Brussels, Belgium, Nov 29, SPA -- Bosnia's Defense Minister NikolaRadovanovic met Monday with envoys from NATO and theEuropean Union as the EU prepares to take over peacekeepingoperations which the Atlantic alliance has run in hiscountry for nine years. The handover set for Thursday will see the EU launch itsbiggest ever military operation, by taking command of the7,000-strong mission. Radovanovic was attending the regular monthly meeting ofrepresentatives from the EU and NATO to discuss the finalarrangements for the handover. NATO will offer backup to the EU mission and will retain asmall presence in Sarajevo to help continued efforts totrack down war crime suspects and help the Bosniangovernment with defense reforms. With most of the NATO troops already coming from Europeannations, the biggest change will be the withdrawal of thearound 1,000 U.S. soldiers currently based in the northerncity of Tuzla. They will mostly be replaced by troops fromFinland. The U.S. will keep a small military base in the country,outside of the peacekeeping mission.--SPA1341 Local Time 1041 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/220514