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Connect the World
Breakthrough Emerge From North and South Korea Meeting; Iran's Supreme Leader Condemns Western Attacks; Bad Weather, High Seas Hampering Rescue Operations; Rising Anger Over Austerity Measures; Economic Concerns Deepening In Tunisia; Sport And Politics Collide. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired January 09, 2018 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:00:25] BECKY ANDERSON, CONNECT THE WORLD, CNN: A warm welcome this is "Connect the World, on CNN I am Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi, tonight I want
to get you right to Seoul in South Korea when my college Kristie Lu Stout covering the first direct talks between North and South Korea in 2 years.
Christie?
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi Becky after years of high tension after years of years of frosty ties between North and South Korea a thaw
may be on the horizon breakthroughs came out of the high-level talks take place earlier today a small village in the DMZ is a place of truth Village,
in a statement just came out in the last few hours both parties vowed to undertake into Korean military talks on the ease current tensions that they
say had results to work on these issues by a high level dialogue and that took place earlier today 10:00 a.m. is understood but the leaders of both
countries are monitoring these talks are two sides are still technically at war the post seems to be getting the negotiations a sporting chance North
Korea also saying it will send a delegation to next month's winter games and Pyongyang South Korea.
Earlier I spoke to Moon Chung-in, he is the special adviser to the South Korean president of the progress being made in these talks.
(BEGIN VIDEO)
MOON CHUNG-IN, SPECIAL ADVISER TO SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT: He should be very happy, it is more than what he anticipated. North Korea proactively
cooperative with South Korea is really amazingly boastful events.
LU STOUT: A lot of progress has been made North Korea will be attending the winter games in Pyeongchang on one month from now should North Korea go
to the games North Korea has defied the world with its relentless weapons testing doesn't deserve to participate in the Olympics.
CHUNG-IN: Yes we should not in dealing with North Korea it is very important for us to go positive reinforcement negative reinforcement but
inviting North Korea to become someone and letting them show North Korea is an almost state to the world, that would be great credit to North Korea and
that I was in the that will make North Korea more normal than before.
LU STOUT: But North Korea is not a normal state is a pariah nation, it has committed gross human rights abuses again it has defied the world and U.N.
resolutions for these weapons tests, is sending the right message to say yes North Korea we invite you.
CHUNG-IN: To bring important and critical bing, you have achieve in the denuclearization in a human right improvements in democracy North Korea and
removal of weapons ministries such as biochemical weapons you cannot achieve all of those things at once but you get the treatment if one
treatment comes in one that would begin North Korea behavior.
LU STOUT: Now we are hearing that South Korean officials are willing to lift temporarily sanctions on North Korea to allow the North delegation to
o Pyeongchang, why do that when you risk enraging a lot of people in particular the U.S.?
CHUNG-IN: It will be imposed in consultation with United States, we would then make any move that goes beyond American and oppositional, whatever you
foretold a very close coordination and cooperation between Seoul and Washington. I don't know about it and also President Trump said go ahead,
with the inter-Korean talks. We have a blessing from him.
LU STOUT: That is right and he also has claim credit for the talks.
CHUNG-IN: He deserve credit, you know.
LU STOUT: He deserves credit, he does tough talk rather to this moment.
CHUNG-IN: I think so because he corrupted - he channel communication between Pyongyang and Washington. There's no other choice but to come to
Seoul that was very a smart move. The North Korea will come to South Korea and so South Korea North Korea will go to Washington with both Washington.
LU STOUT: And what next so after these inter-Korean talks can it translate into ultimately peace in the Korean peninsula.
CHUNG-IN: But here while most important in the coupe is temporary suspension of all of U.S. joint military exercise and training.
LU STOUT: During the winter games.
CHUNG-IN: Then in April, we resume military exercise in April and also we may continue toward military training follow Eagle in May and seems maybe
may change, but you have to remember.
[10:05:00] In 1992 then President Bush suspended teams in order to proceed North Korea to accept nuclear inspection by International communications
agency and President Clinton suspended conspiracy times 94, 95, 96 in order to facilitate Geneva agreement, likewise you must of had shown the kind of
flexible and is told in North Korea and some people say that the old repeat of same old mistakes, no I don't think so, therefore we need to more
flexible in dealing with North Korea, and will be able to make some tangible progress.
(END VIDEO)
LU STOUT: That was Moon Chung-in special advisor to the South Korean president speaking to me earlier today here in Seoul and among other things
and yes Donald Trump deserves credit for today's breakthrough talks for more Ivan Watson joins me now, Ivan we know North Korea is going to the
games to create military talks they are due to take place soon, walk us through just as an accomplished to say and what Seoul and Pyeongchang had
gain from this talks.
IVAN WATSON, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Both sides clearly came to the table wanting to make a deal on certainly made one when it
comes to the winter Olympics which are going to start your in just a months' time, because in short order the negotiators announced that North
Korea would be sending not just athletes to the games, but also a high- level delegation, a cheering squad, an art group, a visitors group a tae kwon do demonstration team as well as North Korean journalists, that sounds
like quite a large delegation that will be coming down again this only coming through one month before the game. It suggests that perhaps North
Korea was anticipating this some time ago and certainly the South Koreans made no secret about the fact that they wanted the North Koreans at the
games the international Olympic Committee is come out welcoming this as well.
Just to go step further to South Korean also learn from North Korea that a military communication line had been reopened from the north side on the
western side of the peninsula South Korea says it will open inside of that line first thing tomorrow morning and in their joint statement they agreed
to further military to military talks and other ink talks in general and reducing tension here. The South Korean said they also address the
possibility of setting up reunions between families that are been separated ever since the Korean War of the 1950s and they suggested doing it as early
as February during the lunar new year holiday. We haven't quite heard a response from the North Koreans on that it was not included in the joint
statement Kristie.
LU STOUT: It is a very curious gesture by the North Koreans earlier today and is open it starts calling for the negotiations to be open to the press
for transparency, but South Korea said no, but why this call for transparency from North Korea one of the most opaque closed off nations in
the world?
WATSON: There was an intriguing moment, but let us bring in the journalists and let us all of this open to the entire world, because the
North Korean delegate said for the issue of transparency, because there was so much international interest in this the South Korean site sides said no,
let us stick to our standard procedure there will be moments that are open, but not all of the discussions. North Korea's appeal for transparency is
intriguing, because the best of our knowledge there has been no reporting on these talks in the run-up to the negotiations none of the statements
we've gotten from North Korean state media throughout the day have any mention of these groundbreaking discussions that have been taking place so
while the appeal for transparency was unusual and perhaps important I would suggest is also somewhat disingenuous, because most of the North Korean
population probably had no idea that these negotiations were taking place today.
There were North Korean journalists present so probably in the days to come they will be informed that these negotiations had in fact taken place there
was another issue of perhaps disagreement and that was on the issue of denuclearization that's the big gorilla in the room here on the Korean
Peninsula. North Korea conducting nuclear weapons tests as recently as September the entire world and consensus agreeing that this should not be
the case South Korean delegation raised it in the opening statements denuclearization after the announcement of the joint statement at the
conclusion of the talks the North Korean delegate went so far as to suggest that none of North Korea's nuclear weapons state-of-the-art weapons as he
put it or directed against the Korean people, they are all directed at the U.S. not a China or at Russia.
[10:10:15] He did leave out Japan there, because numerous North Korean missiles have actually flown over Japanese territory and certainly have
flown in the direction of Japan as well, Kristie.
LU STOUT: Reminder at this treat remains on the back these talks, North Korea has gains the image of diplomacy, started to the games more military
talks without having to give up its weapons program. Ivan Watson reporting for us live. Thank you so much Ivan, take care. And North Korea's
decision to take part in winter games is seen as a major breakthrough. Paula Hancocks has more now on how we got to this point.
(BEGIN VIDEO)
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A youth soccer tournament in China last year, the only thing you North and South Korea were talking according to
Chang Winston the governor of one province where the winter Olympics will be held. Standing here next to North Korean schools official, he says he
tried three times in three years to lobby for North Korea involvement of Pyeongchang. Last month he says the attitude has changed and he started
listening. This youth soccer exchange he says was the first Corporation between North and South Korea the current administration the fact that it
was established is assigned the relationship between North and South has improved a lot.
(Inaudible) border village of (inaudible), Governor Chain knows the devil is in the detail, at the Sydney Olympics one argument centers around the
size of the cheering squad, but even before anything is decided Chain has been making plans. There are three different ways for North Korea to come
here he says. By cruise ship, by land, and by plane. If they come on a cruise ship issues like accommodation are also resolved, his confidence
helping the North Korean delegation to come to the game and putting them up will not file next sanctions past against North Korea's nuclear missile
program is at sporting events and not included in the restrictions.
Two North Korean figure skaters (inaudible) and (inaudible) had qualified for the games but missed the deadline for registration. The IOC make it in
the wild card, to allow them to participate. He wants them to form a joint North-South Korean team a ratio of unity between two neighbors still
technically at war. North and South Korea marched together at the opening ceremony at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and a flag showing an undivided Korean
Peninsula, as they could come to the Olympics speculation is rife, Kim Jong-un could send his sister Kim Joe Chung. He would like U.S. President
Donald Trump to come, but is happy it may be his daughter Ivanka, the names have not yet been confirmed.
I am really hoping that Ivanka and Kim Jong-un sister meet at the Olympics he says. It is out hope that this could be the starting for dialogue for
North Korea and the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: The key figures will come together one month from today in Pyeongchang that was seen as Paula Hancocks reporting there, I'll be back
later tis hour with more news from Seoul, but coming up, we will get you back to my colleague Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi. She will give you update
on the other story making headlines around the world today.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:16:03] ANDERSON: Welcome back, I am Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi, you are watching Connect the World, back to Seoul for you for this incredibly
important story shortly. From this part of the world Iran's Supreme leader blaming his nation's latest daily protest of the U.S. and Israel.
Ayatollah Khamenei address thousands of supporters on Tuesday praising them for not getting into quote enemy attack to overthrow the government. His
remarks follow days of demonstration in the country's economic hardship spread anger on the clerical establishments at least 22 people died in the
violence. CNN producer a colleague of mine, Amir Daftari joining me now in the studio here, the supreme leader pointing the finger of blame at least
at United States, is there evidence for that?
AMIR DAFTARI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well something quite common with the reigning regime and the supreme leader in particular Ayatollah Khamenei as
you say pointing the finger at external foreign forces blaming them for the recent unrest in Iran. Something that was somewhat interesting and what
you reported is what else that he said in the speech, the supreme leader did can see that yes, maybe some of these protesters did have legitimate
grievances. Here is exactly what he had say. He said, these concerns must be addressed we must listen, we must hear and we must provide answers
within our means is not something unprecedented but I don't think it was widely expected either.
Elsewhere we've been finding out about the numbers of those arrested and detained over during a protest wandering in lawmaker quoted on the official
Iran parliamentary website puts a number 3700, now that's far greater than the 1000 reported a couple of days ago so that they are parliamentary from
Tehran says he can't be sure about the exact numbers, because of the different intelligence and security forces involve that were not
coordinated. Now I'm been speaking for sources on the ground with the team here tried to, information and of course will be right back with you with
anything here.
ANDERSON: Amir thank you, that is the very latest on at what is an incredibly important regional stories. Iranian oil tanker has been burning
off the coast of China for three days now strong winds and the high seas are hampering to contain the blaze and to search for more than 30 crew
members who are missing. This ship was carrying 1 million barrels what is, highly flammable and toxic light crude Chinese officials say they are not
seeing any large leaks, but they want an explosion is possible. Let us get you to CNN's Matt Rivers, who is following development of this from
Beijing, Matt?
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Some 136,000 tons onboard that Iranian oil tanker and what officials are concerned about in terms of that very light
crude oil is that if there is an explosion on board the ship and not ship sinks, what happens to all that oil. Of course that is the secondary
concern at this point, because as you mentioned right off the top, 31 crewmembers onboard that Iranian oil tanker remain missing at this point,
some three days after that first collision happened Saturday evening. We know that one body has been recovered and is awaiting identification so
far, but it's unclear at this point are missing from members on board the ship are they in the water some sort of combination of both. It's still a
rescue mission that's what officials are saying are not giving up hope to try again when the sun comes up tomorrow morning. Those crew members are
the water, Becky it's extremely cold water anywhere from 11 to 15 according to some ocean temperature maps I was looking, so that's one side
of it but the rescue continues however this fire at least as of 6:15 p.m. local time which is the last time we got an update from Chinese officials
is continuing to burn and if that causes an explosion that ship could sink and all that light crude oil inside could leak.
[10:20:11] The Chinese are aware of that the South Koreans are aware that the Chinese are leading the effort. They have sent over a dozen vessels
to help with not only the search and rescue operation but also to potentially prevent against any oil spills that could happen so far were
not there yet the ship remains afloat, but officials are keeping a very wary eye on this ongoing situation.
ANDERSON: With that story, if you out of Beijing thank you the old prices and reached, out high for the year, but that is not solving economic
protest in some Middle Eastern countries, big and small states are like (inaudible) in Tunisia are demanding the government there scrapped new
austerity measures including a hike on petrol prices and high taxes on things like cars, sprinkles evening that you said trying to boil over
yesterday as demonstrators in some areas clashed with police, at least one protester was killed (inaudible). Now the government denies the police car
running over and said it is investigating the cause of the death. I am join now by John Defterios CNN money emerging market editor. Tough title.
That is CNN Money Emerging Market Editor. What do we know about the investigation firstly and secondly is it clear at this point, it is who is
protesting these austerity measures?
JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: Yes, our understanding in fact we have our conversations today with an informal group this is about
some 6,000 are supporters, Becky this are protest that took place in 10 different cities. Let us take a look at the pictures we have. We have
stills from overnight with the protests outside Tunis and under some smaller protesters taking place today with some 200 protesters in soon as
we understand from the organizers they are going to call for another round of protests on Friday. You were watching carefully why because this was
the spark of the Arabs spring. This is not an ouster of an autocratic leader, but this is a retiree of austerity and I think is a common thing to
look out through the Middle East and Africa something that came up in Iran as well. We are looking at inflation of Tunisia about 6 percent a year, so
this is eating away at earnings this is a protest against the VAT tax, the so called 2018 financial act. This is the straw that is breaking the
camel's back suggested it could cause the average Tunisian about $120 a month and extra fees, so you add that up, over the year is about $1200 per
capita income was only $4000 and something that's a higher in Tunisia to looking about 25 percent increase in the cost of living overall.
It was interesting to acknowledge the fact that is the right of the demonstrations have been lauded for the transition well between the Arab
spring is where we are today in the elections that took place but this violent is not welcome so they arrest a number of people with knives and
firebombs and the rest of the others opens up until Friday.
ANDERSON: And it is interesting to remember that the original protest back in the day as it was back in 2010-2011 across these region were about the
price of basic goods. You make a very good point we are seeing the 18 and increases in the UAE value added tax increases of 5 percent of goods and
services and in Saudi Arabia using protest on the streets of Iran and in other places. This is the beginning do you think of something that could
go south very quickly, because we already see a very messy Middle East region so far as the geopolitics are concern?
DEFTERIOS: I would put them into different groups as oil producers have the buffer and that is what we saw when we had the conversation last night
on the program about what the conference is doing there. He is targeting his subsidies, Tunisia doesn't have that buffer. We saw protest overnight
and sit down for the very same reason that you're talking about so I think of the non-oil producers in particular so the incident does have some
production, as of kind of different category. The pressures to continue, but this leads back to the IMF program international monetary fund has
promise a four year bailout $2.8 billion, but there are strings attached to get the reduce the size the government, it is 15percent of the overall
budget as the government salaries, they want to see that reduced, they say you have to introduce the VAT tax before suggesting it's been a rough three
years to cover the Tunisia attacks did hit the tourism sector 1 percent growth in 2015. 1 percent in 2016, 2 percent last year. They say we could
get almost 4 percent in 2018 the name of the move is called what are we waiting for. That is what they are saying, we can't wait any longer. The
prices are rising the pressures on they are taking it on the streets and we are watching it carefully.
[10:25:00] ANDERSON: Tunisia for you, John Defterios in the house. You are watching Connect the World, I am Becky Anderson, up next political
gains with Pyongyang sending its people to the winter Olympics, why would you find a cricket at a football and some Ping-Pong bat in any politician,
up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Hello there, this is Connect the World I am Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi it is just past half seven here.
LU STOUT: And I am Kristie Lu Stout in Seoul South Korea. Now that we saw the relations on the Korean peninsula it could be in part because the two
people who compete are nice. These two North Korean ice skaters Ryom Tae Ok and Kim Ju Sik will qualify for the games in Pyeongchang and could
potentially take to the ice there. Christina MacFarlane has the story of this two figure skaters and Christina on today's talks absolutely change
the faith of these two athletes. What is their story?
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That may has Kristie new hope for North Korea's figure skating to over pair as you say had been the only
North Koreans to qualify for the games so far, that was because, but last October when the North Korean Olympic Association missed the deadline to
put them through that participation had been in doubt, but all that of course has change the past 24 hours on Monday the IOC extended that
deadline to allow North Korea athlete to be put forward and in the last few hours, the IOC have actually issued a statement as they welcome the
announcement that North Korean will be sending a delegation to the games.
Saying now, they will be discussing proposals as far as quote, the participation, the number and names of the athletes from the DPRK, which
tells us that some athletes could be offered a wildcard.
Now, this is the device often used by the IOC in the past at their discretion to enable nations to take part in the games. And one particular
team who could stand to be included and be offered a wildcard are the women's North Korean ice hockey team. They currently ranked 25th in the
world. But they have never competed at the Winter Olympics.
That could also be confessions as well for North Koreans figure skaters within the world's top 100. There has been a long history of figure
skaters taking part in the Winter Olympics.
But of course it is increasingly likely as well that Ryom Tae Ok and Kim Ju Sik who own their place at the Olympics last September will also be
included. It's best stories, so far.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MACFARLANE: It's not really how well they skate that matters but if they do that counts. Ryom Tae Ok and Kim Ju Sik have become the likely focus of
the first peace talks in more than two years between North and South Korea.
As diplomats aimed at diffusing a possible nuclear war instead turn their attention to figure skating. That is because the ice on the Korean
Peninsula is being broken over the Winter Olympics and how these two athletes can compete.
In September the pair became the first and so far only athletes from North Korea to qualify for the 2018 games. But after missing the Olympic
committee deadline to confirm their places, their participation was in doubt.
That was until the IOC in a move to ensure this week's diplomatic talks were not in vain extended that deadline with just a month to go until the
opening ceremony.
So what we do know about this figure skating duo from the secret state. Since coming together in 2015, the two had slowly risen to the world's
rankings.
They won medal in a handful of competitions including bronze at the Asia Winter Games in Sapporo, Japan last February. Ryom is dues to turn 19, a
week before the games will open.
Her partner Kim is 25. Last summer they traveled from North Korea to Montreal in Canada where they trained under the watchful eye of Canadian
skating coach, Bruno Marcotte.
BRUNO MARCOTTE, COACHING CONSULTANT: Two words that come to me is happiness, you know, like positive and also passion. I am extremely
passionate about the sport of figure skating. And they're just a joy to work with.
MACFARLANE: After helping them to career best performance in Germany to secure Olympic qualification where for one performance they even skated to
an instrumental version of the Beatles, A Day In The Life, Marcotte says the pair remain focused on improving their performance.
MARCOTTE: When the joy is over, they're like, OK, what is next, what do we need do to be better? In sports the joy is short-lived. Because as soon
as you think you have made it, then the trainers pass you. So they work quickly -- they quickly move forward in wanting knowing what they need to
do to be better the next time around.
MACFARLANE: Well, Ryom Tae Ok and Kim Ju Sik may not win gold or even medal in Pyeongchang, it's their participation for peace rather than a play
from the podium that could well be their lasting legacy.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MACFARLANE: Ryom, just 18-years-old, Kim, 25. Well, I can only imagine the pressure that is now on their young shoulders and the spotlight that
will be on them Pyeongchang.
So what is their next steps moving forward, Kristie. Well, we know this week, that IOC President Thomas Bach is currently in Lausanne, their
headquarters, meeting with the IOC's North Korean member, Chang Ung to discuss which athletes will be put forward for the games.
And there could also potentially be talks as well as to where the North and South Korea could march together at the opening ceremony at the Olympic
Games which is due to take place today -- in a month's time today.
It's something we have seen of course three times in the past at the Olympics, and would be highly symbolic on the current circumstances.
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, more symbolic sporting moments expected but, wow, you're right. The entire just wait of expectation of the entire
nation in North Korea and Kim Jong-un on the shoulders of these two North Korean athletes, their fates have changed because of today. Christina
MacFarlane, reporting for us, thank you. Now let's get back to my colleague, Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi. Becky.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: Kristie, thank you. Let's build on those ideas and from, Kristie.
[10:35:00] There are a lot of sports game you can find in a political toll vaults. Why? Well, in a truly global game of politics, it can do stuff
nothing else. Well take this for example, a cricket bat.
From pretty much the moment, they came into existence, India and Pakistan have hated each other but there have been many times when they've only come
together for some cricket matches. Well, it has gotten here.
Well, for China, it was ping-pong diplomacy. America has (Inaudible) each other for more than 20 years. It invited American athletes over for a
quick handle.
A year later, Richard Nixon shaking hands with Chairman Mao in Beijing. Both act a little further than that to the First World War, on the frozen
the blood soaked battlefields of Europe.
It said, in the British, French and German soldiers stopped fighting to take kick these around. Well let's bring in Dr. J Simon Rofe, an expert in
this sports diplomacy at London's SOAS University to find out.
With the Winter Games just months away, it certainly said that nothing fell at spots as diplomacy been as it were better than the Olympics with its
saying to quote, build a peaceful and better world. So, does sport really have as Mandela once said, the power to change the world.
DR. J. SIMON ROFE, SENIOR LECTURER, SCHOOL OF ORIENTAL AND AFRICAN STUDIES: Well, thank you very much and good morning. It certainly has the capacity
to do that.
And in these instances we do see that sports has the opportunity to bring North and South Korea together in a way that other diplomatic tools haven't
been able to.
And I think that's where sport can open the door and will be part of the conversation that really makes a difference. And can lead to more
substantive diplomatic achievement.
ANDERSON: Well I guess this part of the world while we are talking, Qatar, of course cut off by these place, the UAE and Saudi Arabia and some of its
other neighbors at present.
In four years though, Qatar is actually hosting -- as our viewers will be well aware in 2022, the FIFA World Cup. This is exclusive footage from
inside one of the stadiums -- an opportunity for Qatar to make that world to help itself come in from the cold, and (Inaudible).
ROFE: Well, Qatar is a very interesting case and spent a great deal of its cultural and public diplomatic effort to use sports to be part of its, you
know, outward looking approach.
Now, with the case of the World Cup in 2022, we obviously face serious regional differences with its neighbors and indeed more boldly, but it was
chosen for a reason.
Among can question that perhaps in terms of the process. But Qatar is proposing to offer first class World Cup, and will be an opportunity for
diplomatic engagement in these sporting regular events like Olympics and World Cup.
You do have that form of bringing people together in a way that other instances though this is a sort of modern-day summary diplomacy if you
like.
This sees have the way of not only athletes and officials a commercial partners, and government officials all in one place at one sort of point in
time. And that gives an opportunity for the sort of cool elements of diplomacy being negotiation...
ANDERSON: Sure.
ROFE: ... communication and representation.
ANDERSON: So, we are talking sports as diplomacy, and whether this works or not. Millions of people of course across the world love basketball
among the fans apparently, North Korea's Kim Jong-un.
He has hosted former American player Dennis Rodman on the far right here in his capital, Pyongyang, many times. I wonder whether you would argue that
he's ambassador of Seoul. And if so, are there dangers to that, a non- diplomat as it were doing a diplomat's work in this case.
ROFE: Well certainly those discussion and debate with the academic circles have nothing else around the value of sports diplomats. And someone like
Dennis Rodman who are playing, well, he certainly carries a risk because one of the qualities off a diplomat is to have official accreditation.
And in this -- in this case, Dennis Rodman does not have official accreditation from the U.S. government. But he does have a representative
quality and a slightly checkered in the colorful basketball career does dig into his legion of fans.
And if you look at the way that basketball is a sport has become a global entity, indeed it is an NBA game -- the National Basketball Association
game in London in the next few days and that's an intense amount to how a sport can transcend individual national boundaries.
[10:40:00] ANDERSON: Fascinating. And the toolkit of course packed with different sporting instruments or devices as it were. And we talked about
this particularly about...
ROFE: Absolutely.
ANDERSON: I want to just rewind some of what we've been talking about because we have mentioned India and Pakistan, and quite frankly, despite
our suggestion or you know, our premise at sport can change the world, that is in a sport as a diplomatic effort as it were, things aren't great
between India and Pakistan right now.
China and America aren't exactly the best of friends when it came to the old ping-pong. And we all know, World War I went on after these games,
brutally of course.
The sports there making possible things that otherwise almost certainly won't. That's all well and good of course. But, when are the concrete
examples -- the concrete examples of actual improvements?
ROFE: I think this is always the case of diplomacy. It's a marginal weapon -- the very big breakthroughs. There were (Inaudible) incremental
process and the sport does the capacity to generate conflict as well as peace.
But if you look at some of these examples and particularly through reconciliation efforts in Yugoslavia, elsewhere in Northern Ireland, there
are opportunities that peace can bring for development.
Sierra Leone, you know, is perhaps the best example, which I can call on, in the way that (Inaudible), the football team captain wants to qualify for
the 2006 World Cup.
Within the changing room is a group of celebrating athletes, cold on his nation to stop it Civil War and within, you know, a matter of days that
this happen.
And he was named amongst the United Nations most important diplomats and are regard for bringing to an end, you know, a pretty nasty Civil War in
that country. So there are concrete examples but they tend to be, you know, clips few and far between.
And what perhaps more interesting is the margins in which sports works to facilitate other negotiation and other opportunities for reconciliation
between, you know, parties with conflicting interests.
ANDERSON: Sure. Fascinating. Dr. J. Simon Rofe, senior lecturer at the school of Oriental and African Studies over in London, expert in sports
diplomacy. Thank you for joining us.
ROFE: Thank you.
ANDERSON: You are watching Connect the World live from Abu Dhabi, I am Becky Anderson. Coming up, glamour and glory and the BAFTA's rollout
nomination for this year's awards ceremony. We go live to London to see which films got a most votes.
[10:45:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, some fresh pictures here for you. As Prince Harry and his bride-to-be Meghan Markle who today have taken a trip to South London --
South London.
But they are not taking wedding venue, duty calls and they are on an official royal visit to a Brixton radio station. They are not the only
royals out and about. Harry's two-year-old niece, Princess Charlotte started nursery school this week.
Pictures of royal dressed up for her first day were released by the palace to mark the occasion. Quite cold in London, and obviously, she is well
wrapped up understandably.
[10:50:00] Welcome back. With award season, now in full flow throw, nominations for the British Academy Film Awards or BAFTA is being
announced.
And they are often predictor of who is on the verge of Oscar glory. Well, this year, the most nodes (ph) go to the Shape of Water, Guillermo del
Toro's fishy fantasy romance, wrapped up 12 nominations.
For the latest from London, CNN's Isa Soares joins us now. Should we be surprised by what we have seen and what so the markers do you think these
nodes (ph) lay down for the Oscars this year?
ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Not when you look at the whole list together, Becky. I mean, Guillermo del Toro, the specific, he did very
well there with that node (ph) with 12 nominations, more so than he actually got at the Golden Globes.
But of course, he uses a fantasy, cut of science -- science fiction movie about a woman who falls in love with a creature of sort. And it's with
Sally Hawkins has also been nominated for four Golden Globes -- pardon me, for BAFTA.
But if we look at some of the other big nominations, there is a lot of competition I might add. The Darkest Hour got nine nodes (ph), that's a
British movie, that's a Churchill with Gary Oldman.
Then we've got Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, that did particular well, if you remember at the Golden Globes. They have got four
gongs, done phenomenal kind of war epic.
And then Blade Runner, Becky, 2049, which actually struggled at the box office but hoping to do much better here and director also there.
But when we look at these movies, Becky -- and this is crucial, when we look at these movies, a lot of these movies -- many of these movies, their
directors are being nominated in the best director category.
And interesting, there isn't one director who hasn't been nominated. So yes, women as we saw at the Golden Globes, really struggling to make it
into that key category.
ANDERSON: You know, we certainly saw some protests in support of the hashtag Me Too story this year at the Golden Globes. Should we expect to
see the same at...
(CROSSTALK)
SOARES: I think in terms of this tone that has been set, the BAFTA Chair Jane Lush address audiences before the nominations were made early this
morning, and she look, it's not about Me Too, it's about We Too. Take a listen to what she have to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JANE LUSH, CHAIRMAN, BAFTA: We Too are determined that the brave revelations, and make no mistake, they were very brave, become a watershed
moment for a cartelist for real lasting change across the work place in film, games and television.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: And also setting the tone would be Joanna Lumley, who of course is classy, witty, a feminist, so I don't think the sexual allegation scandal
will slip through when it comes to her hosting this key event. Becky.
ANDERSON: Good. All right. Thank you for that. CNN partnering with European journalism center over the coming year to look at the challenges
faced by women across the globe, and you'll see what's being done to bring down barriers wherever they exist.
You can log on to CNN.com/usequal to find out more. Please do take a lot at that. All right, well, when you here the words, stable genius, you
probably rethink of someone like this.
Albert Einstein, (Inaudible) that time is relative and so different for all of us who over the years, we've learned about lots of different types of
times like...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(HAMMER TIME SONG)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Who could forget Hammer Time, or what about -- so after all that, we can now connect to iconic names, Einstein and Trump. Well I will
because in the White House, there is a new kind of time, executive time.
They are apparently the hours Donald Trump box out to kickback, watch T.V. and of course, tweet. Jeanne Moos looks to that claim, as the White House
itself pushes back.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Time for something new in the White House.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Executive time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Quote and quote executive time.
[10:55:00] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love the new euphemism particularly watching his executive time.
MOOS: In no time, the new time was plastered on a t-shirt all because of a scoop by the web site Axios.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The president's schedule has been secretly shrinking.
MOOS: He is reportedly not coming to the office -- the Oval Office until 11:00 a.m. The White House calls it, executive time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It says it's in the Oval Office, but that is thought true. He is actually in the residence watching TV, making phone calls,
tweeting.
MOOS: How executive time flies to Twitter. I'm going to start calling my naps executive time. Here's Zoey taking some executive time. How we spend
our executive time, tweeted Comedy Central.
Executive time sounds like something your dad says as he heads into the bathroom with a stack of magazines, newspapers. Wallah (ph), the executive
time machine.
The White House press secretary countered saying, the president is one of the hardest workers I've ever seen and puts in long hours and long days,
nearly every day of the week, all year long. Remember the days when candidate Trump was dissing Hillary for a lack of energy?
TRUMP: She doesn't have the stamina to be president of this country. You need tremendous stamina.
MOOS: It takes stamina just to say stamina. Hey, if it weren't for executive time, maybe we wouldn't have gyms like that stable genius tweet.
A very stable genius said that is how the president described himself.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think this, if he doesn't call himself a genius, nobody else will.
(LAUGHTER)
MOOS: Many found the genius in the stable to be Mr. Ed, the talking horse, #stable genius gets his daily briefing. But even a stable genius likes to
kick back and enjoy some executive time. Jeanne Moos, CNN New York.
(END VIDEO)
ANDERSON: Well, for my excutive time, I'm Becky Anderson. That was Connect the World. CNN continues after this short break. Don't go away.
END
