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Connect the World
South Africa, World Memorializes Nelson Mandela; Handshake Heard Around Cuba; Central African Republic Descends Into Chaos As Two French Troops Killed; Ukraine Protests
Aired December 10, 2013 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BECKY ANDERSON, HOST: Tonight, celebrating a giant of history and mourning the death of a leader. Dignitaries from around the world join South Africans from all walks of life to remember the life and times of Nelson Mandela.
We reflect on today's historic events with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.
Also ahead, breaking the ice or a courteous greeting, what the now famous Obama-Castro handshake means for U.S.-Cuba relations.
And as two French troops are killed in the Central Africa Republic, we'll ask what's driving France's muscular Africa policy.
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN London, this is Connect the World with Becky Anderson.
ANDERSON: ...color, joy and goodbyes for and from South Africans. Tens of thousands of people flocked to the FNB Stadium in Soweto for what was a four hour memorial service dedicated to Nelson Mandela.
There was the powerful. Today saw one of the largest gatherings of world leaders in recent history. 91 heads of state were there. It was the ordinary, everyday citizens set out to mark the man who have meant to much to their country.
And there was the rain. Despite gray skies and a downpour, the atmosphere was lively.
Let's cross to Johannesburg now where correspondent David McKenzie joins us. Just some up how you felt, how South Africa feels today on what a momentous occasion, wasn't it?
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it certainly was a momentous occasion, Becky. Thousands streaming into the stadium south of Johannesburg and certainly that weather did play a role keeping some away, I think. But still they streamed in there on buses, on foot, any means necessary, really, to go and reflect on the life of Nelson Mandela, this great statesman who died last Thursday and is remembered by all in South Africa and around the world.
There were spillover stadiums across South Africa, other screens in just community centers and homes throughout this land, people watching this event.
It was made up of speeches and song and dance and so many world leaders, more than 90 of them, congregated in South Africa. It's the largest gathering of world leaders here on African soil ever and certainly the largest gathering for quite some time.
But really it was for the ordinary South Africans in that stadium, a special moment, a moment of song and dance and reflecting on this great man.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(SINGING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Long live the spirit of Nelson Mandela.
(CHEERING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And in our African tradition, when it rains when you are buried it means that your gods are welcoming you and the gate of heaven are most probably open as well.
(SINGING)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You are lodged in our memory. You tower over the world like a comet leaving streaks of light for us to follow.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was one of our greatest teachers. He taught by example.
(SINGING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sing it with us again. My life is in your hands.
(SINGING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Johannesburg, my life is in your hands.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Mandela taught us the power of action, but he also taught us the power of ideas, the importance of reason and arguments, the need to study not only those who you agree with but also those who you don't agree with.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): This great leader, Nelson Mandela, had his eyes on the future of his country, his people and all Africa.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The great man has left, but Mandela (inaudible) and his spirit will leave forever.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Let us (inaudible) tribute to Nelson Mandela, the ultimate symbol of dignity and unwavering dedication to the revolutionary struggles for freedom and justice, a prophet of unity, peace and reconciliation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He leaves behind a nation that loves him dearly.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We promise god that we are going to follow the example of Nelson Mandela.
(SINGING)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: The memorial service in Soweto today.
David, this wasn't a day without controversy, though, was it?
MCKENZIE: No, it wasn't a day without controversy certainly. Those extraordinary scenes, the predominant image, though, of this day. But certainly there was controversy. And one of the most striking moments of this day was in fact not necessarily a positive one, when Jacob Zuma, the president of South Africa came on that giant screen in the stadium, often people booed him, booed him roundly and also made a signal that football lovers all around the world will know, the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) signal. And so that certainly wasn't a great moment for the ANC and Jacob Zuma.
There is a great deal of anger here at times with the ruling party, with the divide between white and black with the growing inequality between the classes here in the country.
Some people I've spoken to feel angry that the changes that Nelson Mandela wanted haven't happened in the last 20 years.
But predominately a positive day when people remembered the name, the legacy and the real weight behind Nelson Mandela in this society.
The other surprising moment, probably inevitable something like this would happen when so many world leaders are in the same place was this moment when President Barack Obama shaking the hand of the President of Cuba Raul Castro. That certainly got a lot of traction on social media and certainly would be a very surprising event indeed.
ANDERSON: Yep. All right, thank you for that. David McKenzie in Johannesburg for you this evening.
U.S. President Barack Obama openly shaking the hand, then, of his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro in a moment which has caught the attention of Washington and beyond.
Earlier, I spoke to former U.S. president and elders member Jimmy Carter. And I asked him if the handshake was simply a formality or something a little more than that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIMMY CARTER, 39th PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, I think it was something significant. I've known Raul Castro quite well for a number of years. I don't (inaudible) and I've known his brother Fidel as well. But that was the first time I believe that an incumbent American president has shaken hands with a leader of Cuba. And I hope that will be an omen for the future.
But that kind of personifies or exemplifies the kind of reconciliation that Nelson Mandela stood for in his own life.
ANDERSON: And we saw Mr. Obama also shaking hands with the Brazilian president. They clashed of late. Again, what did you make of that?
CARTER: Well, Dilma Rousseff happens to be a friend of mine. I think she was quite aggrieved after listening to her private telephone line. And I think that -- I think the handshake, when she made the speech immediately following Obama's speech. And I think that -- I didn't -- I couldn't see this, because I was not watching television, but it was very gratifying to me to hear that they did shake hands and maybe there will be some element of forgiveness there.
ANDERSON: If we are looking at a detente between the U.S. and Cuba, what would that look like, Mr. President?
CARTER: Well, it would be very gratifying to me. As soon as I was elected president those distant years have gone by, I immediately lifted all travel restraints on Americans and I was working toward diplomatic relations between our two countries. Not much progress has been made since I left office, unfortunately, but the embargo that we have against the Cuban people I think is a travesty of justice and it's counterproductive. I think it has been an obstacle to seeing Cuba evolve into a real democracy rather than an asset (ph).
And when we punish the Cuban people it gives the dictators the legitimate excuse -- you can blame on this economic problem on America, it's not the fault of the Communist system. So I think that our alienation from Cuba is a really counterproductive thing both to the Cuban people and also the American people.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Jimmy Carter speaking to me a little earlier today.
But it wasn't the first handshake, let's be clear, between a sitting U.S. president and a Cuban leader. Back in 2000, in fact, then president Bill Clinton shook hands with Fidel Castro.
But as Mr. Carter said, today's encounter was significant. A senior U.S. official has said that the encounter was not preplanned.
Well, let's bring in Patrick Oppmann in Havana for us tonight and from the U.S., senior political analyst David Gergen joining us from Massachusetts.
Let's start with you Patrick. How was this moment in time received in Havana today?
PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You know we're still waiting to hear official reaction from the Cuban government, but the reaction we've heard on the streets of Havana has been very positive. Most Cubans knew that Raul Castro would probably be on stage with Barack Obama and expected that as so many world leaders before had done, he would simply ignore him, ignore a leader that's not democratically elected.
So they were delighted that he would reach out, even for a brief moment. And there really is a lot of symbolism of that today as we went around the streets of Havana asking people, you know, this is the handshake that has been heard all over Cuba.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): It could be indications of a positive change for Cuba-U.S. relations that are in bad shape. There needs to be an opening.
UNIDENTIIFIED MALE: A perspective, you know, the way that the both governments see the things. I think that should be a dialogue should happen, perhaps maybe the things will get better.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The countries get along, it's our governments that don't. Hopefully that can be fixed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
OPPMANN: And Becky, you mentioned the word detente, that's the same word that both Cuban and U.S. officials are using. And they've said over the last several months they've seen a slight improvement in relations. They're talking about small issues here. They're talking about resumption of direct mail service, about how to better coordinate travel between the U.S. and Cuba.
But, you know, Becky, these aren't the large issues, these aren't the exchange of prisoners that both countries have talked about, but haven't managed to pull off, this isn't lifting the economic embargo that even President Obama doesn't have enough power to do. That goes to U.S. congress.
So there just maybe issues too large for any one president to definitively change U.S.-Cuba relations -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Patrick, stay with me. I just want to talk -- bring in David Gergen at this point. David, this wasn't preplanned, says the White House, but they could surely have avoided it if they'd wanted to. What did you make of it?
DAVID GERGEN, POLITICAL ANALYST: It may not have been preplanned, but I'm sure it was anticipated. And I'm sure the president went there knowing that he would likely shake hands with him.
And it is an important symbolically and I think it has substantive importance, and that is that this president has wanted a thaw in relations with Cuba. And he -- I think he's going to pursue it more seriously, both he and his new Secretary of State John Kerry have both signaled in speeches in the last few days that they would like to move in that direction.
And Becky, here's the other interesting thing, and that is the public reaction on this. When the president shook hands with Raul Castro, they brought an immediate spike in negative reaction on social media from a number of Cuban-Americans and conservative Republicans.
But here's the thing, a survey earlier this year, Council on Foreign Relations, found that a majority of Cuban-Americans believe that the isolation of Cuba has not worked and they want to ease travel restrictions and move toward closer relations. That -- the Cuban-American population has traditionally been the most stridently against any kind of recognition or any kind of relationship. They've changed. And that's -- and both the president and public opinion now are moving I think in the same direction.
ANDERSON: Briefly, David, U.S. still does have grave concerns about human rights in Cuba, doesn't it? Any resolve in sight?
GERGEN: I'm sorry, I didn't understand the question.
ANDERSON: Any resolve in sight to the concerns that the U.S. has about human rights in Cuba, about the way that the government runs things? You hear the people of Havana certainly suggesting this is about politics, it's not about the people. We want -- we want things to move forward in a much more sort of clear and a humane fashion as it were? Where does the White House stand?
GERGEN: Listen, this country, the United States, is not going to act -- and the congress, as was just suggested. That's the hard part, the embargo. And you have to change some laws. The president can't do this unilaterally. And that means there's going to have to be some change on the Cuban part, especially on the human rights side before we get a resumption of normal relations. We're a ways away from that.
But today was symbolically important and substantively important in moving in that direction.
ANDERSON: David, Patrick, thank you very much indeed for joining us this evening.
You can see a lot more of our special coverage on Nelson Mandela, of course, by going to CNN.com/Mandela. You'll see segments on Mandela's global impact and also -- well, there's some fun facts about the iconic leader. Do enjoy that site.
Still to come tonight, the second part of our interview with the former U.S. President Jimmy Carter as he recalls the beginning days of his friendship with Madiba.
And President Francois Hollande visits the Central African Republic on his way back from Johannesburg as France's troops suffer their first casualties. That and much more when Connect the World continues, quarter past 8:00 in London. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: You're watching Connect the World with me, Becky Anderson out of London. Welcome back.
Syrian troops are said to be tightening their grip on a strategic highway linking Damascus and Homs. They are now in control of this stretch of road after seizing the town of Nabak.
Opposition activists say the army also recently captured Qara and Deir Attiya and are now closing in on Yabrud, the last rebel stronghold in the region.
Troops want to control the area so they can severe key rebel supply lines from Lebanon.
Well, colleagues and relatives of two Spanish journalists kidnapped in Syria are now making a public appeal for their release. The El Mundo correspondent Javier Espinoza and the freelance photographer Ricardo Garcia Villanova were captured in September, but the newspaper and family members kept it quiet while trying to negotiate their freedom.
After that failed, however, they went public saying the men were captured by al Qaeda linked rebels, but are believed to be, and I quote, alive and well.
The group responsible for overseeing the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons picked up their Nobel Peace Prize today. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons received the honor at a ceremony in Oslo. The group's director-general says their work won't be done until all of the world's chemical weapons are consigned to history.
He also paid tribute to a fellow peace prize laureate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AHMET UZUMCU, OPCW DIRECTOR-GENERAL: I feel deeply privileged to be able to address you on this occasion. I also take this opportunity to honor the memory of Nelson Mandela. He will remain for all of us and future generations a beacon for what can be achieved against overwhelming odds to advance peace, dignity and reconciliation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And do tune in to CNN for a special program with the Nobel winners. That's the "Peace Prize, Prize for Peace," tonight at 11:00 pm in London, 12:00 pm in Berlin.
Well, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has been defending a hard fought interim deal with Iran over its nuclear program. He's being questioned on Capitol Hill this hour. Mr. Kerry is testifying before the House. These are live pictures for you coming from Washington.
This is the -- in front of the House Foreign Affairs Committee as a bipartisan group of senators is close to agreement on new, tougher sanctions on Iran, but the secretary of state warns that could hamper chances for a final agreement.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN KERRY, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: We're now in the main game. And what we're saying to you is respectfully that you should give us an opportunity working with you. We'll brief you. We'll be keeping everybody informed working with our friends to make sure we're all on the same page as we go through this process of proof.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: John Kerry -- and we will keep you updated, of course, on what he says as he speaks in Washington.
Live from London, this is Connect the World. Coming up, Jimmy Carter reflects on the good times with Nelson Mandela, part two of our illuminating interview with the former U.S. president.
And we stay in Africa where French troops in Central African Republic suffer their first casualties. The very latest coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: This is Connect the World live from London. I'm Becky Anderson.
French President Francois Hollande has arrived in the Central African Republic after two French soldiers were killed in fierce fighting overnight in the capital. They are the first combat casualties since the French military arrived in the country last week.
But as Alex Thompson reports, the situation could get a whole lot worse.
A warning, this report contains some disturbing images.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALEX THOMPSON, ITN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: It is just after 8:00 am, but this morning no sign of the French army whose checkpoints were so visible on the main routes here yesterday. Apart from the usual aid vehicles, only African peacekeepers out this morning on an anti-looting patrol.
We should warn you, some viewers may find what happens moments later extremely disturbing.
Suddenly, one of their vehicles cuts us off and stops just ahead.
He stopped. He stopped.
Get back in! Reverse, reverse.
He shot his own man, I think.
Slowed down, it's revealed as chaos, a shambles. No proper firing positions. It's highly likely these men have shot their own man dead.
Get back in. Reverse, reverse.
In this same area, aptly called the Cartier Combaton (ph), the Fighters' District, two French soldiers were killed overnight.
And that just illustrates how these streets can go from apparent tranquillity to extreme violence in a matter of seconds. It is quite clear, it is mob rule on the streets of the capital here today. The African peacekeepers apparently cannot keep a lid on it or control it, the French aren't even here on the streets.
This morning, driving away from where the peacekeeper had been shot, a large plume of smoke not a mile away.
In the mass sectarian fury unleashed over this capital in recent days, a mosque ransacked and looted by a Christian mob armed with the obvious machetes and who knows what else.
One man says it's all a response to Muslim militia attacking the Christians here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Yesterday evening, the Muslims took out their weapons and they shot at the civilian population. All Muslims in our neighborhood are well armed at the moment. They have weapons in their mosques, in their houses, and they shot at civilians, that's why the people got angry and destroyed their mosque.
THOMPSON: This religious hatred, they were mocking their Muslim neighbors at prayer.
This morning, in a recorded radio message, the U.S. president pleaded for Muslim and Christian communities here to come together.
OBAMA: Respected leaders in your communities, Muslim and Christian, are calling for calm and peace. I call on the transitional government to join these voices and to arrest those who are committing crimes.
THOMPSON: The Americans pledged to help flying in African peacekeepers here from Burundi. The British are already flying logistical and military equipment to help the 1,000 French peacekeepers here. But how long until these people get the help they desperately need? The 17,000 camped out in a monastery not far from where we are staying.
Today, an NGO attempted to get food to them. They didn't have enough food. They were terrified there would be a riot, there probably would have been. How long will they have to wait before the world gives them what they need?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Alex Thompson, the chief correspondent for Channel Four in the Central African Republic.
Well, this is a country that has suffered from decades of conflict and instability since gaining independence from France in 1960. Although, religion has never previously been the cause of violence, increasingly it is a tinderbox. France has sent in some 1,600 troops to help stabilize their former colony. They'll work alongside the 6,000 African Union troops there.
It's not the first time Paris has come to the rescue of struggling African nations, of course. They intervened in Mali earlier this year to prevent Islamist rebels from the north toppling the government there. In April 2011, you'll remember they sent troops into the Ivory Coast to stop a potential civil war erupting when Laurent Gbagbo refused to cede power there after losing the election. That came just a month after leading an international effort in Libya to help protect civilians in their uprising against Colonel Gadhafi.
Well, joining me now to talk about France's intervention in African politics is General Dominique Trinquand. He's the former head of the French military mission at the UN joining us from Paris this evening, sir.
And firstly I will say that we send our condolences to the families and friends of the French soldiers who were killed in the CAR today.
But quite frankly, it is certainly clear through the reports that we've been seeing, reports our viewers have just seen, that it is chaos in the country. And the French simply don't have enough boots on the ground, do they?
GEN. DOMINIQUE TRINQUAND, FRM. HEAD OF FRENCH MILITARY MISSION, UN: Of course, civil war is always chaos. And that's why the international community decided to send troops there, initially African troops and then the UN decided last week that this African troops must be reinforced by French troops. That's why the French government decided to send these troops in this chaos.
And to stop the chaos, they've got to disarm the people. And of course disarming people who have been fighting for the last week is something very difficult. And -- but I guess that with the help of the African forces, the French forces and the government of central Africa peace can be restored in this part of the world.
ANDERSON: All right, well you're being very optimistic, sir, because reports are that it is simply chaos. And this isn't fighting, is it, over the last couple of weeks or so, this is fighting that has been going on now for some time.
Tell me, how do you read French strategy in the CAR and indeed in this part of western Africa? There will be some who say that the strategy is to reclaim control of some of its former colonies. How would you respond to that?
TRINQUAND: Sorry, could you read the question please.
ANDERSON: There will be those who watch the French action in western Africa and say this is an effort to regain its former colonies. How would you explain France's drive in western Africa?
TRINQUAND: OK. OK. Thank you.
No, in fact initially as they -- it was the case in Mali, African forces were asked to do the job. The problem is that currently Africa -- and it was at the last (inaudible) it was a decision by the African Union that they were on the table currently to take the job. So that's why they asked the French to take the job in the -- and to help this country to sort out the mess.
So, I don't think that France is going into former colony to restore the order that France decided to restore. It's a decision by the secretary council (ph). And of course France's historical links with these countries, it's like a sort of link like a family. And you can see the people in central Africa were happy in Bangui (ph), for example, when the troops were passing by, were very happy to see the French troops helping them.
But don't forget that at the end it must be the African forces who will restore the order in this country. French forces are here only to help. And then they will be regroomed.
ANDERSON: It was interesting to see those African forces in action, then, in Alex Thompson's report a little earlier before we spoke.
All right, so we're going to leave it there. We thank you very much indeed for joining us.
The latest world news headlines are just ahead here on CNN. Plus, a day of speeches, singing and selfies. We're going to take a look back at the best of today's memorial celebrations in South Africa.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: At the bottom of the hour, this is CONNECT THE WORLD, the top stories this hour here on CNN.
Tens of thousands of South Africans turned out in Johannesburg to remember Nelson Mandela. Earlier today, the national memorial service was held in an outdoor stadium in the rain, but that didn't keep the crowds away, including celebrities, religious leaders, and dozens of heads of state.
The Nobel committee awarded its peace prize to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons today. Created 20 years ago, the group was praised for its work to eliminate an entire category of weapons of mass destruction. The group's chairman said many challenges lie ahead as it works to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons in 2014.
French president Francois Hollande has arrived in the Central African Republic. His visit comes after two French soldiers were killed in fierce fighting overnight, 1600 French troops arrived in the country last week as part of an international peacekeeping force.
Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych says opposition calls for a revolution are a, quote, "threat to national security." He met with former presidents of the country today to discuss the political crisis.
President Yanukovych offered an olive branch saying that he will press for the release of detained protesters who weren't involved in serious violence, but that may be far too little too late for the massive crowds in Kiev. Diana Magnay is there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DIANA MAGNAY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's bitterly cold, but that doesn't stop them. Protesters atop the barricades, frozen lines of riot police below.
(CROWDS CHANTING)
MAGNAY (on camera): "Ukraine is Europe!" is what they're chanting, and everywhere that you walk along the streets of central Kiev, you'll find lines of protesters, and opposite them, lines of riot police.
And another familiar chant that they have been using is "the police are with the protesters." That was a chant from the Orange Revolution of 2004, a bid to make sure that this doesn't disintegrate into violence.
And do you feel that the police are with the people?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I do. But I also feel that they have to kind of to do what their managers say to them.
MAGNAY (voice-over): By the next morning, the managers' orders had been followed. Camps where we were filming dotted around the government quarter are cleared away.
MAGNAY (on camera): It's minus 8 in the square today, this the last patch of daylight on the second day of snow, and the city hall has complained that they haven't been able to access the square to clear away the snow. That's why you have this army of volunteers who are doing exactly that.
And up there, you can get hot drinks. There are soup kitchens, which are basically preparing hot meals. The organizers tell us for every thousand protesters, there are 2,000 hot portions of food and 4,000 hot drinks. This is a very well-organized demonstration.
So, a lot of your food is frozen?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, we have a lot of leftovers from yesterday, and now it's all frozen and we have to work harder today. And it's getting late, so --
MAGNAY: What are you cooking in there?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is called guliash. It's like -- for now, it looks like a soup, mostly. It has to --
MAGNAY: Wow.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- boil up on me at the core -- the grain, and then it boils up, and then you have like a stew substance. And it's very nutritious. A little bowl is going to keep you for the whole day.
MAGNAY: How many can this feed?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is 350 liters, I think about 500 people.
MAGNEY (voice-over): Food, fuel for what could be another long night.
Diana Magnay, CNN, Kiev.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: South Africa and the world came together today to remember Nelson Mandela. Tens of thousands of people braving the rain to attend the national memorial service in Johannesburg. It was a sea of color in the stands, the atmosphere said to be electric.
For hours, world leaders and celebrities streamed across the stage, all paying tribute to the man known as the father of a modern, free South Africa.
Well, many well-wishers waited hours to board buses to get there. Arwa Damon got to take the short but emotional journey with some of them.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(CROWDS SINGING)
CROWDS (singing): Nelson Mandela! Nelson Mandela!
(CROWDS SINGING)
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Some of these people have been waiting for three hours just to get on this bus. So cramped in here that a short while ago, some of these gentlemen almost fell outside the door. But everyone, as you can see, incredibly excited to finally be on their way.
(CROWDS SINGING)
DAMON (voice-over): And once dropped off, despite some initial confusion --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Where are we going? Which way? This side or this way?
DAMON: -- the mood is utterly infectious.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I love you!
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: I feel good!
DAMON (on camera): Yes? Why?
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Because I'm going to his -- I'm going to my father and people to see Mandela today.
DAMON: We're being absolutely mobbed with people. They just want to express how much they love, and their sheer gratitude for the man that has utterly transformed this nation.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: I love you, Tata! Rest in peace!
(CROWDS SINGING)
DAMON (voice-over): The stadium, cold, wet, and absolutely electric. And at times, emotional. This man said he was too overwhelmed to speak to us.
(APPLAUSE)
DAMON: Tholwana Molefe came with her friend, arriving at 5:00 AM just to make sure they got in. She's 25, a banking assistant, a life she knows she owes to Mandela.
THOLWANA MOLEFE, ATTENDED MEMORIAL: I wouldn't have had the opportunities that I had, the kind of education that I had, the kind of job I have right now, and all the possibilities that still lie ahead of me wouldn't be possible had it not been for him and the other struggle heroes.
(CROWD CHANTING)
DAMON: South Africa could have been a Syria or an Iraq. Instead, it's an example of what can happen when people find the capacity to forgive and unite. Lessons we can all stand to learn, and lessons South Africa must make sure it doesn't forget.
MOLEFE: The most important thing is to the leadership that we have right now to follow in his footsteps in order for us to eradicate all the problems that the country still faces.
(CROWD CHEERING)
DAMON: Arwa Damon, CNN, Johannesburg.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, former US president Jimmy Carter was among the attendees at the service today. We caught up with him after the event and asked him to recount the day for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIMMY CARTER, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (via telephone): Well, I was with a group of elders that's been working with Nelson Mandela for the last seven years, and we were very overwhelmed with gratitude for what he did to give us kind of a second light into the world, because we all have been in public office before, and he marshaled us six years ago to work on matters of importance as far as peace and human rights are concerned.
So, we were with Nelson quite a lot the last six or seven years, and of course, we were filled with emotion not only for what he meant to South Africa and to the world with his leadership, but also with his personal friendship.
As a matter of fact, his wife, Graca Machel, is also a member of us elders. So, that's why we were there as a group, and obviously, they were -- I don't know how many, maybe a hundred heads of state were there, and we were among them.
And I think everyone was filled with gratitude for what Nelson has meant, not only as a public figure, but also his basic moral values.
ANDERSON: If there was one memory that you have of Madiba, what would it be?
CARTER: Well, as a matter of fact, it was kind of a humorous thing because the first time I met him was in Addis Ababa, and the first thing he told me was how much he appreciated my daughter Amy, who was arrested six - - three times in college when she was a student demonstrating against apartheid in South Africa.
So, he thanked me for that, and that made an instant friendship between Nelson and his wife, then, Winnie, and also my wife Rosalyn. So, that was kind of a humorous but very gratifying thing.
And of course, the most emotional and profoundly important thing that he did was to give the elders a charge of using our past experience -- he figured up almost over a thousand years of experience in public life, and never to be afraid to go where wish, to meet with whom we chose, and to say what we really believed.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Jimmy Carter, speaking to me earlier. One of the elders, of course, and the former US president of the US -- of the US, of course.
Well, joining me now from Johannesburg is Robert Coutts. He's been a friend of the Mandela family for many years, and I know, Robert, you attended a private memorial service on Sunday night with the family. As you watched the program today, as you listened to so many voices talking about Mandela, your thoughts and your reflections.
ROBERT COUTTS, CEO, LONDON WALK TO FREEDOM BANGLES PROGRAM: It's quite an emotional time in South Africa, and I think it's not only for the family and the friends of the family, but the whole country as a whole, where we're coming to grips with what's going to happen next and coming to grips with not having him there.
It's a strange feeling when you know that, obviously, his time has come. And then, of course, it actually happens. I think that it really is a time of mixed emotions, but a time of unification. I've never seen such unification on the streets in South Africa. It's phenomenal. You have to be here to experience it. It is absolutely incredible.
ANDERSON: You have been spearheading the Mandela Foundation, the library project, for the last eight years, and you were the initiator of the 466-64 Bangle initiative. And you once said the design of the bangles resembled hand cuffs, but they were not closed so as to represent Mr. Mandela's triumph over imprisonment.
I was touched by something Desmond Tutu said yesterday. He said just imagine if he had never been released and if he had died in prison, what a different place South Africa would be.
COUTTS: Absolutely. I don't think I would like to imagine that South Africa. I think it would be -- sorry. I don't think I -- I didn't hear you for a second there, but I don't think I'd like to imagine that South Africa, a place where he wasn't released from prison, where we weren't privy to his wisdom and his ability to control -- what do you call it? -- anger and to bold reconciliation.
This country has benefited -- in fact, the world has benefited from his philosophy on reconciliation and the ability to bring people out together to forge new paths and to make a difference in the world. And he's --
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: All right --
COUTTS: -- in and around making people come together.
ANDERSON: "He was like a magician with a magic wand, turning us into this glorious rainbow nation," said Desmond Tutu. But there have been questions about whether he conceded too much, leaving economic power if not political power in the hands of the whites post 1994.
And, indeed, as we move into 2013 and beyond, boos from the crowd in South Africa for the current president, Jacob Zuma. You say that you've never felt that South Africa was more united, and yet there is an awful lot of work to do if South Africa is to fulfill the legacy that is left by Nelson Mandela, surely.
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ANDERSON: It looks as if we're having technical problems with our guest in South Africa this evening. Robert Coutts, joining us there, though, from Johannesburg on what has been a very special day.
Well, as the world watched the Nelson Mandela memorial on television, CNN iReporters at the stadium were giving us a feel of what it was like to actually be there in person.
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(CROWD SINGING)
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ANDERSON: Duncan Alfers sent in this video of his journey to the venue, showing people singing on a Johannesburg train. Before the event, iReporter Themba Keswa posted photos of the festive mood outside the stadium.
Despite the dreary weather, South Africans arrived in bright colors and with big smiles, as you would expect. Themba says he was inspired that even older people braved the rainy day, wearing the yellow and green of Mandela's ANC Party. He even posted a photo of his seven-year-old son, who accompanied him to the stadium, wrapped in the South African flag.
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THEMBA KESWA, IREPORTER: It was somber inside the stadium, but at the same time, there was that joyous mood around where the people felt that, indeed, Madiba had fought the good fight. It was a very, very powerful day, this Mandela memorial day today at soccer center.
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ANDERSON: One of our iReporters. And you can find many more stories and pictures from iReporters as well as CNN staff from around the world. It's a collaborative effort that we call open storage. Join in and tell us how you'll remember Nelson Mandela. Do use the site, cnn.com/ireport.
And you can get in touch with us at CONNECT THE WORLD. We want to hear from you, facebook.com/connect, or you can always tweet me, as you know, @BeckyCNN. That's @BeckyCNN.
We're on Instagram as well, just search for BeckyCNN and you can watch my daily preview of the show, tease you about what we will be doing at 8:00 London time or whatever time it is around the world where you are watching.
Live from London, after the break, tackling today's toughest issues, the chief operating officer of the World Bank up next.
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ANDERSON: From managing thousands of employees to tackling the causes of poverty, there is no easy day, apparently, at the World Bank. But the bank's chief operating officer tells us how her focus on reality is what's key to achieving success.
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ISHA SESAY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Sri Mulyani Indrawati, the number two at the World Bank, second only to President Jim Yong Kim. As chief operating officer and managing director, Indrawati is the highest-ranking woman at an institution with 15,000-plus employees operating in 140 countries around the world.
SESAY (on camera): Talk to me about your career path to this moment in time, and specifically the key moments that you think were instrumental for getting you here.
SRI MULYANI INDRAWATI, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, WORLD BANK: Well, it's actually quite a consistent path, if you can call it that way. That is the theme of all my career is always how I can make sure that the knowledge I have is going to then be tested with reality.
And the reality is actually how you eliminate poverty, how you are going to make sure that the design of the policy, the economic growth model, is going to be inclusive enough and will be shared by all people.
SESAY (voice-over): She oversees all global operations, with responsibilities ranging from financial management to poverty reduction. She often makes site visits to various countries.
SESAY (on camera): What are the challenges you're facing as you try and get all those different parties on the same page and marching to the same tune, as it were, the same beat?
INDRAWATI: The beauty of it, of having one to oversee the whole region is actually we can see it, it's not based on a geopolitical specific problem. You can say, OK, the country who's now hitting with a fragile and conflict problem.
So, yes, it seems like overwhelming to manage, but with the system that is in place for us, we have the ability or even strength for the bank to provide that knowledge across the globe.
SESAY (voice-over): Indrawati joined the World Bank in 2010. She brought not only financial expertise, but also government experience as a former finance minister of Indonesia, where she pushed for reforms.
INDRAWATI: I was appointed as the first woman finance minister, and relatively young, early 40s. Of course, my top management team, they are all male and old comparing to my age. They tested me.
SESAY (on camera): Were you ever seized by moments of self-doubt?
INDRAWATI: I think at the end, it's being professional, good at what you are doing that will show more about your quality rather than your gender.
SESAY (voice-over): Whether at finance meetings in Washington or Bali, Indrawati is at ease as a major player in the global economy on top of the bank's mission to reduce global poverty.
INDRAWATI: It is really good to have one single goal, because then people can focus and measure again that achievement or goals. And that is what we try to do.
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ANDERSON: Coming up after this short break, predicting the future of fashion. Industry insiders tell us where we should be looking for next year's top trends. That after this short break. Do stay with us.
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ANDERSON: All right. It's an industry that's seen double-digit growth over the past two years, but where is fashion headed in 2014? We're going to speak to industry insiders for you at this time. Every day this week, you're going to get us a sense of where we should be looking for design and where the demand might be in 2014. Have a listen.
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FLORIANE DE SAINT PIERRE, INDUSTRY MATCHMAKER: I am Floriane de Saint Pierre.
BARNEY CHENG, DESIGNER: I'm Barney Cheng.
DE SAINT PIERRE: And I'm the founder and president of Floriane de Saint Pierre and Associates.
CHENG: And I am a Hong Kong couturier, which means I'm a glorified tailor. I do pieces for high value customers.
DE SAINT PIERRE: We are looking for people who can, whether they are on the critic side or on the business side, who can connect up with that time and in sense, be ahead.
The fashion and luxury industry in 2013 will be over $200 billion in terms of generating revenues. So, it's a very significant industry, and it's probably one of the sole industries that have gone double-digits for the past two years.
A trend that could be for 2014 and also for the coming years is definitely in terms of investment. So we are already watching investment coming from Pacific Rim countries, coming to -- very strongly to acquire Europe and luxury brands.
And on the other way, we're also watching Western groups who are making very significant acquisitions of brands coming from the Pacific Rim.
Today, a reported fact that the revenues of luxury brands comes from the Asia Pacific and well over 50 percent when we include the Asian impact of tourism in -- when they're in Europe.
CHENG: The fashion scene in Hong Kong has blossomed a lot. A lot of designers are doing their little -- either it's like pop-up stores. There's a lot more presence and a lot more of acceptance of something that's made in Hong Kong and locally designed.
DE SAINT PIERRE: This audience is younger. This is something very dedicated, has a lot of expectations about services and brands.
CHENG: It's an exciting time to be an Asian designer, especially with all the focus on all things Asian. So, especially for some of the Chinese designers, wow. Really hot to be a Chinese designer right now, I think.
DE SAINT PIERRE: I am super excited because something unique is happening today. With globalization and talent coming from all over the world, it has never been so exciting since many years.
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ANDERSON: Your style Bible, as it were, for 2014. Well, in tonight's Parting Shots, let's leave you with images of celebrities and heads of state from around the world who attended Mandela's memorial service earlier.
U2 singer Bono and Hollywood actress Charlize Theron share a laugh. And while the current and former president -- former French presidents had a heated exchange in the stands, two former American presidents and their families put aside political differences to enjoy the celebrations.
Longtime friends Desmond Tutu and Winnie Mandela sharing a hug and a chat. And finally, well, this has got to be the image of the day, President Barack Obama with Prime Ministers Cameron and Thorning-Schmidt squeezed together for a hash tag selfie.
And let me just suggest that some choice words, one assumes, on Air Force One on the way home from wife Michelle. Ooh! Enough of that, you hear her cry.
I'm Becky Anderson, that was CONNECT THE WORLD. Thank you for watching. A very good evening from London.
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