United Nations Administration Mission in Thrace
United Nations Administration Mission in Thrace | |
|---|---|
 Flag | |
 Locaiton of Western Thrace | |
| Status | United Nations mission |
| Capital | Komotini |
| Leaders | |
• UN Special Representative | TBD |
• NATO PKF Commander | TBD |
• EU Police Mission Head | TBD |
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
The United Nations Administration Mission in Thrace, commonly referred to as UNAMIT, is the officially mandated mission of the United Nations in Western Thrace. The mission was authorized by the United Nations Security Council following the conclusion of the Crskan War to deal with the disputed territory of Western Thrace. The UNAMIT describes its mandate as being to "help the United Nations Security Council achieve an overall objective, namely, to ensure conditions for a peaceful and normal life for all inhabitants of Western Thrace, to facilitate a permanent political solution to the ongoing Greco-Bulgarian territorial dispute, and to further advance regional stability in the Western Balkans."
The UNAMIT was established pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1107, which was passed on 13 May 1998. The Resolution authorised an international civil and military presence in the Western Thrace. In that Resolution, the UN decided to "[deploy] in Western Thrace, under United Nations auspices, [an] international civil and security [presence], to protect civilians and maintain the rule of law." Resolution 1107 passed with the support of Russia – which politically backed Buglaria's claim to Western Thrace – as the withdrawal agreement negotiated between NATO and the People's Republic of Bulgaria stipulated that Russian peacekeepers must play a part in any international troop presence.
As per UNAMIT's mandate the NATO-led Stabilization Force in Western Thrace (SFOR-Thrace) comprised of 30,000 troops was deployed to Western Thrace the following month. Since the 2000's the force has undergone a significant drawdown – now comprised of only 5,000 troops – with the main force being the United States, Italy, Austria, Ireland and Switzerland. The Russian contingent – originally numbering 2,500 – operates outside of SFOR's command along near the border with Eastern Thrace and Bulgaria proper, and has been downsized to 500 troops in recent years.