièrement le droit international des ressources hydrauliques partagées tant superficielles que souterraines. Loin de respecter l’unité hydrologique du bassin du Jourdain, ses stipulations ne permettent pas de donner leur plein effet aux principes de l’utilisation équitable et non dommageable de ses eaux. Or, ces principes coutumiers, désormais codifiés, préconisent une gestion intégrée et globale desdites ressources qui peine toujours à se réaliser le cas échéant. Ils se trouvent d’autant plus dénaturés dans la mesure où leur champ d’application demeure restreint incluant certains Etats riverains à l’exclusion d’autres. Pourtant, l’eau au Levant, dont la situation précaire est évidente, peut se transformer d’un élément générateur de tensions récurrentes à un facteur déclencheur d’une dynamique de coopération sur une échelle régionale. Des impératifs divers y contribueront immanquablement. Cette démarche aura toutefois tout à gagner en empruntant aux dernières avancées du droit international en la matière les modalités et procédures qu’elles prescrivent. Cet apport serait le garant d’une coopération multifonctionnelle et institutionnalisée, s’inscrivant dans un corpus juridique cohérent et global et oeuvrant à l’affermissement d’une culture de la paix. / The current legal framework that dictates the water distribution in the Levant can be considered as inapt and insufficient in the way it overlooks the populations’ current needs. Negotiated upon through a series of bilateral conventions that favored the interests of some sovereign states at the expense of others, today’s legal framework is sustaining the long-standing political tensions in the region. In hindsight, it appears as though the bilateral conventions have shaped a status quo that failed to take into account the vital characteristic of the natural resource in question and its essential need to be shared and equitably distributed in an approach that subscribes within the common interest. Today, although the international water distribution practices witnessed significant evolution, the Levant region nevertheless still finds itself enacting an outdated framework, one that overlooks the hydrological unity of the Jordan Basin. In practice, the bilateral conventions led to a sectarian division of resources as opposed to a more balanced and fair regional one allowing a full implementation to the principles of equitable and non harmful use of international water. These customary principles, now codified, can’t fully be effective through this lacking and deficient legal framework. However, the Levant’s water resources can go from being the bearer of regional tension, to triggering a series of cooperative talks. With a high number of imperatives at stake it is only a matter of time until the regional players reconvene and adopt a more suitable and equitable distribution practice. Doing so would bring about new levels of institutionalized and cooperative practices, which would ultimately lead to a strong affirmation of peace in the region.

A água a cada dia passa a ser um tema da agenda de discussões dos Estados, especialmente aqueles que compartilham o recurso nas bacias hidrográficas. O direito internacional nesta área passa a ter importância fundamental como conciliador dos usos que se fazem da água e o desenvolvimento sustentável. Encontrar o equilíbrio entre os princípios do uso equitativo e racional, não causar dano significativo e desenvolvimento sustentável é o desafio numa época de grande demanda de água. / Water is an issue in the agenda among States, especially those that share the resource in the hydrographical basin. International law plays fundamental role as conciliator of the uses of water and sustainable development. Finding a balance between equitable and rational use, causing no harm and sustainable development is the challenge in this time of high demand for water.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Stanford University, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 349-357).

A água a cada dia passa a ser um tema da agenda de discussões dos Estados, especialmente aqueles que compartilham o recurso nas bacias hidrográficas. O direito internacional nesta área passa a ter importância fundamental como conciliador dos usos que se fazem da água e o desenvolvimento sustentável. Encontrar o equilíbrio entre os princípios do uso equitativo e racional, não causar dano significativo e desenvolvimento sustentável é o desafio numa época de grande demanda de água. / Water is an issue in the agenda among States, especially those that share the resource in the hydrographical basin. International law plays fundamental role as conciliator of the uses of water and sustainable development. Finding a balance between equitable and rational use, causing no harm and sustainable development is the challenge in this time of high demand for water.

International water law has been unable to translate its principles into effective institutions for the management of shared water resources. National interest has often override any real commitment to the principles of international water law as reflected by the draft Articles of the ILC. Based on the theory of sovereignty, it emphasises a discretionary power to co-operate. However, the community of interest's theory is rather recommended as basis for co-operation. The draft Articles does not take sufficient account of the role domestic water policies, international relations and economics play in the co-operation of states. An integrated approach that considers social and economic effects within an environmental context is proposetL The political economy of water includes the potential of 'virtual water' through the importation of staple grains. A holistic approach, taking global trade in agriculture into account, is recommended. The SADC countries should also consider the potential of regional trade in 'virtual water'. / Law / LL. M. (Law)

International water law has been unable to translate its principles into effective institutions for the management of shared water resources. National interest has often override any real commitment to the principles of international water law as reflected by the draft Articles of the ILC. Based on the theory of sovereignty, it emphasises a discretionary power to co-operate. However, the community of interest's theory is rather recommended as basis for co-operation. The draft Articles does not take sufficient account of the role domestic water policies, international relations and economics play in the co-operation of states. An integrated approach that considers social and economic effects within an environmental context is proposetL The political economy of water includes the potential of 'virtual water' through the importation of staple grains. A holistic approach, taking global trade in agriculture into account, is recommended. The SADC countries should also consider the potential of regional trade in 'virtual water'. / Law / LL. M. (Law)