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Connect the World
United Kingdom Prime Minister Unveils England's COVID Lockdown Exit Plan; Italy Makes One Year Since Its First COVID Lockdown; CNN Talks With Sister Of Myanmar Protests Victim; Jens Stoltenberg: Iran Is A Growing Concern For NATO And Our Allies; CNN Speaks To NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg; Max Homa Gets Trophy From Tiger Woods After Victory. Aired 11- 11:45a ET
Aired February 22, 2021 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi. This is "Connect the World" with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: It is 4 in the afternoon in London. It is 5 pm in Rome, and it is 8 in the evening, here in Abu Dhabi.
Hello and welcome. Just moments ago, Boris Johnson, taking the wraps off his roadmap to ease England out of its third lockdown, and it is all
systems go for getting kids back into classrooms.
Starting on March the 8th plus, more longed for social content for people in nursing homes will be allowed a visitor each but there's still a long
way to go. The British Prime Minister, addressing U.K. lawmakers in Parliament.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: We cannot escape the fact that lifting lockdown will result in more cases, more hospitalizations, and
sadly, more deaths. And this would happen whenever lockdown is lifted whether now or in six or nine months, because there will always be some
vulnerable people who are not protected by the vaccines.
There is therefore no credible route to a zero COVID Britain or indeed a zero COVID world. And we cannot persist indefinitely, with restrictions
that debilitate our economy, our physical and mental well being the life chances of our children. And that is why it is so crucial that this roadmap
should be cautious, but also irreversible.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Let's get to CNN's Nic Robertson from his vantage point in Downing Street, it felt like sort of a throwback Monday when we saw Theresa
May there as speaking from the back benches. She of course used to be the British Prime Minister, we did hear from Boris Johnson, the current British
Prime Minister, what people in England want to know is when will this all be over? Did they get their answer?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: They did the 21st of June there'll be no limits on social gathering. And the steps in between
and the caution that these steps will be data based that there will be a big pause between each step five weeks so that there can be an analysis of
the data, and therefore a week to prepare people and you know, if there are changes to be made.
People now know that they can go get a haircut early April the 12th of April, there'll be able to sit in a restaurant outside similar pub outside
around about that same date as well. And then five weeks later, they'll be actually being able to go inside the pub and restaurant.
I think for a lot of people this is what they've been waiting for. So yes, the roadmap is the answer. That's what they wanted, whether they wanted it
faster or slower. They've got that picture. As the prime minister said the end is in sight. And it's given that sight to people now.
ANDERSON: And the prime minister was applauding the date for hairdressers to reopen getting a snicker from his colleagues in the House of Commons. I
think he admits that he probably needs one looking at this new plan and what lessons has the government learned from previous waves Nic?
ROBERTSON: That's an interesting question Becky and to pardon the pun. But I'm not plugging this from thin hair. But the hairdresser's actually is one
of a lesson that may have been learned. That hairdresser was one of the last things to be unlocked and when we came out of the last lockdown. It
came in July now the prime minister sort of putting it in his second phase here.
So has the government been able to look at the data around where most infections took place and therefore be able to calculate that hairdressers
are safer, or have they learned a political lesson that there's a lot of pressure to get people to get their hair cut, not just from the prime
minister or perhaps this correspondent as well.
But I think to get back to the bigger picture point here. It's caution. Caution is what the prime minister's learned. He's always been an
optimistic person who's always wanted to believe the best that the best can happen. And he took steps that led to several lock downs, partial lock
downs, complete lock downs.
He doesn't want that again. So the caution here is in making sure that the vaccine rollout continues. That's the big driver. He says that making sure
that hospitals are not under pressure making sure that there's no searches around the country making sure that there isn't another variant that comes
out.
[11:05:00]
ROBERTSON: All these sort of checks that will be put in place in those four weeks around each of these steps. I think that's the lesson. The big lesson
that's been learned learn here, Becky, to be cautious and not to have to put the country through this again, because there's a lot of political
capital is on the line here.
ANDERSON: Nic Robertson is outside 10 Downing Street. Thank you, Nic. Well, U.K. and indeed, across many parts of Europe, then looking to open up
exactly a year to the day since he first locked down in Italy. In Germany, some federal states are beginning to reopen classroom doors hundreds of
thousands of kids returned for the first time in two months today, Monday.
Meanwhile, countries including Poland and Hungary have already welcomed back elementary school students but all the kids are staying virtual over
in Austria, which is it's locked down earlier this month. They are having in person classes with daily COVID testing.
Well, Delia Gallaher has been watching all of this over the past year from her vantage point in Rome, and she joins us from there now live. Delia what
what's the story where you are?
DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, you know, Italians are still living under travel restrictions and curfews. They have rolled out
their vaccination plan, but that has experienced delays as it has in many parts of Europe, mainly due to problems getting the vaccine from the
pharmaceutical companies.
Italy is marking one year since the discovery of that first case of Coronavirus in the town of Codongo in Northern Italy that first case which
led to the first lockdown nationally in Europe. We returned one year later to Codongo to talk to those residents. Here's what they had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GALLAGHER (voice over): February 21st, 2020 is a date the people of Codongo, Italy will never forget. It was here in this tiny town that
Italy's first case of COVID-19 was reported; resulting in a complete lockdown of their town and the beginning of what would become a national
and international pandemic.
Resident - says it was the mother of all tests. We live differently now. The Mayor of Codongo Francesco Passerini, he says he still gets goose bumps
when he remembers that day which took them all by surprise. Seem the risk in Europe, he says was practically zero nothing instead, it was among us
and had already stricken.
From that first patient Italy has seen the disease spread to more than 2.7 million citizens and close to 100,000 have died. 324 people died in Codongo
from COVID in the first three months alone in a town of only 16,000 residents this past year have taken its toll.
We are so many friends as resident - so many relatives and they are never coming back. Codongo was the first town to go into strict lockdown. The
Codongo model was followed soon after by other towns and eventually the entire country. One year on Codongo residents echo sentiments felt by many
across Italy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's crazy. I don't I don't want to live like this anymore. No, no. No.
GALLAGHER (voice over): Mayor Passerini is optimistic that things have improved. Last year we were really fighting barehanded he says an enemy
that we couldn't see and didn't know. This year we made giant steps both in prevention and didn't diagnosis. The Mayor says he is proud of his town, a
frontline who says where the battle was fought and where resistance and resilience continue.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GALLAGHER: And Becky, resilience is still being required of Italians just earlier this year. You'll remember their government collapsed. And a new
prime minister has now installed just last week Mario Draghi well respected economist and so a lot of hopes are being pinned on him to speed up the
vaccine rollout plan and to come up with an economic recovery plan for the country, Becky.
ANDERSON: Delia is in Rome for you. Well, Italy's President says his country is in mourning today, after the Italian Ambassador to the
Democratic Republic of Congo and two others were killed there in an ambush.
[11:10:00]
ANDERSON: Luca Attanasio died in the attack along with a security officer and their driver from the World Food Program several others in their convoy
were injured. They were traveling to a school feeding program when they were attacked on a road near Goma that had been previously cleared for safe
travel. David McKenzie is tracking developments for us this hour from Johannesburg, David?
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right, Becky. It's certainly a disturbing development and very shocking for the Italian
government and of course, the families of those killed. The incident happened earlier today on the road between Goma and Rutshuru in North Kivu.
Now, this area has been for years chronically insecure. And there are multiple armed groups operating in that area, Becky, both in terms of
insurgent type of groups also just those wanting to rob and kidnap people for ransom. I looked at a recent study on the incidence in North Kivu, and
they've been multiple just this year.
Obviously, the fact that Ambassador a major Ambassador of a Western power was killed in this action right close to the borders of the - National Park
and the border regions of Rwanda. And the Eastern DRC shows you that this area is still extremely unsafe, and questions will be asked about the
security detail and the decision to travel as though having traveled on that road many times before. You know, things can happen. And it's
certainly ended very tragically today.
ANDERSON: Yes. David McKenzie on the story, David, thank you. Well, still ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are from the same country, but we don't want a dictatorship. So please, do sign with the thieves with the civilians and
don't bully us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: A message for the Myanmar regime that killed this woman's sister. Our exclusive reporting is just ahead and jumpstarting nuclear diplomacy as
Washington says it's now willing to reengage with Tehran, I'll talk to NATO Secretary General about his concerns over Iran's nuclear program and the
way forward.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:15:00]
ANDERSON: Even the ominous warning of a loss of life didn't keep protesters from the streets across Myanmar they heeded the call for mass
demonstrations. On Monday organizers also called for a general strike. Now this all comes after two protesters killed when security forces opened fire
at a demonstration over the weekend.
The protesters want Myanmar to go back to civilian rule after the February the first coup; the military leaders accused them of anarchy and incitement
which could lead to "Loss of life". The military says well meantime the first person killed in these protests was remembered on Sunday.
The young woman died Friday 10 days after she was shot. You can see people packed the streets for her funeral procession. She has become a symbol of
Myanmar's fight for democracy. She had turned just 20 years old while she was in a coma. Well, CNN's Paula Hancocks has been speaking with the young
woman's family from Seoul, in South Korea and Paula what have they been telling you?
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, understandably, they are absolutely devastated by what has happened. But speaking to her sister, she
did say that Mya Thwet Thwet Khine really wanted to be part of the protests from day one. She truly believed in democracy in her country and she's
calling for the protesters to keep out on the streets.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HANCOCKS (voice over): This is the moment made Mya Thwet Thwet Khine shot in the head, taking cover from the water cannon head of February 9th
protest in the Capital Naypyitaw. She can be seen here wearing a helmet. A gunshot is heard and she drops to the ground. Her sister was by her side
and thought she had fainted.
MYA THATOE NWE, SISTER OF SLAIN PROTESTER: I shouted help me move her to the side. Someone said that we should take a helmet off. Only then we
realized she had shot. I was praying to Buddha for how to recover for nothing to have happened. How do I explain this feeling? If I describe it,
I keep seeing it.
HANCOCKS (voice over): Mya Thwet Thwet Khine leaves behind a four year old daughter. Her sister says the whole family is devastated but proud.
NWE: For us she is still a kid even though she was 20 years old. She was carefree loves to go out to eat and to read horror stories.
HANCOCKS (voice over): She turned 20 while in critical condition; her family marked her birthday at the hospital. The military tried to transfer
her to the military hospital while she was still being treated according to one of the doctors. But he says they refused. That doctor is now in hiding
fearing arrest. He would only speak to us if we conceal his identity.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe that the big of the media attention and also would try to consider evidence of the incident.
HANCOCKS (on camera): Do you think there was ever a chance to be able to save her?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With this kind of injury it's already been two days when she arrived to the hospital because she's already in spaceflight coma.
HANCOCKS (voice over): X-ray showed the bullet lodged in the patient's brain. And the doctor says the autopsy confirms it was a live bullet that
killed her. The family had asked the doctors to share the medical report and autopsy with CNN her sister says her only crime is that she threw a
water bottle at police.
The Military issued a statement in the military controlled newspaper saying Mya Thwet Thwet Khine was throwing stones at the riot place. The military
also says the bullet that killed her is not the same ammunition used by police; claiming only anti-riot weapons were used.
Amnesty International accuses the police of firing live ammunition into the crowd of protesters. Amnesty says it investigated this photo from AFP News
Agency and since it was taken across the road from the protesters. According to Amnesty's investigation, a police officer is holding a locally
made variant of an - machine gun, but it is not claiming that this person fired the shot that killed Mya Thwet Thwet Khine.
CNN cannot independently verify the image and it is unclear who fired the shot that killed Mya Thwet Thwet Khine. The Military says the police will
handle the investigation. Supporters have lined the streets of her funeral procession Sunday, she has become a symbol of the pro democracy movement.
Her sister says she will be back out on the streets after the mourning period and has a message for the military.
NWE: We do not hate the individual soldier or policeman. We are from the same country but we don't want a dictatorship. So please don't side with
the thieves with the civilians and don't bully us, even if you can't join us.
HANCOCKS (voice over): Mya Thwet Thwet Khine is the first casualty in Myanmar's fight for democracy.
[11:20:00]
HANCOCKS (voice over): Two more deaths over the weekend have already shown she has not the last.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANCOCKS: Three fatalities, Becky would clearly be in the back of protesters minds as they still come out onto the streets. And the scenes we
saw today were quite remarkable, massive crowds in many different cities across the country.
Clearly these protesters, heeding the civil disobedience movements, call to have a historic day and trying to ignore or at least disregard the military
saying there could be loss of life. Now we have had reports of arrests, but certainly there is a hope that there will be no more loss of life.
ANDERSON: Their demands for democracy really outweighing these clear concerns about what the military might do next? The UN Secretary General
Antonio Guterres called on Myanmar's military to "Stop the repression immediately", and he called on the military to release prisoners.
Paula meanwhile, the U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken tweeting, and I quote here, the U.S. will continue to take firm action against those who
perpetrate violence against the people of Burma, as they demand the restoration of their democratically elected government. I wonder Is this
the sort of response now these are sort of words that are really going to change anything on the ground, Paula.
HANCOCKS: Well, this is a question I ask activists and protesters every single day, Becky, and the simple fact is that nobody believes that words
and condemnation are going to change the military's mind in any shape or form. This is a country that had a military dictatorship for more than
almost 50 years.
And it managed to survive the condemnation and also the sanctions. What the protesters I'm speaking to are looking for is financial penalties. They
know, the world is watching, and they appreciate the attention, I've been told that they want to know that the individual companies that the military
owns are going to be targeted.
There are going to be sanctions against them, they're going to be targeted sanctions against the military leaders who actually owned those companies.
And then if you take away the funds, they believe, then you take away the power, what they want to see is no country implicitly working with them,
the government, or the excuse me, the military leadership in order to try and topple it.
And it's why we've seen so many protests outside the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar. The fact that many protesters believe that China is implicit China
has business interests in Myanmar. And they do not believe that, that China is an honest broker in this.
And certainly they are calling on the U.S. on the UN on the international community to do what China and Russia is not doing and that is to condemn
and to sanction, Becky.
ANDERSON: You've been speaking to people on the ground; it's been extremely tough to get hold of people. I mean, there's been interference and
blackouts on internet coverage. To those who speak to one how are they coping on the ground? And to is there still a sense of optimism, and in all
of this?
HANCOCKS: I think optimism isn't quite the word but determination is probably more like it. Everyone I've spoken to has talked about this being
the final battle, that if they don't win this particular battle against what they call the military dictatorship, then that is it; they will not be
able to have democracy in the future.
So there's a real sense of this is the be all and end all. And the other thing that people always point out as well as the terror of the nighttime,
as soon as the darkness falls.
And as soon as that internet shutdown happens again, as it has for eight nights, consecutively, thanks to the military leadership that is when the
military comes knocking on doors and arrest those that they believe are encouraging the coup and encode so encouraging those to go out onto the
streets and protest against the coup so that's another thing that they focus on the fact that they really do have a concern about the nighttime
arrests.
I spoke to one actress who was in hiding for fear of being arrested and she said that pots and pans were her weapon. So if somebody did come to arrest
her, and her film director husband, they were going to bang their pots and pans which should be a sign of protest so that the neighbors would be
alerted and they would be able to come around and help. And they said that's basically the only weapon they have against this military
leadership.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. A sense of determination from those on the ground that Paula has spoken to us these demonstrations continuing as Paula
rightly pointed out.
[11:25:00]
ANDERSON: The images of so many people on the streets despite, despite threats from the military that there could be "Loss of life". Well, we have
seen that loss of life over the weekend and yet these demonstrations for and in favor of democracy in Myanmar, continuing. Paula is always a
pleasure. Thank you so much for joining us. We will be right back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: One of our top stories this hour crisis talks in Teheran to save the Iran Nuclear Deal that at the International Atomic Energy Agency says
he has a temporary deal with Iran. Rafael Grossi (ph) says the two sides have now reached a technical understanding following his trip to the
Capitol, which would let inspectors verify and monitor Iran's nuclear activities for the next three months.
Now that's potentially laying the groundwork for Washington and Tehran to kick starts these nuclear talks. Last week, the Biden Administration
offered to return to negotiations with Iran on the international nuclear deal, which the U.S. abandoned in 2018.
Well, I spoke recently to the Secretary General of NATO, and began by asking him where Iran sits now on NATO's list of strategic concerns? Have a
listen.
JENS STOLTENBERG, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: Iran is a concern because Iran is responsible for activities which are destabilizing the region. We are
concerned about their missile program and we are of course, also concerned about the efforts of Iran to develop nuclear weapons.
NATO allies welcome the Iran nuclear deal when that was signed in 2015. And, and I expect NATO allies also to welcome efforts by the United States
to try to find one way or another to update or to make a new deal that can impose restrictions on the Iranian nuclear programs.
ANDERSON: How concerned are you about Iran?
STOLTENBERG: We are concerned and especially about the combination of that they are developing their nuclear weapons, combined with the means of
delivery the missile program. So it's the combination of coming closer to having a nuclear bomb a nuclear warhead nuclear weapons, with more
sophisticated long range missiles.
This is of course concern for all NATO allies. And that's also partly why we strongly support any effort to try to impose restrictions on the nuclear
program of Iran.
[11:30:00]
ANDERSON: U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin wrote that aggressive and coercive behaviors from emboldened strategic competitors, such as China and
Russia, reinforce our belief in collective security. Were you able to come up with an updated collective framework for engaging with Russia and China?
STOLTENBERG: The message on this meeting is that we now are launching a process which aims towards the summit of NATO leaders in Brussels later
this year. And there we hopefully or I have proposed that we will agree to start the process of making it updated strategic concept for NATO.
This is important because the security environment has changed fundamentally; we have seen over the last year a much more assertive
Russia, illegally annexing Crimea using military force against neighbors. We have seen a new, more brutal formal terrorism with ISIS. We have seen
more sophisticated cyber attacks, disinformation campaigns, and then we have seen gradually, that the global balance of power is shifting with the
rise of China.
Of course, the rise of China also provide some opportunities for our economists for our markets, export but also some serious challenges the
second largest defense budget in the world, China is investing heavily in new military capabilities, including nuclear weapons. And we see that
China's coming closer to us in cyberspace, but also investing in infrastructure.
So we need to stand together in addressing the security consequences of the rise of China. And that's the message from all NATO allies.
ANDERSON: I want to push you on this because as you rightly pointed out, the bulk of NATO members are EU States and China has overtaken America as
the EU's biggest trading partner, how does that close trading relationship complicate conversations that the Alliance is having about containing China
as a military power?
STOLTENBERG: We all need to find the right way to deal with both the opportunities. Of course, the economic growth of China has been good for
our economies at least in many ways, because we have been able to sell more products and also strengthen our own economists by working with China.
At the same time, there are some serious security implications related to this. We have seen it for instance in relation to discussion about the 5G
Telecommunication Networks. And over the last year, I think we have seen an enormous convergence of views within NATO. But when it comes to especially,
for instance, 5G, we need to make sure that we have reliable secured networks in times of peace, crisis and conflict.
And therefore welcome the fact that more and more NATO allies actually impose policies which makes sure that we don't have foreign ownership in a
way that undermines these requirements. So it shows in a way, the balance and the and the and the and the thing, we have to reconcile and need to
trade with China as big economies, the biggest economy in the world, soon to be, but also the potential security implications, especially for the
resilience of our civilian societies.
ANDERSON: From what you've told me tonight, it sounds as if effectively, NATO is putting both Russia and China on notice, correct?
STOLTENBERG: We have to address the threats and challenges coming from many different directions. And, and of course, for decades, the Soviet Union was
the main focus for NATO. Then after the end of the Cold War, we have been forced or we have to face a much more complex security environment,
including the rise of China, so we need to address a more assertive Russia.
But we also need to deal with the rise of China. The main message is that regardless what kind of threat or challenge we face, we are much safer when
we stand together. Together, NATO represents 50 percent of the world's GDP 50 percent of the world's military might. So as long as North America and
Europe stand together in NATO, we are able to deal with all these challenges. Anything that divides us will weaken us; anything that unites
us will strengthen us.
ANDERSON: I want to talk about Afghanistan, with you, sir, the much violated U.S./Taliban peace agreement calls for the complete withdrawal of
the remaining 2500 American forces from Afghanistan. President Biden needs to decide by May the first whether that will happen now?
Under this peace agreement, the Taliban promised to cut ties with Al-Qaeda there and reduce violence. There's no sign that those conditions have been
met to this failing peace agreement needs to be re examined before any decisions are made about a troop drawdown?
[11:35:00]
STOLTENBERG: So we decided in NATO that it was too early to make a final decision on whether we leave or whether we stay after the first of May?
What we will do is that we will continue as allies to closely consult to coordinate and then make decisions together.
We now have a NATO presence in Afghanistan 10,000 troops, the majority of the NATO troops in Afghanistan are from European allies and partner
countries. What we are focused on is to support the peace process. The process is fragile, it's difficult, but it is the best way the best
platform to try to find a political, lasting, peaceful solution to the conflict in Afghanistan.
ANDERSON: What changes would you need to see on the ground before leaving?
STOLTENBERG: What is important now is that all parties negotiate in good faith that they demonstrated real will to try to find a political peaceful
solution. Taliban has to negotiate in good faith. They have to reduce violence and Taliban has to live up to their commitments, especially those
related to a counterterrorism.
The reason why NATO within Afghanistan almost 20 years ago, was to make sure that Afghanistan does not once again become a safe haven for
international terrorists that can plan organize attacks against our own countries. And that's the most important thing to prevent from happening
again, in Afghanistan.
There is no easy option, there is no easy decision in Afghanistan, and there will be a lot of uncertainty. But we have to maximize the likelihood
for preventing Afghanistan, again being a platform for international terrorists.
ANDERSON: So as I understand it, you are in a holding pattern at present with regard Afghanistan, will America's decision impact how NATO acts?
STOLTENBERG: The United States is very much aware of that after 9/11. NATO allies went into Afghanistan together with the United States and hundreds
of thousands of European troops and Canadian troops and partner countries have served alongside U.S. troops in Afghanistan, and more than thousand
have paid the ultimate price.
So this we went in together, we will make decisions on adjusting our precedence together. And when the time is right, we'll also leave together.
ANDERSON: What are your worst fears about a total drawdown of troops from Afghanistan at this point?
STOLTENBERG: If we leave too early, then of course, we risk that we lose all the gains we have made over the last years, especially in preventing
Afghanistan being a safe haven for international terrorists, but also the social and economic progress we have helped to facilitate Afghanistan,
especially for women.
So that's the risk if we leave. The risk, if we stay is that, of course, we will then reach to see more violence against NATO troops. We may wish to be
then involved in even long term or even longer term military involvement in a difficult military operation Afghanistan. So this is a real and difficult
dilemma. No easy solution.
The main message from me and from NATO is that whatever we do we need to do it in a coordinated way where allies act together.
ANDERSON: You have just announced that NATO will increase its mission in Iraq, eight fold from 500 personnel to 4000 that is substantial. Why, sir?
STOLTENBERG: Because we strongly believe that we have to train the Iraqi forces build an Iraqi defense capacity to make sure that ISIS does not
return. Prevention is better than intervention. Of course, we have to be ready to again deploy in big combat operations if needed.
But it's much better if we can enable the Iraqi forces themselves, to stabilize their own country and to fight terrorists and ISIS themselves.
And that's the reason why we are scaling up the training and capacity building, because that is important for the people of Iraq. But it's also
important for us is the best way to prevent ISIS from returning.
ANDERSON: So that explains why but not why now, is there an imminent threat, or do you see already the emergence of ISIS?
STOLTENBERG: We have seen that ISIS is trying to re establish them; they have lost the territory they controlled not so long time ago. Territory as
big as United Kingdom almost 8 million people were under ISIS control. They have lost that physical control.
[11:40:00]
STOLTENBERG: But ISIS is still operating in Iraq. We have seen some more violence, more attacks. And therefore we have seen that the time is now
into scale up the training. And I spoke with the Iraqi Prime Minister this week and clearly stated to him that everything we do in Iraq will be in
close consultation with Iraqi government fully respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity and based on that we can work very closely with
Iraqi government.
ANDERSON: The NATO Head Jens Stoltenberg speaking to me in a wide ranging discussion. Well, now imagine finally getting to meet your sports hero up
close when it gives you the tournament winning trophy it happened for one golfer in the states. His story is just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back, wait for it, wait for it or you can be so close and yet so far. It was even the same for the winner there in blue Max Homa
winning the Genesis Invitational in a second playoff hole. And look who he got to meet after it. To discuss let's bring in someone even more famous
Don Riddell in the house. Don as I understand it, Max and target didn't exactly speak a lot, right?
DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: This is just so cool Becky and this says so much about this golfer, even after he's won two PGA Tour events, which is a
really, really big deal. A lot of top golfers never even get back close to success.
Never spoken to Tiger Woods and he's played this event years and years and years and he tweeted afterwards he said I've been trying to get just a high
five out of Tiger for more than a dozen years. And today he had to hand me a trophy.
So he went from - to go from zero to it to thousand just incredible. It makes him a very, very emotional after this event. The Tiger Woods
Foundation hosts the Genesis Invitational. That is why Tiger Woods was there. But how cool is that? He'd have accepted a high five in the end. He
got a really cool trophy.
ANDERSON: Wonderful story, love it. More from you after this short break World Sport is up with Don and we are done for the evening today. See you
same time tomorrow.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:45:00]
END
