• Yugoslavia Chronology, Nov 1996 - May 1998 (80Kb)

Events since May 1998

• Spring-Summer 1998: Tensions between ethnic Albanians and the Yugoslav security forces escalates into armed conflict.  Hundreds are killed and nearly 300,000 civilians are displaced from their homes.

• 23 September 1998: The UN Security Council adopts Resolution 1199. The resolution demands that all parties end hostilities and maintain a cease-fire.

• 13 October 1998: The North Atlantic Council issues Operation Determined Force's activation order (ACTORD).

• 14 October 1998: Due to persisting tension in Kosovo, NATO's Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED) is temporarily detached to the Adriatic.

• 15 October 1998: NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe and the Chief of General Staff of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia sign in Belgrade an agreement establishing an air verification mission over Kosovo (Operation Eagle Eye), complementing the OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (KVM).

• 16 October 1998: The Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) sign in Belgrade an agreement establishing a verification mission in Kosovo, including an undertaking by the FRY to comply with Security Council Resolutions 1160 and 1199.

• 24 October 1998: The UN Security Council adopts Resolution 1203. The resolution supports NATO and OSCE verification missions and demands all parties in Kosovo to comply with the agreement.

• 25-26 October 1998: NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe and the Chairman of NATO Military Committee meet with Yugoslav President Milosevic and his Army Chief of Staff. NATO delivers a clear message pressing for immediate and total compliance with Security Council Resolution 1199 and related agreements.

• 16 January 1999: 45 ethnic Albanian civilians are massacred at Racak in Kosovo, amid an upsurge in violence in the province.

• 30 January 1999: The Contact Group demands that all parties agree on a political settlement for Kosovo by 20 February 1999. The NAC agrees that NATO's Secretary General may authorise air strikes against targets on FRY territory.

• 1 February 1999: NATO's Secretary General reaffirms that, if no agreement is reached by the deadline set by the Contact Group, NATO is ready to take whatever measures are necessary to avert a humanitarian catastrophe.

• 6 February 1999: Negotiations on the future of Kosovo are opened at Rambouillet, France, involving the warring parties and the Contact Group.

• 12 February 1999: The United Kingdom sends an Armoured Battle Group to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to enable UK readiness to participate in a peacekeeping mission.

• 20 February 1999: The Contact Group extends negotiations until 1400 GMT on 23 February 1999.

• 23 February 1999: With partial agreement having been reached on a future political settlement for Kosovo, to be policed by a NATO peacekeeping force deployed in the province, negotiations are adjourned until 15 March.

• 15 March 1999: Negotiations resume in Paris.

• 19 March 1999: The Paris peace talks break down following Yugoslav refusal to accept the Rambouillet Accords.

• 22 March 1999: The NAC authorises the Secretary General to decide, subject to further consultations, on a broader range of air operations if necessary.

• 24 March 1999: Operation Allied Force begins at 1900 hours GMT.