Return to Transcripts main page

Connect the World

EU, Turkish Ministers Meet in Brussels Over Migrant Crisis; North Korea Threatens Preemptive Nuclear Attack; Democratic, Republican Paths to Nomination. New Aired 11a-12p ET

Aired March 07, 2016 - 11:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[11:00:11] BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: Bottleneck Europe: thousands of migrants continue to flow in putting pressure on some of the continent's

weakest states.

Tonight, we are live on this story on numerous fronts, including on the Greece/Macedonia border as European leaders gather for another summit aimed

at finding a solution.

Also ahead this hour, a dangerous neighborhood militants attack a Tunisian military barracks, apparently after crossing the border from Libya.

And, out of print: the Turkish government takes over the country's largest opposition newspaper as Ankara's media crackdown hit a new low. I'll ask

one of Turkey's leading journalists.

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World with Becky Anderson.

ANDERSON: A very good evening just after 8:00 here in the UAE.

And we begin with an emergency summit meant to ease what is a desperate humanitarian situation at the doorway of Europe and beyond.

Now, European Union leaders are meeting this hour with Turkey's prime minister in Brussels, they are discussing ways to keep migrants and

refugees from flooding into Europe. The majority coming through Turkey, but as more and more

European countries close their borders, the migrants have nowhere to go.

Many, stranded in makeshift camps.

Now, the EU wants Turkey to curb the flow and has promised billions of dollars to help with that effort, but the money has yet to come through.

Well, we have reports from the front lines of the crisis tonight for you as well as analysis of the critical diplomacy taking place this hour.

Arwa Damon is at a camp along the Greece/Macedonia border. Our Atika Shubert is at a port in Athens. And Nic Robertson is in London for you

tonight following the talks that could have a dramatic impact on the lives of countless men, women

and children.

Arwa, I want to start with you first. How long have people been trapped at what in this bottleneck in Macedonia where you are?

ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, some people have been waiting here for as long as about 20 days, others have arrived in the last

few days and are trying to set themselves up.

The conditions here are getting pretty miserable. It is fairly cold out. It's just started to rain. People are having to build small fires to keep

themselves warm. And now they are going to have to contend with trying to keep themselves dry.

And here's the issue in all of this, Becky, as Europe is trying to protect itself, or at least ease the burden on it when it comes to dealing with the

refugee crisis, by simply closing these borders down, it is creating conditions like this.

Turkey is being expected to crack down along its sea border. Well, that is something that is almost impossible because even though the Turkish coast

guard has upped its efforts and is stopping more boats now than it has in the past,

these are people that will try over and over and over again. Some of them have made up to seven attempts to try to cross from Turkey to Greece. And

they say that they would have done even more until they finally made it.

So the issue with all of these measures and restrictions that are being put into place is that, yes, they might be cutting down the flows that are

actually reaching this area and getting further into Europe, but they are not stopping people from coming. They are just making the conditions and

the journey that much more difficult and miserable.

And at this location, Becky, there are currently around 13,000 people, 40 percent of them, according to the United Nations, are children.

ANDERSON: Arwa is on the border there. Let me get you to Atika -- thank you, Arwa.

You are at a port in Athens. Walk us through the area around you and what the atmosphere there is like.

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, we're at Paraiis Port (ph). And this is the gateway to Athens. And up until recently it

was the doorway to Europe for so many refugees. But now that the borders are effectively closing, take a look at what's happening.

These are tents. Hundreds of people have basically camped in here. They get off the boat. They don't know where to go. There are no officials

around to tell them where to go, so they have been camping really anywhere they can along this area.

This is just one courtyard here next to the ferry reception center here at this terminal. And as you can see, people come prepared with tents,

blankets, sleeping bags because they are prepared to wait here until the borders open, until they get word, and then they say they will move on to

the border.

Now, the problem is Greece has an estimated 34,000 people like this stranded here because they can't move ahead. Now, if the borders close,

what will happen next? will they stay here and apply for asylum legally? Or will they be brought back to Turkey?

There aren't many options for people here. And after risking their lives to get here, risking thousands of dollars to get here, many insist there is

only one way forward and that's to go across the border and into the countries where they want to seek refugee status. For more of of these

people, that country Germany, Becky.

[11:05:43] ANDERSON: Let me get back to Arwa at this point, because Area we are getting word that this emergency meeting in Brussels is still

underway. As soon as it wraps up, there is likely to be a news conference. And we'll get our viewers to that.

European leaders, of course, have been meeting with Turkey's prime minister on ways to stem this flow of migrants into Europe.

When you speak to people, though, where you are and you tell them or remind them that the gates to Europe quite frankly if they are not closed already

are closing, what's their response? Why are they still trying what is, as we well know, is this perilous journey with little sympathy or empathy it

seems at the end of it?

DAMON: Because, Becky, all that we have left at this stage to cling to is this tiny little bit of hope that just maybe something is going to happen,

maybe there will be that little bit of compassion that is regenerated that is going to allow them to reach the destination, that is going to allow

them to move on.

And we have been asking people that question. Some of them made the journey

because they heard from relatives who had already made that it was fairly easy and straight forward, others because they actually decided to take

this chance rather than risk staying back home.

And everybody here, Becky, is waiting for the outcome of that summit. They are all coming up asking us, asking the other media here, if we've heard

anything, if we know what's going to happen.

Some of the women that we've been talking to when we say that we don't know or that it doesn't necessarily look like everyone is going to be allowed

through they burst into tears. Because they don't know. It's the uncertainty of

all of this that makes it so hard to deal with for so many of them.

ANDERSON: And I think just pointing out, Arwa, and thank you for that -- just pointing out to our viewers that what is going on in the hallowed

halls of Brussels is being monitored minute by minute as it were in a camp on the Greek/Macedonia border really speaks to the desperation and the new

paradigm of new media of course as well, but the desperation that people are really feeling where Arwa Damon is at present.

Let's get you to Nic Robertson then. Nic, you're monitoring this meeting. It will wrap up at some point soon. And when it does, we will get our

viewers the news conference.

How is Turkey expected to respond to what is this EU pressure?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's expected to respond with some resistance. We have already heard the prime minister and the

president saying that we, Turkey, have been dealing with this problem for five years now. Finally, because it's washing up on the shores of Europe

that Europe is taking an interest and is putting the burden back on us. And that certainly is one side

of it.

The other side of it, of course, is that at this time Turkey wants certain things from Europe, a session to the European Union, can that be speeded

up, relaxing visa restrictions for Turkish people to travel to Europe. That would also be something that could sweeten the pot as Europe

essentially says to Turkey shoulder the burden because we're drawing the line. It's in the Aegean Sea between you and Greece. We need to protect

Greece to protect Europe. So you've got to do what we're asking you to do.

It's not a pleasant conversation. And I think that really gives us some understanding of why so far this meeting is overrunning.

ANDERSON: Yeah, talks this hour.

Nic, standby. We'll get back to you as and when we get more out of those talks.

Turkey of course hoping the summit will bring it closer to the EU and further its bid for membership. But European leaders very concerned by

what appears to be a fundamental difference in values over press and the freedom of the press.

Coming up, I'm going to tell you about Turkey's seizure of a top selling opposition newspaper. And we're going to speak with the editor in chief of

what is today's Zaman (ph), the English language sister publication of the paper that was closed.

All that coming up.

All right, well Tunisia authorities say at least 35 militants have been killed in clashes after an attack on a military barracks in the country.

These images show security forces trying to control the situation in a town near the border with Libya. The militant attack killed 18 people,

including civilians and security forces.

Well, CNN's Nick Paton Walsh is following the story and joining us from Beirut this evening.

What's the latest as you understand it, Nick?

[11:10:11] NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT Well, CNN's Nck Paton Walsh following the story and joining us from Beirut this

evening.

What's he latest as you understand it, Nick?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well the death toll now a total of 53. You mentioned the 35 ISIS militants said to have been

killed, well, there are serve civilians there remainder there being security forces.

This attack multi-pronged happening at dawn hitting a police station, a military barracks. We're hearing from one human rights activist in the

town that in fact a senior counter terror police chief was amongst the dead as well

And it took them hours to bring this under control.

Becky, the relevance of this is not yet another attack by ISIS militants in a troubled part of the world. It's because this is Tunisia, the initial,

many thought, success story that began in the Arab Spring, a place whose tourism sites have been hit repeatedly by ISIS attacks.

But this attack was very close to the border of Libya, an area which is supposed to be increasingly fortified. It's very close to a key tourist

resort known a Jerber (ph) as well.

And it shows how ISIS in this case were able to muster such large numbers, a lot of weaponry despite the build up in security around there and the

warnings in the past few days or so and launche an attack like this.

Now, that has a real potential knock on effect for the country. Many are deeply concerned because Tunisia's number in the thousands of the number of

ISIS foreigners who are in Syria and Iraq and they're also said to be a significant part of the strength of ISIS in Libya too.

This is the first time they have managed to launch a kind of big military- style extravaganza, you might say, like that aiming at security forces. Granted, they were very unsuccessful. But they did still cause substantial

damage and disruption in this town and a loss of life outside of their own 35 dead.

So many looking at this as potentially the thin end of a wedge here. Tunisia as I say, a place that's seen democracy sustained to some degree

since the Arab Spring began, the first country to have its own Jasmine Revolution.

The question now is can it fend off ISIS given so many Tunisians have gone abroad to fight for them and what that group is doing in neighboring Libya,

Becky.

ANDERSON: Nick, you and I have talked for some months now about ISIS gaining what is a major foothold it seems in Libya. Just how big a scope

of a footprint is difficult to work out, but it's certainly significant.

Here's what the vice president of Libya's presidential council told me recently. He's part of a group that represents the internationally

recognized government in what is this fractured country. Have a listen to this.

(BEIGN VIDEO CLIP)

FATHI ALI, VICE PRESIDENT, LIBYA'S PRESIDENTIAL COUNCIL: I'm pretty sure that Libyans in general would support any action against ISIS, its threat

not only for Libyans, but for the whole region and the whole globe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, given its host of political and security problems, this is simply a fight that Libya can't deal with alone. Can we expect to see

countries in this region, the region of the Middle East and North Africa, providing help to confront ISIS in libya and/or in Tunisia, but I'm

speaking specifically to Libya here? Or will it be up to western powers to take charge, Nick?

WALSH: Well, I think at this stage we have seen some evidence potentially of

interest of Gulf states or Egypt next door to get involved, but they haven't been

substantial presence on the ground at all, and there's no imminent sign they are about to pile into that fight.

What people are waiting for is the west who have made increasingly loud noises in Europe and Washington as well that they need to do something fast

in Libya to stop ISIS from getting further footholds.

The question is really something that's down to Libyans. They won't move until there's a Libyan unity government. And there hasn't been one. There

have been repeated attempts to get one together both the government that's out in Tripoli known as the Libya Dawn movement and the more

internationally recognized one out in the east in Tabruk. They can't agree on who part of this government. It's said to be mostly basing itself out

of Tunis right now. And until that fundamental bridge is built, you're going to see the west very reticent to get on board and try and assist some

of the various straggling militia in that country in fighting ISIS. And you'll see ISIS continue to grow in this territorial reach, Becky.

ANDERSON: Nick Paton Walsh on the story out of Beirut in Lebanon for you this evening. Nick, always a pleasure, thank you.

Well, friends and loved ones are about to mark two years since the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight 370. In their despair, there

have been some moments of hope.

Last week, debris was found off the Mozambique coast which is being analyzed and families calling for the search for the plane to continue.

With the two-year anniversary also comes a deadline for families to take legal action. My colleague Saima Mohsin has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SAIMA MOHSIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, there's been a lot of movement in the missing plane investigation over the last few days as the two year

anniversary approaches. First of all, crucially, the ministry of transport has now confirmed to us that they are awaiting verification of two new

pieces debris, which were discovered in Mozambique and Reunion Island.

Reunion, of course, is where we found that flaperon, the only piece of evidence and piece of MH370 to have been confirmed to date.

The flaperon was found on Reunion Island.

Of course, in Mozambique last week another piece of debris found by a U.S. citizen on holiday there, an enthusiast of MH370.

Now the Mozambique authorities have now handed that over to Malaysian authorities. They will be bringing that back here to Kuala Lumpur for

further investigation. And if they need more test, they are going to take it on to Canberra and Australia there for testing.

Now aside from that, with the two-year anniversary comes a two-year deadline to file for compensation or to sue Malaysia Airlines. Now,

families here are ery upset about that. They are calling for an extension of that deadline. They are saying this is not the time for them to be

thinking about legal proceedings. This is extraordinary circumstances. Well, then, please, make an extraordinary decision to move on from that two

year international law deadline.

So families are asking for that.

And they are launching a petition titled search on. They're concerned that come the summer, the search once it clears the 120,000 kilometers that they

are searching now, if they don't find the plane as alrady agreed by the government,they will stop. They are saying please search on. Many of them

still in denial hoping their loved ones and the plane will turn up -- Becky.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Saima Mohsin reporting on the very latest.

Still to come tonight on this show, seized but silenced. We speak to the editor of the sister newspaper, one that's been taken over by the Turkish

government.

And next, the gloves are clearly off, but now at least Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders meet in a heated CNN debate ahead of a key primary race.

That coming up after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: You're withc CNN. This is Connect the World with me Becky Anderson. Welcome back.

Well, temperatures are climbing as the U.S. campaign sees and hits a critical stage. I'm talking the election, of course, in November.

At a CNN debate in Flint in Michigan, democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders sparred over the economy, the Detroit auto bailout, Clinton's ties

to Wall Street and gun control.

But the two candidates did agree on one important topic, both called for the resignation of Michigan's Republican governor over what is the Flint

water crisis.

Well, senior Washington correspondent Joe Johns joining me now from Dearborn in the state of Michigan.

And this was a debate that was shaped by concerns of voters in a city still struggling with a crisis of lead tainted water for which local, state and

fed officials -- federal officials are to blame.

So, it was no surprise the debate was informed by that. This was politics, though, wasn't it rather than the sort of reality TV that we've seen from

these Republican debates, at least. Your thoughts.

[11:20:43] JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: i think you're right. Very, very different kind of debate than we have seen from the Republicans. And they

even pointed that out last night. So important to say that.

Interesting on the water issue too. Hillary Clinton has been slow to call for the resignation of Michigan's governor over the issue and it's been

part of the stump speech of Bernie Sanders for some time. So she kind of got on board

the Bernie train, if you will, in that one small way.

Interesting, also, the governor of Michigan was well prepared for this debate. His communications team was live tweeting his defenses on what

he's done since the Flint thing came out, and frankly put quite a defense up there on Twitter through the evening while the candidates were speaking.

So these candidates came prepared to talk about Flint and specifics and now they at least agree on the issue of the governor, who certainly has not

stepped down at least so far, Becky.

ANDERSON: But they certainly laid into each other on other issues, not least as I suggested that of financing and various other things.

Listen, what other takeouts do you think at this point? We're at what is a critical stage in this election campaign as we move towards November of

2016? And how do you think the debate and where we are now is flushing out who these candidates are and how well they will do going forward?

JOHNS: Well, anybody's guess. I think you can say right now that Hillary Clinton appears to be firmly in control of the race for the Democratic

nomination. Though, Michigan is going to be so important in all of that.

Hillary Clinton is leading in the polls here in Michigan, but Bernie Sanders is putting up quite a fight. And you can see from this line behind

me the huge numbers of people continue to turn out to see Bernie Sanders and he's hoping he can make some in road, especially, with working class

whites here in this area, because they are so important to the grand strategy of the Democrats and the Republicans.

Hillary Clinton seems to have a huge piece of the African-American vote. That's one part of the old Obama coalition. Bernie Sanders seems to have

another part of the Obama coalition that got him elected twice, that would be younger voters.

And up for grabs is the white working class voter who is are well represented in the state of Michigan.

ANDERSON: Big week this week. Idaho, Michigan and Mississippi, it's Super Tuesday part two.

How is the U.S. president playing a role, if at all? And where do we judge his support to be and for who?

JOHNS: Right. Well, President Obama has not chosen between the two Democrats, though it's pretty clear that Hillary Clinton was his secretary

of state and some people have said that the president would like to see Hillary Clinton win

the nomination.

Nonetheless, she has been out on the campaign trail talking quite a lot about continuing the Obama legacy, if you will. Bernie Sanders has been

careful to say that he thinks the president has done well in many areas, but that there are things he disagrees on.

So, the president's strength has always been, as I said, African-Americans, he did very well with younger voters and the question up for grabs is this

white working class voters represented here in the state.

ANDERSON: Good stuff, we appreciate it, thank you.

CNN will have all day coverage of Tuesday's Michigan primary. Three other states as we have been discussing will also hold contests. Dozens of

delegates are at stake. Again that is Tuesday, right here on CNN.

And we make no excuses for it. Big, big story. It affects us all wherever you're watching or living in the world.

At CNN.com you can learn more about the delegate map and why 848 is the magic number for Donald Trump and where analysts say Marco Rubio and John

Kasich need -- what they need as far as wins are concerned if they want to stop Donald Trump. That is on the Republican side, of course.

Live from Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World with me Becky Anderson. Thanks for staying with us.

Coming up, he is in the lead in the Republican race for the White House. But Donald Trump not feeling the love from his own party. We're going to

look at why the Grand Old Party, the GOP establishment is coming out so hard against him. That is just ahead.

First up, though, imagine your team was spread across continents -- quite possibly it is -- we're going to take you to a tech start-up that's

bridging the divide to bring green lighting to your home and office. That's the Connectors, and

that's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTIAN YAN, NANOLEAF: Nanoleaf is a green technology start-up, We're not your suit, tie wearing

lighting company. We definitely want Nanoleaf to be recognized as that brand that really makes just great products, you know, products that people

love to use and they know it's good for the planet.

My name is Christian Yan, COO of Nanoleaf. And this is the Shenzhen team.

Here in Asia we are focusing on the manufacturing so that's production, quality control as well as sourcing for new products.

You know, our hardware engineers here working every day on a 12-hour difference, but every day with our software team or our design team in

Toronto. So we use various tools, cloud tools, as well as conference calling with the team.

It's a challenge because when they are awake, we are asleep. So either we have late night meetings here or late night meetings in Toronto.

We definitely need to be here for sourcing for hardware development.

TOM RODINGER, CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, NANOLEAF: I'm Tod Rodinger. I'm the chief technology officer at Nanoleaf. The unique structure of it came

about because it was a way to manufacture it at low costs so it would use robotics to place all the parts on a printed circuit board on a flat

surface.

And only the final step then was to fold it into a lightbulb shape.

Our newest product, the NanoLeaf smarter (inaudilbe) has just one LED on each side. The reason to reduce the number of LEDs was to reduce the cost

of the product because we do want this to be adopted as much as possible.

JONATHAN TAM, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, NANOLEAF: My name is John Tam. This is development manager for Nanoleaf.

So far we have sold around 200,000 plus bulbs since we started. I think the best way to tell people is actually adding more functionality to it.

And as you actually see our products progress, you can see what we have done to really cater

towards what the customers want.

The simple example is from our first generation product Nanoleaf One evolved to Nanoleaf bloom, which we have added the feature where you can

dim with the regular light switch. That actually came about from customer feedback and we're like, OK, what can we do. And now with connected

product, people are like, oh wow, Nanoleaf is doing something great. They're progressing and we want to keep that momentum going for us.

[11:30:07] YAM: We're going continue to do this as sort of a teach culture.

When we look into lighting, we're not just coming from, you know, 20 years of doing lighting. It's from a variety of backgrounds, of skill sets that

we can put together and make a great product that can better the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(HEADLINES)

[11:34:10] ANDERSON: Tensions once again are high on the Korean peninsula. North Korea warning of a, quote, preemptive and offensive nuclear strike,

end quote. That is response to massive joint military exercises by the U.S. and South Korea that began on Monday and take place every year.

Paula Hancocks has the latest for you from Seoul.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, threats were expected and North Korea did not disappoint.

Day one of the annual military drills between the United States and South Korea, and North Korea has threatened preemptive and offensive nuclear

strikes against both countries. Clearly Pyongyang is not happy that these drills this year are the largest ever.

300,000 South Korean troops, 17,000 Americans all involved in eight weeks of drills which will take place on land, sea and air.

Now South Korea's defense ministry says that they have increased their surveillance on the north, trying to see if there were any signs of the

eminent attack. They say at this point that there is no movement.

Now tensions are always high at this point of year because of the drills between the U.S. and South Korea. Pyongyang sees them as a dress rehearsal

for an invasion. Washington and Seoul say they are defensive in nature.

But this is even more tense than normal. Consider the year we've had so far. In January, North Korea carried out a nuclear test. In February,

North Korea carried out a satellite launch, which most countries saw as a missile test. And then just last week the UN passed unprecedented

sanctions against North Korea. On Friday, Kim Jung-un, the North Korean leader, said he wants his nuclear weapon at the ready should he want to use

them at a moment's notice.

And don't expect things to calm down any time soon. These military drills go on until the end of April, Becky.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[11:36:50] ANDERSON: Well, he is no doubt colorful and bold, but whether you support him or find him offensive, Republican Donald Trump is his

party's front runner in the race for the White House.

Despite that, many in the party's mainstream now see him as only one thing, a problem.

There's an anyone but Trump approach among party heavyweights like John McCain and just this week former governor of California Arnold

Schwarzenegger announcing he's supporting Trump rival John Kasich.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, FRM. GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA: I want John Kasich to be the next nominee of the Republicans and also to be the next president of

the United States. Here he is.

JOHN KASICH, 2016 REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thank you, arnold.

Love you, man.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, a New York Times report that Republican groups are pouring millions of dollars into ads like this one attacking him, but if you take a

step back, you might say the party has in fact allowed Trump to rise.

Take a listen to some of Trump's remarks back in 2011.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I hope he was born in the United States. I'd like it to be, because if I decide to run, I would like to really do it on a very, very

straight up, head to head, man-to-man basis. I mean, honestly I hope he was born.

Because if he wasn't it's the greatest scam in history, not political history, in history.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well, even after Trump said that, just months later Mitt Romney, who went on to be the Republican nominee for president in the last U.S.

election, seemed happy to win Trump's endorsement. Have a listen and look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MITT ROMNEY, 2012 REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: There are some things that you just can't imagine happening in your life. This is one of them.

Being in Donald Trump's magnificent hotel and having his endorsement is a delight. I'm so honored and pleased to have his endorsement.

Donald Trump has shown an extraordinary ability to understand how our economy works, to create jobs for the American people. He's done it here

in Nevada. He's done it across the country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: When he spoke just this past Thursday, Romney had a very different message.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROMNEY: If Donald Trump's plans were ever implemented, the country would sink into prolonged recession.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, that shift just there sums up the new reality for Trump at the start of his campaign, even other candidates were being very

differential towards him, weren't they?

Well, from New York, we're joined now by CNN political analyst John Avalon.

John, many in his own Republican party would like to see the back of him, including Mitt rRmney.

Now there are those who say that he just might have peaked. Has he? Or is this wishful thinking on their part?

JOHN AVALON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, there's been a lot of wishful thinking when it comes to Donald Trump over the course of this campaign.

Other candidates chose to train their fire and their money against each other in the belief that Donald Trump's support would collapse under the

weight of the man's own absurdity.

But that clearly hasn't happened. He has compiled an extraordinary record of

primary wins over the past six weeks. States that have been in the past necessary to win the Republican nomination.

But, as you say, there is now a redoubled effort to try with money and focusing the opposition to derail his march to the nomination.

I will say the sign that his support could be peaking is best evidenced in late voters. In states that we have seen to date, particularly Louisiana

on Sunday, we see late voters turning against Donald Trump. But what takes him over the top is early voting. And he's had some bad debate

performances and there is an indication that those massive margins he enjoyed in polling has shrunk when

people actually come to the voting booth.

But so far he is in the clear lead when it comes to delegates. And that's just reality.

[11:40:07] ANDERSON: Yeah, I want you to explain that for us in a moment and very briefly for those viewers who may not understand the machinations

of U.S. politics.

But for those who want to see the back of it, John, promising to spend, I don't know, $10 million in this next phase on what they call attack ads,

but in today's paradigm, that is this new media and it's proven power witness Trump using Twitter with less than 140 characters to huge effect

and for free, do you traditional TV ads still work?

AVALON: Well, certainly the consultant class believes they do, but they are self-interested in thinking they do, because they take a cut. You

know, part of Trump's major critique that actually is reflected also in his opposite in all things populist liberal Democrat Bernie Sanders is that the

system has been rigged by big money.

Now you have big money coming after Donald Trump in a series of coordinated attacks primarily folks in Florida and Illinois TV ads from veteran's

groups, from fiscal groups, all hoping to derail him.

The big question is is it too little too late? And the counter veiling question that you just raised is do TV ads still have the same throw weight

they did in previous cycles.

These ads certainly could have had an impact had they been deployed earlier. But he's already off to the races when it comes to nominations.

So, this is a desperate move. It might be too little, too late. But from the perspective of a party that is seeing massive losses in the Senate, let

alone the White House,they believe if he is the nominee, they're trying to do all they can to bend that arc of history while they still have a shot.

ANDERSON: All right, help us out with this delegate math. I said earlier on in this show that our viewers can work the numbers themselves at

CNN.com. We have got some analysis on how things stack up.

But from your perspective, why is 848 this magic number for Donald Trump briefly?

AVALON: Well, what he needs to get to is a point and is primarily through the next Super Tuesday, March 15, where he can say he has got a lock on the

nomination even if he hasn't closed on the actual number of delegates you need to secure a nomination, which is 1,237.

So in all these contests, you try to win the popular vote, sometimes it's proportional. The longer the contests go on, it's winner take all in a

state like Florida, but the real goal is to secure enough delegates to secure the nomination.

And what his -- Donald Trump's critics inside the Republican Party increasingly are hanging their hopes on is that they can deny him crucial

number and move to Cleveland where the Republicans will have their convention in July with a brokered convention.

The last time we had anything resembling a brokered convention was 1976 when Ronald Reagan ran against Gerald Ford. This is a Hail Mary. This is

less a strategy than a hope, but their belief is that if they derail him from hitting that magic number through vehicles like Ted Cruz or Marco

Rubio, Governor John Kasich in Ohio, that they can slow that roll.

And that's where the focus of this effort is because he already has a lead in the delegates to date.

ANDERSON: Yeah, fascinating stuff. John, thank you.

And a reminder once again this election cycle as we move towards November - - thanks, John -- is so crucial not just to those who will be voting in the States, but all of us wherever we are watching and viewing this around the

world.

Live from Abu Dhabi, where we are based, this is Connect the World. I'm Becky Anderson. Coming up, clamping down, Turkey's government seems to be

closing in on dissent yet again. The details are just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:46:42] ANDERSON: You're watching CNN. This is Connect the World with me Becky Anderson. Welcome back.

46 minutes past 8:00 here in Abu Dhabi.

As we have shown you this hour, countless people on this planet are risking everything to reach the shores of Europe and elsewhere. Many of those

hoping to gain new protections in what will be different lands.

But across the world, millions face the reality of having no citizenship and therefore few or no rights.

Well, photographer Greg Constantine has made his mission to document the millions around the world who are stateless. Have a look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(MUSIC)

GREG CONSTANTINE, PHOTOGRAPHER: I mean, stateless, this is a worldwide problem. I mean, the UN estimates that it affects over 10 million people

around the world. I think the large majority of them are all based in Asia, and then the Middle East and Africa.

The root cause of statelessness discrimination, racism and intolerance. I mean, statelessness is an issue that at its core is really the state making

a decision that a particular community doesn't belong there.

Most stateless people are not refugees. They have never left their homes. They have never crossed a border before. But you have the state making the

decision that a particular community doesn't belong.

By severing citizenship, your connection to the state you end up becoming vulnerable to all types of human rights abuse, of the denial of economic

rights, of the denial to travel, to legally exist, to hold documents that are vital to getting health care or having a birth certificate or having a

passport or having access to legal assistance or justice.

Then there's a whole other level that stateless touches on, and that is just this fundamental sense that I think every single person in the world

has, and that is to feel like you are recognized and belong to a place. You're recognition of having a place that you can call home.

One of the repercussions three or four years from now where you have people who are from states like Syria or some states in Sub-Saharan Africa who are

coming into the EU with no documentation, with no proof of who they are, with no citizenship or referring back to their home country and that

country basically denying them that they recognize them.

My project, Nowhere People, has tried to take through documentary photograph has tried to take this intangible invisible kind of condition

and make it visible.

I think for me meeting, you know, working on -- meeting stateless people has had a profound impact on me. I mean, they're some of the most amazing

people I have ever met, based on all the hurdles and the obstacles that have been built up from -- in front of them that most of them have

absolutely no control over.

The resilience, the perseverance, the dedication, the determination that they have to actually be able to survive from one day to the next without

these rights so many people in the world completely take for granted is pretty extraordinary.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[11:50:16] ANDERSON: Remarkable stuff.

Well, the top of this hour, we started by looking at Europe's migrant crisis. One of the key players in that story is of course Turkey. But the

country's central role has been distracting from some turns inside the country. What many see as the government silencing journalists and

smothering criticism.

Well, Friday, police raided and took over the country's largest opposition newspaper, Zaman. It's been harshly critical of the president, but now

that has all changed. The first edition since that takeover shows a smiling Mr. Erdogan right on the front page.

And it was full of coverage that brought it in line with the government's thinking.

Well, that is a big contrast to this, the defiant front page that was put in protests to the change by a sister publication, that defiance was also

seen in the paper's supporters who faced tear gas when they clashd with police forces at an anti-censorship rally.

Well, let's bring in Sevgi Akarcesme. She is the editor-in-chief of Today's Zaman, that English language sister publication of Zaman. She

joins us now from an undisclosed location because of her concerns for her own safety.

Sevgi, the Turkish prime minister called Zaman a terrorist organization and one that cannot be allowed to work outside of the law.

The Turkish government, democratically elected, so what's your response to that?

SEVGI AKARCESME, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, TODAY'S ZAMAN: It's complete nonsense, Becky, to call an independent media organization a terrorist organization

aiding terrorist groups by means of an arbitrary court deicision.

It's a shame on the part of the Turkish government.

I don't think anybody buys their argument because everybody knows that following the corruption investigation two years ago, the government has

been trying everything to silence any criticism. They cannot tolerate any criticism. And they have been targeting our media institution for over two

years now.

And there is no single evidence of terrorist propaganda or terrorist links of our newspaper.

ANDERSON: Sevgi, you have said on Twitter that a new newspaper is being formed to vacuum of the demand. Explain to us what do you know, what can

you tell us about that?

AKARCESME: I missed the first part of your question, because I was disconnected, sorry about that.

ANDERSON: OK, you have said on Twitter that a new newspaper is being formed to fill this vacuum after the closure of Zaman, or the takeover of

Zaman. Explain to us what you mean? And what can you tell us about this new publication?

AKARCESME: It's a trend. There is a (inaudible) in Turkey right now. The government has been taking over independent and critical media institutions

and turning them slowly, sometimes fast, into mouthpieces of the government.

This happens with (inaudible) company prior to the elections in November, for example. And the critical and independent media institution is shut

down right now.

Previously throughout the last decade, the government has been somehow directly or indirectly controlling all media institutions and there is no,

almost no critical media institution left in Turkey at the moment.

This could be evidence from the first page, front page of Zaman after the brutal takeover of the newspaper on Friday.

The next day -- actually on Sunday two days -- in less than 48 hours, Zaman has turned into a pro-government newspaper.

As far as my newspaper is concerned, at the moment, the administration has been interfering in the editorial line. They are saying that I learned

from my team that the government installed handpicked by the government told them not to make any news that defames Turkey, that is anti-Turkey.

In their lexicon, Becky, what is anti-Turkey, anti-Turkish is anti-Erdogan or critical of Erdogan.

So they are equating anything that is criticizing Erdogan to treason.

ANDERSON: Yeah, all right, apologies, the Skype gremlins are with us tonight.

Held up long enough to do this interview, so we do very much appreciate it on

what is an important story. Thank you.

Live from Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World. Let's take a break.

Coming up, though, a tour of the Sheikh Zaid Grand Mosque here in Abu Dhabi with a very familiar face. Just ahead in what are your Parting Shots this

evening.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:51:54] ANDERSON: Right, you are watching Connect the World with me Becky Anderson just a couple of minutes for you.

For regular viewers of this show, you will recognize our parting shots this evening. The Sheikh Zaid Grand Mosque usually over my right shoulder in

background, however, tonight the weather was particularly bad. It rained and it's forced us to bring you the show from inside our newsroom.

But earlier today when it wasn't pouring, the mosque had a high profile visitor. U.S. vice president Joe Biden touched down in the UAE last night.

And this morning, he took a tour of the mosque.

He walked through the Grand Prayer hall across the massive intricate Iranian carpet. Moving outside he took in what is this stunning white

marble of the courtyard and marveled at the mosques golden minarets and domes.

And you don't have to be a VIP to visit that mosque. It is open to the public. And is one of the UAE's top cultural tourism spots, it has to be

said.

The aim to promote mutual respect and understanding between religions.

A great example of Islamic architecture.

You have been watching Connect the World with me Becky Anderson. From the team here, it is very good evening. Thank you for watching.

END