Developing and maintaining the fundamental capabilities for individual and regional contribution to current and future peacekeeping operations is and will be our need, challenge and priority, said the statement after the 17th meeting of senior military officials from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, and the US.
Serbia has observer status in the Initiative.
The host of the meeting, Bosnian Chief-Of-Staff General Anto Jelac, told reporters participants concluded that all countries in the region were facing budget restrictions which affected the military, so cooperation was the best way to overcome those difficulties.
He said everyone involved in the ISAF mission were willing to support it in the upcoming transition period.
Participants concluded it is also necessary to step up work on NATO's Smart Defence project and the regional approach to air defence.