By ERION XHABAFTI and LLAZAR SEMINI

GOLEM, Albania (AP) — Leaders of the Western Balkan countries on Monday reaffirmed their commitment to a joint European future, pledging to deepen cooperation and accelerate reforms that would bring the region closer to the European Union .

The presidents of the Western Balkan nations gathered in Golem, Albania, 30 miles west of the capital of Tirana, in an annual gathering. It is part of a diplomatic initiative launched by EU members Slovenia and Croatia in 2013 to support EU enlargement to the Western Balkans — a region that includes Albania, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Kosovo.

In a joint declaration, the leaders highlighted their “shared vision toward the European perspective of our entire region.”

“We reaffirm our commitment

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