A bilateral international obligation is one to which there are only two parties (obligee and obligor).

But there are other multilateral obligations where there is, clearly, a primary obligee.

It is true that in some cases of multilateral obligations there may be no particular obligee or beneficiary.

If such a receivable is assigned, the obligor is the “debtor of the receivable” and the obligee is the “assignor”.

If such a receivable is assigned, the obligor is the “debtor of the receivable” and the obligee is the “assignor”.

Other examples could be given, of cases where the primary obligee is a State as well as where it is not.

In the Nicaragua Case (Merits), the International Court noted that action by way of collective self-defence could not be taken by a third State except at the request of the primary obligee (the State subjected to the armed attack).

In cases where a State is the primary obligee (and in conformity with the Court's approach to collective self-defence in Nicaragua), countermeasures could only be taken at the request of that State.

The Working Group had been considering a draft chapter on the unwinding of failed contracts, a draft chapter on illegality, a draft chapter on plurality of obligors and/or of obligees, a draft chapter on conditional obligations and a position paper with draft provisions on the termination of long-term contracts for just cause.

(a) The Working Group on the Principles of International Commercial Contracts held its second session in June 2007 and made substantial progress on the unwinding of failed contracts, plurality of obligors and of obligees, termination of long-term contracts for just cause and initial progress on illegality.