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Hala Gorani Tonight
Forty Killed As Migrant Boats Capsize In Aegean Sea; U.S. Capital Prepares For Major Blizzard; Monster Storm Heading Toward Eastern U.S.; NATO Wants More Political Dialogue With Russia; American Held Prisoner In Iran Heading Home; Iranians Look To Future After Sanctions Lifted; Abandoned Boy Starting New Life In America; Trump and Palin; Norway Busing Refugees Out; Visa Waiver Program Changes. Aired 3-4p ET
Aired January 21, 2016 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Hala Gorani. We are live at CNN London. Thanks for being with us on CNN. This is THE
WORLD RIGHT NOW.
We begin tonight with an all too familiar story from the Mediterranean. It's not always in the headlines, but sometimes the numbers are so high
it's difficult to ignore the extent of the catastrophe.
Stormy weather means for risks for migrants and refugees trying to get to Europe, but still they are coming and still some of them don't make it.
This incident off the coast of Turkey, at least four people have died.
Look at this images, more than 40 were rescued. In this image, you can see three people desperately clinging on to a buoy in the sea. Here a child is
being lifted into a boat from the water.
In this image, people in the water hold on to a rope from a Turkish rescue boat. In two other incidents dozens more were killed, including 17
children, when vessels capsized in the Aegean Sea near the Turkish coast.
CNN's Arwa Damon has been covering this ongoing crisis for months now. She is live in Istanbul. Last year, when we were covering this refugee crisis,
we would hear once the winter weather sets in, you know, fewer people will attempt to cross, but still we're seeing huge numbers, Arwa. Tell us more
about these deadly incidents.
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That was the expectation, Hala, and in fact, it's taken as we've been covering this by
surprise, but also eight organizations who were hoping that perhaps because of the colder weather, the stormier seas, it would perhaps tamper down to
more manageable levels when it comes to the influx of refugees.
But the tragic reality of it, as you highlighted there with those heart breaking images too, is that this has not significantly slowed down and
people do continue to die on a regular basis because they are being crammed into these boats that are not sea worthy to begin with.
In all these instances these were boats that capsized off the coast of Greece managing to make it all the way to Greece, but not to Greek shores,
and the other very close to the shores of Turkey.
And that is exactly one of the main things that so many people are trying to tackle is the conditions that these smugglers are throwing these
refugees into to make this crossing.
GORANI: Right. We've heard reports of factories producing fake life vests, for instance. While this is all happening and people are drowning
in the sea, leaders from Germany and Turkey are meeting today. What are they saying about how this crisis can be addressed here?
DAMON: Well, German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, and the main focus of their conversation was
really centered around this whole refugee crisis.
Both of the countries severely impacted. Turkey home to around 3 million refugees, 2.2 million of them from Syria. Germany in the last year taking
in an unprecedented 1.1 million.
Turkey pledging to try do more to stem this flood that's going. Germany also saying that it is not going to necessarily put a number, a cap on
refugees it's going to be accepting, but how sustainable is the current situation?
It really is not and that is why both these leaders are trying perhaps come up with some sort of solution. European Union member countries have
pledged to give Turkey around 3 billion euros to try to help Turkey deal with living conditions here.
[15:05:09]Health education for refugees perhaps that will prevent more from going to Europe, but at this stage there is no real solution.
GORANI: Yes. And it doesn't solve the problem that people in foreign countries around Syria can't find work, can't send their kids to school in
many cases. You covered the refugee crisis in Europe and we're already seeing so many boarders, even inside Schengen go up.
We are hearing leaders, Manuel Valls, the prime minister of France say, we don't know if this whole passport-free area can survive in its current
state. Can it sort of sustain more of this influx?
DAMON: It's very difficult to fathom how, but at the same time, it's going to somehow have to a certain degree because the influx isn't going to stop
until the Syrian crisis and the various other wars and economic conditions that are forcing people to flee are really going to be addressed.
You have boarders going up in Europe where they didn't use to exist. You have governments of some countries very seemingly deliberately trying to
make their nation refugee unfriendly.
You have Denmark right now that is going to be voting on legislation on Tuesday that is going to allow the authorities to seize valuables or money
that is valued to be above $1,500.
You have other measures being put in place to deter people from coming into these countries. But again, at the end of the day, what it really boils
down to is that even if countries put up boarders, they're not going to stop the refugees from coming.
Eight organizations keep saying this too, Hala. All that these measures are doing is making the situation more difficult for them.
GORANI: Well, we are seeing it with the current influx. Arwa Damon live in Istanbul. Thanks very much. We'll have more on this a bit later in the
program, particularly we'll discuss once again Norway's plans to deport some asylum seekers to Russia. That's coming up a bit later.
But for now, let's turn our attention to that monster storm heading towards some of the biggest cities in the United States. The weather system, you
see it there, it walloped to the south on Friday morning.
Now it is heading north. Washington's mayor warned residents to stay home and off the roads saying the blizzard had, quote, "life and death
implications."
Chris Frates has the latest on preparations. He joins me now live from the National Mall in Washington. I see it's already snowing -- Chris.
CHRIS FRATES, CNN INVESTIGATIONS CORRESPONDENT: It's already snowing. It's been coming down for a couple of hours now, Hala, and as beautiful as
this looks, Washington's officials are telling everybody to stay home. Leave the sleds. They're saying that this is a matter of life and death.
The D.C. mayor, Muriel Bowser, she had a press conference today and here is what she had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR MURIEL BOWSER (D), WASHINGTON, D.C.: We see this as a major storm. It has life and death implications and all the residents should treat it
that way. We need the city's full cooperation and we need the media's help too to send a clear message that we want people to hunker down and shelter
in place and stay off the roads.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRATES: So there you have the mayor, Muriel Bowser, saying it's a matter of life and death. Her emergency management director went on later to say
that this storm will be deadly and to stay off the roads.
Now Maryland, D.C., Virginia, all in a state of emergency, Hala. That allows them to call on federal aid if they need it including the National
Guard.
Now the city government and the federal government, everybody has gone home. They called it quits about noon time. The school kids head off long
before the snow started to fall.
They had the snow day off and that was largely because they wanted to keep people off the roads today. They wanted to give the salt trucks the
ability to get out there and pretreat the roads.
We were at a salt dome earlier today and they have 39,000 tons of this stuff they're going to put this down to try to keep this area safe, but the
best advice is stay inside. You can come out to play on Sunday.
GORANI: Right. Everybody got a good heads up this time. So we'll see if there is any caucus on the road. Chris Frates, thanks very much. We'll
stay in touch with you.
Meteorologist Karen Maginnis joins me now from the World Weather Center. Karen, how is it looking now?
[15:10:06]KAREN MAGINNIS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It looks for dreadful than what we were looking at. Honestly, Hala, they are saying that this is
epic, it's historic, it's a record breaker, and it potentially could be all of those things, but either way it's devastating for people living along
the I-95 corridor.
It's that band, that highway all the way from Washington, D.C. through Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City. Now everybody within these
orange shaded boxes have blizzard warnings from this evening until Sunday morning.
So we're looking at just about 36 hours and we have winter storm warnings out across the Deep South and mid-Atlantic region. In Nashville, they've
seen about half a meter of snowfall already.
In North Carolina there's a big football game coming up on Sunday. They have seen ice and snow. We're not even talking about the winds yet, but
blizzard conditions with wind gusts possibly as high as 105 kilometers per hour.
Look where this is expected, right along that I-85 corridor. Another interstate that runs pretty much from Richmond to Charlotte to Greenville,
South Carolina. Folks here could be slipping and sliding on some of those roads.
Those are the major interstates. The secondary roads, forget about it. The storm system is going to hug the mid-Atlantic coast, move up towards
the north east. How much snow could Washington, D.C. get?
You are looking at between 50 and 75 centimeters. There's a look at Washington, D.C. The snow started coming down about three hours ago. The
visibility has gone down. It looks pretty right now and you're wondering how bad could it be?
It's going to be so bad we could see potentially millions of people without power and this will rival the storm that we saw the blizzard of 1922, Hala,
about a hundred people lost in a movie theater there and they saw just about those same amounts so it's potentially devastating.
GORANI: All right. Let's hope it's not devastating. The thing about snow is it's always lovely when it's nice and fluffy and the snow starts
falling, then it's a nightmare, and problems with traffic and as you mentioned power lines. Karen Maginnis, we will stay also in close touch
with you as the storm progresses. Thanks very much.
MAGINNIS: Thank you.
GORANI: We'll head to snowy Davos, Switzerland in just a moment. The U.S. secretary of state gives a wide ranging speech at the World Economic Forum.
He covered everything from terrorism to Ukraine. Richard Quest has the details next. We'll go live to Tehran where people are looking forward to
life after sanctions.
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[15:15:05]
GORANI: The relationship between Moscow and Washington certainly has been chilly in the last few months, but could they be moving these two out of
the deep freeze?
In a speech from Davos, the American Secretary of State John Kerry said he believed the damaging sanctions against Russia could be removed within
months, but he says there are conditions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN KERRY, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: I believe that with effort and with bonafide legitimate intent to solve the problem on both sides, it is
possible in these next months to find those agreements implemented and get to a place where sanctions can be appropriately because of the full
implementation are removed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: John Kerry there. Richard Quest is tracking developments from the World Economic Forum in Davos live. So Richard, let's talk a little bit
also about and you spoke with the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. What did you two discuss?
RICHARD QUEST, CNN ANCHOR, "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS": Well, Jens Stoltenberg obviously is here because of the security and the larger issues at play,
particularly when it comes to Russia. You heard Secretary Kerry discussing the lifting of sanctions.
NATO is much more concerned about the continued aggression, if you like, the bellicosity of Russia towards NATO members, whether it be towards
obviously what happened with Ukraine, but also the testing of NATO defenses with ships, submarines, and planes.
So what Jens Stoltenberg wants to do is start some form of negotiation, some form of dialogue, a dialogue that has not existed for some time
officially between NATO and the Russians.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JENS STOLTENBERG, NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL: We already have political dialogue with Russia, but we want them to develop and also to be more
focused on, for instance, developing and strengthening mechanisms for risk reduction, transparency and predictability, for instance, related to
military activities along our boarders.
We already have some instruments negotiated in the framework on some people that oversee the organization for security and cooperation in Europe and we
would like to modernize those mechanisms to -- how the necessary mechanisms in place to avoid incidence and accidents from happening.
QUEST: That requires you talking?
STOLTENBERG: Absolutely.
QUEST: And you're not at the moment?
STOLTENBERG: We have some political dialogue with Russia, but we would like to --
QUEST: It's bad.
STOLTENBERG: I think the importance of dialogue is even more pressing or more important when the situation is bad and difficult and now tensions are
high so then there's even more need for military contact, but also political dialogue to try to calm tensions and to avoid incidents and
accidents from spiraling out of control.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
QUEST: That's very much, Hala, the way in which NATO sees it. It's a classic case of they want to talk, but they are absolutely determined to
remain on guard.
GORANI: Let's talk about oil because I understand that this week in Davos that was really one of the big topics of discussion. Oil under 30, for a
while, it's bounced back up to around 31 and here we are by the way up 9 percent.
There is a bit of a rebound for oil. Still year-on-year at lower levels. What's been the word on the impact this this might have on the economy?
QUEST: Year-on-year still over 20 percent. Hala, there's no justification for today's rise in the price of oil any more than there was any
justification for the falls yesterday.
This is the market in some turmoil as it's deciding where the bottom of the price is and where the moment of stability can be reached. The same reason
that the Dow Jones is up over 200 points today.
People say it's the prospect of greater stimulus from central banks. Whether it be the ECB or in Japan. Again, I don't buy it. I think that
you're looking at naked, raw volatility predicated on worries and in this new market of program trading, of high frequency trading, this is the sort
of volatility you get.
GORANI: All right, Richard Quest, thanks very much. We'll see you at the top of the hour on "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS" and have a good weekend.
QUEST: Thank you.
GORANI: Thanks. The "Washington Post" reporter who spent 18 months as a prisoner in Iran is now on his way home. Jason Rezaian left a military
hospital in Germany early today. Rezaian released a statement saying at some point he will be ready to discuss his ordeal, but that for now he just
wants to express his appreciation for all the support he's received.
[15:20:02]Meanwhile, a big weight has been lifted for Iran with many economic sanctions no longer a burden for that country, Iranians hope to
unleash the full potential of their economy.
Our senior international correspondent, Fred Pleitgen, is live in Tehran. It's good to talk to you in Tehran because you've had an opportunity to
speak to ordinary Iranians yourself. How are they feeling now that sanctions are being lifted on their country?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's interesting because the people that we've spoken to and basically everybody
here in Iran, they really haven't felt anything of these sanctions that have been lifted yet because of course business deals have yet to be made.
You still can't really do any electronic business here. You have to come here with cash. The country is not part of the electronic banking system.
Those are things that are going to take a while, but what you have is optimism.
You have the optimism of a country where 60 percent of the population is below 30 and a lot of them are well educated and now they believe the
shackles are coming off. Let's have a look at how Iranians feel.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRATES (voice-over): On the first Friday since the implementation of the nuclear agreement in Tehran, a toll of optimism, hope, and reconciliation
even towards the U.S.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nobody hates anybody. We are people. They are people. We love each other. Our governments have some things which they've been
fighting for, for many years. I don't want to get into that, but if this is a bridge for connecting people then let's hope for the best.
PLEITGEN: While many sanctions have officially been lifted, the effects have not yet kicked in. Still many hope their economy will thrive.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We can hope Iran's economy and also we have a lot of educated engineers inside and outside Iran.
FRATES: With the sanctions reef, Iran says it wants to sell up to 500,000 additional barrels of oil every day. Tehran also expects major foreign
investments in sectors like manufacturing, tourism, and I.T.
But there is still this, death to America chants at the hardliners Friday prayer. Even after the nuclear agreement, they don't trust the United
States and believe America is trying to increase its influence in the Islamic Republic.
Iran supreme leader has endorsed the nuclear agreement, but he says there will be no further cooperation with America, a sentiment echoed by many
conservatives.
Americans have a very oppressive attitude in this region, this cleric says. They must change that. If they do that in the future, maybe there could be
better relations, but right now I don't see that happening.
Despite the recent diplomatic efforts by Washington and Tehran, it will take more time and more trust building to overcome almost 37 years of
animosity.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PLEITGEN: So as you can see, Hala, there are still a lot of divisions in Iranian society. There is also divisions of course in Iranian politics as
well and there are a lot of things that could derail the process that's been going on with Iran and the west really coming closer to one another
over the past couple of months, of course, the U.S. as well.
But then there is this large potential and I can tell you when you fly into this country, the planes are absolutely packed with businessmen from the
west looking to cash in on a market that they believe will thrive very shortly -- Hala.
GORANI: I think a lot of deals will be signed over the next several years, certainly some money to be made. Fred Pleitgen is in Tehran where it's
almost midnight. Thanks for being with us, Fred.
Coming up, this disabled boy was abandoned by his parents with little hope of ever being adopted. How a CNN report led to a life changing journey,
next.
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[15:25:47]
GORANI: The story you're about to see is an amazing example of love and determination. A young Chinese boy with a debilitating handicap is just
hours away from starting a new life in America.
You may remember a Kansas City family raised enough money to adopt 9-year- old Jiajia after a CNN report led to a flood of donations.
Will Ripley picks up the story five months later as Jiajia meets his new parents.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Wilsons have been waiting almost a year to make the 6,600 mile journey from Kansas City to Beijing.
The boy they're about to meet has been waiting his whole life. We first met Jiajia last summer, the oldest orphan in a Chinese foster home for kids
with disabilities.
(on camera): You've lived here all your life, right?
JIAJIA, ABANDONED BOY: Yes.
RIPLEY: A long time. Nine years.
(voice-over): Another family broke their promise to adopt him.
(on camera): It's OK.
(voice-over): Jiajia, desperate for parents of his own.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's a rock star.
RIPLEY: Brian and Jeri Wilson had been trying for months to adopt him, but they needed $36,000, money they didn't have.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right after the story aired, I think it was 8:00 that night, we've met our goal.
RIPLEY: Donations came in from all over the world. The Wilsons raised almost $50,000 in a matter of hours. Five more months of paperwork and
today they finally meet their son.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As soon as he looked at us, he smiled.
RIPLEY: Within minutes crucial bonding begins. Jiajia's three older sisters back in Missouri, busy preparing his new room.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We can't wait for him to get here.
RIPLEY: The Wilsons, both 50, say their Christian faith led them to make this life changing choice.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's like he's already been a part of our family forever.
RIPLEY: Before they can take him home, they must travel to Jiajia's hometown in Central China, continuing the tedious process of finalizing the
adoption. The identity of Jiajia's birth parents unknown.
(on camera): It's heart breaking to imagine what his biological parents must have been going through. He was only 3-months-old and he desperately
needed lifesaving surgery that his parents most likely couldn't afford so they left him here at this fertility clinic.
(voice-over): A place where people go who want children. Jeri believes Jiajia's mother did not abandon him, she saved him.
JERI WILSON, MOTHER: I pray for her and I thank God for her and I want him to know that she loved him.
RIPLEY: Hundreds of thousands of Chinese kids with disabilities end up in orphanages and many become wards of the state, their lives spent at
institutions hidden from the prying stares of stranges.
For Jiajia, time was running out. In China, the law says kids can no longer be adopted once they turn 14. His future in America about to
unfold. Already he's learning more English, learning what it feels like to be spoiled.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A lot of spoiling.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
RIPLEY: But first Jiajia leaves the only family he's ever known. To the other orphans he was like a big brother. To the volunteers who raised him,
like a son. Many will never see him again.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We know he loves you guys and he's going to miss you.
RIPLEY: It's time to say goodbye. These are happy tears. It doesn't make this any easier. Soon Jiajia begins his new life in Kansas City with a new
American name, Jason Jiajia Wilson. As the other orphans wait and hope that someday their parents will come and take them home. Will Ripley, CNN
Beijing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: This is THE WORLD RIGHT NOW. Coming up, the story of a Norwegian woman who is shown that she's willing to break the law, she says, to save
Syrian refugees from deportation. We'll be right back.
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[15:30:15]
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GORANI: A look at our top stories. A British investigation concludes that President Vladimir Putin "probably approved" the 2006 operation to poison a
former Russian spy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Alexander Litvinenko was a former Russian security agent who came to Britain in 2000 after becoming a whistleblower on the SFB.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Markets in the United States are set to close in the next half hour.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: . Here's a look at the Dow now and we're seeing a rebound thankfully on this Thursday. Here's a look at the Dow up eight tenths of a
percent.
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GORANI: Now to a breaking story in the capital of Somalia that armed militants have attacked a beachfront hotel in Mogadishu.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Somalia special forces are battling them right now at a hotel and restaurant complex. It's not known if there are any casualties. At least
some of the attackers arrived by boat. We will keep our eye on this developing story.
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GORANI: Europe is grappling with an unprecedented migrant crisis, desperate people resorting to very desperate measures to just make it to safety.
Norway now is coming under some criticism because it is starting to deport some asylum seekers who made it into the country.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: More than 5,000 have crossed into Norway at this remote northern border point. Now Norwegian officials have begun busing asylum seekers back
out, a move that human rights groups are condemning.
You might remember CNN's Arwa Damon report from that region back in October. Take a look.
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Struggling to pedal on the fresh snow the first asylum seekers to arrive on this day braved the
bitter cold. Cycling the last few hundred meters. Though some don't even bother to try. Russia only allows vehicles, which includes bicycles to
cross at this border into Norway. We can easily see the Russian border crossing from here but we've been asked not to film it because of
sensitivities on the Russian side. The group of asylum seekers we just saw crossing are being processed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, there you have it. Norway's immigration minister says all the refugees using the arctic route had valid Russian visas so they should go
back to Russia. Let's bring in our next guest. Borge Brende is the Foreign Minister of Norway. He joins me now live from Davos, Switzerland.
I know you were chairing a panel on Syria designed to provide education for Syrian refugees in the region. But first, I need to ask you a little bit
about this decision by Norway to deport some of these refugees who made it across the border from Russia on these bicycles. Why not keep them in
Norway? They've fled violence and war. What's the problem with allowing them to get the kind of protection that Norway can provide?
BORGE BRENDE, FOREIGN MINISTER, NORWAY: So, thank you for raising that question. We only will refer people that have also lived in Russia before.
We have to make a priority of those that really need protection Norway. We are increasing the amount of asylum seeking refugees that we take through
UNHCR.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRENDE: And we are one of the countries that are really opening up the last year. But people that are in no need of protection and that have lived in
Russia, Russia has to take care of.
GORANI: So you're saying that only asylum seekers who have lived before in Russia and made their way to Norway, only those will be deported back to
Russia? Just so I'm clear.
BRENDE: Yes. And those that have valid visa in Russia, that Russia has given a visa to. Of course, Russia is obliged to take care of these.
Thousands of asylum seekers coming over the border to Norway through Russia, we will of course look at their application and if they are in a
need of protection, they will get protection in Norway. If not, of course they will be returned as others that are in no need of protection. We have
to make a priority of those, for example, from Syria, that are fleeing and need protection.
GORANI: But some asylum seekers say they have Russian visas but that they expire in three days. Won't be able to stay legally in Russia. They are
also saying it's minus 31 degrees Celsius over there where they'll be bused an dropped on the other way of the border and that Norway is being inhuman
in this case.
BRENDE: That's very unfair. As I said, we are receiving a lot of asylum seekers. It is also cold in Norway. It's cold in Russia.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRENDE: But Russia is a middle income country it's the G-8 economy. Of course Russia has also responsibility to take care of those who have given
visa to come to Russia. We cannot advocate - and we are granting visas and asylum in Norway for hundreds of thousands of people that are coming from
Russia with legal status there.
[15:35:15]
BRENDE: We have no chance to give protection to those that really have protection, so Norway is doing our job. Russia needs to do its job.
GORANI: So you think that all of these people that will be sent back, they will be -- you're confident that Russia will take care of them properly?
BRENDE: Russia is obliged to take care of those that they have given visas. These are, for example, people coming into Russia from Afghanistan,
Pakistan. They cannot enter Russia without a visa. Maybe they have worked in Russia for some time. You know, we cannot take all of these asylum
seekers in Norway if they are in no need of protection. I think that is very fair, is very reasonable, and if we did so we could receive less, the
real need of protection that is fleeing from wars and possible very, very difficult situations.
GORANI: So today in Davos you chaired a panel and a discussion including, by the way, Gordon Brown, the former U.K. Prime Minister who is also in
Davos, about providing access to education for Syrian refugees, specifically. What were the ideas that you think would be workable ideas to
get more Syrian children access to education?
BRENDE: We have to step up the support to Syria, the humanitarian support to the neighboring countries. There are now 2.8 million Syrian children out
of school. So we're losing a whole generation. And that's why the London conference the 4th of February, this (donor conference) will be so
important. We have to double our effort.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRENDE: The U.N. is totally underfinanced when it comes to the support to Lebanon, Jordan, and also to Syria.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: I'm curious because of the lack of opportunity for Syrians and other refugees in the region, a lot of them are coming to Europe. We've
seen so many refugees come here. Some very high level officials say they don't believe the passport free zone known as Schengen that your country is
a part of can even survive. That in the next few months it might even -- we're already seeing border controls come up between Schengen country. Do
you think Schengen can survive?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRENDE: I hope so. The open borders inside E.U., European Union, and Europe is a good thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRENDE: But with the migration crisis we're facing now, we need a political solution in Syria. 4 million people have left Syria but there are still 18
million people inside Syria. So if we are not successful in finding an agreement on an inclusive government in Damascus, including all the group,
this war will continue, more people will leave. Syria is going to be an additional burden on neighboring countries like Lebanon, Jordan, and
Turkey. And of course they will try to also reach Europe. There are limitations for all this country so it's even more imperative than ever to
now find a political solution to this crisis war that has gone on for five years.
GORANI: All right. The Norwegian Foreign Minister joining us from Davos, Borge Brende, thanks very much for being with us. We really appreciate your
time, have a good evening. And don't forget for our viewers, you can get all the latest news, interviews and analysis on our facebook page,
facebook.com/halagoranicnn.com.
More now on one of our top stories. The U.K. inquiry that found Russian President Vladimir Putin "probably approved" the killing of a former spy
named Alexander Litvinenko. He died mysteriously almost ten years ago right here in London. Since then his widow has lobbied tirelessly for justice.
Nic Robertson sat down with Marina Litvinenko.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARINA LITVINENKO: It was a difficult day. They just received this report for public. And a lot of comments and we are still just absorb all of this
information.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: What they've done is freeze the assets of Lugovoi and his associate, what they've done is called the
Russian ambassador in to question him about what's happened. Is that a strong enough response?
LITVINENKO: I don't think it's strong enough. They had some kind of reaction back in 2007 but we haven't received any cooperation of Russian
authorities to investigate this case. Even more, when we received this chance to bring all evidence to public inquiries, they just tried to ignore
everything what was said here. And even now all of this reaction from Russia just like it's nothing what you have to talk about. And I believe
action from British government has to be more stronger.
[15:40:15]
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GORANI: All right. There you have it, Marina Litvinenko, the widow of Alexander Litvinenko reacting today. This the "The Word Right Now."
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GORANI: If you're planning to travel to the United States on a visa waiver program and you happen to be a dual national of Iran, Iraq, or Sudan, you
might have to make some big changes to your travel plans. Find out what they are in a few minutes.
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GORANI: Now to a story that could affect many of you if you are traveling to the United States. Changes to that country's Visa Waiver Program have
been implemented or are going to be implemented soon. We'll get clear on that in a moment.
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GORANI: Now, there are 38 participating countries in the Visa Waiver Program. Many of them European. And all travelers now must use a fraud
resistant electronic passport. That's one of the changes. But, here are the changes that are causing a bit of stir, a bit of controversy. Nationals of
participating countries who visited Iraq, Iran, Sudan, of or Syria in the last five years are no longer eligible to travel on the Visa Waiver Program
with some limited exceptions and they have to apply for visas now.
Nationals from a participating country who are also a national of Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria, so basically dual nationals, must now apply for a
visa at their local U.S. consulate or embassy. They can't just use the Visa Waiver Program.
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GORANI: Let's get more on these new changes and how they will be implemented. I'm joined by CNN National Security Analyst and former
assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Juliette Kayyem.
Thanks very much for joining us, Juliette. First of all, tell all of our viewers who may be dual nationals of Iran and a European Country or Syria
and a European country what this means for them now, these new changes.
JULIETTE KAYYEM, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Well the immediate change is this; if you are in the United States right now this does not impact
you. So if you are here on a lawful visa or a lawful waiver program, you can leave the country. So people who are in the United States, they have
nothing to worry about. It will not be retroactive.
What it does mean for the dual citizen ship status though is that entry to the United States is still allowable but you have to go through the old
fashion process that people remember from the 1980s and 1990s which was you actually get a visa through the embassy. It is a burden for those dual
nationals. There's no question about it and it will impact them almost immediately although it wasn't exactly clear, you know, whether there might
be some period of time in the next couple of days in which people can still come through.
It also obviously as you said in the intro is impacting people who have traveled to those four countries.
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KAYYEM: But there are exceptions for people like journalists, humanitarian aid workers and others who can show that they were in Syria, Iraq, or Iran
for you know essentially business purposes.
[15:45:13]
GORANI: But you know some of these dual nationals are saying how is this fair?
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GORANI: I mean, Iran and Syria consider European passport holders to be dual national if their father was born in one of those countries, Iran or
Syria. It's not their choice. They probably were never born or some of them never visited Iran or Syria. And now they're being they say viewed with
suspicion and having to go through all these extra steps to get to the U.S. So why were these rules put in place then?
KAYYEM: So these rules were put in place after the Paris attacks when there was a very large political response, a reminding everyone that in the
United States the reaction was very strong to stop a lot of travel. It was the Syrian refugee debate and other debates that you heard in the United
States.
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KAYYEM: The administration I think tried to take a deep breath and say, look, we will look at the Visa Waiver Program and figure out whether
there's categories of people or categories of travel that might reduce the risk to the United States.
I know, everyone knows it's over inclusive and somewhat unfair. Most of these distinctions are in security and I think - and I know that the
department is going to assess how it's working.
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KAYYEM: But you're hearing the criticisms from Europe already, which is if we have a system, we have to treat everyone the same. So there's -- you
know, I think the complaints are fair. I'm just trying to explain sort of what the rationale was here in the United States.
GORANI: No, absolutely. And then if Europe retaliates you have to whole new situation. Juliette Kayyem, thanks very much we really appreciate your time
explaining this to us.
Let's get more now on this from Ted Lieu, he's a Democratic congressman from California. He joins me now from Los Angeles. Congressman, thanks for
being with us. So you initially voted for the budget bill that included this provision to change the Visa Waiver Program. After thinking about it
though, you turned against this particular decision to change the rules. Why did you change your mind?
REP. TED LIEU, D-CALIFORNIA: Yes. I didn't change my mind. There are both positive and negative aspects to this bill. It strengthens the U.S. Visa
Waiver Program by requiring electronic, tamper resistant passports reporting within 24 hours if the past port is lost and screening against an
Interpol database.
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LIEU: But the law is not perfect. And it does also discriminate against people who are dual nationals based on their place of birth. So I signed on
to a letter saying to the administration we hope that when you implement your rules you will define dual nationals in such a way so that if people
were born, for example, in Iran, and they now live in London that they are not discriminated against.
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LIEU: So this is a law that I believe was needed but it does have provisions that I think should be fixed.
GORANI: And so you think it's discriminatory, this law?
LIEU: Parts of it are. That is correct. And that's why I signed on to a letter and (inaudible) administration hopefully when they implement the
rules because the law doesn't really define dual national specifically.
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LIEU: And it's our hope the administration will define it in such a way that they will not discriminate against someone based simply on their
ancestry. But rather based on whether they traveled to a country that has been a state sponsor of terrorism.
GORANI: Right. It would be helpful to get a definition of dual nationals because as you may know, Iran and Syria consider citizens of any European
country whose father happens to be born in Iran or Syria to be de facto nationals. These are individuals who may not even have been born in Iran or
Syria.
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GORANI: Is it your understanding that even they will not have to apply for visas to travel to the U.S.?
LIEU: It would depend on how the administration implements its rules. And that's why I signed on to a letter urging the administration to implement
the rules so that someone is not discriminated based on their ancestry but rather based on their actions if they did, in fact, travel to one of the
state sponsors or terrorism countries. I also am urging that there be additional exemptions for journalists such as yourself and medical
researchers who do aid work in these countries.
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GORANI: Well, I would say about 90% of international correspondents at CNN have traveled to one of those four countries if they've done any reporting
in the last five years. Certainly asking them to apply for a visa each time would be extremely burdensome.
But let me ask you about what might happen in the future. It's not just what the United States is deciding to do, it's that Europe is now and other
Visa Waiver Program countries are now perfectly entitled to say, fine, you're going to discriminate against our citizens, we'll discriminate
against yours. Any American who has a dual nationality has to now apply to a visa to go to Europe. And there you have a bigger problem on your hands.
Are you concerned that might happen?
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LIEU: Yes. That's why I signed on to a letter urging the administration when they implement their rules again to not discriminate against citizens
based on their place of birth, but rather actions that they have taken.
[15:50:07]
LIEU: Now, keep in mind, this is still, in my opinion, a better law in terms of strengthening the U.S. Visa Waiver Program but it does need
refinements. And it's clearly a better solution than what congress initially tried to do which is to ban all Syrian refugees, for example,
from entering the United States. That to me made no sense whatsoever.
GORANI: So do you think, very quickly, to end this, do you think that there will be a revision to these new changed rules or not?
LIEU: I hope the administration will do the rules in such a way so that they define dual nationals to not discriminate against people based on
their place of birth. And if the administration doesn't do that then I'm going to urge legislation to fix that provision of the law.
GORANI: Ted Lieu, Congressman Ted Lieu in California. Thanks very much for joining us on CNN. We appreciate your time this evening -
LIEU: Thank you.
GORANI: -- and for answering some questions many of our viewers have regarding this story.
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GORANI: Coming up, they are America's new political power couple; Republican Presidential hopeful Donald Trump and the ever controversial
Sarah Palin. CNN's Don Lemon asks Trump about this endorsement coming up. We'll be right back.
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GORANI: In U.S. politics everyone is talking about the it couple of the moment. Republican front-runner Donald Trump and his newest big name
supporter Sarah Palin. After a joint campaign appearance in Oklahoma, Trump spoke to our Don Lemon.
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DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What was it like with Sarah Palin on the campaign trail for the first time?
DONALD TRUMP, REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We had to send away 5,000 people. You saw the arena today, I hope you saw the arena.
LEMON: I did - I did it was full.
TRUMP: But it was massive. It was like a -- it was incredible.
LEMON: There was no negotiating over, you know, if she would join your campaign, nothing?
TRUMP: And she will work with the campaign probably but I mean in terms of if I win will she want a job or some kind of thing, zero. Absolutely not
even discussed. And I mean, it's frankly very impressive that she doesn't discuss it. But every one of the candidates wanted her endorsement. And in
particular, Ted Cruz who right now is having tremendous difficulty. I mean he's got a loan problem where as you know he didn't on his financial
disclosure form, he didn't list that he borrowed a lot of money from Goldman Sachs and from Citibank. That's a big thing. This country needs
help. It needs leadership Don, and it needs it fast. And Ted is not the right guy. Hasn't got the temperament. Hasn't -- I mean, look, everybody
dislikes him. I mean he's a nasty guy that everybody dislikes.
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GORANI: There you have it. Some analysts have questioned how much Trump will gain from having Palin's endorsement at all. Kyung Lah has that
story.
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KYUNG LAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Day two of a political marriage made in sound bite heaven.
SARAH PALIN: Kick ISIS' ass!
LAH: It's not so much what Palin says, it's what she brings, says Christian Ferry, the deputy campaign manager for McCain/Palin very sought in 2008.
CHRISTIAN FERRY, DEPUTY CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR McCAIN/PALIN 2008:They went from having rallies of 8,000 people to 15, 20, 30, even 40,000-person
rallies after Sarah Palin joined the ticket.
LAH: And she continues to fascinate. Ferry calls Palin's endorsement the difference maker in 2010 when Nikki Haley rand ran for governor and Ted
Cruz as he won his senate seat. But now for Trump?
[15:55:07]
FERRY: What are we not talking about? we're not talking about Jeb Bush. We're not talking about Chris Christie. We're not talking about Marco Rubio
and we're not talking about Ted Cruz. And that is really I think the big deal out of all of this for Donald Trump is he, again, has found a way to
dominate the news cycle for multiple days.
LAH: The reality T.V. star turned politician finding traction in a politician turned reality T.V. star. In 2009 Palin resigned of Governor as
Alaska and entered the land of entertainment.
PALIN: Don't retreat. Just reload.
LAH: Sarah Palin's "Alaska" aired on TLC in 2010 canceled after one season. A second show followed.
(UNIDENTIFIED MALE): Where are you heading?
PALIN: Somewhere amazing.
LAH: "Amazing America" on the sportsman channel. Since her vice presidential run Palin helped pen three books earning millions in the
process. She hit the speaker circuit pulling in a reported 100,000 an event. She joined Fox News as commentator and was featured parody on
"Saturday Night Live"."
PALIN: And I can see Russia from my house.
LAH: The Palin name so potent her daughter Bristol got her own reality T.V. show about being a single mom.
Even Levi Johnson, the father of Bristol's first baby made a few books, and some nuts.
Her evangelical more entranced by Palin's promises to shake up the establishment than family trouble. And today the Conservative crowd once
again embracing Palin as she addressed her son's arrest this week for assault calling it the effects of PTSD after serving in Iraq.
PALIN: When my own son is going through what he goes through coming back --
LAH: So where does Palin go from here? Well the 2008 McCain/Palin deputy campaign manager says his advice, get her on the road as much as possible.
Kyung Lah, CNN, Los Angeles.
GORANI: And we want to let you know about a big event coming up CNN's Chris Cuomo moderates a town hall with the Democratic candidates, Tuesday at 2:00
a.m. in London, 3:00 a.m. central European time and we will replay the full thing at noon in London. Noon London time.
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GORANI: This has been "The World Right Now," thanks for watching, I'm Hala Gorani "Quest Means Business" is next.
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