Chapter 3 | Page 113 are at a disadvantage not only in raising sufficient revenue but they are also often burdened with debt, both foreign and domestic, which weakens the State’s ability to effectively manage its resources. 3.3.3 Resources through international assistance and co-operation Resources that are available through international assistance and cooperation are imperative to supplement domestically available resources. While States that lack sufficient resources to implement the rights recognised in the ICESCR are under an obligation to seek international assistance, the question of the extent to which, if at all, resource-rich countries have an obligation to provide assistance is still debated.53 Recently, during the drafting of the ICESCR-Optional Protocol, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom emphasised that the State had the primary responsibility to implement its obligations54 and that international co-operation does not constitute a legal obligation, although it can be understood as a moral obligation.55 The need for international assistance and co-operation was envisaged at the very early draft stage of the ICESCR.56 The discussions show that the issue of international co-operation was discussed in the context of State resources, particularly the need for States with insufficient resources to be able to access international support for the realisation of these rights.57 Thus, there was significant support from many States for the US proposal to include 53 Hugh King, 'The Extraterritorial Human Rights Obligations of States' (2009) 9 Human Rights Law Review 521-556. 54 Report of the Open-ended Working Group to consider options regarding the elaboration of an optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on its third session, 62nd sess, UN Doc E/CN.4/2006/47 (14 March 2006), [81]. 55 Report of the open-ended working group to consider options regarding the elaboration of an optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on its second session, 61st sess, UN Doc E/CN.4/2005/52 (10 February 2005 ), (UK, the Czech Republic, Canada, France and Portugal). 56 See, Michał Gondek, The Reach of Human Rights in a Globalising World: Extraterritorial Application of Human Rights Treaties (Intersentia, Antwerp, 2009), 299. 57 United Nations General Assembly, Official Records, 3rd Comm, UN Doc A/3525 (9 February 1957), [131].