Milestones

Ten years ago: The United States denied an entry visa to PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat, who was seeking permission to travel to New York to address the U.N. General Assembly.

Five years ago: The first session of the 103rd Congress concluded as lawmakers adjourned for the year.

One year ago: Under heavy international pressure, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein said he would allow visits to presidential palaces where U.N. weapons experts suspected he might be hiding chemical and biological weapons.

In a small but symbolic step, the United States and North Korea held high-level discussions at the State Department for the first time.