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North Korean Ballistic Missile Tests New Trump Administration; BAFTA Awards Recap; Northern California Residents Evacuated As Dam Spillover Threatens to Fail; Trump National Security Adviser Under Fire; Oil Prices Rebound as OPEC Pact Holds. 10-11a ET
Aired February 13, 2017 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[10:00:14] DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't know about it. I haven't seen it. What report is that?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, HOST: But CNN has seen it. And sources say one of Donald Trump's most trusted lieutenants may have crossed the line in some of his
conversations with the Kremlin. That and all the latest from Washington for you we have all the details for you straight ahead.
Plus...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENITIFIED MALE: Iranian people, you know they show the relationship, the good relationship to America, but I don't think that Trump shows a
good faith. He's against us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: We hit the slopes in Iran to find out if people thinks America's new president is on slippery ice.
But first, we'll hear my exclusive conversation with the new head of the United Nations, that, and so much more from right here. The buzzing world
government summit in Dubai.
Hello and welcome to what is a special edition of Connect the World. Just after 7:00 here. I'm Becky Anderson. Live from Dubai.
Good governance and ways of achieving it, that is what is being discussed here at this meeting. Hop online and chances are your social media
timelines are also full of people dissecting and debating political decisions.
And as we have seen in recent weeks, those made by one leader in particular, have an impact far
beyond the borders of his own country. It's been less than a month since Donald Trump became the
45th U.S. president. But in a short amount of time, he's taken some major decisions, some of them deeply controversial, that includes the initial
U.S. acceptance, then rejection, of this veteran Palestinian politician, Salam Fayyad, for a top job at the UN. It caused dismay. And
what one diplomat called mass confusion in the United Nations.
Well, the new UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, spokes exclusively to me about this very issue earlier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTONIO GUTERRES, UN SECRETARY-GENERAL: I believe he is the right person for the right job at the right moment. He has qualities that are
recognized everywhere. He has a competence that nobody denies. And Libya requires the kind of capacity that he has. And I think it's a loss for the
Libyan peace process and for the Libyan people that I am not able to appoint him.
And it is very important to end the line that nobody in the UN represents a government or a
country. People in the UN have just one area of loyalty, they need to respect: it's the UN charter. And so I deeply regret this opposition, and
I do not see any valid reason for it.
ANDERSON: We have a new U.S. administration. Are you confident it supports in its America first pitch, as it were, the very core values of
the United Nations?
GUTERRES: My position about the way the UN needs to deal with the U.S. administration is very simple: the U.N. needs to respect its principles,
but at the same time, the U.N. needs to engage constructively with the U.S. administration, as with any other
administration in the world.
The U.S. is a key partner in world affairs and it would be a mistake to just undermine this relationship based on any kind of prejudice. No,
there's no prejudice. Let's take things for its face value and let's do everything possible to make this relationship a constructive relationship.
Having said so, we need to respect our values, and we need to make sure that a multilateral approach with the solution of global problems is
valued.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The new U.N. secretary-general just speaking to me here at the World Government Summit earlier today.
Well, Mr. Trump is focused on foreign policy as he beginnings his fourth full week in office. And his fourth meeting with a world leader. He'll
welcome Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to the White House next hour, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday. We'll
have a lot more on that just ahead.
But the president also dealing with a simmering issue, much closer to home. A senior administration official tells CNN, the, quote, knifes are out in
the White House over a controversy involving National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Well, let's start this part of this show with our senior
Washington correspondent Joe Johns who has the story for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[10:05:05] JOE JOHNS, CNN CORREPSONDENT (voice-over): President Trump's national security advisor, General Michael Flynn, under fire. The White
House sidestepping questions about Flynn's future.
CHUCK TODD, HOST, "MEET THE PRESS": Does the president still has confidence in his natural security adviser.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's a question that I think you should ask the president.
JOHNS: A U.S. official confirming that General Flynn did discuss U.S. sanctions with a Russian ambassador before Trump was sworn in.
Contradicting denials made by Flynn himself and Vice President Mike Pence.
PENCE: They did not discuss anything having to do with the United States decision to expel diplomats or impose a sanction against Russia.
JOHNS: General Flynn on thin ice, despite Trump's refusal to address the firestorm.
TRUMP: I don't know about it. I haven't seen it. What report is that?
JOHNS: A senior administration official telling CNN Flynn has no plans to resign, nor does he expect to be fired.
President Trump facing another big test over the weekend: North Korea firing a ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan, as the president met with
Japan's prime minister, Shinzo Abe, both leaders addressing the launch late Saturday night.
TRUMP: The United States of America stands behind Japan, its great ally, 100 percent.
JOHNS: Meantime, the Trump administration is weighing their options on his suspended travel ban, which could include writing a new executive order.
STEPHEN MILLER, SENIOR WHITE HOUSE ADVISOR: We can appeal the emergency stay to the Supreme Court. We can take our case on bond to the next
circuit. We can continue our appeal with the panel or we can return to the district court and have a trial on the merits. All options are on the
table.
JOHNS: As fears grow in immigrant communities after hundreds of people in 11 states were arrested last week. This as a White House advisor reignites
a conspiracy theory about voter fraud that has been repeatedly debunked without providing any evidence.
MILLER: There are massive numbers of non-citizens in this country who are registered to vote. That's the story we should be talking about, and I am
prepared to go on any show, anywhere, any time and repeat it and say the president of the United States is correct 100 percent.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Right. Well, revolving doors, as it were, then, at the White House and a busy week there to come. Joe Johns there waiting for the
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to arrive. I'm told he is imminent.
And Oren Liebermann is in Jerusalem covering Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trip to Washington mid-week.
Joe, let's start with you. What can we expect, and what does the White House expect from this meeting with its northern neighbor? Clearly, NAFTA,
the free trade agreement will be front and center, correct?
JOHNS: Absolutely, I think you're right. As you can see, the color guard now lining the driveway here at the White House awaiting the arrival of
Justin Trudeau.
I think you're right, Becky. NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement is of high
interest here, simply because the president of the United States expressed on the campaign trail an interest in renegotiating that whole deal. He's
been very highly critical of it. And there's a concern up north from here, about the effect of that on jobs, the effect of that on businesses.
Also, we do expect the everyday conversation about various agreements to try to get other
trade issues running.
And probably the third area that is of high interest to us is inclusion of Canada in the U.S. missile defense shield program. That is something we're
told is of high interest and is also very likely to come up.
ANDERSON: Meantime, the White House, as I say, it's been busy, isn't it, side stepping questions about Flynn's future. What more, if anything, do
we know at this point?
JOHNS: Well, we don't know a lot. We do know that a high ranking official of the administration went on the Sunday morning talk shows, and
essentially said he had no idea what the president was thinking about Flynn and if you want to know what the president is thinking, you needed to ask
him. He said he was not prepared nor briefed for questions on Flynn.
And following that the president tweeted out that he thought this adviser Stephen Miller, who spoke on the shows, had done, quote, a great job. So
the administration apparently was fully embracing of the notion that someone from their administration would go out and say no word on Flynn
yet.
That points to us the idea that there's a bit of flux here on what will happen with him, though officially we're told he has no plans to resign and
doesn't anticipate being fired.
[10:10:07] ANDERSON: Joe, stand by. We're going to try and get back to you as and when Justin Trudeau arrives there at the White House.
Let me get myself over to Jerusalem, meantime, just for a moment where Oren Liebermann is standing by.
And you'll have heard, I spoke to the new UN secretary-general today about the U.S. positioning on a Palestinian candidate for envoy to Libya.
Let me just remind our viewers what it was that the U.S. ambassador said about this candidate, "for too long the United States has been unfairly
biased in favor of the Palestinian Authority to the detriment of our allies in Israel. Going forward, the United States will act not just talk in
support of our allies."
Benjamin Netanyahu preparing for a visit to Washington this week. What is on his agenda? What is he taking to Washington? What does he hope to get
out of the meeting?
LIEBERMANN: Well, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, it seems, has kept some of the
expectations in check about what will come out of this meeting.
As for what he expects, as for what Netanyahu wants to accomplish in this meeting, he's also made it very clear there that the Iran nuclear deal is,
perhaps always will be and certainly has been his number one item on his agenda to discuss ways of either improving or
changing the deal in some way with President Donald Trump.
Now, Netanyahu is under pressure from the right wing here, including from his own party, to back away from his publicly stated stance in support of a
two-state solution. In fact it was his public security minister who went on army radio this morning and said that all of
the ministers and security cabinet, including Netanyahu himself, oppose the creation of a Palestinian State.
But that's something that Netanyahu has not said publicly, has not openly. He has remained in his statements in favor of a Palestinian State, but that
hasn't come out in terms of something that will come out of this meeting. Nobody has said that is a major topic of this meeting, so it remains to be
seen.
Ahead of this meeting, the Palestinians have been very quiet. The PLO leadership being very quiet. They're waiting to see what statements come
out of this meeting.
It's been unclear, perhaps even ambiguous, what exactly President Trump's Middle East policy
is. So, they're both Israelis and Palestinians looking for some sort of clarity that could perhaps come out of this first meeting between Trump and
Netanyahu.
ANDERSON: All right, Oren Liebermann is in Jerusalem. Joe is in Washington. Hopefully I may just have time to get you to Moscow, before we
just cover the arrival of the Canadian leader at the White House.
Thank you, chaps.
The close U.S. ties with Israel and Canada are well known. Now it's the relationship with
Russia that's getting the attention, and not the kind the White House wants. At issue, the discussion of sanctions before Donald Trump took
office, as Joe and I were discussing.
The Kremlin denies it spoke on the subject with the White House before Mr. Trump's inauguration. Well, a White House source tells CNN that wasn't the
case. For his part, Flynn says he can't recall if he spoke to Russia on the subject.
Well, let's bring in our Matthew Chance who is joining us from Moscow. A source telling CNN that the knives are out for Flynn at the White House,
quote. What's the perspective there in Moscow?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think the Russians are looking at this with a degree of apprehension and frustration
not knowing what kind of messages to take out of this in terms of what the Trump presidency policy towards Russia and the sanctions against Russia is
going to be.
Certainly, on the issue of the conversation that it's now acknowledged broadly, including from the Kremlin, took place between Michael Flynn,
Trump's National Security Adviser, and Sergey Kislyak, the Russian ambassador to the United States, they're saying that no conversations about
sanctions took place. They say that on Friday. They said that again today.
The Kremlin has also categorically denied any suggestion that the conversation between Flynn and the Russian ambassador in December had
anything to do with Vladimir Putin's decision not to respond in kind to the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats, by the outgoing President Obama over
allegations of Russian hacking into the U.S. election, and basically they're saying, look, they're not going to interfere in the conversation or
intervene in the conversation that's taking place about the future of Michael Flynn right now.
But, yes, a degree of confusion, I think, about the mixed messages coming from the Trump
administration over the past several months about what their policy is towards Russia and what they want to do about sanctions.
ANDERSON: Fascinating.
Why would Michael Flynn suit the Kremlin?
CHANCE: Well, he's got some contacts with the Kremlin, of course. I mean this isn't the first time that Michael Flynn, General Flynn's judgment has
been brought into question. Remember, back in December 2015, he was paid to attend a gala dinner by Russia Today, a Kremlin funded English language
television channel. And he sat next to Vladimir Putin during that dinner and he gave an address. He was widely criticized for that as well.
Clearly, he's got you know sympathies, shall we say, with the world view that the Kremlin has as well. And that's of course been shared by Donald
Trump.
You know, Donald Trump is somebody who campaigned on a platform of a detente with Russia. Wouldn't it be great for us to get along with Moscow,
he said. He spoken about potentially recognizing Crimea as being a legitimate part of Russia. Crimea is, of course, annexed by Russia from
Ukraine in 2014 and is the reason for most of these sanctions being implemented in the first place.
And so there's been a lot of very positive messages from the Trump team since before he was the president, and even since then, about the
possibility of a relationship improving, about the possibility of sanctions being lifted.
And this is the latest sort of, you know, I suppose a brush back with that. This is, you know, showing how difficult it will be for Donald Trump to
implement those campaign promises.
ANDERSON: The view from Moscow. Matthew in the bureau there. Thank you.
I'm Becky Anderson. I'm in Dubai for you this evening with a special edition of Connect the World from the World Government Summit here.
Still to come, we have heard a lot about what Trump thinks of Iran, haven't we? But what do Iranians think of him? Our report on a mutually cool
relationship is up next.
Taking this very short break. 17 minutes past 7:00 here in the UAE. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back. You're watching a special edition of Connect the World.
We are live from the World Government summit here in Dubai. And that was John Defterios coming up shortly before the break we were looking at how
the White House and the Kremlin appear to be moving closer. The opposite happening between the U.S. and Iran. But away from the heated political
rhetoric on both sides, what do Iranians think of President Trump out on their cool slopes? Fred Pleitgen has been finding out for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[10:20:00] FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Internationally, not many people know that Iran has a wealth of ski areas.
Looking at the crowd here you could almost think you're in a European or American resort. Fewer religious conservatives and more moderates. And many
of those moderates fears President Donald Trump's harsh stance on Iran could lead to renewed conflict.
[08:20:07] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Iranian people, you know, they showed a relation -- a good relationship to Americans but I don't think that Trump
shows a good faith. Yes, he's against us.
"We're not happy with what Trump is saying us, this man says." But the Iranian people and the government will show the world that it's not true."
PLEITGEN: After some easing of tensions during the Obama years U.S./Iranian relations have taken nose dive since President Trump assumed office. The
administration hitting Iran with sanctions after Tehran conducted a ballistic missile test in late January.
Iran hitting back. Its President Hassan Rouhani calling Trump a political new comer and emphasizing that Iran will not back down from its positions.
Many Iranians now fearing escalating tensions could harm the nuclear agreement between Iran, the U.S. and several other nations that curb Iran's
nuclear ambitions in return for sanctions relief. Especially moderate Iranians were very excited about the nuclear agreement, thinking it would
bring this country big economic benefits.
Now many of them worry that Donald Trump's tough stance on Iran could destroy the deal.
Tourism is one of the sectors Iranians hope will blossom after decades of stagnation, and many here still hope souring U.S./Iranian relations won't
derail the fledging upswing.
"We're happy when the relationship is going well," he says. "We need good relations not conflict."
The new Trump administration has caused a feeling of uncertainty for many Iranians concerned about the deteriorating ties between the two nations
hoping the down work trajectory doesn't become even steeper.
Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Darbansar (ph), Iran.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Slopes look amazing, don't they?
Well, we are right across the water from Iran here in Dubai. Slightly different weather, it has to be said. There's certainly been tension
between the UAE and Iran from time to time as well.
CNN's John Defterios, my colleague, has learned more about it here at the World Government Summit - John.
JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: In fact, we're just standing outside the museum of the future. So the focus has been on innovation, job
creation, new economic models, but shall we say the legacy issues here in the region continue to pop up. And of course that deals with Iran.
Great concern from the six Gulf states about what they see as expansionist policies by Iran into Syria, Yemen, Iraq. They even stretch that even to
Bahrain.
It comes back again and again.
I spoke to the minister of state of foreign affairs for the UAE. And what emerged, Becky, is interesting, a dual track strategy. They want to apply
pressure to the - what they see as the hardliners, the Revolutionary Guard in Iran, but not tearing up the nuclear agreement, because they want to
keep Iran in the international tent and basically continue negotiations. They even sent the foreign minister for Kuwait to Iran to open up that
dialogue.
ANDRESON: That's fascinating.
DEFTERIOS: Very fascinating.
Let's take a listen to the minister of state and what he had to say. If it's going to marginalize the moderates or not, he disagrees entirely.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANWAR GARGASH, UAE FOREIGN MINISTER: I think we can address, you know, Iran's behavior, while at the same time maintaining the nuclear agreement.
I don't see a contradiction from a regional perspective.
DEFTERIOS: But there's elections in May. Isn't there a risk you drive the moderates out and almost welcome the hardliners, which will push you
further away from continuing a nuclear agreement.
GARGASH: I think that whole premise is naive. I think if you look at Iran's regional politics, it's always been handled by the Revolutionary
Guard, by the hardcore of the hardcore of the regime.
So, I don't really subscribe to the basic premise that engaging Iran will necessarily enable the
moderate forces to take charge. What is extremely important is to understand that there is a dichotomy within Iran. The hardliners and the
regime who drive policy, want an Iran that is theological, expanding, religious state. But most of the population actually wants to open up on
the world.
Unfortunately, we have to deal with the government, with what's going on in terms of its
regional politics. So I think it is extremely important for Iran to understand that it has to behave like any other state and respecting the
sovereignty of other states. Is has to accept that it cannot conduct normal relations with its neighbors while exporting what I would say it's
form of revolution and it's form of ideology.
And I think this has to sink in.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[10:25:15] DEFTERIOS: Anwar Garbash, that's pretty blunt language here basically suggesting they have to realize this has to sink in.
This dovetails nicely for them, the Gulf States, with the Trump administration, applying the
economic sanctions, the Trump administration on the hard liners, the Revolutionary Guard, and their affiliates while still maintaining a
dialogue in the nuclear agreement.
Now, the proof in the pudding, if you will, is whether Hassan Rouhani is the choice to continue running for president, or do they go to the more
extreme position with - in the ilk of a President Ahmadinejad as we saw in the past. That's not been decided just yet.
ANDERSON: I think the relationship between the UAE and Iran is a great example of we see in so many places around the world, this is deficit of
trust. We have seen in so many places. And whatever is going on behind the scenes, that is one pillar to this.
OPEC, out with its first report since it said that we would experience, or the oil industry
would put the brakes on its production. Talk about a deficit of trust. Did they do it?
DEFTERIOS: They've had that deficit, but they surprised everybody. The IAEA, International Energy agency on Friday said it was 90 percent
compliance. OPEC said it's actually 92 percent compliance. So they cuts already of a 1 million barrels a day. Their target on the OPEC side is 1.2
million barrels a day. Non-OPEC players, another 600,000 to take that to 1.8.
The bad news here, non-OPEC players, Russia and the others, only have 50 percent comliance.
So, I talked to Suheil Musruhi (ph), the UAE minister of energy. And he told me, look, don't look at just the first month. We need to sustain this
on the OPEC side for six months, through the end of June, and then the non- OPEC producers will come along. They need to at least get to the end of the first quarter before we can pass judgment.
We're in that sweet spot, Becky, by the way. It's below $60 a barrel. I call it kind of the new Goldilocks. It's not high enough for all the shale
producers and all the more expensive projects to come on board. It gives OPEC a lot more control. But we're seeing a recovering in shale
production. So it's going to be that give and take in 2017.
But the non-OPEC players need to play their part in terms of living to the agreement. They agreed and signed on in December.
ANDERSON: When the report says 92 percent compliance, do we find out who the 8 percent who haven't complied?
DEFTERIOS: Well, that's a good point. There's 11 of the OPEC players. Six of them have really complied. Saudi Arabia has overshot, so they're
kind of riding on the coattails of Khalid al-Faleh, he minister of energy there and the deputy crown prince who have decided to go along wit this
thing.
The UAE said they have a target of 160,000 barrels. They're almost there. There's four or five that (inaudible). The challenge for OPEC is that
Nigeria is coming back and Libya is coming back. And they're not part of the agreement.
Bu again nobody is complaining. Let's think about January of 2016, $27 a barrel. January
and February of 2017, we're at $56, $57 a barrel. So, 100 percent recovery is not bad. It's not fantastic, but it's not bad.
ANDERSON: Saudi, Iran relationship no harm when we begin to see oil economics playing into the kind of bigger picture, doesn't it, on a
geopolitical basis?
DEFTERIOS: That's a surprise. In fact, Khalid al-Faleh, the minister of energy, and Bijan Zangeneh, minister of energy, his counterpart in Iran,
are proving that you can work together. They found common ground. Iran not going over 4 million barrels a day of production. Basically Saudi
Arabia didn't fight for that.
And they said, look, if we can agree on our number one revenue earner, we can do more together. But it hasn't filtered into the political scene just
yet.
ANDERSON: What's your take away from what is this fifth World Government Summit very briefly?
DEFTERIOS: No, I think it's the address of radical Islam and the - if you will, the maturation of the UAE. Bold enough to suggest that we have an
economic model that could be exported to the rest of the region, and suggesting that the hijacking of Islam for radical purposes is not correct.
We saw Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid say it yesterday as the prime minister and ruler of Dubai, and a panel I shared today with the minister of
tolerance and the ambassador to Russia for the UAE, they both said the same thing, let's speak up. We can't take the loyalty to the Muslim principles for granted and the next generation. We
have to do more.
ANDERSON: John Defterios in the house, viewers. Thank you, John.
DEFTERIOS: Yeah, thanks.
ANDERSON: What are your thoughts on everything that we have been being discussing? These topics affect us all. So I want to hear from you.
Let's get you online on social and on digital for us. Facebook.com/CNNConnect is one way of getting in touch. Let us know what
you think or tweet me @BeckyCNN. That is @BeckyCNN.
We're going to get you the very latest world news headlines in just a moment. Then we are live in Seoul for reaction to North Korea's missile
test. As well as a lot more from here in Dubai at the World Government Summit. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(HEADLINES)
[10:33:45] ANDERSON: Authorities in northern California have ordered nearly 200,000 people to leave their homes after damage was detected in
two spillways at the Oroville Dam. There are concerns that could lead to dangerous flash flooding.
Well, for more on this, Paul Vercammen is at the dam in Oroville in California for you - Paul.
PAUL VERCAMMEN, CNN CORREPSONDENT: Becky, as we speak, you can look behind me. You can actually see the water spraying up as it comes rushing out of
the dam. Now, the good news is they are cautiously optimistic, because they say that the water level has gone just below these two spillways.
There was the emergency spill way and then a backup spillway. And what happened was they had a breach in the spillway after so much rain and snow
here in northern California. It almost seems ironic because last year at this time we were talking about drought.
What they are now doing to shore this up is they are breaking rocks and putting them into bags and they're going to try to shore up a hole in this
backup spillway. With the rocks. That's their next task.
Now, there are still, as you pointed out, 200,000 people in Yuba City, Marysville, Oroville and
other smaller towns and townships and hamlets throughout this area that are under mandatory evacuation. And coming in here, it was quite something.
You would go through these ghost cities. They were eeire. They were dark. There were gas stations that were ringed with police tape, and that's
because they had run out of gas. Officers on foot telling us it was a frantic, chaotic situation as those people got the word that they needed to
get out of the potential of harm's way, just in case that backup spillway completely collapsed.
And now they're going to do the hard task of getting back to work, heavy lifting in many words, with heavy equipment, to get rocks and other ways to
fortify that spillway, Becky.
[10:35:43] ANDERSON: Well, frightening stuff. Early morning there in California, Paul, thank you for that.
Well, the American president and how he's going to interact with the world, have been a big theme at this summit.
So with that in mind, let's get more now on North Korea's missile test over the weekend. Pyongyang says the test was a success and that leader Kim
Jong-un personally supervised the launch. It was the country's first missile test since U.S. President Donald Trump took office.
Well, as we have heard North Korea's closest ally and UN Security Council member China,
among those condemning the tests. More now from our correspondent Paula Hancocks who is in Seoul.
And Paula, what's been the reaction there?
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, there's been wiredspread condemnation here in South Korea and the rest of northeast Asia
as well. This first missile that we've seen from North Korea in almost four months. They had been relatively restrained
since just before the U.S. election, many experts say, and they wanted to wait and see what exactly the North Korean policy was for U.S. President
Donald Trump. It was still no clearer on what that is.
But this missile itself is an intermediate range missile. And it has some improvements, according to North Korea, which has been backed up by South
Korean officials here as well saying that the way that it's fueled is different. It's no longer liquid fuel, but a solid fuel, and what that
means is that it can be launched faster, so there's less preparation time, and also it can be launched from a mobile
launcher, which means obviously it's much more difficult to track.
So, it does appear, according to experts, as though North Korea is making some head way. It has made some progress with this latest missile launch,
Becky.
ANDERSON: And what kind of assurances will Seoul be looking for from the international community?
HANCOCKS: Well, I think Seoul would like to hear a little more from Washington. Certainly officials are nervous here. They are nervous around
the region, as I say, it's unknown at this point what the North Korean policy is for the Trump administration. We saw that U.S. President Trump
was actually hosting the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe when this launch took place.
Shinzo Abe condemned it saying that it was intolerable. But President Trump did not even mention North Korea, just saying that he stood behind
Japan.
And we also heard from China saying that they oppose what had happened, but at this point it's not clear what the policy from Washington will be -
Becky.
ANDERSON: Paula Hancocks is in Seoul for you this evening. Thank you, Paula.
Staying in Asia, when Mr. Trump was a candidate, he had no shortage of criticism for China, South Kore, and Japan. But now that seems to be
changing. CNN's Matt Rivers has more on the American president's change of tune.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: When it came to issues in east Asia, candidate and president-elect Donald Trump said things like this.
TRUMP: We can't continue to allow China to rape our country - and that's what they're doing.
South Korea should pay us and pay us, and pay us very substantially, for protecting them.
Take a look at the imbalance in trade between Japan and the United States. They send us millions of cars, we send them beef.
Lowering the end, lowering the end. They're killing us. We can't let it continue.
I don't know why we have to be bound by a One China policy unless we make a deal with China.
RIVERS: But just weeks after being sworn in to office, President Trump appears to be changing his tune in more ways than one. First, he sent his
defense chief to assure South Korea and Japan the U.S. is committed to those alliances and will continue to defend them.
Then he assured his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, that the U.S. will stick to the longstanding One China policy. And over the
weekend, President Trump embraced Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, despite previously accusing the country of being a currency manipulator.
So why the apparent 180 by the U.s. president when it comes to how he dealswith east Asia?
AARON CONNELLY, LOWY INSTITUTE FOR INTENATIONAL POLICY: Now that he's president, he's dealing with other international actors in real life.
[10:40:00] RIVERS: Situations like China's staunch objection to Trump's phone call with Taiwan's president in December and continued calls for
Trump to reaffirm the One China policy.
CONNELLY: They often say that the military, the enemy gets a vote. I don't suggests that China is the enemy, but it gets a vote in terms of the
bilateral relationship. And suddenly, when Trump became president, he had to factor that in.
RIVERS: Trump's softened stance appears to be resonating well in this part of the world.
His meeting with Shinzo Abe made the front page of Japan's major newspapers on the weekend. Their 19 second handshake, perhaps awkwardly long, but
also a possible sign that both leaders are ready to work together.
But there are still many areas where the U.S. does not see eye-to-eye with Asian nations - economic concerns about currency manipulation and trade
imbalances Trump expressed during his campaign still remain. As one of his first executive orders, President Trump took the U.S. out of the
Transpacific Partnership, seen as a blow to man east Asian nations, but perhaps a boon to China.
And then there's the territorial dispute over the South China Sea. For now, though, Trump has turned on the charm.
CONNELLY: All of that effort would not have had to have been made had Trump not used such negative language about these countries on the campaign
trail. So he has had to do a lot of work just to get back to starting line.
RIVERS: And the ability of the Trump administration to work with the likes of South Korea and Japan and China will quickly be put to the test. The
latest missile test from Pyongyang will merit a response and serves as the stark reminder of the high stakes in a tense region.
Matt Rivers, CNN, Seoul.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, live from Dubai, this is Connect the World. I'm Becky Anderson. Coming up for you, a look at the future. We'll see how this
city is working to not only change this region, but change the world.
Plus, some of the biggest names in film walked the red carpet at the BAFTA awards. We'll see
who took home top honors. That's all coming up after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:45:08] ANDERSON: Well here at the World Government Summit in Dubai, leaders are looking to the future, a future opportunities and future
challenges. And in Dubai a museum being built just over my shoulder, you can see there, dedicated to just that, the
future. While the museum is yet to open, I've got a sneak peek inside for a preview of the issues the UAE
thinks will define the world in the years to come. From one of the key architects of this summit, here's
the UAE minister of cabinet affairs, Mohammed Al Gagawi as he looks inside a crystal ball. See the future for yourself.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: At the opening of this World Government Summit, you said, and I quote, the world has changed and so has our view of things. Explain what
you meant by that.
MOHAMMAD AL GERGAWI, UAE MINISTER OF CABINET AFFAIRS: We have been talking about globalization for the past 25, 30 years.
What we are seeing today is really the other side of anti-globalization, protectionism, populism.
So, it's a very interesting world for all of us mainly in United States and Europe, but it will impact the rest of the world in the next couple of
years.
ANDERSON: So how does the UAE fit into all of this?
GERGAWI: Within our region, there is tremendous turmoil. This is fact. Sectarian war, unrest with youth, unhappiness with the economic situation.
So, our role really it is how do you get this region out its misery? And this is the role of UAE. UAE is a model. We have tremendous number of
youth within our region. They need to be safe. Either they are opportunity for the rest of the world and for their country, or they're
going to be a threat. And the global government forum here, summit, we're gathering youth from 22 Arab countries for the first time.
We sit with them. We design the future with youth actually, because one day we won't be here.
ANDERSON: Excellency, is there a risk that the rest of the Arab world will feel lectured to?
GERGAWI: If you'll remember President Bush stated that we will go to Iraq, we'll create a model for the Arab world. The model became a miserable
model. And there is a homegrown model called the United Arab Emirates the Arab world is proud of. UAE youth,
they want to go to places, they want to go to Mars. They want to build the highest building. They want to have the best transport. They want to
reinvent the way airlines fly.
This is the Middle East. And we live in the Arab world. This is our region. So people from the region have to develop the region, and this is
the message, actually, nobody else will do it for you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: And our interview in the Museum of the Future.
Still ahead tonight, separating fact from Fiction. You look at why film Denial is resonating with viewers.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[10:50:13] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And the Grammy goes to - Hello.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Adele was the big winner at Sunday night's Grammy awards in L.A. She scored top honors winning song and record of the year for "Hello." An
album of the year for "25."
The Grammys weren't the only big awards show on Saturday. And hopes, stars gathered in London for the British Academy Film Awards with La La Land
emerging as the night's big winner.
Isa Soares with the highlights for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ISA SOARES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The fans were out in force and on a bitterly cold night in London. It was the stars that turned up the
heat.
Excited?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Under statement of the century.
NAOMIE HARRIS, ACTRESS: I'm really excited. It was my mom and my step dad and my best friend come with me as well.
SOARES: It was a night where Hollywood royalty met British royalty rubbing with the duchess of Cambridge and Prince William on the red carpet. The
Baftas often seen as one of the most unpredictable award ceremonies. Tonight offered few surprise.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And the Bafta is award to "La La Land."
SOARES: With "La La Land" taking five gongs including best director, best film and best actress for Emma Stone.
EMMA STONE, ACTRESS: Thank you so much. This is one of the greatest working experiences of my life. It was such joy.
SOARES: The other favorite "Manchester by the Sea" took home two awards.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And the Bafta Kenneth Lonergan "Manchester by the Sea."
SOARES: Best original screenplay and best actor for Casey Affleck. CASEY AFFLECK, ACTOR: But the reason I'm here right now tonight is because of
Kenneth Lonergan and his sublime screenplay that really signifies, I think, the everyday lives and their struggles with great compassion.
SOARES: But before the event there were concerns. There will be more tensions on the politics that the performances. It is one of the biggest
nights in the British film calendar but expect politics to steal the limelight.
There is certainly were strong messages on the night.
KEN LOACH, DIRECTOR: The world is in a dark and dangerous place, being able to make films contribute to the public discourse that people have things to
say.
VIOLA DAVIS, ACTRESS: My message would just be a message just congruent with August Wilson's life legacy which is honoring that every man, honoring
that janitor, that maid, that garbage collector, those people who were in the grave whose lives never mattered, uplifting their lives.
VIGGO MONTERSEN, ACTOR: More than ever now not just in the United States but in Great Britain and the rest of the Europe. I think people need to do
a lot more listening than speaking and shouting.
SOARES: A called to action by some of the most talented people in the industry proving that Hollywood and the Baftas's are not just about glitz
and glamour.
Isa Soares, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well the film Denial was also nominated for a BAFTA. And while it didn't win any prizes, it's core message has resonated with audiences.
The film tells the story, the true story, of a woman forced to defend herself in court against a holocaust denier.
And in her story is the importance of pursuing truth. Max Foster has a look at the film for you tonight in what are our Parting Shots.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have to conclude that the reason you don't engage with people you disagree with is because you can't, and you might
(inaudible). Facts, Ms. Mishtat (ph), which don't suit your opinions.
MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNTIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Fact from fiction, truth from lies, the need to sort between what's real and what's fake isn't just a
recent phenomenon. The film Denial explores how exactly you prove something, even an event so monumentally monstrous as the Holocaust.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Over here in America, if you're accused of defaming someone, then it's up to them to prove that what you said is untrue. In
the UK, the reverse is true.
FOSTER: Renowned lawyer Anthony Julius, once the representative of Diana, princess of Wales, was tasked with defending historian Debroah Listad (ph),
and Penguin Books, against holocaust denier David Irving in the British high court.
ANTHONY JULIUS, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN, MISHCON DE REYA: It was Irving who was saying that they received accounts of the Holocaust was a kind of egregious
example of fake news, because he was the fake. I mean, he is the fake.
[10:55:02] FOSTER: German history expert professor Richard Evans joined the defense team to prove fact from fake.
RICHARD EVANS, HISTORIAN: That's something that Irving did not do, if the source went
against his argument, say, that Hitler didn't know about the extermination of the Jews, then he would either not mention the source, or he would
change it to make it look as if he did.
FOSTER: Ultimately, the judge ruled that, yes, Irving was a Holocaust denier and had manipulated historical evidence.
EVANS: The difference now, I think, is that it's all out there on the internet. The internet has made a huge different, because one opinion is
as good as another on the internet. And it's very difficult to counter fake news stories, invented news stories and down right lies.
JULIUS: Once a story is up on the net, then the most strenuous litigation efforts will not remove that story. The lie has traveled halfway around
the world before the truth has got its boots on.
FOSTER: So what lessons can be learned from a case which took three years to compile, that can be applied to today's whirlwind of fake news?
EVANS: I think the only way to counter fake news, so-called alternative facts and so on is the way we did it in the Irving trial, which is to very
carefully and thoroughly assemble all the evidence to back the real truth and the real stories.
And in the age of the Internet, you have to do this much faster than we did in the trial.
RACHEL WEISZ, ACTRESS: Something's happened, just like we say they do.
Slavery happened. The black death happened. The Earth is round. The ice caps are melting. And Elvis is not alive.
FOSTER: Max Foster, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDRESON: Well, that is it for our show for you this evening, at just before 8:00 here in Dubai. We have had an incredible two days here at the
World Government Summit, meeting the people who are making the news and shaping all of our futures. That's why we came to question the leaders and
to explore the ideas that will take us all forward. We bring it all together for you of course on Connect the World from what many call the
crossroads of our new world, the United Arab Emirates.
In a few hours for now, I'm going to hop on a plane and head across this region to a much more ancient city, Jerusalem. Lots lined up for you from
there as you would expect from the team here on the show. So, be sure to join us then.
For now, I'm Becky Anderson. That was Connect the World. See you same time tomorrow.
END
