Theresa Fallon
“Many people would like to see China play a constructive role, but I think now that we're in the third year of the war, this idea is wearing a bit thin.”
10 hours ago
Mahjoob Zweiri
“What we have witnessed in the past few hours is that they talk about an agreement on the first stage. It could be understood that Hamas wants to release itself from the pressure globally, including the United States. So, they are giving concessions on the first stage, which leads to 40 days of ceasefire and exchange of captives. I think 33 old and sick captives. And then moving on to other stages. But we are seeing that we are going back to the main conditions, which means we are still talking about the main principles [complete ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza] that Hamas talked about. As the time of some sort of agreement on the first stage came, the Israeli military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to say actually, there is no agreement: We will go to Rafah regardless of any agreement. It reflects the divisions within the Israelis and crisis within the Israeli politics. On the other hand, Hamas has been more cautious. They do not want to show real progress made but they also do not want to say things have not changed. I think it's obvious some change has happened otherwise we would not expect [CIA chief] William Burns to be in the region.”
10 hours ago
Theresa Fallon
“Many people would like to see China play a constructive role, but I think now that we're in the third year of the war, this idea is wearing a bit thin.”
10 hours ago
Mahjoob Zweiri
“What we have witnessed in the past few hours is that they talk about an agreement on the first stage. It could be understood that Hamas wants to release itself from the pressure globally, including the United States. So, they are giving concessions on the first stage, which leads to 40 days of ceasefire and exchange of captives. I think 33 old and sick captives. And then moving on to other stages. But we are seeing that we are going back to the main conditions, which means we are still talking about the main principles [complete ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza] that Hamas talked about. As the time of some sort of agreement on the first stage came, the Israeli military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to say actually, there is no agreement: We will go to Rafah regardless of any agreement. It reflects the divisions within the Israelis and crisis within the Israeli politics. On the other hand, Hamas has been more cautious. They do not want to show real progress made but they also do not want to say things have not changed. I think it's obvious some change has happened otherwise we would not expect [CIA chief] William Burns to be in the region.”
10 hours ago
“There are two scenarios. Either the West will go in the direction of a complete conflict with Russia, or with the help of the USA and China, some kind of truce will be established, which would mean a huge relief for the world. If they enter into [a] conflict, I'm afraid nobody will gain anything from it. A potential conflict could have more casualties than the Second World War, which is unimaginable for the 21st century. We are small and insignificant in that sense, but in any case, it will affect Serbia. We have to be ready for either solution, and we will find out within 100 days.”
“We are at the crossroads whether we will have peace or not … and there's one man in the Balkans who wants to incite conflicts at any cost - and that is Albin Kurti.”
“The removal of barricades will begin. This is not a simple process, and can't be done in two hours, as some imagined. But within 24 to 48 hours the barricades will be removed. But distrust is not removed. Those who are playing with [the] very existence of Serbs in Kosovo must know that, same like we didn't allow it now, we will not allow it in the future as well.”
“The Open Balkan initiative is one of the biggest ideas in today's Europe. The most important goal is to unite people who have been focusing more on the past rather than the future. It is important to connect people and their businesses.”
“There will be other important major things of strategic interest for Serbia in the future, and not in the distant future. So we will have the first things before the end of the year in Serbia. These are not strategic, but tactical things are very important.”
“The stabilisation of relations and their overall improvement can occur if there is a willingness to do so on both sides, with mutual respect and consideration of common needs and interests.”
“Do not react to non-violence, but if they [Kosovo authorities] start violence, you protect your people and we will be with you. Just keep in mind what the price is that we will all have to pay for that, and why my request is to try to avoid it, and if they [Kosovo authorities] start and continue shooting our people, then we really won't have a choice.”
“Serbia luckily had the courage to build a gas pipeline with Russia. I was told I was crazy because I didn't want to close the coal mines … [but] you can't balance electricity with wind and solar energy. The crisis is much bigger than you think, the prices of construction materials are rising everywhere in Europe … Luckily, we had the courage to build a gas pipeline with Russia [Turkish stream]; if we hadn't, I could just take ropes to hang myself.”
“Any kind of destabilization, problems even if they aren't big, create a huge problem for all of us in terms of attracting investors and the country's image. It's in our interest to try to advance our economy and work on rule of law.”
“We will be among the first in the world to have the opportunity to change the content of the substance together with partners from China and the UAE, and to be among the first in the world to share the benefits of scientific discoveries with the people and to increase the efficiency and quality of vaccines.”
“There were three points, to intensify joint efforts to identify the remains of the missing persons, to refrain from things that could potentially destabilize the situation on the ground and for the main negotiators to meet regularly, once a month, and prepare meetings when necessary. They [Kosovo] conditioned all the time with some new political criteria. We understand that there were crimes on both sides, they do not understand that, they see themselves as victims and Serbs as criminals. That story about genocides is someone's intention for Serbs to be the worst people in the world.”
“Israel, meanwhile, has recognised Kosovo, we are talking to the Americans and the EU, and we will, in accordance with international law, but also with the interests of Serbia, and those interests have changed since Israel recognized Kosovo, make decisions in the future, respecting friendship with Israel, but also respecting ourselves.”
“It is our job… to look for a compromise solution every day, because without it someone will unfreeze that conflict one day, and then, whatever we do and no matter how it all ends, I would have to tell someone's mother – I'm sorry you don't have a son anymore, but, at least we've achieved a great victory. I want to repeat – a compromise solution is the only possible solution, but if you ask me what a compromise is, I will tell you – I don't know. However, we all have to reach a compromise together. If we fail to do that, we will leave this problem to future generations.”
“The Albanian delegation does not want to fulfil agreements [made at earlier meetings], they do not want to talk about the Union of Serbian Municipalities [to represent Serbs' interests in Kosovo], they insistently and instantly demanded when will we recognise an independent Kosovo, and they described the fact that Serbs want to attend liturgies in their churches [in Kosovo] as incidents and provocations. [Kurti] told me: 'I came to ask you when you will recognize an independent Kosovo.' My answer was 'Never!' Then he blew up.”
“Serbia will start behaving in a way that it has not done so far, and in accordance with what has been signed [in the Dayton agreement]. In accordance with that, the obligation of the High Representative is to periodically report to the United Nations, the European Union, the United States, the Russian Federation and other interested governments, as well as the parties [to the agreement] – and we are an interested party.”
“If you have been infected – and have received two vaccines … you have the right, if you are in a state body, the army or similar, to [paid] sick leave. But if you are not vaccinated, you will not have paid sick leave.”