The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) became the 55th OSCE participating State, following a decision by the OSCE Permanent Council in a special session.
NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson's first address to the OSCE Permanent Council
Lord Robertson addressed the OSCE Permanent Council for the first time. The partnership between both organizations had been strengthened since 1996, when the two organizations began working together to implement the Dayton Peace Accords.
Warsaw hosted its fifth Human Dimension Implementation Meeting from 17-27 October to review participating States' implementation of the full range of OSCE human dimension commitments.
Migration and internal displacement discussed at Human Dimension meeting
In a step towards enhancing OSCE activities in the field of migration and internal displacement, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the Austrian Chairmanship organized a special meeting on this topic in Vienna.
The 24 September presidential election in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia (now Serbia and Montenegro) ousted strongman Slobodan Milosevic, bringing about democratic changes warmly welcomed by the OSCE.