13 Jan. 1999	Emergency meetings on Kosovo Following the growing tension in Kosovo between ethnic Kosovar Albanians and the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), NATO representatives have been meeting regularly at NATO HQ, Brussels. During talks between General Klaus Naumann, General Wesley Clark and President Slobodan Milosevic in Belgrade, the Serb president clearly adopted an uncooperative position. As a result, further meetings are being held at NATO HQ between member countries and with Russia to discuss possible solutions to the crisis.
13 Jan. 1999	NATO's 50th anniversary (1949-1999) This year, NATO is celebrating its 50th anniversary. A launching ceremony, marking the beginning of the celebrations, took place last week. The heir to the crown, H.R.H. Prince Philippe of Belgium (on photo: left), the Belgian Prime Minister, Jean-Luc Dehaene (right), and other high-level government officials, together with the NATO Secretary General, Dr Javier Solana (centre), and the Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Sergio Balanzino, attended a ceremony at which a series of five Belgian commemorative postal stamps were presented. These stamps will be available from 15 March. This symbolic ceremony is the beginning of a series of activities which the Alliance, member and partner countries and independent organisations have set up to celebrate NATO at 50. NATO was created in 1949 by European and North American countries. Today, NATO and partner countries from Central and Eastern Europe are also developing cooperation in a number of different fields. (A 50th anniversary calendar of activities is available on the NATO website).
17 Jan. 1999	NATO Secretary General, on behalf of the North Atlantic Council, condemns the massacre of Kosovar Albanians by Serb forces in Racak and calls on the Yugoslav authorities to cooperate fully with the ICTY in accordance with UN resolutions and to bring those responsible to justice.
18 Jan. 1999	NATO seminar in Slovakia In the context of the cooperation programme between NATO and Slovakia, a seminar was organised in Bratislava on "Security and Stability in Central Europe - Regional Aspects".150 participants from 32 countries which are members of the Alliance's Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (composed of the 16 NATO-member countries and 28 partner countries) were present. They principally discussed current security issues in Central Europe and the need for multinational cooperation in the region.
18 Jan. 1999	NATO Generals Wesley Clark, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, and Klaus Naumann, Chairman of the Military Committee, go to Belgrade to impress upon the Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic the gravity of the situation in Kosovo.