The Security Council, by its resolution 1246 (1999) - A|C|F|R|S of 11 June 1999, established the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET). By its resolution 1257 (1999) - A|C|F|R|S of 3 August 1999, the Council extended the mandate of the Mission until 30 September 1999 and, by its resolution 1262 (1999) - A|C|F|R|S of 27 August 1999, further extended the mandate of UNAMET until 30 November 1999.

At its fifty-fifth to fifty-ninth sessions, the General Assembly decided to include the item in its draft agendas of those sessions (decisions 55/494, 56/483, 57/599, 58/578 and 59/570).