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EU Proposes Emergency Plan to Reduce Energy Bills; Line for Queen's Lying-in-State Paused for Hours; Deadly, Destructive Flooding sends Pakistan into Crisis; King Charles III makes First Visit to Wales as Monarch; Frozen Banking System Sparks Spate of Hold-Ups; UK King's Long- Standing Relationship with the Middle East. Aired 11a-12p ET

Aired September 16, 2022 - 11:00   ET

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

[11:00:00]

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: --Putin pledging mutual support and co-operation on core interest. That story is coming up for you.

First of all let's get you Westminster Hall, the Palace of Westminster behind me here where people are still filing past the body of Queen

Elizabeth II in what is a closed casket.

Her son, now King Charles III has been in Wales today. And there he addressed the Welsh Parliament, spoke to well wishes on the streets of

Cardiff. And now he's on his way back where he and his siblings will hold a vigil over the casket a little later on today.

Well, Ukraine's lightning offensive has reclaimed hundreds of villages, towns and cities from Russia. And it's uncovered what Ukraine says is 440

newly covered graves. These are pictures from Izium recaptured by Ukraine just days ago, graves lined up some with process and some with what

appeared to be markings.

Well, Ukraine's Strategic Communications Office describes some of the graves as fresh and says the bodies buried there were mostly civilians.

Ukraine's President blaming Russia, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying that some of the bodies found show signs of torture.

The United Nations says it will send a team there to investigate Izium among the cities that endured relentless Russian shelling earlier in the

war. Well, news of these graves coming as Ukraine's military administration in the Kharkiv region reports recently liberated areas are now facing heavy

Russian artillery fire.

Russia's quick retreat in the Northeast is revealing more grim realities of months of occupation. My colleague Nick Paton Walsh saw firsthand the

brutality of this walk while visiting a newly reclaimed town near the Russian border. And a warning for you his report contains graphic images.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY EDITOR (voice over): The darkness is breaking quite suddenly up here and the road to Russia's border

with Ukraine strewn with what it left behind in its panic, including its own. Two Russian soldiers shot dead in fighting about five days ago. Yet

another sign the Kremlin doesn't care what or who it leaves behind.

This is Vovchansk, the closest town to Russia that Ukraine has taken back, and whose vital railways began the supply chain for most of Moscow's war.

The Russians, everyone says, just packed up and vanished a few days ago. They've always been so close. So part of life here any joy is not

universal. They were not very good says Andrei. They didn't shoot anyone though.

The hardest was to see their checkpoints and their Z signs and feel hatred growing in my heart says Tatyana. They can drink their oil and have their

golden diamonds for dessert, but just leave us alone here.

Nastya is sailing ships she says Ukraine has been at war all the eight years she's known. I think it'll be better without them. She says it was

uncomfortable having them here. Her parents nearby, say fear meant they slept in their clothes all the six months.

WALSH (on camera): It's kind of strange here to see how almost unaffected so much of this town has been and how life seems to have slipped

comfortably back into normal when the Russian has just picked up and left. And it gives you a feeling of how normality must still rain just a matter

of six kilometers away across the border in Russia.

WALSH (voice over): But normal is never coming back, particularly to hear the border line itself. Russia retreated back over it, but must now live

with the hatred that has stirred.

WALSH (on camera): The fact that Ukrainian forces are able to push right up to here the beginning of the border buffer zone with Russia. Russia is just

a matter of kilometers in that direction is yet another calamity Moscow has imposed upon itself. Its opponent in this war and it's struggling so deeply

to defeat is now so close to Russia's own towns and cities.

WALSH (voice over): A moment long coming says local soldier Anton.

WALSH (on camera): How do you feel walking along the Ukraine?

WALSH (voice over): Some people have waited this for eight years, he says. It is the start of our victory. Across the one sleepy field here lives and

harvests stalled, wilting if another year will come. Nick Paton Walsh CNN, Vovchansk Ukraine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well as Russia's invasion of Ukraine approaches the seven month mark, Europe is doing everything it can to keep energy prices from smashing

even more records. The EU Commission now proposing an emergency intervention to tackle prices before winter sets in. [11:05:00]

ANDERSON: Well, on the day of the announcement one of the architects of the plan the European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said and I

quote we need to understand that the pre-war situation was abundant, cheap fossil fuels is not coming back leaving this to the market would mean

pricing out the poorest consumers, pushing businesses to the brink of collapse and letting families go cold. Not everyone needs help with their

bills, but those who need it, and those are millions, and millions of Europeans need it very urgently.

Well, joining me now is the Vice President of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans. It's good to have you on sir. So let's break down this

plan, if we can, because this is important. First, the Commission plans to reduce electricity consumption by some 5 percent, which you hope will then

lead to a 10 percent reduction in demand until March of next year, then a temporary revenue cap on some electricity producers and the contribution on

excess profits generated from activities in the oil, gas, coal and refinery sectors.

There will be people who say this is way too much intervention, whilst at the same time understanding that there does need to be a plan, just explain

why this plan is the one that the Europe has settled on and why?

FRANS TIMMERMANS, VICE PRESIDENT, EUROPEAN COMMISSION: Well, we should understand that Putin is not just waging war against Ukraine; he's also

trying to weaken us to divide us to bring autocrats also to power in Europe. And we should stick together.

And we should come up with a plan that would not put our citizens and our businesses in dire straits in the next couple of winters. He only has a

window of opportunity of a couple of years, because, you know, we're rapidly, rapidly decreasing our dependency on Russian fossil fuels.

At the start of the war, 40 percent of our gas came from Russia. Today, it's only 9 percent, seven months later. So he knows his time is running

out of time that he can use his energy to blackmail us. At the same time, we have to understand that if you take out 10 percent of gas from the

global gas market, supply and demand will not be balanced.

So you really need to reduce your energy consumption without reduction of energy consumption, we're not going to get there. And then of course, we

have to make sure that these enormous energy prices do not lead our citizens into a situation where they can no longer afford to buy food or

clothes or send their kids to school. I mean, that's the danger we face.

And I think it's the public authorities' responsibility to avoid this. And I think it's urgent, because if we don't understand that he's also trying

to hurt us as much as he can. This is not a market failure. This is someone weaponizing energy. And we should respond to that.

ANDERSON: Of course, that's what the role of the EU is to play this kind of, you know, wrapper around these 27 states. But there is uncertainty on

which measures will be agreed to by member states is there not?

Analysts say that months of geopolitical wrangling have left the European gas market whiplashed. How do you plan to address some of these concerns?

And how do you bring all countries together? Ultimately, Europe is facing, you know, a very, very difficult winter across member states. But it's the

impact across individual member states, which is going to be difficult; it will be very difficult to get everybody on board.

TIMMERMANS: Of course, and we are in uncharted waters. So we have to be inventive. But the one thing we've learned from the COVID pandemic is that

if Europe show solidarity within societies and between member states, there's nothing we can't do.

And I think we need to repeat that experience now in this energy crisis to show to our citizens that we have their backs, and to show to all member

states, that those in more difficulty will be supported by those who can afford to do that.

I think this is a moment where you know, we have to show whether we are capable of resisting the temptation of a dictator to divide us. And I think

that's why we have to be bold and also take the steps we've proposed.

My impression is that the three proposals we've made can count on broad support in the member states because there's hardly any government left in

Europe. That doesn't understand how difficult the situation will be next winter.

ANDERSON: You talk about being bold enough to ensure that a dictator will not divide us. You must have concerns about divisions at this point about a

Europe which could conceivably be increasingly fractured as the block faces what quite frankly many people around the world are concerned about which

is a recession starting very, very soon.

[11:10:00]

TIMMERMANS: Well, if you look back into the history of European cooperation, you will see that we're at our best when we are really

challenged when we're really in trouble. That's when we get together and we're able to find common ground. And I think I think we are witnessing one

of those moments in European history today.

So I'm confident that we can find common ground and confident everybody understands, there is no way Putin can come out of this victorious because

it's not just about Ukraine is bad enough, but it's also about autocracy trying to impose itself on democratic societies.

And I think this is something that also links us across the Atlantic with United States autocracies trying to get a foothold in our societies, and we

have a holy duty to make sure they don't win.

ANDERSON: Right. So what you're looking for is about $114 billion, as I understand it, or the equivalent in euros. And that will, as I understand

it, come from a windfall tax on energy companies, correct?

That certainly something here that Liz Truss, the new Prime Minister has said she's absolutely not prepared to do when it comes to the crisis here

in the UK. But that is something that the EU feels is the right route, windfall taxes, on energy companies that are making money out of this

crisis?

TIMMERMANS: Yes, because, you know, if you see the windfall taxes, they're making way beyond what they had expected. And at the same time, those

customers don't know how to pay the bills. You know, they have a responsibility, also vis-a-vis wider society.

And if you see the model we're trying to implement where we say we take the average profits from the last three years, we even add 20 percent to that,

and anything above that, we will tax with at least 33 percent we will levy that so that they can contribute to solving the problems in our society.

We really need to help our citizens and I don't understand Ms. Truss' position, but that's for her to decide in the UK. But what is wrong in

saying to these companies who are making profits way beyond the wildest dreams, it's about time you showed some solidarity with wider society.

ANDERSON: Then leave it there. Frans Timmermans on the story for you, at the heart of what is a European energy crisis at present thank you!

Well, so many feels immense gratitude, Britain's new King wrapped up his first visit to Wales as Monarch. Charles III relationship with that nation

goes back more than half a century. Today he thanked the people there for the tributes to his late mother, Her Majesty the Queen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KING CHARLES III, UNITED KINGDOM: Through all the years of her reign, the land of Wales could not have been closer to my mother's heart. I know she

took immense pride in your many great achievements, even as she also felt with you deeply in time of sorrow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: You could hear the crowds there. King Charles greeted by booth cheers earlier in the Welsh Capital of Cardiff, many people in the crowd

welcoming and waving flags but you can also hear that there were some protesters.

Well, it's very different picture in Westminster Hall where the Queen is lying in state the mood there one of silent dignity. And a short time ago,

Football Star David Beckham was spotted amongst the mourners. He says he waited with other members of the public for more than 12 hours.

Well right now I can tell you more about the state funeral on Monday, the Queen's coffin will be taken by procession from Westminster Hall to

Westminster Abbey, the service there will end with two minutes of silence across the United Kingdom. The coffin will then make its final journey to

Windsor, where the Queen will be laid to rest with her late husband, Prince Philip.

Let's bring in CNN's Scott McLean, who is with the crowd in the queue that stretches across London snaking along the River Thames. Those who are in

this queue, unfortunately, had a little longer to wait earlier on today, Scott because this was paused because of the amount of people who were

trying to pay their respect. Is on the move as I understand it again how long will those who are in the queue have to wait at this point? Do we

know?

[11:15:00]

SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So Becky, the official estimate is about 14 hours. How long it takes in reality is really anyone's guess. Because

yesterday when we were speaking to people, some a lot of people were reporting that it was moving a lot quicker than they had expected.

And certainly, then, officials were warning them that it could take, officially, the government continues to insist that the line is paused that

the line is closed in practice, it's still very much open. You get the sense that they're only telling people that it's close to discourage them

from coming.

But as you can see, it's not working. You could still see people there in the background joining the queue on mass, when they did pause the line for

a brief period of time earlier today, what ended up happening is that they just lined up, there was a sort of an informal lineup to join the lineup

that was out on the road.

And so now they're letting people in to the park, because they would rather have people joining the lineup here than doing it out there on the road.

And so now, when you get to this spot, from our estimation, from talking to people, it takes maybe two, three hours to get outside of this park.

You can see it sneaking along. And then once you get out of the park, you'll cross the road, go into another park, go through a couple more

lines. And then from there, you still have a heck of a long way to go. We're talking about five miles or so. Sir wondering how long you've been

waiting so far?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And hour and three quarters.

MCLEAN: An hour three quarters that's not bad. How long are you expecting to wait for?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Probably about 14 hours, I think is the room up. So we're expected to get in the early hours in the morning.

MCLEAN: Are you prepared?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Absolutely. Yes, we'll stay as long as we need to stay.

MCLEAN: Wow! Thank you. And so, Becky, you know, you get the sense from talking to people that there are a lot of folks who are making friends in

this lineup. And I can't really say that the mood is somber here. Sir, just wondering how you would describe the mood in the lineup right now?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're just waiting really not anything too exciting this time.

MCLEAN: But surely, surely. I mean, it's not somber, necessarily.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, there's no somber. I think it's - I think it's something we're all looking forward to we've come down specifically to do

this. And something that means a lot to I guess everyone in the queue here. Otherwise, we wouldn't be waiting this point for time.

MCLEAN: Where have you come from?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come down from Nottingham, just about two hours away, came down in train this morning.

MCLEAN: And you're prepared to stand here for how long?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As long as it takes.

MCLEAN: Thank you. And that is the answer that you hear over and over again, Becky. And you know, in talking to people, the vast majority of

people that we've met, you know, they're here because they have a deeply held admiration for the Queen and they want to pay their respects.

But there are a lot of other people who are in this lineup because they say that, you know, this is history. And this lineup is part of the experience

in living this history that's happening right in front of our eyes.

ANDERSON: Absolutely. Thank you, Scott. Well, First Minister of Wales had the chance to meet with the new King and the Queen Consort during what was

today's visit? Coming up, I'll get Mark Drakeford firsthand account of the Monarchs' day in Wales. And is Pakistan paying a disproportionate price for

the climate crisis? I'll talk with a UN Official, who got a firsthand look at that nation's nightmarish flooding.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:20:00]

ANDERSON: Welcome back, we are learning more about the scope of Pakistan's flood crisis. The government reports the disaster has claimed more than

1500 lives since June including more than 550 children, but some health officials are warning the toll could be much, much higher because of

waterborne diseases.

Now look, the flood levels of many of these fallen rivers are beginning to fall but the damage to crops to livestock to communications and

infrastructure has made getting basic needs extremely difficult.

Now a scientific analysis has found that the global climate crisis is playing a pivotal role in this disaster. Well, my guest was recently in

Pakistan with the UN Secretary General. They were there assessing the flood damage.

And he has said "People in Pakistan are living through the world's worst climate nightmare". Those words from the UN Humanitarian Chief, Martin

Griffiths and he joins us now live from New York. Firstly, just describe what you saw for us, if you will, Martin.

MARTIN GRIFFITHS, UNITED NATIONS EMERGENCY RELIEF COORDINATOR: Sure, Becky. And thank you for this chance. We saw the southern half of the country, as

you say the flooding has gone down south southern half of the country, huge areas submerged underwater.

We saw people desperately not trying to move too far from their homes that have been flooded, and who needs to be abandoned, so they're perched on

roads nearby, makes it very hard to get aid to by the way. So we saw a situation which I have never seen before.

As you know, what happened in the middle of August wasn't a downpour for about eight days solid in which roughly 15, 16 times the normal. Bi monthly

to monthly amount of rain came down on this country unpredicted. So we still see the consequences of it.

But as your leading suggests, you kind of aim to have seen nothing yet it's the medium to longer term consequences, which are so difficult to imagine

and to respond to.

ANDERSON: And you've said that Pakistan is living through the world's worst climate nightmare. Let's just discuss that, that connection. And the

evidence you have for that, Martin.

GRIFFITHS: Sure. What Pakistan suffered from in these past two, three months is a combination of the glacial melts from the north, the glaciers

melting faster than anticipated, which we all know, to be the case, but to which Pakistan is particularly vulnerable.

Plus, thrown in as it were, was this massive downpour again, climate change caused both. And the point that the Secretary General was making throughout

his visit there was the people of Pakistan are suffering in a way that they have no, no part of that creation of those problems. And nor has the

government.

These are problems caused by other countries around the world, not by places like Pakistan that Pakistan is the victim. The words he used was

that humanity has been at war with nature. And now nature is fighting back. It's not just Pakistan. I was in Somalia just before same problem, climate

change, climate change in both places.

ANDERSON: A climate expert at the University of Cambridge, saying recently, "The kind of assistance that's coming in right now is a pittance". A number

of Western economies have argued that they are suffering their own crises because of the war in Ukraine and various other issues.

And she also described the UK is, for example, original assistance for about $1.7 billion as laughable, would you agree with her?

GRIFFITHS: Look, we've seen a steady decrease in the generosity of a lot of governments to humanitarian programs around the world, Becky, as you know.

And these massive crises due to climate change in Pakistan, Somalia and elsewhere engender huge costs to repurpose their infrastructure, their

roads to be ready for the next climate shock, for the next month that will happen next year.

[11:25:00]

GRIFFITHS: To cope with the fact that they've lost, as you said earlier their crops and they will lose the next one, because they're not going to

get seeds to them in time. Now that the crucial point that we have been making is that climate, money, climate financing, all those pledges that

were made grandly in Glasgow and elsewhere has not come through Somalia has not received a penny, from climate financing.

And Pakistan, I think very similarly. So while we continue to bang the drum, shake the trees for humanitarian funding, perhaps even more important

is climate money, please, for the victims of the actions of people from a different part of the world. ANDERSON: Yes, Martin, you are, you know,

we've spoken before, and I hear your frustration on the limitations that you're seeing. And, you know, as there are so many conflicts that are

competing at present, or crises that are complete, but competing for humanitarian aid.

And you address the UNSC, the UN Security Council on Thursday, where you highlighted four areas that are at risk of food insecurity and conflict

induced hunger.

Ethiopia, northeast Nigeria, South Sudan, and Yemen, your plea to member states was to pursue resolutions to conflicts and violence, such as in

Yemen. Encourage states to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law, support and integrated response to address the underlying

drivers of acute food insecurity, and sustain humanitarian financing for these crises.

It must be very difficult at this point to prioritize any one area when there are frankly, so many competing crises. And we've just been, for

example, alluding to that have climate which is, which is so important at this point.

GRIFFITHS: Well, I thought Becky going into the end of last year, that what we'd be talking about throughout this year, in my community, the

humanitarian community was going to be climate. I was quite wrong.

What we discovered that we will be talking about the first three or four months of this year, not surprisingly, was man's inhumanity to man, which

was the war in Ukraine.

But recently, climates reminded us that yes, you know, climate is on the move. It is invidious to make choices between suffering one life is as

important as many. But what we are seeing this year where we have a --of just under $50 billion for global, global humanitarian programs, and we've

got about 17 billion so far and it's September.

So we've never seen such a gap between needs and funding. It's partly to do with Ukraine, and the cost there. It's partly to do with the geopolitics of

prices, energy and food prices. That's why the Grain Deal is so important.

It's also getting a tension, which is your point, which is so difficult. And can I give you an example that I hope we will all remember. A year ago,

the Taliban took over Afghanistan, and not surprisingly, quite appropriately.

We were talking about Afghanistan, you know, 24 hours a day. It was the topic of the day, it was a huge issue. In that week, that I remember it so

well, Haiti went through a cataclysmic earthquake. You will remember it too.

ANDERSON: Yes.

GRIFFITHS: Could barely get on the news because the attention span of the world and I've seen it now in this - in Ultra. It's very limited. Do you

remember Tigray? I know you do. But you search with difficulty for the news of the fact that Tigray has gone way back into war.

So it's competing for attention, as well as resources, which I think is the heart of ours --.

ANDERSON: Yes, understood, understood, keep up the good work, Sir.

GRIFFITHS: Thank you so much.

ANDERSON: We're taking a very short break, back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:30:00]

ANDERSON: Now Britain's new King Charles III and the Queen Consort are heading for Buckingham Palace in London after their first visit to Wales

since he became sovereign.

The trip included a prayer service at the Cathedral in Cardiff to honor the late Queen. Well, after receiving the motion of condolence from the Welsh

parliament, the king told them, "The Land of Wales could not have been closer to my mother's heart".

And he spoke in both Welsh and English today. It's the last leg of the Royals tour of the United Kingdom following earlier appearances in

Scotland, in Northern Ireland and of course in England.

Later this evening, King Charles will be joined by his siblings to take part in Westminster Hall where mourners have been slowly streaming through

by the thousands since late on Wednesday.

Well, the queue is so long it was closed temporarily or paused at least the government trying to discourage the public from joining the line because it

had reached capacity.

But many people ignoring that determined to pay their respects to Her Majesty. Well, Nina dos Santos is in Cardiff in Wales, where the King and

Queen Consort have just wrapped up their visit there, Nina?

NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks so much, Becky. Yes, it was a really charged day and also the schedule was pretty charged. They had three

major events here in Wales in the capital, Cardiff starting up the day with the prayer and reflection and remembrance service in honor of the late

Queen Elizabeth II.

Then, of course, there was that meeting at the Senate with those Welsh parliamentarians to receive condolences. And of course, the king spoke in

Welsh, which he learned as a young man in this country upon being bestowed with the title of Prince of Wales, which is customary for heirs to the

English throne.

That's a thorny point which was on display when he arrived here at Cardiff castle for the final part of this tour of the capital city. He was greeted

not just with cheers, but also cheers and boos as well by Welsh nationalists determined to make their feelings plain.

And this is why the history between the British monarchy and English kings and princes and Wales part of their realm is so complicated.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SANTOS (voice over): Tributes for Queen Elizabeth everywhere to be seen across Wales. That's one of the countries that makes up the United Kingdom.

Wales has played a special role in the royal succession, and yet its part in the monarchies future remains an open question.

By tradition, the heir to the British throne is formally titled The Prince of Wales. It's a relic of the medieval Game of Thrones between England and

Wales, as the English crown looked to control its Welsh rivals throughout the Middle Ages.

This heritage still resonates in Wales, a country with its own language, its own national identity, and its history of resistance to English rule.

So in 1969, when Prince Charles was to be officially crowned the Prince of Wales there were fears he could face embarrassment. Just 20 years old and

with a flimsy knowledge of Wales as culture, Charles was sent to University College Aberystwyth for a crash course in the Welsh language.

[11:35:00]

EMYR LEWIS, PROFESSOR OF LAW & CRIMINOLOGY, ABERYSTWYTH UNIVERSITY: There was a desire to use the unifying appeal to the Royal Family as a way of

diverting attention and support away from people who saw the future for Wales is lying outside the United Kingdom.

SANTOS (voice over): At the service with Queen Elizabeth at his side, Charles spoke first in Welsh. Then in English, pledging his service to the

people.

CHARLES III: I'm more than grateful to the people of this principality for making my brief state so immensely worthwhile.

SANTOS (voice over): It was a warmly received speech and a pivotal moment in the young prince's life.

SANTOS (on camera): Back then Wales's nationalist so mainly activists and academics, but today they're in government in Wales's own parliament the

Senate.

After the death of the Queen, the Leader of Plaid Cymru the Nationalist Party said that the monarchies future in independent Wales should be

decided by the people. His predecessor put it more bluntly, saying Wales has no need for a prince.

SANTOS (voice over): The Welsh public, however, are less scathing? A survey in March from Cardiff University said 55 percent of Welsh people believe

Britain should continue to have a monarchy.

JAMES GRIFFITHS, RESEARCH ASSOCIATE, WELSH ELECTION STUDY: There is a lot of tacit consent for the monarchy in Wales. They might not like what's

happening, they might not like some of the money that the money that they get, but they are willing to continue it to accept the status quo.

SANTOS (voice over): As the line of succession moves along, the title of Prince of Wales now falls to the new heir, Prince William, who says he's

honored to serve the Welsh people. William already has a long association with Wales.

As a Royal Air Force pilot, he was stationed on the Welsh island of Anglesey, and it was there that he made his first family home with Kate

Middleton, after the birth of their son, Prince George.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Nina, thank you for that.

SANTOS: Thank you --.

ANDERSON: Well, joining me now is Mark Drakeford. He's the First Minister of Wales and met with King Charles during the monarchs visit to the country

earlier today, Mark, thank you for joining us. Describe your meeting, if you will, with King Charles earlier.

MARK DRAKEFORD, WELSH FIRST MINISTER: Well, I would have described it as a relaxed meeting. I've been able to meet the king a number of times in his

previous role as Prince of Wales. And today's conversation, in many ways picked up the threads of those earlier discussions.

He was looking ahead, he was looking at the things that are important to Will's future and interested - to know what the last government was doing

and how he plans to address some of the challenges that we face as a nation.

ANDERSON: You've - Prince William will take on the title of Prince of Wales now. And you have said that, now is the time for him to get to know Wales

better. What are you hoping to see out of him and as he forges a closer relationship with the country?

DRAKEFORD: Well, I think the first thing to say is that we should give him chance. We shouldn't expect things to happen in a - he needs that time, he

is very familiar as your reporter said with certain parts of Wales. I'm sure he will want to deepen his knowledge and connections with the rest of

the country.

He'll want to make himself familiar with the things that matter in a contemporary Wales and to see how those things are aligning with. The

interests he has already espoused as part of the responsibilities that he discharges.

And I think there's plenty of opportunity for the things that matter to us, the future of our young people, the future of Wales, in a challenge globe,

climate change the nature emergency.

Things he's spoken a great deal of in the past, I think there will be plenty of opportunities for him to align himself with those concerns and to

make a contribution to them.

ANDERSON: Let's talk about the nationalist story in Wales. A recent YouGov poll conducted before the UK had its new prime minister suggested a desire

for Welsh independence would rise from 25 percent to 30 if Liz Truss won, she did win of course. But 30 percent isn't a very high figure. What's the

future for Wales as part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?

[11:40:00]

DRAKEFORD: Well, my own prescription is for Wales to remain part of the United Kingdom. I think the United Kingdom benefits from Wales being part

of it. And Wales benefits from being part of the United Kingdom.

But it will be a future in which those decisions that apply only to Wales are increasingly made by Wales's own problems. We belong to a devolved

United Kingdom.

But United Kingdom very different to as it was in 1969 in the film, that you will just have seen, so there is a prescription for keeping the United

Kingdom together. But it needs to be worked on.

It needs to be worked on by the UK Government, making sure that there is a persuasive future, a future that people want to belong to, are not

something in which the UK Government believes that just by exerting its own powers, it can require people in the rest of the United Kingdom to sign up

to it.

ANDERSON: Finally, just reflecting on the day that has been it was a busy one, and we're just showing photographs, heir of King Charles III, getting

out of the helicopter there. How would you describe the way that he was received today?

DRAKEFORD: I think he was warmly received. They were, as you reported, some small pockets of protest, but a big story would have been the size of the

crowds that turned up the warmth of the reception that he had.

It's been, in some ways, a strange but successful day of both soul and celebration here in Wales. And there was warmth to the reception the new

king received that I'm sure will have communicated itself to him.

ANDERSON: Finally, and in closing a more united, United Kingdom, or at least the optics, of which many are saying, we see since the death of

Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth II, would you agree with that?

DRAKEFORD: I myself would say, don't mistake the packing for the parcel. What we've seen in the last few days are those ceremonial things, whether

they reflect the nature of the debate that goes on below the surface, I probably think but they don't. They've been important. They've been

appreciated. I wouldn't mistake them for a more fundamental debate.

ANDERSON: It's good to have you, sir, Mark Drakeford, Welsh First Minister at what is just before quarter to five in the evening, thank you. Well,

Lebanon's financial collapse, taking a toll up next.

What bank customers there are resorting to when they cannot withdraw their money from the banks, that story is coming up after this.

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[11:45:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They browse the country, they browse the people. What do we have? This is not the country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: You can hear the exasperation in Lebanon. However, what is the financial implosion there? The Lebanese banking system is frozen and people

are unable to access their savings. That's led to a spate of bank holdups.

On Friday alone five banks were held up by people trying to get their own money out. Well, there were two hostage situations on banks on Wednesday.

And now, Lebanese Banking Association says banks will be closed for three days starting on Monday.

You really couldn't make this up, could you? Let's get to journalist Mia Alberti, who is inside one of the banks that is still being held up in

Beirut. Mia, I hope you can hear me as I understand; there is still an ongoing hostage situation where you are. Just explain what's going on.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIA ALBERTI, JOURNALIST (voice over): Hey, Becky, that's why while we have one man that entered this bank around eight hours ago, along with his wife

and his lawyer, his name is --Ovid Supra, he's from this region invaded the southern suburbs of Beirut.

So he's been here for eight hours. And he's the man is quite clear, I want part of my money, I want part of the money that is in the account at the

blonde, Blom Bank, one of the banks, main banks in Lebanon.

Of course, the bank is saying that the bank will not keep this amount of money. And during these eight hours, there were some minor clashes here

inside of the bank. The man right now, they say that security forces broke his hands; he's just in front of me wearing something around his chest to

hold his hands.

And he's saying that, you know, negotiations are not going to go forward. But I am not leaving. So basically now this is a very clear standoff that

this man is refusing to leave the bank, there is one hostage left, which is the manager of the bank.

He is the one that has been negotiating with him, but outside of the bank, there are dozens of people cheering for his success. And this is something

that we have been seeing around Lebanon the past few days and weeks, where we have seen very unique cases of people customers, robbing their bank of

their own money.

So not really robbing the man outside of these banks, people are still cheering for him. They are calling him a national hero. They are saying,

you know, good for him that he's finally revolting, which is what we should all be blamed because as you said, this has been a situation that

represents the implosion of Lebanese financial system.

And if we look at it, these are the feeling in Lebanon today. Seeing all of these several numbers of bank hostage situations across the country, not

just --, it feels like the fuse of a slow burned, burning bomb has finally reached the explosives then people are just done with this.

And this is what we are seeing today. This feeling of enough this feeling that people cannot take it anymore. They need their money to pay for

medical bills to help their children.

To meet their life basically, and seeing their money inside of the bank frozen and unable to reach them has led to many of these situations of

extreme frustration.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Yes, Mia Alberti is inside the bank. As I understand it, this man is not armed. It's a relatively peaceful environment. Now you can see the

people outside.

And frankly, as the World Bank has described this system has collapsed, Mia describing the frustration of so many in Lebanon and this is the upshot of

that frustration. We're taking a very short break, back after this.

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[11:50:00]

ANDERSON: Well it's 10 to five in London as long as it takes, that is how one long, one mourner here in London says he's willing to wait to pay

respects to Queen Elizabeth II.

The back of the queue to fall past her casket was officially close to new Commons for a few hours earlier on today, crowds so were not deterred.

Meantime, King Charles and Camilla are on their way back to London.

They've been in Wales where they were cheered and by some booed. Last hour, we talked about how King Charles has fostered warm relations with countries

across the Middle East and the Gulf where this show is normally based for countries like Qatar.

A former British protectorate, the first sent an ambassador to London in 1972, seen here arriving at Buckingham Palace all those years ago. Well the

Queen traveled to Qatar seven years later.

And just months ago, the Queen welcome the current Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Windsor Castle. Well earlier, I talked with Qatar's

Ambassador here about that visit and about ties with the UK moving forward, have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: You have pictures of the current Emir Tamim Al Thani meeting the Queen back in May. As I understand it, he was one of if not the last

foreign dignitaries to meet with the queen at Windsor Castle.

FAHAD AL-ATTIYAH, QATARI AMBASSADOR TO THE UK: As far as we know he is the last few who met her majesty at Windsor Castle. It is a special occasion

every time a member of the Royal Family especially our Emirs would have any official engagements with the UK be an important point for them to meet her

majesty and engage, just to build on the long standing relationship that we've had.

ANDERSON: And somebody has described it to me quite aptly as the canopy, the relationship between the Royal Family is this sort of the canopy under

which relations are built to a certain extent, just talk about that enduring relationship.

AL-ATTIYAH: Well, the relationship with the UK has gone well over a century and the engagement with our monarchy or royalties, has been an essential

cornerstone of that relationship with the two countries.

Her Majesty the Queen represents this constancy for everyone. I mean, she opened the very school that His Highness the Emir has attended in Qatar

1979. You just mentioned earlier that she has made that state visit to Qatar.

So it just maintains and sits above all this political change that happened below the monarchies, so to speak, and this occasion of her passing

represents this unity that brings everyone together, including our monarchy.

ANDERSON: Let's talk about King Charles; one of his key pillars has been that of tolerance of inclusivity, strongly supportive of, of the Muslim

communities. He has a huge admiration for an interest in Islam.

And how do you see this new era and that relationship between the Royal Family here and yours in Qatar, developing under what is the new Monarch?

AL-ATTIYAH: Extremely important, I mean, his understanding of our part of the world is a crucial aspect. I think that we'll just build on the

momentum that already exists between the Gulf and the UK, to have a Monarch who has that level of understanding is crucial, and I think it will just

propel the relationships even further.

ANDERSON: And walking Charles doesn't make policy these trips are extremely important, obviously, diplomatically, both trips by Qatari leadership here

and the Monarch to Qatar. UK and Qatar have built robust defense ties in the past. The Royal Navy and Air Force will be supporting security for the

upcoming World Cup this year for example.

[11:55:00]

ANDERSON: How important has the Royal Family been in building those ties? I want to sort of get to the bottom of that because it's they rein, they

don't rule. They don't govern here. This is more of a symbolic relationship, isn't it?

AL-ATTIYAH: It is a symbolic relationship, but one that offers a lot of strength to the nation, I mean to have the symbol of unity. And for us,

it's also important to have people who we can engage with on a longer term basis.

So while we have these commercial ties, military ties, economic ties with the UK, it is important that we have a direct relationship with some

entity, body symbol that sits above all these commercials interest.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: The Qatari Ambassador to the UK speaking to me earlier, thank you for joining us. CNN continues after this.

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END