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House Vote Looms as Judiciary Committee Publishes Full Report; Schumer Sends Letter Laying Out Democrats Demands; Spokesman: Brexit Bill to be Put to Parliament on Friday; Boris Johnson Welcomes New Conservative Lawmakers; Consultations to Name New Lebanese Prime Minister Postponed; Protests in India Over Citizenship Law Viewed as Anti-Muslim; Tougher Laws Fail to Deter Sexual Violence in India; China Says Footballer Ozil Has Been Blinded by Fake News; Mexico Objects to U.S. Treaty Amendment; U.S. Envoy Urges Pyongyang to Resume Nuclear Talks. Aired 10-11a ET

Aired December 16, 2019 - 10:00   ET

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

[10:00:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): What I want above all is a fair trial. I hope Mitch McConnell -- I expect Mitch McConnell, will help us create that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN HOST: Democrats call for a fair trial, but is Washington too polarized to hold a President to account?

Plus --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED CHOIR: Holy night --

(Boris Johnson holding up a sign saying -- We'll have Brexit Done.)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: The British Prime Minister's Christmas wish looks like it may be coming true, but it's not time for holiday pudding just yet. And --

Scores injured across India. Protests over a controversy a law erupt across the nation.

Then -- five historic crowns, a master and win at the Miss World Pageant.

Hello and welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD with me Christina Macfarlane in London filling in for Becky Anderson today.

A historic week in Washington is upon us. In the coming days, the House is expected to vote whether or not to impeach President Trump, kicking off a

trial in the Senate. A few hours ago the House Judiciary Committee released a massive report explaining why they're accusing President Trump

of multiple federal offenses. But many Democrats say there's no way the Republicans in charge will conduct a fair trial.

Earlier the Senate minority leader Democrat, Chuck Schumer, sent a letter to Senate majority leader Republican, Mitch McConnell, laying out

Democratic demands of how the trial should be conducted and calling on four Republican witnesses to testify. CNN asked him what kind of pressure that

puts on Republicans.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCHUMER: I went to Mitch McConnell two weeks ago and I said let's negotiate. Let's sit down and try to come up with a fair process. Mitch

McConnell did not come and call me and ask to do that. Instead, he first spun out his own theory of what a trial should be and then he said, well

he's going to do just what President wants. So this letter is an attempt to get it back in the middle. To get it to a fair and balanced trial

that's appropriate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Well McConnell has come under heavy fire for saying he is working closely with the White House. Suzanne Malveaux has what to watch

this week. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN U.S. CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This morning the House Judiciary Committee releasing a 658-page report explaining their

decision to charge President Trump with abusing his power and obstructing Congress. Democrats accusing the President of multiple federal crimes

including bribery. Alleging President Trump engaged in a pattern of misconduct that will continue if left unchecked.

Ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, Doug Collins, writing the dissenting opinion in a report calling the actions of Democrats

unjustifiable. Adding this will only dilute the significance of the dire recourse that is impeachment. This coming just days before the historic

vote to impeach President Trump, which will likely take place Wednesday.

The Senate preparing for the impending trial. Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, calling for four crucial witnesses including acting chief of

staff, Mick Mulvaney, and former national security adviser, John Bolton. In a letter sent overnight, Schumer urges majority leader Mitch McConnell

to hold a fair and honest Senate impeachment trial to begin on January 6th with Senators sworn in on January 7th.

Schumer also requesting new documents previously withheld by the White House during the House investigation believing they will shed additional

light on the administration's decision-making regarding the delay in security assistance funding to Ukraine.

REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D-CA): I would urge Mitch McConnell to start negotiating with Chuck Schumer to make sure that those Senators have a full record.

There's more damning evidence to be had, and they don't want the American people to see that, and I, you know, think that's disgraceful.

MALVEAUX: McConnell's spokesperson responding to the letter assuring the Senator will discuss the trial with Schumer soon. McConnell has previously

signaled he was pushing for a quick trial with no new witnesses. Even admitting last week that he was working lock step with the White House in

planning the proceedings.

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY)): Everything I do during this I'm coordinating with White House counsel. There will be no difference between the

President's position and our position as to how to handle this.

MALVEAUX: Those comments angering many Democrats.

[10:05:00]

REP. JERRY NADLER (D-NY): Here you have the majority leader of the Senate, in effect a foreman of the jury, saying he's going to work hand in glove

with the defense attorney. And that's a violation of the oath that they're about to take, and it's a complete subversion of the constitutional scheme.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: Suzanne Malveaux reporting from Capitol Hill. Senior Washington correspondent Joe Johns at the White House and joins me now.

And, Joe, we can see the battleground being laid already for this Senate trial and we know the Republicans are due to review Schumer's proposal

today. How likely is it they will agree to these four witnesses being called to testify or in fact to any of his requests?

JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Great question, and probably not very likely. Because as you know, Republicans control the

United States Senate and what Schumer essentially is doing is laying down a public marker here, realizing he does not have the votes to control the

rules in the United States Senate. But what he can do is appeal to a small group of United States Senators who are Republicans and who either by

conscience or perhaps by political pressure back in their home states, might be susceptible to an argument about creating more impartiality in

this Senate trial once the impeachment of the President is finished. So Schumer understand all he needs is a majority vote to try to control the

rules or at least amend them and that's what he's angling to do at least at this stage -- Christina.

MACFARLANE: Yes. Sounds like a bit of a political play from him. Joe, is the U.S. too polarized, do you think, Joe, to hold power to account? I

mean is it -- can this really be a fair trial? I mean that's what they're expressing here, isn't it?

JOHNS: Right, and exactly right. And think of it this way, in the United States Senate, you need two-thirds vote to convict, but the question of

changing the rules is simply a 50 percent rule. In the United States, as a matter of polling, Americans are about even, 50 percent for and roughly

around that against the idea of impeaching the President. The United States is clearly split on this question and there's also a sense of

inevitability, if you will, simply because people know what's going to happen in the United States Senate. The President will not be convicted in

all likelihood -- Christina.

MACFARLANE: Yes, and just briefly Joe, I want to get your reflection on this. Because meanwhile, we've seen that President Trump has actually

tweeted about his candidacy in 2020, perhaps as a reflection of everything that's been said and going on today. Tell us what he's had to say about

that.

JOHNS: It does in a way go on to that inevitability question if you will. The President tweeting just a bit about the Presidential debates that are

expected to occur after the Democrats determine who will be their nominee, the person to run against the President as he seeks re-election. At once

the President suggesting he will make a decision about whether to participate in those debates. Also questioning the impartiality, if you

will, of the Presidential debate commission. The President's had a problem with them in the past and so there is some question right now as to whether

the President will actually participate in those debates. All of this looking beyond the impeachment, which is happening this week and the trial

which will happen after the holidays -- Christina.

MACFARLANE: Joe, great to have your perspective on this and what is set to be a historic week there in Washington. Thank you.

Now after a thumping election win last week, fought under the banner of get Brexit done, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is back at work. His

spokesman says the government Brexit Bill will be put back to Parliament on Friday. Where Mr. Johnson now has a majority of 80 and formidable

opposition to Brexit in the form of Scottish National Party. They want a second referendum on Scottish independence.

New MPs were welcomed to Westminster by the Prime Minister this morning and we are expecting a minor cabinet reshuffle at some point today. Our Phil

Black joins us now live from Downing Street where it has been a hive of activity where you are today, Phil, with the government trying to get

things done before they shut down for Christmas. But crucially announcement on that Brexit bill, which as I've said, will take place this

Friday.

PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right, Christina. So we know that Parliament will be back in the business of voting and debating on

things as early as Friday. And the government has already signaled that yes, it will return its EU withdraw Bill to Parliament on that day.

Precisely in what form, whether it's going to be exactly the same as the bill that was presented previously, we're not sure because the context

there is this was the bill that eventually led to the election. It's the bill that government was worried about not being able to get through

Parliament unchanged, quickly, so that was why the election was pushed for, called and why that happened.

[10:10:00]

Now it will be coming back and coming back in a Parliament where Boris Johnson and his Conservative government have that whopping big majority of

80. So no longer are there the concerns of a stalemate Parliament. We know that it's going to get through in whatever form the Prime Minister

wants it to get through and that he should then be able to quite easily make his Brexit deadline of January 31st.

Before we get to Friday, however, there's a bunch of procedure and ceremony that has to take place. Firstly today, as you touched on, some ministerial

appointments. Not quite a reshuffle. Just filling some empty jobs in the cabinet that we knew about before the election. Important jobs, but not

the key offices of state. So we're talking about the Secretary of State for Culture and for Wales as well, primarily.

And then the new MPs will be getting comfortable here over the next few days. They're going to be welcomed -- or the Conservative ones are going

to be welcomed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson later tonight. 365 Conservative MPs, including those who helped secure his big working

majority, that is those who were elected, who've traveled from parts of the U.K. that have not elected a Conservative MP for decades and some cases

never at all. So tonight Boris Johnson will be welcoming them, congratulating them, no doubt, and giving them I'm sure what will be a big

fiery pep talk. There's going to be a lot of happy politicians in that room tonight -- Christina.

MACFARLANE: Yes, he's certainly very good at those. Phil, elsewhere, out of this election, we saw a clear message from the electorate about the need

for the restoration of Stormont and we know that those talks are beginning to take place today in Northern Ireland. How likely is it we're going to

see the restoration of Stormont, that this is actually now possible?

BLACK: Well, if it happens it won't happen quickly. What we're talking about is the regional government of Northern Ireland, the Northern Irish

Assembly, getting that up and running again. Because it hasn't been sitting for some three years now. It broke down essentially, because of

disagreements between the two parties that are supposed to share power there, the Democratic Unionist Party, the pro-British party, and the Irish

nationalist Sinn Fein group as well.

They have been disagreeing for years. There have been efforts to get this going and it has come to nothing. The hope now is that in the wake of the

general election, the U.K. general election, that this marks a moment of opportunity. Because both parties in that election were seen to get

something of a bloody nose from the electorate and that's being interpreted as the voters saying get back to work, get on with it, start working on the

things the Northern Irish Assembly that we voters care about. So both parties, it's hoped, will be keen to be seen open to compromise at the very

least.

This is just the opening of talks to hopefully restart that process, if it's possible, if there's room for compromise. Then it's likely perhaps

that we'll see some results in the new year -- Christina.

MACFARLANE: All right. Phil Black there live from Downing Street, thanks very much, Phil.

Now out with the old and in with the old. Lebanese leaders have decisions to make on a new Prime Minister but it seems their eyes remain fixed on the

man who gave up the job, caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri. He stepped down several weeks ago amid mass demonstrations against government

corruption. However, he is widely expected to be named head of the next government. Discussions on naming a new Prime Minister are postponed until

Thursday at Hariri's request.

Well the Lebanese President granted the request to allow more talks on government formation. CNN's Ben Wedeman joins us now live from Beirut with

more. And, Ben, the protesters that we know have been demanding a new independent leader from outside of the ruling parties for weeks now, but

instead it's looking like Hariri again. What are the chances that their demands will ever be met?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: At this point, the chances of those demands being met, Christina, look pretty slim. But it

also does not appear that there's going to be a government in Lebanon any time soon.

Now the protests broke out 61 days ago. Saad Hariri resigned from his position as Prime Minister 48 days ago. Last Monday, the President, Michel

Aoun, was supposed to hold binding consultations to name a prime minister. That was postponed until today. Now it's been postponed until Thursday.

And we just received a statement from Saad Hariri's office suggesting there are still deep divisions among Lebanon's traditional political leaders as

to who is going to be the man designated to form a government. And just because the Prime Minister is named, doesn't necessarily mean a government

will soon follow.

[10:15:00]

On the 5th of May 2018, elections were held here and it took nine months, not under these crisis conditions, to form a government. So the political

waters are simply getting murkier and murkier by the day. The alliances that existed that were in the last government seemed to be falling apart

and at this point, it's not at all clear who the next Prime Minister will be. When he will be named and who he could or she could appoint to the

government and when that is going to happen at all. So murkier and murkier almost by the hour.

And as this goes on, of course, the Lebanese economy is gradually collapsing. We heard last week that government revenues have collapsed --

rather fallen by 40 percent. Keep in mind that 50 percent of government revenues are already going to pay the interest on Lebanon's debt, so

political chaos on one hand, economic collapse on the other. The picture is grim.

MACFARLANE: Yes.

WEDEMAN: -- Christina.

MACFARLANE: It really is, Ben. It really is. And as we've seen from those pictures there as well, the protests appear to be worsening on the

ground. Ben Wedeman there live from Beirut, thank you.

You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. And still to come -- a protest movement rages on in India. The government says a controversial new law protects

religious minorities, but critics say it targets Muslims.

And also, it's a world away from Korea's tensions, just a half hour's drive from the demilitarized zone. Is this the spot key to the Korean

Peninsula's future?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MACFARLANE: Hello, welcome back. In India there is growing anger over a controversial citizenship law. Protests erupted for the fifth straight day

on Monday as demonstrators clashed with police at several university campuses. The Citizenship Amendment Act was signed into law last week. It

fast tracks citizenships for several religious groups from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan but it excludes Muslims. India's Hindu led

government maintains Muslims are a majority in those three countries and it's the non-Muslims who face religious persecution there. CNN's Vedika

Sud has the latest from Deli.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VEDIKA SUD, CNN PRODUCER: Protests over a new citizenship law continue to intensify in India on the back of protests in three states in the northeast

of the country, the capital, New Delhi, witness violent demonstrations Sunday after a standoff between a renowned Muslim university and the Deli

police turned violent.

Protesting students from Jamia Milia Islamia university told CNN they were beaten with batons and sticks. Leaving 200 injured according to the

university administration. But this contradicts the police's version who say they were unarmed and used minimum force to bring the crowds under

control.

[10:20:03]

Major cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Calcutta, Hyderabad and Chennai have witnessed peaceful protests over the controversial Citizenship Amendment

Act. Protesters claim it's anti-Muslim and against India's constitution.

The leader of the main opposition Congress Party, Sonia Gandhi, has called the act weapons of mass polarization unleashed by fascists on India. While

Communist Party of India Marxist has questioned Prime Minister Modi and his Hindu nationalist party, Janata Party's intention, stating that religion

cannot be linked with citizenship.

In an attempt to quell nationwide protests Prime Minister Modi once again reached out to Indian citizens. He says that the Citizenship Amendment Act

does not affect any Indian citizen of any religion. It is only for those who have faced years of persecution outside and have no other place to go

except India.

Vedika Sud in New Deli.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: And there is another pressing issue facing India. Today marks seven years since a crime that shocked and horrified the world. The

torture and rape of a 23-year-old student on a bus in Deli, India. She died almost two weeks later from her horrific injuries. A protest movement

was born in the aftermath and after uproar, laws were changed. But laws often change faster than attitudes and the culture that tolerates crimes

against women in the country has not yet caught up. Anna Coren has our story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNA COREN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A garland of marigolds drape the body of one of the latest victims of rape in India.

The 23-year-old was set on fire by a gang of men, including two of her alleged rapists, on her way to court to testify against them. Suffering

burns to 90 percent of her body, she pleaded with doctors to save her so her attackers would face justice. She died a day later.

Sexual violence against women and girls is so prevalent in India it's been described as a disease. A disease many thought the government and judicial

system would have eradicated, following the horrific case in 2012 involving a woman who had become known as Nirbhaya, that shocked and outraged the

nation and the world.

ASHA DEVI, MOTHER OF NIRBHAYA (through translator): I cannot express how painful it is these seven years, how much we have struggled on a mental

level, the amount of torture that I have dealt with.

COREN: Asha Devi is the mother of her Nirbhaya, which means fearless. The 23-year-old university student brutally gang raped on a bus in New Delhi.

Her attackers used a metal rod, causing such severe internal injuries she was flown to Singapore for specialist surgery but died in hospital. Under

Indian law, we cannot name or show a rape victim.

Most of her perpetrators were sentences to death but remain on Death Row as an arduous appeals process goes through the courts.

DEVI (through translator): It is that pain that does not let me sit at home, does not let me sleep, so my daughter's struggle is my strength.

These men must hang. They must be punished for their crimes.

COREN: The recent string of brutal rape attacks on girls and women in India have once again sparked protests across the country, where according

to the national crime records bureau, around 100 rapes occur, on average, every day.

Citizens are demanding the system protect India's daughters. They want more action by police, who often lack resources and are accused of failing

to enforce the law. To the courts that are overloaded, where justice can take many years to arrive, if at all.

KARUNA NUNDY, SUPREME COURT LAWYER: The delay in the justice system, and the fact that there isn't swift, certain punishment means that, if you rape

it's highly likely that you will get away with it.

COREN: But for activist Swati Maliwal, her main grievance with India's rape culture lies with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who she says has been

resoundingly silent on this crisis.

SWATI MALIWAL, DELHI COMMISSION FOR WOMEN: It's the sick mindset of the government which refuses to respond to the pain and the cries and the

shrieks of the women of this country. The onus of the rape is put on the girl. The victim becomes the most shamed, and it's really a fact that the

entire system starts raping her.

COREN: Some legal experts say India's patriarchal and misogynistic society breed a sense of entitlement and impunity among Indian men. And unless

this is addressed, India's rape crisis will continue.

NUNDY: Governance at the moment happens for a tiny sliver of men. For able-bodied, upper-class, Hindu rich, straight men.

COREN: For Asha Devi, whose tragedy has brought her an audience with the country's most powerful man, she refuses to be silenced or ignored,

dedicating her life to the girls and women whose country failed them.

[10:25:03]

DEVI (through translator): My only purpose is to work against these crimes, raise my voice against these crimes, and above all, that Nirbhaya

gets justice.

COREN: Anna Coren, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: Well CNN has asked to interview government officials but none have been made available to us.

Now China says Arsenal midfielder, Mesut Ozil, has been quote, blinded by fake news after the footballer posted social media support of the country's

Uyghur minority. Beijing also invited Ozil to visit the Xinjiang region to, quote, distinguish right from wrong. Ozil is trying to stay out of it

saying the club is apolitical and these are Ozil's personal views. But Chinese state television still dropped Arsenal's weekend match. Well CNN's

David Culver has more on the latest collision between Beijing and the sporting world.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: China on the defense in yet another sports tweet controversy. The foreign ministry now responding to a star

soccer player's tweet that slams China for its alleged human rights abuses. Arsenal Midfielder Mesut Ozil posted social media messages Friday in

support of China's predominantly Muslim Uyghur community. Ozil who is Muslim, harshly criticized China for the mass attention taking place in the

far western Xinjiang region.

The U.S. State Department estimates some two million Uyghurs have been detained in what some describe as internment camps. China has been adamant

in defending what it calls counterterrorism and de-radicalization efforts. Referring to the detention facilities as vocational training centers.

As a response to Ozil's comments, Chinese state media pulled Sunday's coverage of Arsenal's English Premier League against Manchester City. This

is not the first time that sports and geopolitics have clashed here in China. In October the NBA's relationship with China was tested following a

now deleted tweet deleted by Houston Rockets general manager, Daryl Morey. Morey tweeted in support for anti-government protests in Hong Kong. That

led to a near severing of relations between the National Basketball Association and China.

Meantime, Arsenal is distancing itself from Ozil saying that the comments do not reflect the club's views, but rather are his personal views. A

spokesperson for China's foreign ministry suggested Ozil has been, quote, blinded by some fake news. Adding, quote, he doesn't know that a Chinese

government protects Chinese citizens including the Uyghur ethnic people's freedom of religious belief in accordance with the law. He doesn't know

that Xinjiang has not experienced a violent terrorist incident for three consecutive years -- end quote. They invited Ozil to see the region for

himself.

David Culver, CNN, Beijing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: All right, still to come -- it's a quiet picture of serenity in the middle of one of the world's most potentially explosive hot spots.

Why some people think it might be a solution to Korea's problems.

[10:30:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MACFARLANE: Hello and welcome back to CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Christina Macfarlane in for Becky Anderson today. And we are now returning to our

top story. The furious accusations and bitter divisions consuming the U.S. capital.

The House Judiciary Committee has dropped a report hundreds of pages long outlining the what and why behind their decision to accuse President Trump

of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The full House will vote on those charges this week, which will kick off a trial in the Senate. But

many Democrats say there's no ways the Republicans in charge will conduct a fair trial. The Senate minority leader has sent a letter to the Senate

majority leader to try and negotiate and we'll continue to bring all the latest on that in the coming hours.

And as the U.S. House of Representatives heads towards the end of the year, impeachment isn't the only item on the agenda. The House hopes to vote on

the U.S., Mexico, Canada trade agreement but there's been a last-minute hitch. Our correspondent Matt Rivers joins us now with more from Mexico

City. And, Matt, tell us what this hitch is.

MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it has really everything to do with what would be American inspectors coming here to Mexico City on the ground

to make sure under the new deal newly enacted Mexican labor laws are being carried out. But the Mexican government said they didn't sign up for that.

They're not happy about it. And the two top negotiators between Mexico and the United States are meeting in Washington today to try to salvage this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RIVERS (voice-over): With the strokes of three pens, a new USMCA trade deal was signed last week in Mexico City. More than just a trade deal,

though, for the U.S. it was a moment of rare bipartisanship. Though it still needs to pass Congress, chief negotiator Robert Lighthizer called it

a model for future trade deals. President Trump called it historic and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi agreed.

It's a victory for America's workers. It's one we take great pride, great pride in advancing.

RIVERS: U.S., Mexican and Canadian negotiators first agreed on a new deal last year but House Democrats had several concerns including about Mexican

labor. Through a year of negotiations with the White House they demanded that any deal included changes in Mexican labor law, with Americans on the

ground in country making sure the new laws were followed. The bill now being considered by the House says that labor attaches will be based in

Mexico, quote, to monitor and enforce the labor obligations of Mexico. The problem here, the Mexican government now says nobody told them that.

JESUS SEADE KURI, MEXICO'S CHIEF TRADE NEGOTIATOR FOR NORTH AMERICA (through translator): This provision was not consulted with Mexico, said

Mexico's chief negotiator Saturday, and of course we don't agree.

RIVERS: As a part of this deal Mexico did change its laws to make it easier for workers to unionize effectively. But when pressured during

negotiations to accept outside inspectors at its work sites, Mexico balked. Saying they only agreed to participate in dispute resolution panels.

Undersecretary Jesus Seade tweeted Sunday in part, quote, Mexico will never accept inspectors for a simple reason, Mexican law prohibits it. Seade

says he will meet with U.S. trade representative Robert Lighthizer in Washington today.

So does this mean the entire agreement is in jeopardy? Experts tell CNN probably not. For one Mexico's Senate overwhelmingly approved the deal

last Thursday and the strong response from Mexican President Lopez Obrador's administration over the weekend could simply be about domestic

politics.

ANA LEROY, TRADE CONSULTANT, MEXICAN COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS: He wants to have that image that Mexico stood firm during the negotiations.

RIVERS: Plus -- Mexico's economy isn't doing very well and USMCA might help with that.

(on camera): Can Mexico afford to scuttle this deal?

LEROY: No.

RIVERS (voice-over): The U.S. House will likely vote on and pass the pact this week but this is a three-country deal. If Mexico were to walk away

the entire thing could collapse. And even if that's not likely what we do know is that the agreement that looked ready to sail through Congress that

President Trump tweeted, quote, will be the best and most important trade deal ever made by the USA just got a lot more complicated.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

RIVERS: And, Christina, we heard this morning from the Mexican President, from the foreign secretary. Both of them said that they are very concerned

by all of this. But they also said they're not overly concerned that this deal is somehow going to fall apart. But there is no question that things

are now more complicated and all eyes will be on the meeting between the two top negotiators from either side in Washington, D.C., today. We're

going to have to wait and see what comes out of that -- Christina.

[10:35:00]

MACFARLANE: Yes, and, Matt, what is your feeling that this is political, that this is perhaps just sort of posturing from the Mexican government

rather than them actually following through on their threat to pull out. Because as you said in your report, they need this a great deal more than

perhaps the United States do?

RIVERS: Yes. And, you know, it's interesting because the President Lopez Obrador, he's long said that he is very skeptical of interventionism from

the United States, that there's a long history of the U.S. intervening in Latin American affairs. And he constantly talks about non-U.S.

interventionist policies. And so as a result, he's looking at this saying no, we can't have American inspectors on the ground acting on their own

will, that we need to approve anything that might happen there. But they also need this deal to go through.

And so, you know, just like every country, they have their own domestic political issues they need to attend to and that's clearly what they're

doing here. But I don't think that this is going to be a strong enough issue where you're going to see the USMCA deal completely fall apart.

MACFARLANE: All right, Matt Rivers there. Thanks for joining us, Matt, and bringing us to date on the latest.

OK, the U.S. envoy to North Korea is urging Pyongyang for resume denuclearization talks ahead of the year-end deadline. Stephen Biegun met

with South Korean officials in Seoul. He sent a clear message to North Korea. It's time to return to the negotiating table. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHEN BIEGUN, U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY TO NORTH KOREA: President Trump, President Moon, and all of us who serve them, have worked hard to keep open

the door to negotiations with North Korea. It has been a long year and we have not made nearly as much progress as we would have hoped, but we will

not give up.

I have read closely the many comments from various North Korean officials over the course of the past month. We have heard them all. It is

regrettable that the tone of these statements towards the United States, the Republic of Korea, Japan, and our friends in Europe, have been so

hostile and negative and so unnecessary.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Well this comes just days after North Korea says it carried out another crucial test at a rocket launch site and after leader Kim Jong-

un promised to deliver a so-called Christmas gift to the U.S.

Despite the continuing tensions, South Korea officials are now pushing to reopen a joint north and South Korea resort. They say it's the key to

peace with North Korea. But the U.S. disagrees. Paula Hancocks has this exclusive report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This is Mount Kumgang or Diamond Mountain. Its serene beauty belies the political turmoil that

surrounds it. A half hour drive north of the DMZ wants a bustling joint tourist resort between North and South Korea. Now, according to leader Kim

Jong-un, who visited recently, shabby and backward. He's pledged to tear the resort down.

CHOI MOON-SOON, GOVERNOR OF GANGWON PROVINCE: This is the door to North Korea.

HANCOCKS: But the South Korean Governor of this province split in two by the DMZ, says it is the key to keeping an increasingly fragile peace.

MOON-SOON: They are saying they will begin again test of nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile. So, we have a -- we must have an exit

plan. The exit plan is -- I think is the Mountain Kumgang.

HANCOCKS: The talks were suspended in 2008 after a South Korean tourist was shot dead by a North Korean soldier. Pyongyang claimed she had entered

an off-limits area.

At a summit in Pyongyang last year, the leaders of North and South Korea agreed to resume the Kumgang tours and a joint industrial park in the

North's Kaesong City as soon as conditions were right.

Kim Jong-un announced it to his people and the world in his New Year's address, something he usually only does when he's sure it will happen.

Tourism is exempt from U.N. Security Council sanctions imposed on North Korea, but the U.S. believes it's too soon to reopen Kumgang. Washington

has voiced concerns Pyongyang could use money from the resort to fund its nuclear and missile programs.

MOON-SOON: There were six times of summit meeting after PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games. All of them -- each of them were gorgeous ones. Big smile,

big hands, big hug, and big promise, and then nothing. On the contrary, more sanction, more sanction. They're angry about it.

HANCOCKS (on camera): So, this is the peace bell.

MOON-SOON: Yes, yes.

HANCOCKS (voice-over): Governor Choi Moon-soon traveled to Washington last month to try and convince Trump administration officials to reopen the

resort. He says they listened but did not agree. The minister for unification has also been lobbying the U.S. to give the green light.

MOON-SOON: This far is from Pyongyang, far from Seoul, far from Washington. It's not political, it's only tourism. So, it's the key.

[10:40:00]

HANCOCKS: The key that South Korean officials fear is slipping through their hands.

Paula Hancocks, CNN, near the DMZ, South Korea.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: You are watching CONNECT THE WORLD. Still to come a football game becomes a snowy delight as parts of the U.S. get slammed by winter

weather.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MACFARLANE: Welcome back. Now the U.S. is getting pounded with nasty weather this week, but one U.S. football team made the best. The Kansas

City Chiefs got into a snowball fight on Sunday before their game with the Denver Broncos. Then they kept having fun during the game, rolling to a

23-3 win over their rivals working the snow into their celebrations and clinching the division title. Our Rihanna Jones is here with me from WORLD

SPORT. I guess when life gives you snow make snowballs.

RHIANNON JONES, CNN WORLD SPORT: Absolutely, and snow angels like you said there. But more importantly, as you'll see coming up on "WORLD SPORT" we

have the UEFA Champions League last 16 draw for you. And all my goodness, there is mouthwatering ties in there -- Christina.

MACFARLANE: The biggest fixture?

JONES: Real Madrid and Man City I reckon. But that's me.

MACFARLANE: And I know you're a massive Real Madrid fan of course, Rhiannon, and so you will, of course, I know where your loyalties will lie

with that one.

JONES: Yes, no comment.

MACFARLANE: All right, so Champions League are all coming up and the latest, of course, on Mesut Ozil, no doubt as well --

JONES: Absolutely, yes.

MACFARLANE: -- on that controversy with China. We look forward to it. Rhiannon and then I will be back in the next hour for another hour of news,

but coming up after the break, we'll leave you with "WORLD SPORT."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:45:00]

(WORLD SPORT)

END