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Connect the World
Trump Says He's Healthy, Ready To Hold Rallies; World Good Programme Honored For Fight Against Hunger; Medical Journal Calls for Trump To Be Voted Out; Talks Underway Between Armenia & Azerbaijan Over Flashpoint; Azerbaijani President Speaks To CNN; COVID-19 Lockdowns Worsening Mental Health Issues. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired October 09, 2020 - 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)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi. This is "Connect the World" with Becky Anderson.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: Wherever you are watching in the world, it is a very warm welcome back. The World Health Organization is reporting a
record-breaking number of global Coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, nearly 340,000 infections. And right now, Europe is the hotspot.
Have a look at this, Europe reports more cases than India, Brazil, all the United States in fact nearly a third of all the world's infections in the
last 24 hours all on the continent. The countries you see here partly makeup Europe's nearly 97,000 new cases on Thursday each of them has marked
their highest daily uptick since the pandemic began.
Well doctors say the trend is clear and it is concerning the fear especially amongst restaurant cafe owners is that Europe is heading for
lock down 2.0 for now there are no new nationwide lockdowns but countries are enforcing sweeping new restrictions.
And Coronavirus cases are also heading up in the United States now averaging more than 45,000 new cases per day in Washington. A week after he
was hospitalized with COVID-19 U.S. President Donald Trump says he is feeling perfect and he's ready to get back on the campaign trail. His
doctors have given in the green light start attending public events tomorrow.
CDC guidelines recommend people who test positive should isolate for at least 10 days after the symptoms first appear and after they've been fever
free for at least 24 hours. Now the president insists he is not contagious, but he's being evasive about when he was last tested.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think I'm going to try doing a rally on Saturday night if we can if we have enough time to put it
together, but we want to do a rally in far probably in Florida on Saturday night might come back and do one in Pennsylvania in the following night.
And it's incredible what's going on, I feel so good.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have you had a test since your diagnosis a week ago?
TRUMP: Well what we're doing is probably the test will be tomorrow.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: We want to bring in our Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Good to have you with this. And Sanjay, I want to start in Europe,
because the continent is suffering from a second wave right now. What went wrong and what are the prospects at this point?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, I think that we have to be reminded that we're still dealing with a very contagious
virus. The virus itself has not changed, it remains contagious and any time you start to open things back up, you're going to have more cases.
And obviously after the holidays, people becoming more mobile with the return to schools and things like that. You're going to see an increase in
cases. I think the big question for many of these places even places like Germany, you know, which has had a very good track record is, are they
going to be able to quickly control it?
So it's not about preventing new cases entirely, I think it's very challenging as I've been, you know, hearing from all the people that we've
been reporting from around the world. It's very challenging to say we're not going to have any new cases at all.
It's a question on how quickly you can address that. Can you find them through testing? Can you isolate, can you trace the contacts? So, we're
going to have these blips, it's just the question of how big will the blips be in different parts of the world?
ANDERSON: Yes, and how long they last? In the U. S. the president's doctor Sanjay says that he is doing well, announce a schedule to return to public
duties on Saturday, that is tomorrow. Is that responsible?
DR. GUPTA: Well, I don't think so Becky. And you know, I mean everyone, it's tough to try and try and give any kind of medical diagnosis from afar
as you can my guess. But just do keep in mind that is 74 years old, he was essentially medevac to a hospital just a week ago, you know, from the White
House to Walter Reed Hospital. Most people recover just fine from this, but we do know he had symptoms that were significant.
He required oxygen that means that this had an impact on his lungs. We know he's been on three different medications; one totally experimental doesn't
even have Emergency Use Authorization. And his own doctors have said look, we should wait, he's not out of the woods, we should wait at least you
know, 10 days which would be next Monday before we start to actually think about returning him to any kind of schedule.
[11:05:00]
DR. GUPTA: He's also point out Becky, I don't know if you're familiar, that familiar with steroids. But if you're taking steroids like Dexamethasone,
that is not to treat the infection, that is to treat the inflammation that occurs in the body.
Well, once he stops that is the information going to come back. We hope not, but he needs to be monitored for it. So he shouldn't be doing this, I
think most public health experts have said this, but also there's the concern that he could continue to spread it. So for those reasons, I think
it's not a good, it's not advisable.
ANDERSON: The president as you point out crediting his recovery to antibody therapies coming from the company Regeneron, now Bill Gates in an interview
with CNN just last night agreed that these antibody treatments are indeed promising. I want our viewers, I know you've heard this, but just one of
you is to have a listen to what Bill Gates said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL GATES, CO-CHAIRMAN, BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION: World cure is a bit of an older promise, you know that makes it sound it looks like works
for everyone in the whole concern about this disease should go away. And that's the last thing; we want people to think about the monoclonal
antibodies which is what Regeneron is, that's always been the most promising therapeutic category.
Over 60 percent of the people who got it early, there was a 60 percent reduction in the number that needed to be hospitalized. Now as we get to
larger numbers, our confidence in that will go up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And just for the purposes of transparency here and it are important to hear from Bill Gates because he has been involved through the
Gates Foundation of course in public health and around the world over a number of years now. Your thoughts about what you heard from Bill Gates
there Sanjay?
DR. GUPTA: Yes, well you know, we've been reporting on antibody therapies monoclonal antibody therapies for a long time. In fact we did a piece some
time ago Becky, where the title of the piece was "The bridge to the vaccine".
ANDERSON: I remember yes.
DR. GUPTA: And I don't think that was an exaggerated sort of headline, because it's a simple idea right? You want the antibodies that are what the
vaccine does. The vaccine teaches your body to make antibodies.
Antibodies are these proteins that can go then help neutralize the virus. So if the vaccines are available yet, what if we just give the antibodies
right, that's basically the premise of this. And you can understand why there's a lot of enthusiasm around, it's been used for other infection.
The idea that it can be more widely available right now, I think it's a little bit of the stumbling block, because we still don't know exactly who
would most benefit from these antibodies? We don't know when precisely to give it? It probably should be given earlier in the course of illness
rather than later.
And we don't know the dosing with what other medications? And look, as enthusiastic and as promising as things look, we've been fooled before, we
think something's absolutely going to work, and then it's not working for the population or for certain segments.
So that's what I think the discussion that is happening right now in the United States and all over the world is, should we go ahead and start
making things like this more widely available before we have some of the basic data?
We don't even have Emergency Use Authorization for these antibodies yet. So we're in the middle of pandemic, Becky, I think the strikes a little bit of
the core of who are we right now in terms of our humanity?
Do we want to just let things go because we think when the middle of pandemic that's not slow anything down, or do we want to take a breath and
say continue to wear masks a little bit longer, let's make sure we got this right, and then we're going to release it?
ANDERSON: Yes safe words and safer thoughts, thank you, Sanjay, Dr. Sanjay Gupta in the house. It was an absolute pleasure to have you on Sir. Well,
the pandemic of course is changed so much for the worst, but it's also made the great work that some do more important than ever so tonight,
I'm so pleased to say that the World Food Program has won the Nobel Peace Prize for its exceptional work on helping feed the hungry around the world
and stopping starvation being used as a weapon of war, couldn't be more important that they do particularly during this COVID era. The news came as
a surprise to the man who runs the WFP.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID BEASLEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME: This is the first time in my life I've been speechless. This is unbelievers, talk about the
most exciting point in time in your life is a Nobel peace prize. It is because of the WFP family.
They're out there in the most difficult complex places all in the world where this war conflict climate extremes, it doesn't matter, they're out
there and they deserve this award in while, while, while, while, we can't believe it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[11:10:00]
ANDERSON: Well, David Beasley is on the road right now as he is for so many days of the year; he is in Nigeria at present. But I caught up with him
about what this win means for his organization and indeed his initial reaction.
BEASLEY: Becky, it really was hard to believe in fact when they ran and said Nobel Peace Prize, Nobel Peace Prize, I'm here in Nigeria you know in
a very difficult area, and I was like wow, who won it? Who won it?
They said we won it. And I'm like oh my gosh! you're kidding me, - it's the first time in my life I've actually been speeches. I really can't believe
it. I mean it really is unbelievable .
ANDERSON: Well you're speechless, but let me tell you, here at CNN and around the world; we have uploaded your organization for many years now.
And it's a hearty congratulations from all of us. It is so well deserved and it's great of course to be recognized the old you've done. But what
about using this award going for the status of it? What is your message to the world and to world leaders?
BEASLEY: Becky, that's the key and not, number one, is that, I didn't get this award is all the people that work with us, our employees, our
associates, our partners who have put their lives on the line every single day. They put their lives at risk every single day in conflict with war and
destabilization as well as climate extremes us, that's why I'm here in Nigeria right now.
And so, this award is a call to action, because look where there's conflict, there's starvation. Where there is starvation, there is consulate
destabilization and migration.
And we literally have because now all of those things coupled with COVID, we've got destabilization possibilities of famous, a biblical proportions,
we need billions of extra dollars to save people around the world. So this is a call to action to wake up people around the world that people are
starving are dying they need help and they need it right now.
ANDERSON: Is there any single conflict that you want to highlight specifically today where your organization needs that help?
BEASLEY: Well, sadly, there is several now. I mean, Yemen obviously is the serious situation, the Sahel is complicating by the day's extremist come in
compounded climate extremes just littering this devastating this area, then we can go to Lebanon with problems there in Syria and Iraq.
And where do we stop, that's so heartbreaking with all the wealth and technology today, you wouldn't think that anybody in the world, we'd be
going the bed hungry much less on the brink of starvation.
And so, conflict, man-made conflict and climate extremes are literally driving the hunger rates backed up. And with billionaires today Becky,
making billions of dollars on COVID and I'm great, I'm glad they're making money.
But how about step up now in help make certain that nobody starves to death in the world all this well? This is the call reaction, we need help, then
we should not turn our back own, our brothers and sisters, our family and friends around the world, they need our help and they need it right now.
ANDERSON: As billionaires, I will correct you have made trillions during the COVID period. So, I will support you on that message, because it is an
incredibly important. When you've been running--
BEASLEY: And Becky, literally, I need an additional 5 billion right now to save about 30 million people. Just 5 billion, that's all, I know that's a
lot of money to people who don't have money. But for those billionaires, it'd make trillions come on, it's time to step up now. Please, we need your
help.
ANDERSON: You've been running the organization for a little over three years along the way facing success. And of course tragedy and we will get
to that in a moment.
You do note that during your tenure, you've gone from being a lifeline to up from 100 million up from 80 million, just connect us if you will a
little further to that desperation amid the context of this pandemic and do help us understand how crucial food aid is to so many?
BEASLEY: You know, Becky, when I arrived here three and a half years ago, we were seeing the hunger rate go down all around the world with all the
success stories. But in the last three years has been going up. When I arrived, there were 80 million people that literally were on the brink of
starvation.
That number is now spiky because of all the issues we're talking about coupled with COVID to 270 million people. And when people don't have food,
you don't have conflict, they're going to migrate, they go do what they have to do to take care of their children, who have destabilization.
It's a lot cheaper to come in and do it right all the front here and that's why I'm here right here in Nigeria because you've got an extremist groups
Al Qaeda, Isis and other groups.
[11:15:00]
BEASLEY: While many extremes they're exploiting that, the extremist groups are destabilizing the area. And I can tell you, if this continues, it will
result in famine destabilization and mass migration, this is a lot cheaper to do what's right. All people on the front end, then the weight was too
late in life or suffering, struggling - of thousand times more expensive.
ANDERSON: I've been in the field with you in Mozambique of course and the WFP responded to an emergency situation following a typhoon. Now I just
want our viewers to take a look at some of what we filed, while we were there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: We are 25 kilometers from the coastal port city of - and this is the WFP's distribution center and this is a life line for the 10,000 people
or so who live in --. They've been absorbing people from the outlying areas who have lost, they are telling us absolutely everything. They are hungry,
they need food, they need water, they need shelter, their crops and their homes have gone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: You know that was an emergency situation as was Beirut for you recently. You are of course on the road now in Nigeria. Do you have the
support you need to respond to emergencies like that and the systemic issues that you have?
BEASLEY: And we don't have the money and we need the money. And there is a solution, you know we're looking for a vaccine for COVID. We have a vaccine
for hunger, it's called food, and we have the food, we need the money in the access to solve it. And that's not that complicated, we just need for
people to step up and step up now, that's why I'm so proud of this award. This is a call to action.
ANDERSON: You were backed by the American President Donald Trump for this role. Have you heard from him yet, he was of course also up for the prize
right?
BEASLEY: Well, I'm assuming they're waking up now. But let me say this about the donors. I mean, from Germany to UK, the EU and I could go on, the
UAE and Saudi. But the United States you know, they're fighting right now and the Democrat's Republicans just unlike anything we've ever seen.
But let me say this, when it comes to food, security food aid for the World Food Program, when I arrived, we were getting about 1.9 billion from the
United States, but now we're getting 3.4 billion. They lay aside their differences and come together. So we've got support from both ends of
Pennsylvania Avenue, can you believe that?
ANDERSON: It's almost unbelievable, isn't it? David Beasley there. I'm reminding us at the top of that interview that Yemen remains a very, very
real concern. Food aid is a lifeline in a country where 80 percent, 80 percent of the population needs outside assistance.
Well, this is what the first day of school looks like in the war torn nation, a class under way in the skeleton of a blown up building in the
city of - no blackboards, chairs or desks. Official reminder still ahead his supporters one shouted lock her up about his political rival. Well, now
medical experts have a message of that own about Donald Trump vote him out plus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I just felt like hopeless, I felt like there was nothing in the future that I was going to be able to accomplish.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Countless people are losing their support systems because of COVID-19 lockdowns. We will speak with the W.H.O, the World Health
Organization as we mark World Mental Health Day.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:20:00]
ANDERSON: Well, a leading American medical journal has issued what is a remarkable prescription for the health of the nation voting Donald Trump
out. The New England Journal of Medicine says, and I quote here, "This crisis has produced a test of leadership with no good options to combat a
novel pathogen. Countries were forced to make hard choices about how to respond? Here in the United States, our leaders have failed that test".
They have taken a crisis and turned it into a tragedy. Dr. Eric Rubin is the Editor-in -Chief of that journal which is being in print since 1812.
This editorial is only the fourth ever to be signed by all of its editors collectively. And this and thank you for joining us is an unprecedented
move pretty much. Tell us why you decided to do it?
DR. ERIC RUBIN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE: We're not a political publication and we don't want to be. But this was a public
health question. The decisions that have been made have resulted in tens of thousands of lives. And we wanted to be clear with the facts, the facts are
that due to this poor decision making that you just referred to, a lot of people are dying.
ANDERSON: OK. As I understand it, the editorial was drafted by yourself back in August. Why did you wait two months to publish it? And do you think
reading something like this from a prestigious medical journal like yours might have helped to actually save lives if you had published earlier?
DR. RUBIN: Well, I feel like throughout this crisis we've been trying to help. We've been trying to publish the kinds of information that are
important for decision making. And that's generally our role, our role is to help the decision makers. I don't think that we stop to that during the
interval between the original drafting and publishing this.
And in fact we are very reluctant to do something like this, because we want to work with our leaders. But it's gone beyond that and we finally
decided that we needed to pull the trigger on something like this.
ANDERSON: What would you like to have seen done differently sir?
DR. RUBIN: Well the countries that have taken the simple set of public health measures seriously have done so much better than we have. That means
masks and social distancing and quarantine and isolation, contact tracing and testing. And we failed on almost all of those accounts.
Now to be clear, in the United States, our public health is largely a state function and the states have done varying degrees of having varying
qualities of response. But they have to be backed up by the expertise and often the money of the federal government, and that certainly has not
happened.
ANDERSON: You say you don't want to be involved in politics. You've said that that's always been the position of the journal. But let's face the
facts here, this pandemic has been politicized. I just want to read another excerpt from the editorial.
And it reads and I quote here, "Anyone else who recklessly squander the lives of money in this way would be suffering legal consequences. Our
leaders have largely claimed immunity for their actions. But this election gives us the power to render judgment."
And you have waded into the political fray with less than a month before probably one of the most important U.S. elections arguably at least ever.
What do you think of Joe Biden leadership would have done or could have done differently?
[11:25:00]
DR. RUBIN: I want to be clear; we're not endorsing any one. Obviously in a two party system like ours, there is only one alternative. But I wish that
not only had our leaders and that includes Governors and legislators as well as the card federal administration had endorsed the kinds of things at
work and we know work.
These are facts, these aren't political issues. And instead not only have they not endorsed them, but in many cases they've actively discouraged
people by promulgating the idea that these were politics and opinion and not fact. So I hope that anyone else would have done those very simple
maneuvers.
ANDERSON: I know this is a decision taken by the entire editorial board. Is this a pining the leadership in general also can we be more specific. Are
you pointing the finger at President Trump?
DR. RUBIN: President Trump is clearly one of the guilty. I would say that voters should be looking at all of their representatives to try to decide
in this real moment of crisis, as you quoted a real test of leadership. Yet their leaders stand up or not. And if they didn't, they should be gone.
ANDERSON: I just want to close with reminding our viewers how we opened the show, the significant spike in cases not in the U.S. where we are seeing a
spike in case is still. But across the continent of Europe, you say that you wish that the U.S. had done things differently, had done things as
other countries had done.
But sir, I'm sure will concede that it seems every country around the world is struggling and the second wave is very definitely taking hold in places
that thought they had done the right thing, and thought they were coping. What do you think the prospects are at this point as we hit the fall and
winter season?
DR. RUBIN: Well, let me get to that, but let me respond to the general point. I think you're absolutely right. We can only wear although we
consider ourselves to be an international medical publication was located in the U.S.
And so, we were advocating specifically for the U.S. The quality of the response in various countries has varied tremendously some have been quite
good and some of them have been not as good and many have been similar to our own country and I don't think that their paradigms.
It is going to be harder here in this hemisphere as people go indoors with the colder weather, it's going to be harder to maintain the kind of things
we need to do. Social distancing is just much more difficult indoors.
And that certainly could drive and probably already is driving some of the increase. But again there are measures that make a difference, they're not
perfect. I'd go back to what you said earlier, there's no easy solution here. If there were magic bullet, then we'd already do it. If a vaccine
works fantastic that would be great. But for now, we have what we have and we should be implementing it.
ANDERSON: With that, we'll leave it there. We thank you very much indeed for joining us.
DR. RUBIN: Thank you.
ANDERSON: You are watching "Connect the World" thank you sir. Up next well, I've been speaking to this man, the President of Azerbaijan about his
country's deadly conflicts with Armenia as Russia broke his peace talks between the two, that interview is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:30:00]
ANDERSON: Well, we're keeping tabs on Moscow this hour where Armenia and Azerbaijan are trying to come up with a peace deal over the breakaway
region of Nagorno-Karabakh. There has been a lot of bloodshed over that disputed territory these past two weeks.
But Russia has managed to get both sides to sit down together to try to end what is being this new flair up in violence. Nagorno-Karabakh has been a
flashpoint since the Soviet Union collapsed it sits inside Azerbaijan but it's run by ethnic Armenians. The big worry is whether the current conflict
could destabilize the wider region?
Well, the U. N. is also throwing its weight behind a possible ceasefire. Well, this week I've been speaking to the key players in this conflict. The
President of Armenia at the start of the week in a short time ago I interviewed Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. I started by asking him
about Armenia's claims that Turkey is a bad actor in all of this. Have a listen.
ILHAM ALIYEV, AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT: Turkish equipment yes, Turkish forces no. And frankly speaking I regret that the Armenian President is using this
opportunity to address the world through CNN to spread rumors. I cannot call it otherwise because it is false information and that Turkey is
supporting us but this is a political support. This is a diplomatic support.
ANDERSON: You have said that that is Turkish equipment in Azerbaijan. What Turkish equipment sir?
ALIYEV: Weapons. Turkish weapons not only Turkish weapons Russian weapons, Israeli weapons, Belarusian weapons, Ukrainian weapons you name it.
ANDERSON: We have seen satellite imagery that would suggest Turkish F-16s are on at least one of your bases you haven't bought F-16 so is that
correct?
ALIYEV: I agree with you when you say - the ground. F-16s came to Azerbaijan for military exercises. They're not flying. They're not in any
way participating in any kind of battle.
ANDERSON: You're categorical about that sir, are you that these F-16s are not being used in the battle?
ALIYEV: Even four items, I want to tell you about one Armenian fake uses it - classes they said that Turkish F-16 shot down Armenians shoot 25 this is
fake.
ANDERSON: U.S. sea's Minsk group which is sort of solution to these longstanding disputes since the 1990s is Co-Chaired by France, by the U. S.
and by Russia. The French Foreign Minister has specifically warned that Turkey's backing of Azerbaijan risks fueling the internationalization of
this conflict.
You say you are supported by Turkey but what do you say to the French when did that they say this support risks this conflict getting worse?
ALIYEV: I do not agree with that. As I said Turkey plays a stabilizing role in the region and in particular in the situation with respect to
Armenia/Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Every country can't afford to have a partner and an ally. And Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani people are happy
to have such a partner, such an ally and such a brother like Turkey.
We did not object when Armenia considers France their ally. And France is a country which at this moment supports most of all Armenian.
[11:35:00]
ANDERSON: Can you explicitly lay out the goals of your campaign at present?
ALIYEV: Our goal is to defend our people, to defend our country and to defend our rights to leave our land.
ANDERSON: Do you intend to retake all of Nagorno-Karabakh all disputed land?
ALIYEV: Our main objective is to liberate those territories and to allow Azerbaijani refugees and internally displace persons to go back. As far as
Nagorno-Karabakh is concerned, we think and that was officially declared many times that after the war is over, after occupational forces are
withdrawn Armenians and Azerbaijanis in Nagorno-Karabakh will leave side by side.
ANDERSON: How would Azerbaijan accept international mediation and stop military action? What do you bottom lines here?
ALIYEV: We have international mediation for 28 years. OSC Minsk group is in action - actually is passive form for 28 years since 1992. And this
mediation led to a nothing. This mediation was not enough in order to press Armenia to leave the territories which do not belong to them.
ANDERSON: Have you been in touch with Washington on this? I mean what is the Trump Administration telling you. The Armenian President certainly told
us that they have spoken to Robert O'Brien for example.
ALIYEV: Well, I think the only person who he did not speak during these days is the Head of a Tribe in some faraway you know remote island. He
called everyone; he called President Putin five times. He President Macron and four times. He called Chancellor Merkle. He called the only left is the
tribe, - tribe. I advise him to call him and to complete on Azerbaijan and to send some people from this tribe to help poor, poor Armenians who
Azerbaijani destroyed.
ANDERSON: Sir that wasn't the question. The question was who are speaking to in Washington?
ALIYEV: We speak to State Department. Actually, they contacted us. The position is Washington is no different from the position of other Co-
Chairs. They are supporting the principles based on the best solution must be found. It's Armenians who is against those principles.
ANDERSON: Let's have a look at Russia's position then because it's not clear to me what Washington's position is from what we just discussed? Let
me play out some sound from the Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DMITRY PESKOV, KREMLIN SPOKESPERSON: We remain deeply concerned by the situation in the region and we believe that the sides must stop the fire
and come to the negotiating table.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: You personally spoke to Vladimir Putin as I understand it on Wednesday. What did he tell you?
ALIYEV: I called President Putin in order to congratulate him on the occasion of his birthday on October 7th. I do it every year and so does he.
So, every year we congratulate each other on our birthdays. Of course, we discussed this issue and our press service has issued a press release about
that. I think it will not be right for me to say something more than it was released in the press.
We are for peace talks. Azerbaijan is a constructive partner to negotiation table. We think that the principles which have been elaborated by United
States, Russia and France should be basis for certain.
ANDERSON: The Russian say both sides must stop the fire and come to the negotiating table.
ALIYEV: Those who started fire should stop first and we will do the same.
ANDERSON: If you won't to stop and they won't stop. What happens next? Where does this leave the conflict which so many people are now concerned
could escalate into a much wider regional wool?
ALIYEV: It should not escalate wider. I call all the countries to stay away from this situation.
ANDERSON: But Turkey is involved sir.
ALIYEV: Our bilateral issue is Armenia. Mediators they have, they have their mandate. Their mandate is not to interfere on the ground. Their
mandate is to facilitate to find a solution. Armenians attempt to make this conflict international is a counterproductive, destructive and dangerous
for many countries. So Armenia should understand that occupation cannot last forever.
[11:40:00]
ANDERSON: I want to get your response to a new report from Amnesty International claiming that they have "Identified Israeli made MO-95 DPICM
cluster munitions that appeared to have been financed by Azerbaijani forces".
Now CNN cannot independently verify those claims nor the apparent video of the explosions. But sir how do you respond to Amnesty's claims?
ALIYEV: I would say that the organization which you name we don't have any contact with them because of their pro-Armenia and Azerbaijani position. I
would recommend the first is wrong it is false and second, I would recommend them to see how cluster bombs are being used against our
civilians on the Armenian bombardment?
Why Amnesty International only sees or wants to see one side? We're prepared to see how Armenia will allow independent observers to see what
they have been doing.
ANDERSON: Sir, Armenia cannon will speak for themselves. I'm asking you specifically, you categorically denied do you the cluster munitions have
been used by Azerbaijani forces? I just want to be clear on this.
ALIYEV: I deny it and I want to ask you did you ask this question to Armenian President?
ANDERSON: We didn't have the information at the time.
ALIYEV: Yes.
ANDERSON: But I will.
ALIYEV: That's the point. Ask him.
ANDERSON: I'm asking you. This interview is with you.
ALIYEV: Ask him what they do?
ANDERSON: We will certainly ask them for statement. I'm asking you.
ALIYEV: Yes, ask him.
ANDERSON: That was the Azerbaijani President for you and to be clear that we have reached out to the Armenians for a response to that specific point.
They haven't gotten back to us but once they do we will of course bring you that response here on "Connect the World".
The interviews with the Armenian and Azerbaijani President's this week on a conflict that is seemingly escalating. Ahead on the show a new wave of
lockdowns in Europe is putting many with mental health issues in a potentially dangerous place. We will speak with the W.H.O. and a woman who
knows firsthand the devastating impact of depression and addiction?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:45:00]
ANDERSON: Saturday work - let me start again. Saturday marks the World's Mental Health Day. It is providing us with an opportunity to talk about
just how widespread lockdowns because of COVID-19 are exacerbating existing mental health issues and causing new ones?
Right now in Europe a new wave of lock downs threatens to further isolate people from their support networks and that could mean leaving some of the
most vulnerable in a potentially dangerous situation. Well, my colleague Isa Soares one young woman who was so impacted by these lockdowns. She
ended up being admitted to a psychiatric hospital.
ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The sun may be shining on Pip Rudge. But this 23-year-old knows that a dark cloud could come at any moment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PIP RUDGE, BEING TREATED FOR ANXIETY, DEPRESSION: Having an ice cream since five is like 8.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: For months now she's been seeking treatment for anxiety and depression exacerbated by COVID-19.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUDGE: I just felt like hopeless. I felt like there was nothing in the future that I was going to be able to accomplish. And I felt can get lost
in your own way. So, it was really hard and I was struggling with self-harm at the time as well and it was just one of those really, really dark places
that I just hope that I never back to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Like so many others locked down and isolation push to mental health to the brink as her support network crumbled and she was unable to seek the
help of mental health professionals. She says the suicide attempt forced her to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital for three weeks. These images
show her inside the ward.
According to a June report from Mental Health Charity Mind the devastating loss of life the impact of lockdown and the inevitable recession has made
life bleaker for those with mental health problems with 65 percent of adults and 75 percent of young people reporting their mental health got
worse during lockdown.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHEN BUCKLEY, HEAD OF INFORMATION, MIND MENTAL HEALTH CHARITY: What we've seen during lockdown and immediately after is people contacting is
because they're having difficulty accessing their formal support services. Unfortunately, there seems to be more young people self-harming is a coping
strategy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: With the number of COVID-19 infections on the rise here in the UK and in Europe and more restrictions being put in place. The European Centre
for Disease Prevention and Control is warning about the impact of new lockdowns on people's mental health.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: When you hear the Prime Minister talk about further restrictions do you worry about that? How about lock down how does that kind of Anxiety
that create in you?
[11:50:00]
RUDGE: It does make me anxious that ultimately, I would end up back in hospital or I would be really, really, really struggling with my mental
health. All I can do is look after myself, take it day by day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: For now, Rudge maintains a support network and says she's focusing on the positives her small victories.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUDGE: So, like, I have like an half of my phone and I'm like 133 days self-harm free. I'm like, I'm really proud of that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Small steps that will give her a better chance to overcome her darkest demons should look down come knocking again? Isa Soares, CNN,
Stratford-upon-Avon in England's West Midlands.
ANDERSON: Well, if you know someone who is experiencing mental health difficulties worldwide directory of resources international hotlines is
provided by the International Association for Suicide Prevention and you can also turn to "Befriend as worldwide".
Well, the story we just heard of that young women in the U. K. is just one of countless people struggling with mental health issues particularly
during this pandemic. Joining me now is Talinda Bennington Founder, Partner or Founding Partner of the Mental Health Advocacy Group 320 Changes
Direction.
She knows firsthand how devastating these issues can be? And also, with us tonight is the Devora Kestle the World Health Organization's Director for
its Department for Mental Health and Substance Abuse. And to both of you thank you so much for joining us.
I want to start with you Devora, because tomorrow world leaders' celebrities and mental health advocates will come together for the W.H.O.'s
big event for mental health to mark this day. What are you hoping to achieve from that event and why is it so important?
DEVORA KESTLE, DIRECTOR, W.H.O. DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH & SUBSTANCE ABUSE: Thank you very much for this opportunity to talk to you. You just
said is mental health is a very common is affecting billion people around world even before the pandemic.
Now with the pandemic we see numbers increasing. We receive preliminary reports from countries as the one you just quoted. And we need to find ways
to prevent some of the consequences that the pandemic may have in the life of people in terms of mental health.
And with the big event we try to do for the first time ever W.H.O. is having an advocacy online event for mental health precisely to call - what
if white advocates such as - and others and also to bring experiences from the countries.
What countries are doing even in low resource settings to find alternative ways to solve the problems that are related to mental health, neurological
health and substance abuse before the pandemic and after the pandemic?
ANDERSON: Well, I do hope that policy makers will be listening because the health systems across the world - clearly crippled at the moment as a
result of what is going on in this pandemic. And we are well aware from personal experiences from many, many families that mental health support is
just not good enough in so many places around the world.
Talinda, I know that you lost your husband to suicide three years ago. And I'm so, so sorry for that. I know that after your death, you said that you
quickly realized that there was a loss of stigma surrounding suicide and mental health. Do you believe that that has now improved?
TALINDA BENNINGTON, WIDOW OF LINKIN PARK LEAD VOCALIST CHESTER BENNINGTON: I do believe it has improved but in the same breath I believe we have a
long way to go still. I was actually on a conversation last night with a lady who - it came quite a heated debate, but she was referring to a co-
worker's mental health.
And she kept referring it as mental illness. And I said her mental health isn't - her mental illness and I wanted to try to help shed light on that
information for her. But just from her culture and where she was from it was one in the same. And that something that I want to say is, is we all
have mental health.
Every single person exactly the same as we have our physical health. So, it's really important that we take care of our mental health is just like
if we're to care of our bodies, we can become sick. And it's the same with their minds, so lock down in the pandemic as important as it is to get your
heart rate up, to take care of your physical. You have to also try to implement things that are going to help take care of your mental wellbeing.
[11:55:00]
ANDERSON: You're making some very, very good points. Devora, you have said, and I quote "COVID-19 has made painfully clear the need to ensure that our
mental health services are not only robust enough to be able to provide care through alternative means when we visit health centers.
But people are no longer that of times is no longer possible but also to be able to provide support to a greater number of people. Is that being done
you know what is being done to ensure that people around the world are getting enough mental health support?
KESTLE: We just presented the results of a survey that's believed - well precisely how services are being taking care of? In 130 countries responded
I know though that is a big disruption in most of the countries of services particularly those communities based.
Those are promotional prevention schools those that needed right now. So, on one hand the decent destruction but on the other hand - alternative
measures to eliminate this thing - different ways of engaging community actors to try by the support even in low resource settings.
But internet is not available everywhere. So, we need to stress that is needed and that's why we are calling for more investment in mental health
because - saying. We are not as seen changes unforced - nothing of course.
ANDERSON: Talinda, you've talked about just how important it is to look after your mental health as it is to look after your sort of physical
health? If you had one message for people watching this tonight who may be struggling at present what would that message be?
BENNINGTON: It would be that it's OK to not feel OK. I think society often puts pressure on us to have to be happy, joyful. Although the words that
describe "The good feelings". But having the feelings of sadness, sorrow, anger those are also feelings that we need to have as well.
And those are all OK feelings. And if you're - if those feelings I just used to call them the not so fun feelings are causing you to feel down or
to want to self-harm or to isolate. I encourage you to reach out to your family, your friends there's a lot of support online to reach out to
connect.
And you know when you're feeling better to support others because every feeling, we have is just that it's a feeling. It is literally a moment in
time that will pass, and we will be on to the next. So, if you can remember that and remember that it's truly OK to not be OK, I think that's a message
that we all need to hear.
ANDERSON: Talinda, thank you for that and to you Devora as well and your work is so important. It is OK not to feel OK; you had it here on the show
a profoundly important message. Reach out for help, reach out to others around you and it's OK to talk and just look after yourself, good night.
END
