GENEVA (AP) — The head of the World Economic Forum says its move to bring together leaders from four western Balkan countries and regional powers aims to fight "complacency" in a region facing lingering tensions on a route used by migrants into Europe.

WEF president Borge Brende says lessons from history show that events in the west Balkans tend to have a "huge influence" on the rest of Europe, while pointing to economic opportunities in the region.

Brende said in an interview Tuesday that "what happens in the Balkans will have huge implications for Europe in the future — and this is too frequently neglected."

He spoke after the WEF hosted the leaders from Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia, as well as key officials from regional players like Croatia, Germany and Turkey.