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Connect the World
Trump Insults Kim Jong-Un in Tweet; Interview with Top US Official in Yemen. Aired 10-11a E
Aired November 12, 2017 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: "I am old. He is short and fat." The American president sounding anything but like a president. Then,
politicians play games, but hide and seek? Why is Lebanon still looking for its own vanishing prime minister? And Yemen, as millions face starving
to death, we speak to the UN's top guy there this hour. We are connecting your world.
Hello, it's your world and we are connecting it from CNN's Middle East programming hub right here in Abu Dhabi. It is just past seven in the
evening. I'm Becky Anderson for you.
US president Donald Trump's Asia roadshow is winding down. He is on the final stop of his tour, the Philippines, where he toasted the start of the
ASEAN Summit in Manila with the Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. But it's President Trump's comments about Russian election meddling and
subsequent backtracking that are getting the most attention. First, he said he believed Russian President, Vladimir Putin's denial of interference
in the U.S. presidential election calling the former intelligence chiefs who made the meddling assessment political hacks, but now after swift
backlash, a change of tune.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF USA: I believe that he feels that he and Russia did not meddle in the election. As to whether I believe it or not, I'm
with our agencies, especially as currently constituted with their leadership, I believe in our intel agencies, our intelligence agencies,
I've worked with them very strongly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: We're on all sides of this. CNN White House reporter as you would imagine, Kaitlan Collins, joining me now from Manila and Fred
Pleitgen is in Moscow. To you, Kaitlan first, your analysis if you will.
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN REPORTER: We're really seeing the president seek to clarify those comments he made, because he raised a lot of eyebrows after
he told reporters during an Air Force One flight that he believed Putin when he said Russia did not meddle in the elections. So the president at
that press conference today in Vietnam was asked directly, does he believe that Russia meddled in the election?
Now, he didn't answer directly, but he sought to clarify what he meant on Air Force One saying that he believes Putin truly believes that Russia did
not meddle in the election, but he also added that he agrees with the U.S. intelligence agencies like the CIA which is that that the Russias did
meddle in the election. But it kind of seems Becky, like the President is trying to have it both ways here. He wants to say that yes, he did believe
Russia meddled in the election, but he also seems to be trying to move on from the subject overall, because the other day he said you can only ask
Russia so many times about this election interference.
Now, that goes against what a lot of intelligence officials have said, which is that this is a continuous threat against the United States,
because if they've done it before, they will likely try to do it again. But we've seen these questions about whether the President truly believes
that Russia tried to meddle follow him for many months of his administration because of comments like what he said on Air Force One and
others he's made saying that it could have been Russia, it could have been China, it could have been multiple people who tried to interfere in the
election.
But it's certainly something that we've seen continue to follow him around. It will likely do so as he's here in the Philippines where he is going to
meet with President Duterte, which is another meeting that's been raising some eyebrows because the president has been very -- he's praised Duterte
over his crackdown on the drug trafficking here, something that's been widely condemned by a lot of human rights groups over these extrajudicial
killings.
So that's a thing, a relationship that a lot of people are also going to be watching during his last stop here on his trip to Asia, Becky.
ANDERSON: Fred, the perspective if you will from Moscow?
FRED PLEITGEN, CNN REPORTER: Well, I think the Russians, Becky, are very happy with the way things went at that APEC Summit, especially some of the
things that Kaitlan was just talking about, the fact that the Russians also believe that the U.S. President appears to want to move on from the whole
controversy around Russia's alleged election meddling.
I want you to listen into really quick some of the things that President Trump said earlier about all that. Let's listen in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP: Hilary Clinton had the reset button. She wanted to get back together with Russia. She even spelled reset wrong, that's how it started
and then it got worse. President Obama wanted to get along with Russia, but the chemistry wasn't there. Getting along with other nations is a good
thing, not a bad thing, believe me. It's a good thing, not a bad thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PLEITGEN: Well the Russians have already latched onto that, Becky, as you can imagine. They are also saying, look we want better relations and we
want to talk about those relations. I want to read a quick quote from Dmitry Peskov who is the spokesman for the Kremlin. He said, "There is
understanding that the deplorable condition of bilateral relations, obviously referring to those between Russia and United States, an
increasing crisis in both international and bilateral relations demand both communication and talks," he said.
So the Russians are saying, look, we want to talk about this and they believe, clearly believe, that the summit in Da Nang in Vietnam was a very
good start to that. They're really downplaying some of the things that many people criticized about that summit, the fact that there was no
bilateral meeting, at least no official meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. They say, look, that really doesn't
matter. They met so many times unofficially on the sidelines and they drafted a document together on Syria, saying that they want to cooperate
there and that they at least do share some common goals.
So the Russians are saying, look, these two leaders have clearly proven that they can get together, that they can work with one another, and the
Russians are saying they would like to see more of that obviously as Kaitlan also said in her live just a minute ago, there are many people in
Washington who see it very differently.
But one of the things I think we need to point out, Becky, and it's very important, I think the Russians just a couple of months ago were seeing a
president who was hamstrung. They were not seeing any sort of chance that the sanctions could see any sort of relief that there could be better
relations between the U.S. and Russia. I think after the summit, they certainly see things a little different than before with some of the things
they heard, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, it's fascinating. Kaitlan, another off script moment from President Trump, this time going after the North Korean leader in a
sarcastic tweet, writing he would never call Kim Jong-un short and fat. Of course he kind of did just do that, briefly, Kaitlan, why is he returning
to inflammatory rhetoric do you think?
COLLINS: He said he would never call him short and fat by calling him short and fat in that tweet which was pretty striking. The President is
known for being loose with his thoughts on Twitter. He really says what's on his mind, and this was really the first time that we've seen him do so
during this swing through Asia for this trip. He's largely been pretty restrained, but after those reports of Kim Jong-un and the North Korean
regime saying that Trump was a "lunatic old man," he shot back on Twitter saying that. But it really just brings up how the president is handling
North Korea.
That's been something that's dominated this entire trip almost, with every leader including tomorrow likely here in the Philippines, the President has
had to discuss North Korea and this overcoming threat, and during that speech in South Korea, we actually saw a very different President Trump
where, instead of promising to rain fire and fury down on little rocket man, he sought to compare and contrast life in South Korea with that of
North Korea while touting South Korea's success.
And so in that speech, he didn't use any of this inflammatory language that we've seen from him on North Korea in the past, but clearly the president
returned back to his old ways on Twitter today by saying those comments about Kim Jong-un. We'll likely see a response from the North Korean regime
on that, but it's certainly a very big topic of how the president is going to handle this.
ANDERSON: Kaitlan is in Manila, Fred is in Moscow. To both of you, thank you.
Well, President Trump and his Republicans were dealt a crushing blow in several elections last week, the same may be true for next month's special
election in what is the state of Alabama, that election now overshadowed by allegations of sexual abuse. Senate candidate Roy Moore, an already
controversial former judge, is accused of sexual misconduct with teenaged girls, one of them just 14 years old. The alleged incidents occurred
nearly 40 years ago and Moore vehemently denies them all.
He is backed in the Senate raise by former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon who appears to be undaunted.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVE BANNON, FORMER WHITE HOUSE CHIEF STRATEGIST: Until I see additional evidence on Judge Moore, I'm standing with him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Latest details on all of this straight from Alabama.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Roy Moore taking to conservative talk radio making a strong denial of the accusations leveled against him
including allegations of sexually abusing a 14-year old girl in 1979, first reported by the Washington Post.
ROY MOORE, AMERICAN POLITICIAN: These allegations are completely false and misleading. But more than that, it hurts me personally because I'm a
father, I have one daughter. I have five granddaughters and I have a special concern for protection of young ladies. This is really hard to get
on radio and explain this, as these allegations are just completely false.
SAVIDGE: Moore says he has no recollection of his most serious accuser, Leigh Corfman, who says when she was 14 and Moore was 32, he undressed and
sexually abused her.
MOORE: I don't know Ms. Corfman from anybody. I've never talked to her, I've never had any contact with her. Allegations of sexual misconduct with
her are completely false.
SAVIDGE: One question looms, should Moore continue or quit his quest for the U.S. Senate? Supporters and even fellow Republicans are divided.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If they're true, you know, that's bad. He needs to step out of the race, there's no question of that.
SAVIDGE: Moore is still finding support in his home state but in Washington where he's hoping to take over Jeff Sessions' Senate seat more
than a dozen GOP lawmakers are saying Moore should step down if the accusations are true.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If they're true, he should step aside.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If that's true, then I don't believe that there is a place for him in the U.S. Senate.
SAVIDGE: The political scandal even triggering reaction from President Trump halfway around the world. Speaking on Air Force One between China
and Vietnam, White House Press Secretary Spokesperson Sarah Sanders first giving the impression Trump was supporting Moore.
SARAH SANDERS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY SPOKESPERSON: The President believes that we cannot allow a mere allegation, in this case one for many
years ago, to destroy a person's life.
SAVIDGE: But in the very next line, Sanders repeating an increasingly heard theme.
SANDERS: However, the President also believes that if these allegations are true, Judge Moore will do the right thing and step aside.
SAVIDGE: Moore himself is showing absolutely no indication of quitting. In a phone interview, Moore's brother says his brother's accusers are
either being paid or supporting Moore's Democratic opponent. Then comparing his brother's political problems to the persecution of Jesus
Christ, but the question remains, are the shocking accusations impacting Alabama voters? It depends on who you talk to.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why do they come up seven, eight months ago when he was running, all of a sudden two weeks from now, all of this stuff come up, you
know. I believe it's a lot of BS, I really do, you know what I mean? I think he's a nice guy.
SAVIDGE: Those who know Roy Moore will tell you a number of things, including first and foremost he is not going to back down. He is not going
to quit and they do not expect the Alabama Republican Party to interfere or intervene in any way. What they do expect is that Roy Moore will win the
Senate seat from Alabama in December. Martin Savidge CNN, Gadsden, Alabama.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Martin Savidge reporting for you. Coming up right here on Connect the World, Lebanon's missing prime minister. Why many believe
Saudi Arabia is keeping a tight rein on Saad Al-Hariri. (INAUDIBLE) I'm going to take you inside a cultural game changer right here in the UAE.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SAAD AL-HARIRI, PRIME MINISTER OF LEBANON: I announce my resignation from the Lebanese prime ministry with the certainty that the will of the
Lebanese people will be stronger.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that was Saad Al-Hariri announcing his resignation as Lebanon's prime minister last week in strangely enough the Saudi Arabian
capital. Well, now, Lebanon's government believes Saudi Arabia is keeping him there, restricting Mr. Hariri's movements and communications. A high
level ministerial source tells CNN Mr. Hariri isn't expressing himself freely, his own political allies have no idea what's going on. The
kingdom, though, insists he is free to leave anytime he likes.
Joining me now from Beirut with more is our senior international correspondent, Ben Wedeman, Ben?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Becky. Well, certainly the Lebanese have their divisions, but the fact that Saad Al-Hariri is now eight days
since his resignation and has not returned to Lebanon, has not spoken publicly to anybody in Lebanon has divided, or rather united Lebanese in
their condemnation of what they see is essentially that Saad Al-Hariri is being held hostage in Saudi Arabia. So, out of their divisions has come
unity and we saw that unity in play on the streets of Beirut today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Peace, love, go.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WEDEMAN: And they're off, runners in the 15th Beirut Marathon in a country where divisions have led to war, this is a race about unity, joining
athletes, professional and amateur, young and old, the able and the disabled and others.
A record number of people are participating in this year's Beirut Marathon, however, one person who participated in the past is conspicuously absent
and that's runner number three. That's Saad Al-Hariri who resigned suddenly as prime minister from Saudi Arabia more than a week ago and who
Lebanese leaders now believe is not free to return to Lebanon.
There were plenty of reminders of the 47-year old leader left out of the running. May El-Khalil organized the first marathon back in 2003.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAY EL-KHALIL, BEIRUT MARATHON ORGANIZER: The Prime Minister has been a great supporter to the Beirut Marathon, a sportsman himself, young, very
dynamic, and not having him here today, definitely we all feel very sad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WEDEMAN: His absence from the race and from politics has left a gaping void and sparked intense concern Lebanon could be sucked into a proxy war
between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The Lebanese have long been accustomed to outside involvement in their internal affairs, but that doesn't make it any
more acceptable.
Hariri's fate is unknown and that makes us angry says veteran runner Katya Rashid. We completely reject any interference in our country. Says
another runner, Aleen, in the end he's Lebanese and the Lebanese are all brothers regardless of their sect and that's our goal, to be united.
After the race they united for a street party overseen by Santa Clause dancing to a song perhaps now close to Hariri's heart.
And Saad Al-Hariri may break free with an interview this evening on Lebanese television. The timing isn't certain. The interview isn't
certain, but it will be perhaps the first time he expresses himself in eight days. Becky?
ANDERSON: Ben, from Tehran all the way to where you are, Beirut, it is widely speculated that Iran is looking not only for influence, but also to
carve a path, a real physical route through this region. That's what you're looking at right now on this map, viewers, so the narrative goes
that Iran is able to send out weapons and its influence more easily than ever. And that is this route crucially, Ben, that the Saudis say helps
facilitate the provision of weapons from Hezbollah to their proxy in Yemen, the Houthis responsible for the ballistic missile fired at Riyadh last
week.
As one expert I was speaking to this week put it, it's that Beirut Lebanon bridge that haunts Sunni Arabs' nightmares and lies behind to a certain
extent or certainly provides some context for what we are seeing in this region at present, do you buy that?
WEDEMAN: That certainly has been a concern of many in the region and that this is something that's been in the works now essentially since 2003 with
the fall of the regime of Saddam Hussein, toppled by the Americans, supported of course by Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States and the
international coalition.
Whether they wanted it or not, this is the effect of what has happened. Now, was this part of some grand Iranian scheme? It's hard to say, but this
is what we see in effect happening, that you have an Iran-friendly government in Baghdad, you have an old ally of Iran in Damascus, you have
friends of Iran here in Lebanon. Now, each country has its internal dynamics and they're not necessarily all sort of robots of Tehran, but
they're friends.
Now, this is-- as I've said, this has been in the works for a while, but what we've seen in an Arab world divided, bickering, scheming among one
another, while the Iranians clearly have a long-term vision to establish themselves as a regional superpower. And this is not unique to the Islamic
Republic of Iran. This goes back to the days of the Shah. This is something that Iran has long wanted, to be a regional superpower and the
question is can Saudi Arabia lead a coalition of Arab regimes that are constantly squabbling to stop this? Can the United States stop it or
should the United States perhaps come to terms with the fact the Iran is indeed a regional superpower and rather than fight it, maybe learn to live
with it, deal with it, negotiate with Iran as Barack Obama tried to do, because Iran is not a pushover by any means. Becky?
ANDERSON: Ben Wedeman is out of Beirut for you, busy, busy times, Ben. Thank you. And my goodness, how the world changes, moment of Zen this hour
is this, Saad Al-Hariri smiling, happy running the marathon for himself eight years ago. Little could he know others would be running it for him
all these years later.
Iran backed Hezbollah, and is warning Israel, two bitter rivals, against exploiting Lebanon's political crisis. Remember, in the past Israel has
rolled tanks and troops into the country directly against Hezbollah. Well, now Israel has nearly all of its citizens train with the military, but some
within the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community are divided on keeping their faith while serving their country. Oren Liebermann has more.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They call it a day of rage. These ultra-Orthodox Jews blocking streets, snarling traffic, refusing to join
the Israeli Army and its mandatory draft. Some call the police Nazis and murderers chanting, to prison, but not to the army. They believe they
protect the country not with weapons, but with devout faith.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If there will not be Orthodox Jews like you see here, we will not be a country, we will not be a Jewish people.
LIEBERMANN: They are called Haredim, those who tremble before God, committing their lives to the study of Jewish scripture and law. For years
the Army has tried to recruit Haredim soldiers despite an exception dating back to the founding of the State of Israel that allowed them to avoid
service. In September, Israel's High Court struck down the law that exempted Haredim from Army service, part of the tailwind behind the current
protests.
David Zoldan was in the Army's first Haredi unit in 1999. The creation of the unit made national news. Many predicted it would fail.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I felt a need. I wanted to be in the spearhead with the people of Israel, the Army were in Lebanon and I wanted to be there. I
felt I had to contribute.
LIEBERMANN: Zoldan's army photos show 60 young men learning to fight together as soldiers at the same time they were becoming outcasts from
their community and in some cases from their own family.
These are all warning messages in the ultra-Orthodox community against joining the Army. This one for example says drafting destroyed the
religion. Zoldan was no longer welcome at the religious school, the Yeshiva where he had studied.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The rabbi said you can come here with a pony tail, that's okay. You can come here with earrings, that's okay. But if you
come here with a black kippah, beard, prayer shawl, battle fatigues and a rifle, it sends a message to the pupils that the Army and the Haredim can
go together and that I can't accept.
LIEBERMANN: There are more Haredi soldiers now than ever before, nearly 3,000 Haredim drafted into the military last year, but that's less than a
third of eligible men, and women don't serve at all.
Within the Haredi community there's a rift between those who serve and those who oppose service.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For them, the conflict defines their identity and with the conflict, the conflict with the secularism, the conflict with Zionism,
the conflict with the Israelism, all of this defines their identity, so they need it.
LIEBERMANN: Earlier this year in Mea Shearim an ultra-Orthodox neighborhood in Jerusalim, some Haredim burned an effigy of an Israeli
soldier, part of an ongoing contest between the factions and their highly influential rabbis to see who can push back hardest against the secular
world. As one man at the demonstrations told me:
We are saying no to enlistment, no to the Army. We won't compromise on one boy, not in Israel and not outside of Israel. We are authentic and true
Judaism. The small circle of Haredim that wear black kippahs and sit in the Knesset with Netanyahu and for huge budgets of millions are selling
their souls to the devil.
The two ultra-Orthodox parties have about 10 percent of the seats in the Knesset, Israel's Parliament. They've joined coalition governments in
exchange for generous special budgets for their communities, but despite their political power, they have been unable to bring their community with
them.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Extremism is exciting, so it works, but we have to understand that most of the ultra-Orthodox society are against them and
doesn't like them. And the things that they are doing, very bad things for the ultra-Orthodox society. Good for them to hurt the coexistence between
the ultra-Orthodox and the other Israelis. They want to hurt this coexistence.
LIEBERMANN: The Haredim make up 10 percent of Israel's population, but their large families make them the fastest-growing Jewish segment by far.
These protests aren't just Israel's present, they are its future. Oren Liebermann, CNN, Jerusalem.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well still, to come tonight, humanitarian agencies one of a dire situation in Yemen if crucial aid can't be delivered. We'll talk to a UN
coordinator about that crisis up next. Plus, an iconic European monument opening its first branch overseas, but where exactly? We'll tell you about
in a minute.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back. A few moments ago we were talking about Lebanon, hotspot between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Let's shift to another, Yemen ,
already struggling with famine and cholera, the situation worsening after Iranian-back rebels in Yemen fired a missile at the Saudi capital, Saudi
Arabia shuttered the ports of Yemen, severely cutting off aid in response.
And even as some reopen, aid agencies warn that it may not be enough to averse a catastrophe. So how bad are things and how much worse could they
get? Just back weeks ago from the Yemeni capital (INAUDIBLE) as the U.N.'s humanitarian coordinator in Yemen, Jamie McGoldrick. Having being on the
ground, sir, and witnessing the situation personally, what is your assessment?
JAMIE MCGOLDRICK, U.N. HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR: Well, I mean there are seven million people who don't how to feed their families on a daily basis
and are living on a hand-to-mouth existence, there's been almost three years of a war and economic collapse and systems collapse.
You've had poor -- sorry, cholera, 900,000 people affected, an indication that everything is falling apart. Now, what we have is this really
difficult situation where some of the borders and the ports are closed to us to bring in essential humanitarian assistance for seven million people
we feed on a monthly basis.
ANDERSON: Saudi Arabia has the whole country practically on lockdown, it claimed it has to do that to cut off the flow of Iranian weapons to Yemen.
Here's how the Kingdom's Foreign Minister and Member of the Crown Prince's inner circle put it to me just a week ago, have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ADEL AL-JUBEIR, SAUDI ARABIA FOREIGN MINISTER: The coalition is looking best mechanisms that will make the inspections regime in Yemen more
efficient while at the same time increasing the capacity to bring in humanitarian supplies into Yemen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: We are now seeing reports that at last Riyadh is cracking open the door a little, opening up this one land crossing. Sir, is that enough?
MCGOLDRICK: No, it's not enough. We use the main port of Hudaydah which services about 70 percent of our population who we feed and give help to on
a daily, weekly basis. Having other ports open, they can support that effort. But the main effort has to come through Hudaydah. Having adding
the Aden in the south open is helpful. Having Jazan open is very helpful as well. But ultimately without Hudaydah Port we are at a loss to service
the population we've identified and we can't shift easily, we can't move our operation from Hudaydah to other places, takes a long time to move
this.
And to cross the front lines north to south, south to north is very difficult and sometimes very dangerous. So for us it's essential we have
all the ports open, freely open for our international humanitarian assistance to arrive and also for commercial traffic as well.
ANDERSON: Just last week this UN statement saying these events, these latest events are unfortunately part of the tragic pattern of the disregard
that the parties of the conflict continue to show for the laws of war and their obligations and responsibilities to protect civilians' lives.
Look, things are not likely to get any better any time soon. In fact, the rhetoric that we are hearing from Saudi on the threat from Iran through the
Houthis as its proxy in Yemen suggests a tightening of the Saudi-led screws going forward. How concerned are you and from the UN, what is the message
on what should happen next?
MCGOLDRICK: Well we have to have the ability to deliver assistance to populations in need. International humanitarian laws have been flouted
since day one by all parties to the conflict. We've been trying to advocate that they open up and give us the space we need, give us the
opportunities we need. And we need the international community to give us the funding we need. We are willing as a humanitarian community to work
with all parties to make sure that it happens. But at the end of the day, those parties should not be putting restrictions on us, and in fact under
international humanitarian law, they should be facilitating or -- and understand there are concerns with Saudi Arabia over the missile and the UN
has come out and condemned that.
But that's separate from the work we do. Our work is humanitarian, it should be isolated and taken out of the particular equation. And until
there is a political solution, the humanitarian nightmare that is Yemen will continue.
ANDERSON: With that, we will leave it there. We thank you very much indeed. Joining us tonight out of Amman in Jordan. Jamie McGoldrick,
thank you.
Before we move on, viewers, think of this startling figure, the World Food Program reporting 17 million people are short of food, that is 60 percent,
6-0 percent of Yemen's population, that is two out of three people there.
While war across the Middle East has wiped away countless monuments from the ancient past, a brand new project right here in the UAE is all about
preserving the past. A bridge between civilizations, that's how French President Emmanuel Macron described Louvre Abu Dhabi at its opening a few
days ago.
Well, today, we're going to take you on a tour of the game changing museum and introduce you to the man who made it all happen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: It's taken 10 years, more than 10,000 tons of steel, and hundreds of millions of dollars.
MOHAMED KHALIFA AL-MUBARAK: You can come here, you can sit on the steps under the dome,, look at the water.
ANDERSON: And for Mohamed Khalifa al-Mubarak who is overseeing the race to open this new Louvre Abu Dhabi, many a sleepless night.
AL-MUBARAK: You know, sometimes I look at myself in the mirror and I say, "You know what, I'm this close to bein an actor of the Walking Dead because
I do feel some night I'm becoming a zombie. But it's all worth it.
ANDERSON: Worth it because the Emirates now has a world-class cultural icon to call its own.
Why did Abu Dhabi want to bring the Louvre? Why here?
AL-MUBARAK: We felt that we really wanted to create something for the world. And when the visitors the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the first thing they're
going to hear from all our guides, from our local guides, they're going to hear, "Welcome to your museum."
They're not going to hear, "Welcome to our museum," "Welcome to the Louvre of Abu Dhabi," this is your museum. I'll give you 30 seconds, just take it
all in.
ANDERSON: On this day at least, it certainly feels like my museum.
AL-MUBARAK: This is where you are basically warped into a new world.
ANDERSON: Mubarak passionately shows off some of the Louvre Abu Dhabi's 23 galleries.
AL-MUBARAK: This is 6,500 (INAUDIBLE) we have this fantastic piece there. She is powerful, she is full of energy.
ANDERSON: These designs tell a story of cross cultural dialogue. A visitor here will hear this described then as a universal museum, which you
hope means what?
AL-MUBARAK: It's the museum that connects us together. I think the beauty with this museum is that it will talk to everybody.
ANDERSON: They've got over 600 artworks, everything from Ancient Egypt to the modern world, all of it displayed in a building designed by award-
winning French architect Jean Nouvel that may as well be art itself.
What impact do you hope Louvre Abu Dhabi will have only global arts scene?
AL-MUBARAK: You know, we talk about the global art scene, it's a scene that has to be organic, it's a scene that has to be fluid, and I think what
Abu Dhabi is banking on that that scene is going to be a way of life here.
ANDERSON: Louvre Abu Dhabi is the result of an inter-governmental deal made between France and the UAE in 2007. The brand name alone sold for an
estimated $520 million on loan for 30 years.
AL-MUBARAK: Close to 7,000 (INAUDIBLE)
ANDERSON: For Mubarak though, it's not about the money.
AL-MUBARAK: Culture is worth it. We hear remarks of cost and of delays. I think first and foremost, we made sure that when we have the first
visitor entering this museum he's going to see something of fantastic quality, and that's what's important. But what's the most important thing
is culture is here to stay, so that the winner here is culture.
ANDERSON: Mubarak is already preparing for Abu Dhabi's next mega projects. Two more museums here including a future Guggenheim.
AL-MUBARAK: I have tight timeline that I'm working on. So when I say short period of time, it is actually quite a short period of time.
ANDERSON: Forget sleep, he says culture is worth it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And do be sure to be with us this time tomorrow. I tell you under that dome you see the man who designed what is an incredible
building. Let me tell you, it takes your breath away every time you see it.
I've been in three times since it opened, it is remarkable. It's all part of what is my five-part series exploring Louvre Abu Dhabi and the
fascinating people behind this project. That is all this week here on "Connect the World."
I'm Becky Anderson, from the team working with me here and around the world, it is a very good evening. Thank you for watching.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's 32 and is showing us a knack for shock and awe. Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi's Crown Prince's latest bold action, arresting
just over 200 high profiled princes, government ministers, and businessmen including Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, an international tycoon who's one of
the world's richest men.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN, SAUDI CROWN PRINCE: There is a reason why everybody was brought in, detained, and will be questioned, and will be investigated.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia takes very, very seriously the issue of corruption ways and mismanagement.
We don't -- we want the investors to have confidence in our system, we want companies to know that when they come to compete in Saudi Arabia, they can
compete fair and square with any other company.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is obviously intense crackdown that's ever happened in any Arab monarchy, so it is quite unprecedented. It is clearly a
successful attempt to further concentrate power and is also an attempt to claw back some of the assets that have been misappropriated during the last
oil boom.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In recent months, powerful opponents have been sidelined. There's an ongoing war in neighboring Yemen and the continuing
isolation of Qatar.
The Crown Prince has taken control of every lever of power from defense to oil and is overturning social norms, like allowing women to drive from next
year.
It's really hard to overestimate the level of social and economic change taking place in Saudi Arabia right now. It is the Middle East's largest
economy and its size is more than double the land mass of France and Germany combined.
With a population of over 32 million, 70 percent are under the age of 30, and over the next decade, at least five million Saudis will enter the
workforce. It needs to change rapidly and they claim to have a plan, a roadmap called Saudi Vision 2030.
This was the palatial scene last month in Riyadh, more than 3,000 global investors, bankers, and CEOs descended for a three-day international
investor forum. The Crown Prince needs their support and money if his economic roadmap is to be a success.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He approach is exactly the right approach. The revenues of the fossil fuels are depleting, the usage of fossil fuels
around the world is diminishing, his population is increasing, the needs for healthcare, education, and a workforce are increasing.
He only has one option and that option is to diversify to an economic model that's on a global and diverse while he has the revenues to support that
and it can only be done with a bold action which this Crown Prince is demonstrating.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But this is a lot more than attracting high profile international investors. The reality is that crowned prince needs to get
support of his people to get them to start up small businesses.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I wore a lot of ugly glasses since I was a kid.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is what spurred Jeddah businessman Halmi Natu to open his boutique eyewear store in the year 2000.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HALMI NATU, BUSINESSMAN: To see and to be seen as well. I think any business you've opened in those times could have been successful without a
lot of hard work. But now we're learning.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His business quickly expanded to 12 stores employing almost 100. But steep government budget cuts because of lower oil revenues
are resulting in near zero growth this year.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NATU: Our number one thing is sales and our sales have been very, very effective by the recent situations that's happened in the country. We're
adjusting, we're cost-cutting, we're closing stores, we're laying off people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Despite his difficulties, Halmi fully supports the objectives of Vision 2030 and is hopeful for the future.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NATU: Finally, the country is being run like a company. So this is good, because we all know that the spine of any country is its economy. So for
the first time, we have a CEO who is taking charge of running the country as a really good oil company.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The economy also needs to develop a vibrant manufacturing sector and the modern technology incubator program based in
Riyadh plans to support that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Currently we have 157 startups, we have fine technology incubators so we have like 27 projects or startups, we have manufacturing
based startups and this we supported by providing them with workshop and machines.
We have actually the ICT incubators which is based on servers and knowhow and apps and programmers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As the country needs to transform fast, Badr has ambitious expansion plans with a target of 600 new startups and 3,600 jobs
over the next three years.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The target is not easy, however we are expanding and we have the funds and we get the support of the government, and I don't think
that we have an excuse now. We have to work, we have to work very seriously and very fast to deliver this target.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Saudi government is aware that they face an uphill battle, but confident that they can turn things around and deliver for
their people.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have a young population, they believe in what we are doing, they see a target, they see a vision, they see very thin line and
aligned activity between the various government agencies, the private sector to move to the next level and they are very excited.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But the recent high profile arrests have rattled many and how it plays out will be watched intensely around the world in the
weeks and months ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In the short run is has of course spooked a lot of people, local investors, international investors will have to see which
reassurances the government can give in terms of how the trial is going to be conducted, what kind of disclosure is going to be, what kinds of
evidence is going to be presented.
Right now both within the administration and the business class, a lot of people are understandably scared.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Coming up, for decades, those in the Gulf have enjoyed a tax free lifestyle, but that is quickly coming to an end.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Once the VAT comes, the prices are going to go up and life would be very difficult over here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In an era of lower oil prices, governments are looking to diversify their sources of income. A value added tax or VAT is a new
revenue stream set to be introduced right here in the Gulf.
Dubai is known for its glimmering skyscrapers, high-end cars, and tax free lifestyle. That's about to change when VAT of five percent is applied to
95 percent of goods and services from January 1.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's already quite expense, once the VAT comes, the prices are going to go up and life would be very difficult over here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are coming here as a resident for luxury life. Of course, we are worried about it and it will affect us in our lives.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a big step for governments across the Gulf who have traditionally levied little tax, instead relying on oil revenues.
That all changed in February 2016 when Abu Dhabi introduced a three percent municipality fee on property rental contracts.
Last July, Saudi Arabia introduced an expat tax amounting to $26.00 per person per month. Corporate tax is applied in Amman and Kuwait. But it's
the first time that there's a coordinated effort by six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council with VAT being rolled out in the next 12 months,
starting with the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: VAT is a big transformation in this region, right? It' will not be an easy drive but it's a necessity. All other countries,
more than 170 countries implement VAT currently, it is an essential source of revenue for governments.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For the past 40 years, Jumbo Electronics has been a key retail player in the consumer market across the United Arab Emirates. More
than three million customers pass through its doors every year.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This latest Mac, 27 inches, one of our bestselling products, this retails for $2,500 at this moment, post VAT the price will
become $2,625. Consumer electronics initially for the first couple of quarters will be impacted.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Big business ma ybe ready for the change, but there is a growing concern about the preparations made by small and medium-size
enterprises.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The indication from the government is very clear, they will go live by 1 January, 2018. So I believe that they will be ready
and it is important that they're ready, otherwise it will not be a success.
The worry is around the smaller businesses. How ready they are, I'm not sure they will all be complying by 1 January and this is something the
government needs to look at.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A success or not, the lifestyle across the Gulf is well and truly ending and the body overseeing the global financial system, the
International Monetary Fund, strongly backs the move.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIHAD AZOUR, IMF: It's not only about diversifying the economies outside oil, but also diversifying revenues outside oil. We are seeing those
countries seriously moving toward building strong fiscal institutions that they can sustain high oil price and low oil price conditions.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You don't have concerns today that once you introduce a tax, it opens the door to many taxes, that they just creep higher and they
don't go down.
AZOUR: The best remedy to that is to be fiscally responsible, not expanding on your spending. My recommendation is keep eye on your
expenditures, keep eye on the way you spend, reduce your current expenditures and make it more flexible,
Make sure that in infrastructure you benefit not only form the private sector money but also from the private sector talent and allow your economy
to grow. The best way to increase your revenues is by having high level of growth.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jihad Azour of the IMF acknowledging after decades of generous subsidies and a tax-free lifestyle, the introduction of taxation
is the only way forward.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
