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Hala Gorani Tonight
New Wave of Migrants Make a Dash for the Border on Foot; North Korean Dictatorship; Nightmare for Parents in El Salvador. Aired 4-5p ET.
Aired September 08, 2015 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[15:00:00] HALA GORANI, HOST: Tonight frustration in Hungary motivates a new wave of people to make a dash for the border on foot.
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GORANI: Then what about fixing the problem at the source? I ask the top level American official why more is not being done to end the Syrian war.
And later, a North Korean defector speaks to CNN about why he couldn't spend another minute under Kim Jong Un's dictatorship.
Plus a nightmare for parents in El Salvador when their baby was switched at birth.
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GORANI: Hello everyone I'm Hala Gorani, we're live at CNN, London, thanks for being with us this hour this is The World Right Now.
The drama of the refugee crisis is playing out once again at the border between Hungary and Serbia.
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GORANI: Hundreds of extremely frustrated migrants and refugees broke out of a temporary holding center. CNN cameras followed the refugees as they
ran through sunflower and corn fields.
Our Arwa Damon ran along with them.
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We're running now with these migrants and refugees who just broke out of the holding area right
along the border with Serbia. The police are literally right behind them. CNN. The police are literally right behind a man in front trying to bring
them under control. There are hundreds of them that staged this breakout because they were fed up at the conditions they were being held in.
These are all people that have just managed to breakout and they have been running now for about the last half hour. They have been running through
the sunflower fields, the corn fields. They are very afraid because you can see there they're noticing that the police are over to the side. We've
been hearing sirens.
Well as these dramatic scenes are unfolding this people literally walking their way through. People travelling with the smaller children were not
able to keep up. They believe that it will be safety in numbers for them as they try to make their way hoping that the police will not catch them,
will not try to stop them.
And they have been running throughout these fields, walking now because they're exhausted. You can see that family, their kids, they lost their
shoes as they were sprinting across. In fact the family had to throw - discard most of its belongings because they just couldn't keep running.
The bulk of the refugees, those who broke out are right in front of this last line. The police did manage to catch up with them and we can't really
tell at this stage if the police are leading them somewhere or if they are just accompanying them. At a few occasions they did try to stop them but
the front row of these refugees and migrants made up of young men always physically pushed through the police force.
They eventually convinced them to stop right here, told them they would be bringing them food and water which they did, and then there were some
pretty lengthy negotiations underway at the end of which we heard that they agreed that they would get on busses, that the police would bring them, and
here they have to trust the police and there is not a lot of trust here. The want this ordeal to be over and they just want to be able to get
somewhere where they're able to relax that little bit, if that is even possible for them.
Because then, once they get there they have to start a new life, without the community, without everything that used to be familiar for them. A new
language, new culture, new traditions, something that they're fully willing to do but it's not easy.
You can see - you know I mean every single step of the way of this trip is difficult. Every single step of the way is fraught with its own problems,
its own very different challenges whether it's people breaking out of holding areas or cramming trying to get on a bus.
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GORANI: Well Arwa joins me now on the phone from Budapest in Hungary. Arwa, what's the situation now? Are there still people in that holding
center are others still trying to make it on foot to Austria, what's going on?
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DAMON: Well (inaudible) yes, there are still people back in that holding center, the stream that comes across from Serbia (inaudible) it doesn't
stop. The minute they even get enough busses to take people out assuming that they actually do, it fills back up pretty much immediately. There are
still thousands that are coming across every (inaudible).
Now we did follow those busses there for about an hour before we had to pull away. We did give a number of the refugees on those busses our phone
number so if they can keep us informed as to whether or not they are in fact able to board that train that was promised to them tomorrow morning,
supposed to take them all the way to the border with Hungary and Austria.
[15:05:15] And we've been seeing a number of these sort of desperate actions being taken on by the refugees over the last few days, whether it's
deciding to walk from Budapest to Austria, or breaking out of one of the transit camps, which started taking place yesterday where people then began
also walking on the highway. Or what we saw today breaking through this police cordon because people can't handle it any more at this stage, it's
just too much for them to mentally cope with especially given everything that they have been through.
And until there is a proper solution and there are supposed to be things like proper shelters being put into place at the transit camp and so on.
But until these things are actually put into place people are subjected to these pretty horrendous conditions that make everything that they've gone
through all the more difficult.
GORANI: All right, Arwa Damon, is covering this story in Hungary. Thank you.
So how are European leaders responding to the crisis? Well it's different depending on the country.
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GORANI: We've been reporting that for instance Germany the numbers are actually quite eye popping. It says it expects to get 800,000 applications
for asylum this year.
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GORANI: And the country's Vice-Chancellor says it could take in 500,000 refugees each year for several years. Britain on the other hand if we're
going to compare two countries that have quite different approaches, will take up to 20,000 Syrian refugees over the next five years. It will focus
on resettling refugees from camps near Syria, not on those already by the way in Europe.
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GORANI: Now the British Parliament held an emergency debate on the crisis today. Nick Robertson was there and joins me now.
Before we talk about drone attacks in Syria because that's been making headlines here, let's talk a little bit about this different approach.
Because in five years taking in 20,000 when Germany are saying 500,000 in just one year. And this is the European Union, very different approaches.
NICK ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Britain isn't isolated at this. You have the Hungarians, you have the Slovaks, you have
the Czech's, the Prime Ministers' in those countries saying we are not going to go along with these quota numbers that Europe's talking about.
You have the Danes for example who recently elected a government that includes quite a right wing party. That government has now put notices in
Lebanese newspapers for refugees there, these are the criteria if you want to come to Denmark. Denmark's making it harder for people to come in.
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ROBERTSON: The perception in the U.K. is - there was a poll done at the weekend in the U.K., and one in France but interestingly both countries,
51% of the population said that they thought their countries shouldn't take more migrants. It's a political issue (so) part of it for the British
Government. It's a political issue, there's a political price to pay if you have more migrants. And part of it is you know Britain would point to
its history.
A decade ago it was the one that was taking more refugees than other European countries.
GORANI: But let's remind our viewers of public opinion in this country because people might say the politicians are heartless. But in the end
they're a reflection of what Brits want, or don't want in this case. 75% what a decrease in migration to this country.
ROBERTSON: And if you look at the last elections, the party that came in third or at least got the third largest number of votes, U.K. Independence
Party, 4 million votes, and that was done on the back of the issue of too many migrants in Britain.
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GORANI: Now, let's talk about drone attacks, this is new. The U.K. is now saying we are using drones to attack targets of suspected terrorists
plotting against the U.K. inside of Syria. And they'll do it again.
ROBERTSON: And they'll do it again. So what does this sound like when you listen to this in the context because of course this is in the context of
the refugee crisis and Syria being one of the places that a lot of them are coming from right now. And David Cameron has said tackling Syria and
solving the crisis in Syria is the way to (attack this).
So what has he done? He's made a very robust statement that the British Government feels it got legal justification because these ISIS members, one
from Cardiff and where else, one from Scotland. He says that they were planning to perpetrate attacks. Or at least helping to get attacks into
the U.K., and the only way to defeat that was a drone strike. So it really is setting out a stall here in the context of the refugee issue.
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ROBERTSON: You need to be touch on the problem. And yes they've said they got legal justification, they'll do it again.
GORANI: Well, we'll have to take the Government's word for it because we don't see any evidence.
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ROBERTSON: And that's what is the question from opposition parliamentarians, we want to see that - more evidence.
GORANI: Nick Robertson, thanks very much, always a pleasure. Critics say the British Government is not doing nearly enough to confront the crisis.
You're watching live pictures now from outside Westminster Cathedral in London not from our position here.
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GORANI: A vigil dedicated to the refugees is going on now. So we were discussing with Nick that public opinion isn't necessarily in favor of
taking in more refugees but you do have activists groups like this one called Citizens U.K., planning a series of vigils across the country today.
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[15:10: 07] GORANI: And in Germany the Chancellor Angela Merkel is calling for European solidarity. We touched upon that as well. Pushing
for all EU members to step it up in the face of this crisis she is proposing a mandatory quota so that each country takes in a fair share of
displaced people. Listen to Merkel.
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ANGELA MERKEL, GERMAN CHANCELLOR: (As translated) We really need to discuss about a joint and overarching asylum policy and we, Sweden, and
Germany are of the view that binding quota actually are to be applied so that refugees can be fairly distributed to the European member states.
Unfortunately we are a long way off this target.
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GORANI: Well, Germany says it's only fair. It is taking on a high measure of responsibility and is expecting to see hundreds of thousands of refugees
pour across its borders. It's already working to accommodate those seeking safe haven but so much still needs to be done.
Here's a wrap up of what happened in Germany today with our Atika Shubert.
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ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Brightly colored and bolted together shipping containers converted into temporary homes.
These are just some of the 150,000 shelters that Germany is building for refugees.
Construction crews are still putting the finishing touches on these homes but already 50 people live here. (Junita) is from Albania, and she has
just moved in with her four children. She has a one word description for her new home.
(JUNITA): Super, super.
SHUBERT: Two containers effectively make a one bedroom apartment. It's small but enough to house a family.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's space for 300 people and they - some of the units, apartments have a kitchen inside and toilets, their own kitchen and
toilets. And the whole place is conceived for people under special protection.
SHUBERT: And how long will people stay here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It could be between one or two years.
SHUBERT: (Hosnair) left Syria three years ago. First she tried to go through Libya, then she crossed from Turkey into Bulgaria on foot. She was
seven months pregnant.
She tells us for others coming here I don't really have any words for anyone back home because even here it's very difficult for us, for
everyone.
Then she breaks down in tears unable to finish explaining in an apology how she lost her parents.
It takes time and money to build homes like these, this took five months to construct and with thousands entering Germany every day much more are
needed fast.
Atika Shubert, CNN, Berlin.
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GORANI: Coming up the other headlines we're following including;
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GORANI: Replacing a process that the Pope says is "long and so burdensome." Find out the latest reform the Vatican's - the Vatican I
should say is making to the Catholic Church.
Also having a child is life-changing (inaudible) to these parents experienced another huge change. When they were sent home from the
hospital with the wrong baby. The incredible story coming up.
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[15:15:31] GORANI: A U.S. County Clerk who refused to grant marriage licenses to same sex couples has been freed from jail.
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GORANI: Just minutes ago Kim Davis was released from this detention center in Kentucky. A crowd of protestors gathered outside the facility for a
rally. The judge's ruling said Davis could be released on the condition that she not interfere with the issuing of marriage licenses to all legally
eligible couples. Davis' supporters say she was defending her religious beliefs. It's created quite a few headlines in the U.S. and interest as
well.
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GORANI: Pope Francis has announced some radical reforms to the way Catholics obtain marriage annulment. Three of the main changes include:
eliminating a second review by a cleric before the marriage can be nullified. In certain circumstances Bishops would be able to grant the
annulments themselves.
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GORANI: And the Pope also says the process should be free except for a fee for administrative costs and should be completed within 45 days.
Incrementally changes are happening at the Vatican.
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GORANI: To a shocking story now from Central America. A British father and his Salvadorian wife have been reunited with their baby son four months
after taking another baby home from the hospital.
Now the doctor involved has been arrested. CNN's Erin McLaughlin has that story.
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ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's every mother's worst nightmare. You've just given birth and you go to sleep, you wake up
and your baby looks different. You later find out that it's not your baby at all.
These grainy pictures capture the end of that nightmare. A mother and father reunited with their baby. Hours before a very different scene, a
question no mother should have to answer.
Doctor, doctor, where is my baby she says. Authorities say her baby was switched at birth in El Salvador. In May Richard Cushworth and his wife
Mercedes Casanellas were overjoyed. Casanellas had given birth to a baby boy named Jacob.
The couple say Jacob's skin resembled the lighter coloring of his father. The baby the hospital gave them to take home had darker coloring. The
Cushworth's say the hospital staff told them the color change was natural, nothing to worry about. But the couple was suspicious.
DNA tests later proved that the baby belonged to someone else. Authorities ordered genetic tests for four babies born at the hospital on the same day.
They found two matches, including Jacob, and the two misplaced babies returned to their rightful genetic parents.
"There are no words to express what our heart feels to have our baby at home" the Cushworth family said in a statement. Thanks to all who joined
our pain and fed our hope.
Just how and why the swap happened is a subject of a criminal investigation. Police arrested, and then released the gynecologist
responsible for Jacob's birth. A judge ruled the case can proceed. He's not allowed to leave El Salvador. He says he's innocent of any wrong
doing.
Erin McLaughlin, CNN.
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GORANI: Still to come tonight. Syrians flee continued violence at home, we know that.
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GORANI: But as the number of refugees grows what is being done to put an end to the war once and for all? More on that, we talk to the U.S.
Official, a guy from Washington coming up.
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[15:20:00] GORANI: Still many of those seeking refuge in Europe are from Syria, a country devastated by years of war that has left hundreds of
thousands dead. And as the European Union struggles to contain a refugee crisis, some world leaders believe solving that problem involves taking
action at the source in Syria.
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GORANI: The refugees from Syria now desperate to reach Europe are fleeing not just one war but several. There's the war by ISIS to install and
expand what it calls an Islamic caliphate. And the war between the Syrian regime of Bashir Al-Assad and rebels seeking to overthrow it. And wars
between rebel groups as they fight to gain control of key areas.
Caught in the middle of all of these millions of civilians just trying to survive. So what is being done to end these wars? In the fight against
ISIS a U.S. led coalition has launched more than 2300 air strikes in Syria. Nations that have taken part in the strikes include Bahrain, Canada,
Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the UAE.
Now France is talking about joining in.
FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, FRENCH PRESIDENT: (As translated) It is our responsibility and my responsibility to urgently respond and also to make
choices.
France is ready to take part and to play its role.
GORANI: And on Tuesday France said it had flow its first reconnaissance missions over Syria.
DAVID CAMERON, U.K. PRIME MINISTER: Rayeed Khan was killed in a precision.
GORANI: And the U.K. admitted this week it had launched drone strikes at targets in Syria despite a 2013 Parliamentary vote against military action
in the country.
CAMERON: We were exercising the U.K's inherit right to self-defense. There was clear evidence of the individuals in question planning and
directing armed attacks against the U.K.
GORANI: Meanwhile the Syrian civil war is taking a heavy toll. A few weeks ago more than 100 civilians were killed in airstrikes by the Syrian
regime in the Damascus suburb of Douma. And activists say more than 300,000 people have been killed in four years of war. So what about
pressure on the regime?
The United Nations Envoy to Syria says four nations are key.
STAFFAN DE MISTURA: U.N. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR SYRIA: In order to conclude the conflict push Russia and America to continue seriously their dialogue
and conclude it. And above all to put enough, more pressure on those who can make a difference; Iran and Saudi Arabia. For god's sake sit together,
do something about what otherwise will implode the whole region.
GORANI: What have the U.S. and Russia been talking about? The U.S. has been warning Russia not to escalate its involvement on the side of the
Assad regime. Russia is denying preparations for a major military deployment.
With a tangible solution so far away so too is the day that civilians won't feel the need to flee this country to survive.
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GORANI: Joining me now from Washington is Mark Toner, a Deputy Spokesperson with the U.S. State Department. Thanks very much Mr. Toner
for being with us.
There was a diplomatic push on August 28th when a U.S. envoy travelled to Moscow to try to find some sort of political or at least the beginning of a
political solution. It seems to not have gone well at all. Why not?
MARK TONER, DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT: Well you've hit on it in your report leading up to this and that is that the way to solve the
crisis, the refugee flow into Europe now and elsewhere, certainly in the neighboring region is to resolve the situation on the ground in Syria.
So as you mentioned our envoy was in Moscow recently. Secretary Kerry actually held talks with Prime Minister Lavrov.
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TONER: As well as the Saudi Foreign Minister, Al-Jubier. And again the idea here is to get a credible peace process going here but one that cannot
ultimately result in Assad staying in power. We've been very clear about that and indeed that's the UN Geneva communicate which forms the basis for
a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Syria.
GORANI: But Mark Toner clearly this approach has not worked. One that the U.S. insisting that Assad can't be part of any transition, hasn't worked.
Russia is clearly opposed to it. In fact there are reports its increasing its military support to the Assad regime. And meantime this war rages on
with tens of thousands of deaths a year.
The U.S. must have a plan here and if so, what is it?
TONER: Well we do and we're trying to work with our likeminded partners and allies to again follow what has already been laid out in Geneva.
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TONER: You raise a very valid point which is that Assad's regime has killed more civilians certainly in the past month than ISIL has. They're
both threats to the stability of Syria. Syria is a complex situation, it's a very dangerous environment.
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TONER: We need to resolve politically the conflict in Syria and then take the fight to ISIL. It's a two pronged approach.
[15:25:10] GORANI: Right but you're saying it's laid out clearly in what was agreed in Geneva but Russia is not playing along, it's not something
you can do in a vacuum. You also have Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Is the U.S. talking to its partners in Saudi Arabia, to its interlocutors in Iran to try to come up with a solution there? Because that proxy war is
also part of the problem.
TONER: Well again you raise a very valid point which is that we cannot have a peaceful resolution in Iran - in Syria rather without a political
resolution, without having a moderate opposition arise.
We've been very clear all along that cannot include Assad for obvious reasons. And so we've been making that clear to the Russians. You
mentioned Iran; we would indeed welcome a role for Iran in this as long as they cannot support the Assad regime as it goes forward.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TONER: Again this is a complex and dynamic situation but we need to stay true to what we believe is a valid political process to end the fighting,
go ahead.
GORANI: Sorry to jump in its just - it's just not working though. It's not working. Sticking those I mean essentially to those points of not
having Assad be part of any transition. It's not working with Russia in the mix here in the equation.
TONER: But again this is not .
GORANI: Is there no plan B
TONER: Well again .
GORANI: .but is there no plan B because it is a question - it is an emergency at this point.
TONER: Well for one thing you know the U.S. is the largest humanitarian assistance provider to Syrians in the region, that's within Syria and
outside neighboring countries of Syria. So we are getting humanitarian assistance to those Syrians affected by the fighting.
Second is we are pursuing a peace process but we can't simply cast aside what the Syrian opposites or the moderate Syrian opposition has said what
it supports to go forward. We can't cast that aside in search for a n expedient solution.
GORANI: Can I ask you about what Russia, the Deputy Foreign Minister, I'm sure you've seen of Russia saying that Greece and Bulgaria are denying
access to their airspace to Russia for flights towards Syria. Saying the U.S. might be behind this request. Has the U.S. requested of Bulgaria and
Greece to deny airspace access to Russia.
TONER: Well look, I'm not going to speak to our diplomatic conversations with our - with some of our allies and partners in the region. What I can
say is that we have long said publicly and privately that we view Russia's support for Assad to be destabilizing to any kind of lasting peace process
and any kind of settlement of a conflict there.
It's very clear what the way forward is here. There's a set process. De Mistura from the UN has set out a plan, we support that plan so we just
need to see that and move forward.
GORANI: Well, so you're not denying that a request may have been made of Bulgaria and Greece to keep Russian airplanes on their way to Syria from
their airspace.
TONER: Again, what I'm saying is we view Russia's support for Assad as destabilizing to the peace process in general and we want to see that
support end.
GORANI: All right, so we're not going to get an answer to that. Do you believe, does the U.S. believe that Russia is indeed, as some reports have
suggested, increasing its military support to the Assad regime?
TONER: Well again, we're still looking at all the information out there, talking to our partners in the region, trying to assess that. That was one
of the reasons why frankly the secretary called - Secretary Kerry called Foreign Minister Lavrov this past Saturday, both to ask him about that
possible build up but also to convey our concern that such a buildup was destabilizing as I just said.
GORANI: One quick last question about the refugees. I checked the numbers, 2,000 Syrians I believe would be resettled in the U.S. this year.
Why not increase that number? It seems like a very low number for a country the size of the United States especially when we see scenes like
the ones we've been broadcasting from Europe all week.
TONER: Sure, very quickly a couple of points there. One is that these are permanently resettled refugees for the UNHCR process.
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TONER: What you're seeing in Europe now is not that. That is a flow of refugees coming into Europe. They certainly need humanitarian assistance
and we've been providing that through the UNHCR both in Europe but also as I said in the region. So we'll continue to provide that.
Second, we have a working group established here at the State Department looking at how we can ramp up our efforts to provide more assistance to
these refugees' long term and short term.
GORANI: All right, we'll see if that translates into higher numbers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Mark Toner, thanks very much, we really appreciate your time this evening thanks for joining us from the State Department.
TONER: You're welcome, thanks.
GORANI: Still ahead what seems like an unstoppable influx.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Thousands of migrants are stranded on Greece's Aegean Islands where tensions are running high. We'll speak to the UN on the island of
Lesbos coming up.
[15:30:03] Also ahead a U.S. Clerk refused to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples is freed from prison. We're live outside the jail after
the break.
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GORANI: A look at our top stories; hundreds of frustrated refugees and migrants broke out of a temporary holding center in Southern Hungary today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: They walked and ran for hours losing some of their belongings along the way. But eventually police caught up with them. They were
bussed to another facility. Of course these people all hope to travel to Austria as soon as possible.
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GORANI: German Chancellor Angela Merkel is calling for all European member states to share responsibility in this crisis.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: She is now proposing a mandatory quota so that each country can take a fair share of displaced people.
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GORANI: At least 14 Turkish police officers were killed and more wounded in a roadside bombing in Turkey according to news agencies.
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GORANI: The attack carried out in the eastern province of Igdir is being blamed on the PKK, the Kurdish militant group. Violence has escalated
following the collapse of a two year cease fire in July.
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GORANI: And a U.S. County Clerk who refused to grant marriage licenses to same sex couples has been freed from jail.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Kim Davis was released from this detention center in Kentucky a short time ago. A crowd is gathered outside the facility, they are holding
rallies, free Kim Davis for instance is one of the placards.
Davis' supporters says she was defending her religious beliefs. Shortly after her release Davis appeared with her attorney who made a statement,
listen.
MAT SLAVER, KIM DAVIS' ATTORNEY: Kim is someone who's loyal to God and she is loyal to her job and to her people, and she plans to be back at work
this week.
But I can guarantee you knowing Kim she loves God, she loves people, she loves her work and she will not betray any of those three.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: For the latest let's cross live to Grayson, Kentucky, CNN's Martin Savidge is standing by for us.
All right so she's out of prison what happens now?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well that's a very good question. I mean we've just been actually listening to the same
attorney you had on there a moment ago who is saying two things. Number one that she is not planning to resign, some had speculated that maybe she
might now that she's been released after seven days of captivity.
And also that she hasn't changed her mind and hasn't changed her conviction. He seems to be laying the foundation that this is all going to
be played out once again. In other words she'll show up in the Clerk's office and she will not allow for same sex couples to get a marriage
license, at least any license that has her name on it. And her being the clerk, her name is on all the marriage licenses.
So it sounds like they're setting this up for another round, maybe with the same judge, another contempt charge and her returning to this facility but
that remains to be seen.
This day has really turned quite remarkable. Initially this rally thousands of people were gathered here seeking Kim Davis' freedom, instead
they're celebrating Kim Davis. They see her as a hero, she is now free, she has remained strong to her convictions and many believe all of this was
an attack on Christianity. This crowd very much still supporting what she does. But what she does next will determine whether she returns or not to
jail, Hala.
GORANI: Martin Savidge in the middle of the crowd, thanks very much from Kentucky.
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[15:35:03] GORANI: All right, let's continue to cover the refugee crisis in Europe. A number of small Greek islands are in the frontlines and
feeling the pressure very much so.
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GORANI: Extra staff and ships are being deployed to the island of Lesbos. Officials there are struggling to cope with at least 20,000 people.
The Greek Minister says Lesbos is quite on the verge of an explosion. The island is a popular destination for migrants looking to cross from Turkey
into the European Union.
Let's get a quick update on the dire situation there. I'm joined by Alessandra Morelli, she is the Senior Operations Coordinator for the UNHCR.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Alessandra tell us quickly what is the situation now because we're seeing pictures of football stadiums, people sleeping in the streets, just
a terrible situation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALESSANDRA MORELLI, SENIOR OPERATIONS COORDINATOR UNHCR: Thank you very much, good evening. Yes indeed the situation in Lesbos has been quite
under pressure for some time. 20,000 people indeed is the number that with the Government we estimate living (inaudible) in this touristic island.
But yesterday the Government announced exceptional measures to be put in place to indeed release the pressure on the island. So yesterday at 6pm
Greek time registration, speed up registration has been initiated and was conducted throughout the night until very late this afternoon, registering
over 18,000 Syrians that have started boarding three main ships towards Athens.
So as we speak around 6,600 people are approaching Athens, and tonight another ship 2,500 will set sail as well. And throughout the day of
tomorrow this journey will continue and we estimate around 10,000 people will be on the move.
GORANI: Sorry to jump in Alessandra, the numbers of course overwhelming. It looks as though the bottleneck is being somewhat cleared. But quickly
are refugees continuing to arrive every hour, every day?
MORELLI: Yes indeed. In Kos and Lesbos indeed refugees continue to arrive in the number between 1,500 with peaks sometimes of 3,000 a day.
GORANI: All right, thanks very much Alessandra Morelli, with the UNHCR. She is on the island of Lesbos. We're showing you scenes by the way of
some of the chaos there and the desperation. People just wanting to get on with their journey.
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GORANI: It's not just Lesbos where the migrant crisis is stretching Greece's resources.
There are 30,000 refugees spread across the Greek islands according to the UNHCR and one man who knows more than most how big the challenges are is
George Hatzimarkos he's the Governor of Greece's South Aegean region and he's live this hour on the Greek island of Rhodes.
What's the problem here in Lesbos? Is it not enough processing facilities? Not enough centers to welcome the refugees and register them? What's the
problem that leads to chaotic scenes like the ones we saw in Lesbos?
GEORGE HATZIMARKOS, GOVERNOR, GREECE SOUTH AEGEAN REGION: Not enough resources from a poor country. Good evening from Rhodes, Ms. Gorani. We
have good news also, it's not on the bad news. The images you saw from Lesbos, but from last Friday I can tell you that we can look at this issue
in a very - much more optimistic position.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: OK, why are you more optimistic now? What has changed?
HATZIMARKOS: We had as we spoke last Thursday we had a visit of the Vice President, the First Vice President of the European Commission, Mr. Frans
Timmermans, and the migration (inaudible) commissioner Mr. (inaudible) along with the head officers of all the major European institutions such as
Frontex, (inaudible) Europol and (inaudible).
It was a big meeting in Kos and for the first time in the last years we felt that Europe is there, Europe is with us, Europe is close to us, and
for the first time I think that in this high level Europe visited their borders, right with our borders, it's European borders right.
GORANI: I get that but what happens to these refugees now because they're being taken to Athens. Do they apply for asylum in Greece? Do you -- does
Greece allow them to go on you know on with their journey and apply for asylum elsewhere? I know many of them want to go to Germany. What is -
what happens now?
HATZIMARKOS: The numbers are so big that Greece cannot - Greece cannot control them easily. So there's a very small percentage that require
asylum in Greece. The majority wants to travel in central and northern Europe, and this is an issue that will be the case in - on Monday's
European Summit, which is called by (inaudible).
So I was telling you that what's new for the last at least year or two years now. We have a budget, we're not alone and we need a plan. We need
a plan that's going to be European and we need help to implement it. And if you ask my opinion I will tell you that Europe right after the decision
of the plan will need to cooperate with Turkey also. Because I can see - I can't see why we should or we can't reach a plan as European Union leaving
Turkey, sending all these people here.
So Greece is trying to handle this issue with all the resources that are available in Greece now which are not big, which are not enough.
GORANI: No, well the influx - the influx is huge. George Hatzimarkos, we have to leave it there for this evening, we really appreciate you joining
us from the island of Rhodes. George Hatzimarkos is the Governor of the South Aegean islands. We appreciate your time on this important topic.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: And while we've seen some European countries welcome refugees with open arms others are taking a decidedly different approach.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: The Danish government has published these ads in a number of Lebanese newspapers, the text is obviously written in Arabic and it's
telling migrants don't come to Denmark. Highlighting the top regulations and constraints that await them there.
Among other things the Danish government warns prospective newcomers that recent changes in the country have cut welfare benefits by half. And it
also emphasizes that they'll be required to learn Danish in order to get permanent residency. Interesting though it's all in the Lebanese press
there clearly geared toward refugees who might be thinking of coming to Europe and Denmark in particular.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Some of the migrants desperately trying to find sanctuary could end up in the United States.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: The White House is now saying it is actively considering a range of responses to the growing refugee crisis. But this massive exodus is not
only a humanitarian nightmare it's also raising some security concerns in the United States.
Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, is looking into that angle.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: More than 360,000 refugees have cross the Mediterranean trying desperately to get to Europe. More than
10,000 already stuck on this Greek island another ship arriving with kales of death and fear.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We come to small boats, so difficult it is hundreds about 99.5 is dead.
STARR: And then another harrowing journey to a final destination thousands hoping to make it to Austria, Germany, France or the U.K. on foot, trains,
and busses. But growing worry about the unintended consequences of opening borders to those fleeing war and ISIS.
The risk to U.S. and European security and the stability of crucial allies in the Middle East.
DAVID MILIBAND, INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE: Lebanon and close allies like - close allies with the U.S. like Jordan are creaking under the strain
of literally millions of refugees.
STARR: The U.S. is under international pressure to take in thousands but the risk that an ISIS militant could slip through remains the top concern.
MARK TURNER, U.S DEPUTY STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: There's a lot of terrorist groups operating in that region and that part of the world and we
need to make sure that fundamentally that we protect the national security of the United States of America. So any asylum seeker has to go through a
thorough background check.
STARR: The potential threat may already be in the works. The American news site, Buzz Feed quoted a Syrian ISIS operative in Turkey saying he is
working to sneak fighters into Europe. They're being smuggled into Turkey he says hidden amongst hundreds of refugees in cargo ships, the type of
operation that can be tough to detect.
[15:45:05] PETER KING, U.S HOUSE REPUBLICAN: And especially when you have the large numbers coming into Europe, I don't know how Governments could
really effectively monitor them. The potential for an attack has to be strongly considered.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STARR: U.S. officials say so far there's no specific intelligence indicating ISIS operatives have been smuggled in among the recent refugees.
But as the crisis grows so does the worry.
Barbara Starr, CNN, The Pentagon.
GORANI: Don't forget to check out the Facebook page, my Facebook page Facebook.com/halagoranicnn. We put up all the videos and new stories we're
covering. And one of them is Kim Davis, that marriage clerk in Kentucky who refused to marry gay couples. She's speaking, let's quickly listen in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIM DAVIS, FREED KENTUCKY COUNTY CLERK: Thank you so much, I love you all so very much. I just want to give God the glory. His people have rallied,
and you are a strong people. We serve a living God who knows exactly where each and every one of us is at. Just keep on pressing. Don't let down,
because he is here. He's worthy. I love you God, thank you so much.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And let's hear for her husband Joe .
GORANI: .. All right Kim Davis she's created quite a stir in the United States. She said that based on religious belief she refused to marry gay
couples.
Before that she went to jail, she's been released and she's been ordered to not get in the way of same sex marriages. If she does she'll face more
sanctions. But there you have it a very short statement at the microphone outside the jail.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: We'll be right back.
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[15:50:06] GORANI: A group of families split between North and South Korea may soon get to see each other again.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Both nations have agreed to let 100 people from each country meet for six days in late October. The deal was reached in order to help cool
last months' military standoff. And the reunion will be the first since February of 2014.
In the South a lottery is used to decide what families get to attend. It's unclear how the North though picks who goes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Now despite a recent clash with South Korea and a snub from China.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: the North Korean defector says leader Kim Jong Un remains (inaudible) in power using brutal tactics to ensure loyalty including
executions of senior staff. That defector spoke exclusively to CNN's Kyung Lah. Here's her report.
KYUNG LAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: To the outside world Kim Jong Un appears overly young, at times a caricature but to his people there is
little doubt about their dictators capacity says this North Korean Defector.
They are terrified he said the fear grows more intense every day. Fear that drove this defector to dare the harrowing escape out of North Korea.
He agreed to speak with us only if we completely hid him in the shadows and altered his voice.
This defector who worked among Pyongyang's elite fears the regime would murder his family trapped in the north or hunt him down.
But he wants the Western world to know what life under Kim Jong Un is really like.
LAH: Do you think he's more of a tyrant than his father.
(DEFECTOR) Kim Jong Il didn't kill people in his inner circle. But Kim Jong Un killed many of his own. Purging close advisors like his own uncle,
Jang Sang Thaek, his former right hand man, executed.
After that I thought I need to hurry up and leave this hell on earth.
LAH: Is that how it feels like in North Korea, hell on earth?
(DEFECTOR): Yes, of course.
You see these crowds cheering and crying as Kim Jong Un approaches, do they believe it?
LAH: It's blind worship, they're programmed to clap and cheer when they see Kim Jong Un on T.V. but in my personal opinion (inaudible) elites
don't believe it.
Seoul National University interviewed 146 North Koreans who defected in 2014, the most extensive research conducted with recent defectors. The
defectors perceive internal support was highest in 2012 when Kim Jong Un took control, but they believe that support has steadily dropped during his
reign.
Can the new leader earn trust from his elite after the purges he asks? They could be feeling anxious, their loyalty weakened. It's already
happening believes this defector.
(DEFECTOR) I can tell you for sure upper class North Korean's don't trust Kim Jong Un.
LAH: Do you see the regime lasting?
(DEFECTOR): There is no collapse of North Korea while Kim Jong Un is live says this defector. North Korea will not collapse as long as Kim Jong Un.
LAH: Kyung Lah, CNN, Seoul.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Something completely different after the break.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: In just a few short hours Stephen Colbert will host the "Late Show" for the first time. We'll be live outside the Ed Sullivan theatre in
New York with our senior media correspondent, Brian Stelter.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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GORANI: The U.S. dentist who killed Cecil the Lion is back at work in that same dentist office.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: More than a month out of the public eye, Walter Palmer, was greeted by just a few cameras, and a few protestors as he arrived at his
practice in the state of Minnesota. It's the first time he's been there since the international uproar over Cecil's death. Just a regular day at
the office, not.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: U.S. comedian Stephen Colbert will make his long awaited debut as host of the "Late Show" in the hours ahead. He has big shoes to fill. He
takes over from David Letterman who hosted the show for more than 20 years.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Colbert is expected to ditch his fake news persona which made him famous on his Colbert Report, Comedy Central Show. One of his first guests
we understand is - actually I'm not going to tell you. We're going to go straight to Brian Stelter, our senior media correspondent for more.
[15:5506] All right, give us the lineup for day one. Talk about - I mean talk about being under a microscope here for Colbert on his first day.
BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely and so many cameras and so many fans behind us all waiting to go inside the auditorium
for the first episode. And the guests will be George Clooney and Jeb Bush. We saw George Clooney arrive here several hours ago presumably pre-taping
something for the show. And Presidential candidate, Jeb Bush also expected to arrive here shortly.
It's very interesting that Colbert who played this pretend blowhard Republican T.V. talking head for so many years on Comedy Central is going
to have a Republican heavyweight as one of his first guests.
I think it's a signal from Colbert that he is dropping that persona, that he's going to play someone all new, someone a lot more like himself on this
new late show.
But it is a huge change in American television. David Letterman hosted the Late Show for more than 20 years, turned the show into an American
institution and now it is Colbert's chance to move it into the future.
GORANI: But how is he going to ditch this persona because we've seen him in sort of pre-promotional appearances and to me I kind of - I picked up a
little bit of the old Colbert persona there. Is he going to - where is it? Is it somewhere in the middle between
STELTER: Well he has said for example that it's been his sense of humor the entire time and this will still be a political show, I think perhaps
more political than other late night shows. We know that on top of Jeb Bush today, he's got Vice President, Joe Biden in a couple of days. He has
a City and Supreme Court Justice. And he has The Secretary General of the United Nations next week along with Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders.
So even though it's a comedy show, they're going to have some pretty serious discussions on Colbert's late show. And the viewers I talked to
here today are actually pretty excited about that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: And so what about celebrities? I mean that was kind of the old formula for late night talk. Is that not going to be the main bread and
butter of this particular incarnation of the show?
STELTER: Well perhaps plenty of those as well. Clooney tonight I mentioned, also Amy Schumer later this week, Kevin Spacey next week. But I
think some of the most interesting bookings are actually Silicon Valley stars instead of Hollywood stars.
In the first week Colbert has the CEO of Uber, and also Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla. Not the kind of people you usually see on a late night couch.
But this is a brand new couch, a brand new studio, actually a totally renovated theatre.
Pretty much the only thing that's staying the same is the time slot 11:35 p.m. and the name "The Late Show." Colbert said he couldn't think about
changing the name it would be a disservice to of course David Letterman's legacy but a lot of the rest of the show will be changing effective
tonight.
GORANI: All right, Brian Stelter, thanks very much. We will all - well I'll be a sleep but I'll definitely catch it first thing tomorrow. Thanks
very much and have fun this evening.
This has been The World Right Now, I'm Hala Gorani, thanks for watching. Quest Means Business is next.
END
