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Connect the World

CNN on the Ground as Iranians Vote in Presidential Election; Iran Election Expected to Deliver Hardline President; China to Exceed One Billion COVID Vaccine Doses This Weekend; WTO: Need to Boost Vaccine Production in Developing World; Using the "Women's Pavilion" to Highlight Progress; EU Lifts Travel Curbs On U.S. and 13 Other Countries. Aired 11a- 12p ET

Aired June 18, 2021 - 11:00   ET

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

[11:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN, Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World" with Becky Anderson.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Well, looking to the future who will be Iran's next President? Iranians are still voting. I'm Becky

Anderson. Hello and welcome back to the second hour of "Connect the World".

It is now 7:30 pm in Iran where there are still six hours left to vote in an election to succeed President Hassan Rouhani. Just four candidates still

running out of nearly 600 who initially registered and this man hardliner Ebrahim Raisi, is expected to win after most of his main challenges were

barred from participating.

He's a close ally of the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who symbolically cast the first vote in this election. Khamenei and Raisi both

urge all eligible Iranians to vote. But that is unlikely to happen. Many, especially youngsters are disgruntled at the lack of candidates and say

there's no point in voting.

Well, the winner will take off is facing a host of issues and economy crippled by American sanctions ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and Iran's low

vaccination rate trying to get the nuclear deal back on track Fred Pleitgen in Iran for this election as he was for the last one four years ago and

connecting to us tonight to a polling station in Tehran, what's the atmosphere there, Fred?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky you know, a lot of people have been talking about voter turnout here in this

election, the fear that voter turnout could be quite low. So the jury is still out on how high it's actually going to be here.

At this polling station, though, you can see that there are actually quite a few people who are sort of coming in. This is where you cast your ballot;

it's actually four elections that are taking place today. There's also one for the City Council, some members of parliament, and of course, the other

presidential election as well so several elections in one.

So you can see at this polling station, there are a lot of people coming in and voting. There's also quite a big queue outside of people. However, of

course, that's not really representative. We're in one polling station in the country of 80 million. We've actually been to three polling stations,

though, throughout Tehran.

And then all of them I would say, you know, we just showed that scene from the last election I would see it's - it is less people who are coming out

than the last presidential election, I would compare it roundabout to the turnout so far from what we've seen here in Tehran, to the parliamentary

election that we covered in 2020.

So the polling has already or the voting has already been extended by several hours. And the belief here is that it could get extend even

further, possibly even into the early hours of tomorrow to allow more people to come in and vote.

And if we move here, you know, the system of voting that we've covered so many times in the beautiful - mosque, this is where folks cast their

ballots over there is where they hand in their IDs to get registered. And then they can go and get going and cast their ballots in this election.

The big issue here with almost everybody that we've been talking to Becky has been the economy and of course, this country really suffering under

those crippling sanctions that were put in place by the Trump Administration.

And it's sort of that coupled with the future of the Iran nuclear agreement that almost everybody that we've been talking to say those are the key

issues to them Becky.

ANDERSON: So just explain who it is that we should be aware of here, the front runner, Ebrahim Raisi and a long shot, but perhaps someone who's

becoming more familiar domestically to Iranians Abdolnaser Hemmati, who are these two candidates?

PLEITGEN: Yes, Abdolnaser Hemmati he's really one of those - he's a candidate who's almost like a phenomenon of the last couple of weeks,

especially the past couple of days here in the run up to the election because one of the things that happened is that many, many candidates

hundreds of candidates wanted to be in this election.

Many of them however, were disqualified by "The Guardian of Council" which is of course, the body that vets the candidates that are allowed to take

place in the election, and that really hurt a lot of the especially the moderate forces here in this country.

So Hemmati is a moderate. He's someone who wasn't polling very high until recently and it's still way behind Ebrahim Raisi.

[11:05:00]

PLEITGEN: He is a former central banker again, economically also very moderate. It's interesting because we actually spoke to him or our crew

spoke to him just a couple of days ago. And he said that he would be very open, for instance, if the U.S. gets back into the nuclear agreement to

speaking with the United States, speaking with President Biden as well.

And I think we're the two candidates, the two main sorts of front runners in this election Ebrahim Raisi and Mr. Hemmati, where they differ is

especially on their the way they want to move the economy here forward.

Ebrahim Raisi talks very much about resistance economy, as he put it, making Iran as he would like to do impervious to, for instance, sanctions

and make it self sufficient, whereas the Ebrahim Raisi is much more or is looking for much more foreign investment, if indeed, the Iran nuclear

agreement comes back into full force, obviously, with Iran in full compliance and the U.S. getting back into it as well.

Mr. Hemmati, quite interesting he said that he believed that with the fear that so many people aren't coming to the polls, he was thinking maybe some

of the people who are undecided, would go and vote for him and that maybe he can pull off a surprise? We'll know at the end of the day Becky.

ANDERSON: You spoke to a very Senior Ranking Iranian earlier today. And he - I found was extremely interesting when it came to the kind of wider, more

international perspective in all of this. Just explain.

PLEITGEN: Yes, I think it is very interesting and very important. I talked to Ali Shamkhani, who is, of course, the Head of Iran's Supreme National

Security Council. So someone who's very, very, very high up in the leadership here, very close to Iran Supreme Leader.

And of course, the big question is there a Raisi government if there is the rate; you see governments, if there is a more conservative government, what

will that mean for relations with the Western United States, but of course, especially the future of the Iran nuclear agreement? Let's listen to what

he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALI SHAMKHANI, HEAD OF IRANIAN SUPREME NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL: The topic of Iran/U.S. relations has always been a topic beyond one single branch of

government. And all the branches have appointment with the JCPOA, from which the U.S. under Trump unfortunately, withdrew, due to wrong analysis,

and started the maximum pressure campaign.

Now the new U.S. officials have decided to return to the JCPOA. And we have always been seeking a good agreement. No one ever rejected such a thing at

any level. It was the United States which withdrew from it. Thus, this patch will continue and the issue of U.S./Iran relations and the JCPOA is

bigger than a single branch of government. I as an individual, feel there will be a brighter future in these issues.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PLEITGEN: So as you can see the feeling that there will be a brighter future. But we always have to keep in mind, Becky, is that the Iran nuclear

agreement, everything around that has been approved by the Supreme Leader. He's in favor of continuing these negotiations to revive the agreement.

And so whichever administration comes into office, whether it's a Raisi administration or a Hemmati administration, certainly they would abide by

that agreement, if all the sides that are party to the JCPOA managed to get Iran back in full compliance and the U.S. back in Becky.

ANDERSON: Yes, fascinating. Fred Pleitgen is in Teheran for you. Iranian American Journalists and Political Analyst Negar Mortazavi is already

looking at the fallout from the election she has tweeted "Presidential election has started across Iran. Unprecedented mass disqualification of

candidates combined with deep voter apathy and anger will likely result in a low turnout compared to previous elections. Raisi is the Hardline

favorite Hemmati is the soul moderates".

Well, she is a Columnist for "The Independent" and Host of the Extremely Good Iran Podcast which I have to say I listen to on a regular basis. She's

been covering U.S./Iran relations for over a decade. She joins us from Washington.

Even by Iran zone controlled standards this election, it seems, is anything but competitive. Negar for that reason, a lack of enthusiasm to turn out

and vote by people I've spoken to both in Iran and indeed, outside of Iran.

I was there in 2017. I covered this presidential election, the second election, of course for President Rouhani. And there was a sense of

competition at least within reason at that point. Are we witnessing the end of an era at this point?

NEGAR MORTAZAVI, IRANIAN-AMERICAN JOURNALIST: Well, Becky, you're right. There doesn't seem to be much enthusiasm also adds to that the COVID

pandemic which is still going on stronger than Iran. The virus hasn't been contained. So that would add to the lower turnout as well.

[11:10:00]

MORTAZAVI: And the mass disqualification of candidates, as you're saying has reduced any sense of real competition because elections have never been

free or fair in Iran, like you said, they have been competitive. And we've seen voter turnout up to 75, 80 percent at certain elections is, especially

when it's the turn of presidency.

So every eight years, this is essentially the most important political event of the country, but even sort of the reformist activists on the

ground, who you would normally expect to be excited and enthusiastic and very active in the election season campaigns. I don't see that kind of

enthusiasm coming from them at all.

ANDERSON: No, and those I've spoken to outside of Iran, who were on the streets back in 2009, is youngsters, who are now sort of into their mid 30s

and beyond living outside, who simply say they won't vote, even though they haven't - there is an opportunity to do so they just feel like they don't

have any agency, and that there isn't any point.

This is internally, a population whose middle class has been very badly affected by the stage of the economy, and indeed, what is going on with

regard COVID 19. So what does this election mean Negar for Iran, and indeed, for its relations with the rest of the world?

MORTAZAVI: Well, domestically, this is essentially an attempt to consolidate power, although I don't want to predict the actual results

until the end of the day. Hemmati is clearly the underdog here. But Iranian elections have also been full of surprises until the very last moment.

So I'll wait until the very final moment to do the prediction. But this is at least an attempt by the hardliners by part of the deep state, the

security forces intelligence forces closer to the IRGC to consolidate power. And it seems like interestingly, and unlike previous elections, they

aren't really going for mass turnout and a very high participation.

This is something that's always been the slogan of the Islamic Republic, that the high participation and mass turnout shows that the system has

legitimacy. This time around, it seems like they're going at least trying to move towards a more - position where there's a lack of competition,

there's no risk as far as the competition goes, or the underdog.

But as far as the legitimacy or mass turnout, that doesn't seem to be their initial concern. And I want to point out Ebrahim Raisi, who is the -

candidate, basically, this time around, he ran in 2017 and he lost to Hassan Rouhani, the election that you were talking about.

So this would have been an embarrassing second defeat if he had real competition. So that's the - are clearly that the game is clearly set up in

a way for him to have a clear path to victory.

ANDERSON: Yes, I mean, he really did not compete well at all back in 2017. He was a - he was a competitor, but he really didn't, he really didn't end

up gleaning a significant proportion of the vote. Negar, I'm based in Abu Dhabi clearly, this is a part of the world, which will be keeping a keen

eye on what is going on today, as of course, will Washington.

I mean, going forward should we expect and I know, you don't want to call this election and rightly so. But we are discussing the fact that there is

a high likelihood that a hardliner a more conservative candidate, Ebrahim Raisi may win this.

What is it that will change, if anything about Iran's position with regard, for example, this region, which has big concerns about regional stability,

despite the fact that we are well aware that behind the scenes, there are some efforts for rapprochement, both from the UAE and the Saudis, for

example?

You know, just how concerned should this region and beyond be about a new, more Hardline president going forward?

MORTAZAVI: Well, as his experience has shown, and we remember that eight years of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the previous president, who was a hardliner

from the core of the Hardline camp, in contrast to the moderate government, of Hassan Rouhani, any form of engagement or negotiations agreement with

the West, specifically U.S., U.S. allies, the Europeans, and as an extension U.S. allies in the region, as you were mentioning, is going to be

more complicated.

We remember the years of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad when nuclear negotiations were happening, but it didn't really reach any results. And it wasn't until the

moderate team of Hassan Rouhani came into place that there was that kind of achievement.

Now, as in the case of the nuclear deal, I think there will be continuity as your recording was also mentioning from Tehran because that decision has

been made in the highest echelons of power in Iran.

[11:15:00]

MORTAZAVI: But as far as moving forward with any follow on negotiations and issues, I think with a Hardline Team or Hardline President administration

negotiators, it's going to be much more complicated and difficult, especially when it comes to U.S/Iran tensions.

ANDERSON: Pleasure having you on. We'll keep a keen eye on the next six hours or so. Thank you. Well, Israel also watching the election in Iran

very closely as it battles another adversary, militants in Gaza.

For the second time this week, Israeli warplanes struck the region Israel setting targeted Hamas military sites, after incendiary balloons launched

this week from Gaza caused fires in Israel. Official say it's a message to a mass that any provocation will be met with force. Hadas Gold is in

Jerusalem, Hadas?

HADAS GOLD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, you're right. This is the second time in a week that Israeli Air Force has targeted Hamas targets within the Gaza

Strip they say that is in response to these incendiary balloons.

These essentially look like party decorations helium filled balloons that are often attached to either explosive or other devices that are lit on

fire launched from Gaza and into Israel. Now according to Israeli officials, just in the past few days, at least 30 fires have been sparked

by these balloons in Southern Israel.

Last night overnight, the Israeli Air Force said that it struck of rocket launcher locations and other military compounds belonging to Hamas on

Tuesday night, they also struck two targets in the Gaza Strip. No casualties have been reported from either these airstrikes or these

incendiary balloons.

But it goes to show you how sensitive how fragile how tense the situation here and how any move any which way could potentially further escalate. But

I do think it is notable that Hamas has not been launching any rockets in the past few days not in response to these airstrikes and that the Israeli

airstrikes have not been targeting as far as we can tell very high level very important targets to Hamas, and that there have not been any

casualties.

That is an indication potentially that both sides do not want to see this escalating potentially any further. Now the Israeli Military Chief of Staff

who's actually supposed to travel to the United States on Saturday night for about a weeklong visit held a situational assessment.

He instructed the Israeli Military to increase its readiness and preparedness for a possible resumption of hostilities Becky, clearly a very

tense situation that we are continuing to monitor, Becky.

ANDERSON: Want all of this new government? What do we know at this point of this?

GOLD: This new government's at least response to these types of incendiary balloons. I mean, one thing that we got that one thing that I was briefed

on after the operation last month after that 11 day bloody conflict was that Israel wanting to take a new approach to these balloons.

Now in the past, Israel had launched airstrikes in response to incendiary balloons, but not at this level that we are seeing. That's something that I

heard from top military officials that they wanted to change the equation. They wanted to show Hamas that any sort of provocation like this would be

met with airstrikes in response.

And so far, we have not seen Hamas responding with rockets in response. And this is actually something the new Prime Minister, Prime Minister Naftali

Bennett has advocated for in the past. He wanted to push a harder line against these types of wounds. He was pushing Netanyahu to try and be

tougher on them. And we are seeing the result of that policy.

ANDERSON: We are well aware of the Former Prime Minister's position with regard Iran. What do we know of Naftali Bennett's position with regard

Iran? U.S. efforts to get the JCPOA back on track and how keenly will Tel Aviv be watching these Iranian elections today?

GOLD: Well, most Israeli politicians left to right seem to be united on the position on Iran and Naftali Bennett during his speech, the day that he was

sworn into office, specifically said that resuming the Iran nuclear deal would be a mistake, and it would legitimize one of the world's most violent

regimes.

He said that Israel will hold on to with complete freedom of action on Iran. Now so the position compared to Netanyahu will be very similar. I

think that the approach, at least to the United States and to the JCPOA, will be potentially slightly muted, maybe a little bit more behind the

scenes. But in terms of potentially a new Hardline President in Iran, I can even see some Israeli politician saying that that could be a good thing for

their mission.

Potentially, if you have somebody with more belligerent rhetoric, attacking Israel, then potentially Israeli politicians could point to that say, hey,

that's not a legitimate negotiating partner, and it could potentially mobilize Israel could see it as potentially mobilized I think the

international community against Iran.

[11:20:00]

ANDERSON: Hadas Gold is in Jerusalem thank you Hadas. Coming up, celebrating women's achievements at the upcoming Expo 2020 in Dubai. We'll

find out what will happen when the expo opens later this year, something that hasn't happened before. Stay tuned.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, we've been talking for some time now about the sputtering COVID vaccine rollouts around the world the fight to secure enough doses

and get enough people to deliver them. Well, China is defying that trend. It is expected to exceed a billion doses administered by this weekend.

Its National Health Commission reported on Wednesday 945 million doses have now been given out the number is impressive, but so is the speed. In fact,

it's unprecedented anywhere in the world for more on China pull this off CNN's Ivan Watson joining us from Hong Kong.

And when we talk about how this is impressive, impressive in that it certainly felt from what we understood that the rollout had been pretty

slow to begin with. Explain, Ivan.

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I mean, this is a mass vaccination program. In fact, there are estimates that nearly 40

percent of all vaccine doses in the world; they have been administered within China.

And it's all the more remarkable when you consider that as recently as the end of last March, China had only really delivered about a million doses

internally. Just this week, on Tuesday of this week, the Chinese government says it put 20 million shots into arms in a single day.

And it's on track to as you pointed out by the end of this week, to deliver about a billion doses. So that is really, really remarkable and I think it

shows that when the central government puts its mind to it, it can really get formidable results.

I mean, there's a government campaign, "Vaccinate all who can be vaccinated" and they are doing that. Keep in mind that China is the world's

most populous country, it is has a population of 1.4 billion people. So even with these tremendous numbers, it still has a long way to go, Becky.

ANDERSON: What are Chinese being vaccinated with? What's the Chinese government relying on at this point?

WATSON: Well, it's got two homemade vaccines that have received W.H.O. approval Sinovac and Sinopharm. So those are the two main vaccines that

that they're delivering here. And, again, you know, we have to keep in mind China is the country where the COVID 19 virus was first discovered in the

City of Wuhan at the end of 2019.

[11:25:00]

WATSON: There's evidence of local government cover ups and kind of missteps. But then what we saw was that the central government was willing

to use all of its strength, its top down authority, and draconian measures to try to control it.

And today, it's still using some of these measures in Southern Guangdong Province, there's an outbreak, and you have entire neighborhoods of cities

that are under lockdown. Even though in that province, there only been a couple of dozen cases really discovered in the last week.

And when they do these just industrial scale rollouts, they test on the scale of millions of people in a short period of time. And it's that kind

of muscle, logistical muscle that they're bringing to the vaccination program, as well.

I might add, Becky, that China says it has exported more than 300 million doses of its two primary vaccines. It has not opened the borders yet to

foreign made vaccines. There are negotiations about that. And I do have to point out that that Sinovac and Sinopharm have a much lower efficacy rates

when put in comparison with for example, the fires Pfizer BioNTech vaccine.

ANDERSON: Ivan Watson on the story for you. All right next door, Myanmar facing flare ups in ethnic conflicts, recent protests and an internet

shutdown stifling communication the country since the coup in February. Paula Hancocks met up with several of Myanmar's migrant workers who are now

worried about relatives back home after a deadly military airstrike at a mine.

And I have to warn you, we are about to show you some graphic images of the aftermath. Here is Paula's report.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): This is the aftermath of a Military airstrike on a goldmine in Myanmar. Cries of agony has one of the

survivors says the burned and mangled remains of his colleagues 11 people who reported dead the rest of this video is too graphic to show.

Across the border in Thailand Myatt says his relative works at that mine. But luckily he was not there on that day. Showing me a photo he says he

does not understand why the military would target it. Myat is not his real name. He fears for his family's safety back home.

MYAT, MYANMAR MIGRANT WORKER: They're innocent people from the forest. I don't think they even had entered so they wouldn't have known what was

happening.

HANCOCKS (voice over): Myat, meets fellow migrant workers all here to earn money to send back to their families in Myanmar, something they cannot do

now with the crumbling banking system and internet shutdowns. All they can do is watch social media to see what is happening and try to connect with

family back home.

ZAW, MYANMAR MIGRANT WORKER: I never thought that the coup would happen. I could not even think it would happen. I'm very sad when I saw a lot of

killing in Myanmar. It feels like their death is my death, as I couldn't do anything for them.

HANCOCKS (voice over): The couple shows me a photo of this seven year old son who lives with his grandmother near the border. They haven't seen him

for more than two years due to COVID restrictions. The video calls that kept them going on no longer possible with the internet shut down.

SU, MYANMAR MIGRANT WORKER: I'm very worried about my child. We heard that the military is taking people around our village for forced labor,

especially boys and men so they cannot sleep peacefully at night.

HANCOCKS (voice over): As with previous military coups in Myanmar, Thailand has become a reluctant refuge for those in exile. Frederick not his real

name says he averaged three or four hours of sleep during the day in Yangon. He don't sleep at night at all is that is when the arrests

happened. An activist in the civil disobedience movement he says he was a target and fled to Thailand.

FREDERICK, MYANMAR ACTIVIST IN EXILE: They are killing people arbitrarily killing people and arresting people. Even if you arrest he'll know. You can

cannot alive or not.

HANCOCK (voice over): Sleep no longer comes easy to these migrant workers. They may be out of reach of the military's brutal grim, but their families

are not. Fear mixed with hopeless guilt has become the new reality. Paula Hancocks, CNN, Bangkok.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:30:00]

ANDERSON: To world that is being connected and divided like never before by the crisis of COVID-19. We now stand at more than 177 million COVID cases

globally and almost 4 million deaths. Global aid plans for the year were set at a staggering $35 billion with the virus very much a life or death

matter still in parts of Latin America, Asia, and Africa.

Well as the West pushes ahead with its vaccination drive. And you've seen a similar story, of course, in China, that we've just been reporting. There

has been some concern from public health officials about Vaccine nationalism. When I say some concern I am really sort of underplaying now.

There's been real concern about vaccine nationalism and what it means for countries being left behind. The New York Times says 86 percent of the

shots that have been given to people have been in high or upper middle income economies.

Less than half a percent of doses have been administered in low income countries, while the Director General of the World Trade Organization says

more vaccines need to be made in developing nations.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala says it's not normal that Africa with 1.3 billion people has 0.17 percent of the manufacturing capacity of the world. So this

has to change.

She added that Latin America has about 2 percent of global production capacity. She joins us now from Geneva and it is good to have you with us.

You have said vaccine policy is economic policy.

Vaccine policy you say is trade policy and you say we must do everything to fight vaccine inequality. Exactly what are you doing to ensure that no one

is left behind, because frankly, progress is shameful at the moment?

NGOZI OKONJO-IWEALA, DIRECTOR-GENERAL, WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION: Well, thank you very much, Becky. I just want to agree with you that a situation

in which Africa, for instance, has administered three doses per 100 people, whereas Europe has done 56 and North America 67 doses.

The 100 people is very inequitable, we cannot have sustainable economic recovery without tackling this problem of vaccine inequity. And to do that

we need four things. The first is that donations needed urgently to go to the countries where they do not have so that we can get shops announced.

We've just seen 1 billion from the G-7 very welcome, but we need to get them out to the countries quickly and we need more donation. Second, you

mentioned the issue of manufacturing; we need to bring in more manufacturing capacity, particularly in developing countries and emerging

markets in order to increase the supply.

And that the WTO is working with manufacturers in this regard by helping to monitor supply chains.

We are looking at how to reduce or eliminate export restrictions and prohibitions that might be in the way of supply chains working freely, so

that goods inputs and outputs can flow where they're needed in order for manufacturers to be able to boost supplies globally.

[11:35:00]

OKONJO-IWEALA: And you know, thirdly, we're also looking at the issue of technology transfer and knowhow and of course, the issue of intellectual

property.

There is a strong engagement between members going on the WTO, with a view to negotiating a pragmatic answer to the issue of how can developing

countries have access to intellectual property and technology transfer, while still incentive research and innovation.

ANDERSON: Ngozi, let's - let's go back through those because the issue of intellectual property for drug makers is one of the barriers in getting

more vaccines out. They're not the only barrier, but one of the barriers.

The U.S. has conceded that it will support a waiver of IPs; will you mandate vaccine patent waivers? And if so, can the world really wait until

the end of 2021 for you at the WTO to make that decision?

OKONJO-IWEALA: Well, Becky, the issue is that it's a negotiation between members of an agreement, that more flexibility in the agreement to allow

developing countries to have better access.

So it's not really an issue of mandating members need to come to agreement together, that they're going to make it easier for developing countries

still have access. And you're absolutely right. We can't afford to wait till the end of 2020 --2021.

We're in a hurry. And I hope that by July, we'll have some idea, some progress on the negotiations. And as you mentioned--

ANDERSON: --the opposition or at least lack of support from the European Union and other developed nations will change. Are you? I mean, don't they

have a moral duty to support any effort that might help a fairer distribution?

OKONJO-IWEALA: Well, what I would like to say is that, for all our members, there is the desire to make sure that lives are not lost. And this has to

be translated now into a quick negotiations and agreement on the issue of IP and technology transfer. You also need the technology transfer, because

IP alone will not suffice.

ANDERSON: What is your message to the European Union? I mean, Washington under Joe Biden has conceded that IP waivers are a good idea and that the

U.S. will support them. What is your message to the European Union at this point?

OKONJO-IWEALA: The European Union has tabled a proposal, looking at a comprehensive approach to the issue of boosting vaccine supplies by also

boosting manufacturing capacity and trying to help with supply chain free enough supply chain.

So my message to them is, let's please work with the other members so that we can come to agreement on how we are going to work, work with the issue

of technology transfer and IP.

We need all three aspects in order for us to boost supplies globally. And if we can get quickly to the negotiating table, not just the European

Union, but also all the other members who have questions about how we should go about this issue of IP and technology transfer, I just urge

everyone to negotiate text.

And Becky, I have some slightly good news for you. Last week members did agree that they will move to negotiating text. This is how we'll make

progress.

ANDERSON: Well, that is very good to hear very, very briefly, then. A billion donations offered up at G7. You and others have conceded. Well,

certainly others have conceded that that is simply not enough. How much more do you want to see donated and delivered at this point?

OKONJO-IWEALA: If we calculate that we need the world needs about 10 billion doses. Now then we would like to see several billion more donations

if that can happen.

And more than the donations get in them quickly is also very, very important. So it's not donations three months from now or four months from

now. We need them now. And we need them to move to the countries and be deployed.

ANDERSON: What is always a pleasure to speak to you, you're within the first 100 days of this role. You and I should catch up again soon, I hope.

I'm fascinated to hear your vision and how you will make the WTO more relevant.

I have every confidence that you will know you as I do. It's a pleasure having you on. Thank you. And let's chat again soon in just a moment.

[11:40:00]

ANDERSON: Are we speaking to the UAE minister running an expo about the importance of a new women's pavilion? We are talking about celebrating

women's achievements up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Welcome back. The last few years have been an extraordinary time for women across the globe with the MeToo movement acting as a cultural,

social and political catalyst for improvements in women's safety and also women's rights.

These elements without question are essential for any society's proper functioning and the focus on them without question, long overdue. There is

though still a long, long way to go, especially in terms of social equity to make sure that women receive the same social dividend as men. And to

highlight that Expo 2020 Dubai is getting to work. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON (voice over): From frontline workers to leading from the front, women have played a key role in defeating the global pandemic. Party in

many parts of the world much of the progress made on gender equality, from women's safety to education to opportunities at work has been rolled back.

In the workplace last year alone, women lost $800 billion dollars a year in income. That's according to Oxfam International. And that is more than the

combined GDP of 98 countries.

Fixing the problem isn't just the governments, the UN's on the Secretary General saying, "These challenges cannot be solved by governments alone,

but through meaningful and substantive collaborations with the private sector, civil societies and committed individuals.

Why can't you see one such collaboration? You've put women at the very heart of this entire project, the women's pavilion and Expo 2020 in Dubai,

which aims to highlight the role of women in societies both now and historically.

REEM AL HASHIMY, UAE MINISTER OF STATE FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION: And as you go through to see testimonies of the Greatest Women in history--

ANDERSON (voice over): The driving force behind the mega event is the UAEs Ministry of State for International Cooperation. And with just over three

months before it scheduled launch, I sat down with Reem Al Hashimy and the women's pavilion partner, the CEO of the luxury brand Cartier, Cyrille

Vigneron.

ANDERSON: Expo 2020 will be the first World Expo since the 1900s to have a standalone pavilion dedicated to women. What was the thinking behind this

and what are you hoping to achieve?

[11:45:00]

HASHIMY: For us here in the United Arab Emirates, it was very difficult to conceive of a global platform such as this that has country participation

from all around the world that has participation from civil society and academia and corporate.

And not have a pavilion dedicated to pay homage and respect and tribute to the critical role that women have played in society. So from our

standpoint, we wanted to shed a light on this, bring more attention to the opportunities and the challenges that exist and really showcase what

happens to a community, what happens to humanity when women are front and center.

ANDERSON: Let's talk about this collaboration. Why was it so important, Cyrille for Cartier as a brand to take on this project? Explain if you

will.

CYRILLE VIGNERON, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CARTIER: First of all, we're not here as a brand, we are here as a corporate citizen. We have nothing to

sell, but a lot to share. Because for 15 years through Cartier women's initiative, we've been working with educations but also with social

entrepreneurs and met fantastic women who want to change the world and actually do it.

Through Cartier philanthropy, we also have been involved with the most vulnerable. And there are a lot of women involved and trying to take action

to support the most vulnerable around the planet, either in Africa or in Asia. But we saw with the pandemic, basically everywhere in the world.

ANDERSON: The challenges that women face will be even more acute in the light of this pandemic. The UN Secretary General have said and I quote,

limited gains in gender equality and women's rights made over the decades are in danger of being rolled back due to the COVID 19 pandemic.

The UN estimates that COVID-19 will push 47 million women and girls into extreme poverty by the end of 2021. Rim, what do you believe needs to be

done now to incentivize governments around the world to put women at the heart of these economic recovery policies?

HASHIMY: So when I look at what we're doing at Expo, but also by extension, what we're doing in the United Arab Emirates. As you know, we recently won

our seat for the UN Security Council non permanent membership and women peace and security is a core tenant of our work there.

But when I marry that, with the Sustainable Development Goals of 2030, the last SDG 17 is on traditional partnerships. We need to start being a lot

more creative about a multi stakeholder model that includes companies, governments that really uses technology as an enabler, so that we can not

only identify those that are most vulnerable, but actually have an action plan around pulling them out of that vulnerability.

It really is about inspiring agency in everyone. And this is really the premise of this Expo, that it's not about a government decision maker or

the CEO of a top notch company, all of us can participate in, in elevating the planet and helping it in bringing back dignity to people across all

communities.

And I think that sense of awareness is also very empowering. I can do something about it, not because I'm a minister, but because I'm an informed

citizen. There's a lot more power to that, then what initially meets the eye.

VIGNERON: I think everyone has a role to play. And in this case, private companies have a bigger role than they think they do. So that's why we want

to be also in this cooperation with Dubai 2020, to be an example, to be the kind of Avant-Garde saying private and public have to cooperate in goodwill

to change for a better world. And to avoid this last decade, as we can see, the pandemic might be.

ANDERSON: Reem one of the pavilions core aims is to drive tangible collaborative action on gender equity. How are you hoping to achieve that?

HASHIMY: Speak sort of from my own personal experience as a minister and international cooperation and in all of my travels, whether it's in Sub

Saharan Africa or Washington, DC or Bangladesh, wherever it is that I may, that my work may take me, it's always very clear when there's a female

perspective, when there's an inclusive approach to a particular end product slash and outcome and when there isn't.

I think that our pavilion really speaks to that. The - it ends with a call to action that sort of underscores why it is important to have that

equitable, just and fully encompassing society where everybody has rightful footing and the rightful place.

ANDERSON: The women's pavilion is about highlighting the crucial roles that women play in different communities around the world.

And there will be a woman in Arabia and Islam series that is featured in the pavilion. Just how important is that to you Reem?

HASHIMY: So important, Becky, I think that we deserve to tell our story in our own voice. There are many moments and opportunities across our history

of strong female leadership that has transformed society. And this is a tribute to that.

It's also recognition that the future can only be prosperous if women continue to play a strong and pivotal role in society. And here, really, I

think our audience includes boys and includes men, because they are an important partner to complement the great work that many women do in

society as well.

I think that as you look at the UAEs journey, as you look at the Middle East and larger Muslim societies, there are very stark differences. But

they're very common similarities between the plight of women, the challenges of women, across millennia now and across time.

And I think here, what this pavilion is really geared around is to shed light on that and to land at the very end on recognition that if you truly

do want to see prosperity, then an equitable, fully inclusive society has to come into play.

ANDERSON: Cyrille, if there were one thing that you hope people will take away from this, it's what?

VIGNERON: I have something to do. Each and every one would say I understand what it's about. And it's not something say women against men, it's not

anything men against women, it's not a trade war. It's something under the common goal to achieve together.

And each and every one says I've learned something and there's something I have to do, both women and men.

HASHIMY: We're definitely all in this together and only when we are together, banded together, will we be able to actually make a difference

and nudge towards progress.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON (on camera): An upbeat message from those involved in the women's pavilion at Expo 2020, which of course launches at the beginning of October

this year. Well, an upbeat message for us travelers Europe says it is time to come back, a live report on the latest move towards a post pandemic

world is just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Saving Europe's summer tourism season. European Union openings arms widen its borders to welcome back U.S. travelers even if they haven't

been vaccinated.

The idea is to bolster the tourism industry. Many Americans keep traveling Europe needs the money they spend CNN's Anna Stewart watching this for us,

joining us from London. What do we know of the details? It's always the devil isn't it in the details.

ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER: The devil is always in the detail. But you know what, Becky? First of all, let's just think about having a little holiday a

virtual holiday if you like imagine sitting on a beach in the Algarve or perhaps overlooking a canal in Venice sipping on a macchiato all this

possible for American tourists and some other countries that Europe or the EU has now put on its white list.

This is as you say fantastic use for travel and tourism sectors in Europe, such an important industry and American tourists are big spenders.

[11:55:00]

STEWART: And other than China, they're the biggest tourism spenders. There are 5 percent of international arrivals are usually American tourists, so

fantastic news. But you're absolutely right. Let's have a little look at the small print here because there are a few issues.

One is for airlines; it's really only half recovery. This isn't been reciprocated the other way around. So the U.S. is not yet welcoming

European holidaymakers plus before everyone packs their bags and books in for a wine to water Provence. You do need to check what the rules are in

whichever nation you're going to because although the EU is opening its doors wide and saying yes, the travel bans is lifted.

For some countries like Spain, if you're fully vaccinated, you don't need to take a test but for other countries, it will be different. And of

course, part of the problem with any kind of recovery and travel is that uncertainty. What are the rules were when will they change? And I suspect

that will be a bit of a drag on this recovery. Becky?

ANDERSON: Anna Stewart in the House. That's it from us. I am Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi, wherever you are watching in the world, please stay safe.

Stay well. It's a very good evening.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END