The Helsinki Rules on the Uses of the Waters of International Rivers (1966)

Adopted by the International Law Association at the fifty-second conference, held at Helsinki in August 1966. Report of the Committee on the Uses of the Waters of International Rivers (London, International Law Association, 1967) CHAPTER 1. GENERAL Article I The general rules of international law as set forth in these chapters are applicable to the use of the waters of an international drainage basin except as may be provided otherwise by convention, agreement or binding custom among the basin States. Article II An international drainage basin is a geographical area extending over two or more States determined by the watershed limits of the system of waters, including surface and underground waters, flowing into a common terminus. Article III A "basin State" is a State the territory of which includes a portion of an international drainage basin.