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Hala Gorani Tonight

French President Macron Addresses Nation After Yellow Vest Protests; Macron to Meet with French Mayors to Start A National Dialogue; Theresa May Delays Parliament Vote on Her Brexit Proposal. Aired 2-3p ET

Aired December 10, 2018 - 14:00   ET

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

[14:00:00] HALA GORANI, CNN HOST: To Brussels again to try do get a better deal on the issue of the Irish border, namely meanwhile in France, another

weekend of violent protests has piled the pressure on President Macron. In fact, in just a few seconds we expect the French President to make an

address to the nation and that's where we begin this hour. Our Paris correspondent Melissa Bell is here with me. What's the expectation? I'm

sorry. In fact, let's go straight to that address and then we'll talk about it after that. Here we go.

EMMANUEL MACRON, PRESIDENT OF FRANCE (through translator): -- have really troubled the nation quite legitimate concerns have been put forward, but

also, totally unacceptable violence and I'd like to say from the beginning that this violence will not be in any way indulge. We have all seen the

game of opportunists who are trying to take advantage of the situation. We have all seen the irresponsible politicians whose only aim is to rock the

Republic and look for disorder and anarchy. No anger justifies attacking a policeman or madame. Or pillaging a public place or a shop. Everybody has

the right to express their opinion. Others have the right not to agree. When violence breaks out, freedom is lost. So, from now on what we need is

calm and a Republican order restored and we will put all our resources in that because nothing durable can be constructed in an atmosphere of fear. I

have given instructions to the government of the most rigorous type in this respect. But before all else, I want to say that clearly there is anger and

indignation.

And many of us, many French people I think can share in that indignation. And I don't want to reduce it to the unacceptable behavior which I have

just mentioned. It was anger against a tax in the beginning and the minister has replied to that. Suspending from the beginning of next year

all the taxes in question. But this anger is very profound and I see that it is just and resented. It's about people who -- employment can't get

through to the end of the month and who have to travel far to go to work. It's divorced single parent families, women who cannot make it through to

the end of the month. I've seen that. I have seen these courageous women in distress at many roundabouts throughout the country. These low-income

workers who have dedicated their entire life to their children, who don't manage either to succeed. And the people with disabilities whose place in

society is not guaranteed. Their distress does not -- is not recent. But cowardly we have finished up. We have resulted in disregarding it. 40 years

of malaise is in question. Workers who can't succeed where living in countryside district where is the public services are insufficient, who

fear that they are not being heard, that they have been put to one side, barriers erected against them. Distance between government and the

countryside. It dates way back.

But here we are with it. We have not been able in the last 18 months I'm sure to respond to this properly. And I assume my responsibility here. And

unfortunately, I gave the impression that I have other priorities and I was not looking at these issues. And I have also heard people by some of my

comments. I want to be absolutely clear tonight and say that I've been -- I've combatted the hypocrisy and the prejudices in the country throughout

that period I am only getting it from the -- from you, the people, and not from any other part.

[14:05:00] I am convinced that we can find a path to get out of this crisis together. And I want that for France because that is our mission. It is our

history, to find paths which are unchartered. And I want to do that on behalf of all the French because a nation which is divided, which doesn't

respect its laws is a people which is running to the cliff of despair. And it is because of this crisis which I saw from afar that I made myself a

candidate for this post. I have not forgotten that.

First of all, it is an economic and social emergency state that I'm going to declare today. I want us to have a France where our children live better

than us. This can only be done by apprenticeships, schools, universities and to make sure that the young will earn enough to survive. Education is

absolutely essential here. I confirm that. We want a France where we can live decently and we are going too slow. I want to revert to that

specifically and quickly. I'm going to ask the government to make every necessary measure to work on that as from the beginning of next -- or year.

The minimum wage as from 2019 will go up by 100 euros a month. I want this to be a just and fair measure. I want people to get a surplus from the work

and there will be overtime, for example, which is done without social contributions. And I hope very much that there will be a perceptible

improvement and so I want to also ask all the employers that can do so to give their employees a bonus at the end of the year. Without any

contributions being deducted. For those who get less than 2,000 euros a month there will be an increase in the SGC. The effort which has been put

in by these people before was too high and that's not fair.

And this is all going to be put to parliament but we shouldn't stop there. We need that our -- we need our big firms to help us here. I will take

decisions in this respect as of this week. And I would like to -- I know that many people would like me to do a U-turn on the wealth tax. But for 40

years, we have been suffering from this problem where the wealthiest in France leave France. And this tax was done away with in order to get

greater investment and to create jobs. And going back on this would weaken us just as we are creating more and more jobs in all sectors of industry.

The parliament of the government has to go further in order to put an end to undue privileges and the French must pay their tax in France. This is

absolutely obvious, simple truth. We must have strong measures. We have to have greater mastery over the economy. I want the government to pursue the

transformation of the country which the people have been requiring, asking for the last 18 months. We need a reform of the state. We have to do away

with unemployment. This is indispensable. We want more fair rules and regulations. And ones which reward those who work. It is also a collective

project. One which is undertaken by France and for Europe.

[14:10:00] That is why the national debate which I have announced must be more broad based and for that first and foremost we have to assume all our

responsibilities and duties. We have to produce in order to be rewarded from it. We have to -- the duty of being free citizens and we have to

change so as to meet our climate and economic debts. And first and foremost, we have to get together a symbol in be rewarded from it. We have

to -- the duty of being free citizens and we have to change so as to meet our climate and economic debts. And first and foremost, we have to get

together a symbol in order to address all these burning questions. We must listen to everybody's opinion. We have to look at electoral law. We have to

make sure that everybody can participate in this discussion. Over and above their party allegiances. We can only thus improve the efficiency of the

country. And what we want is to make sure that the climate issue is addressed so that we have better heating. I want to raise the whole issue

of the organization of the state, the way it is governed and administered.

A country which has been for decades far too centralized and the question of public services throughout the country. I want us to be agreed. The

country as a whole as to its identity so that we can address the question of immigration. We have to confront that one. And these changes which

require very great deliberation will have to be held at national level and everybody will have his part to play. The government, the parliament, the

two sides of industry and you will also have your part to play. I want to receive as many opinions as possible so as to be able to incorporate them

in the life of the nation but we have to have a debate which is not only run by representatives, elected representatives but it must happen

throughout the country. And it is the mayors above all who are responsible for this and that is why I'm going to have a meeting with all the mayors of

France, region by region, in order to build a foundation for this kind of national dialogue. We will not do business as usual as has been done too

often in the past without changing anything. We are at a historical turning point in the history of our country. Through dialogue, respect, commitment

we will succeed. We are at work and I will revert to you to address you to be accountable. My concern is only you, my only concern is for you. Our

only battle is for France. Long live the Republic. Long live France.

GORANI: There you have it. Approximately 13-minute address by the French President following weeks of some of the worst street protests and violence

in decades in his country. Macron said he shares responsibility in some of the anger. He acknowledges that his responses in some cases were lacking.

But he made a series of concrete proposals to the yellow vest protesters who said they could -- some of them barely make ends meet and angry that

rich people got tax cuts when ordinary people were facing a hike in fuel taxes and seeing reduction in benefits. He proposed tax-free overtime pay,

a minimum wage increase. Encouraging businesses to give their employees end of year bonuses. But also, said he believed that the violence that took

place in some of these protests were totally unacceptable. Our Paris correspondent Melissa Bell is here in London today and with me as we

continue our coverage of the houses of parliament and the existential crises in other parts of Europe, namely France today. What did you make of

this? It was prerecorded.

MELISSA BELL, CNN PARIS CORRESPONDENT: Some words in particular the yellow vests desperate to hear. This is coming back over and over again over

what's been four weeks of protests, four Saturdays in a row of great gatherings and in between those and we don't see that outside of France but

the daily blockades.

[14:15:00] This has been a movement that sort of came from nowhere and had momentum and he had to speak to that and a thing that's come back over and

over again, the slogans chanted, the placards held and the things said by these yellow vests when they get the opportunity is the French President is

not hearing us and hence the address and the importance of finding the right tone and the right words and the policies. Fairly specific

announcements but pretty minimal. 100-euro raise on the minimum wage, untaxed overtime and as the movement grows, its demands have swelled so it

was no longer about just the tax hike but the cost of living and things like that wealth tax reformed by the French government, turned into a

property tax essentially. Very controversially. Because they feel that the rich getting off scot-free and he said he won't go back on that and that

determination to carry on, not to climb down from --

GORANI: Well, wealthy people in France to keep the wealth and heard him mention that before. Is it enough? Is it too little too late? It's been

weeks and weeks of protests and with the -- faced with the violence if you will of the President, some of the demands have had an opportunity to kind

of morph and extend themselves sometimes into very long lists of demands, some of which are unrealistic.

BELL: That's right. To expand in their spread, in their breadth, but also, to focus on the French President and this is something you sense on the

streets is how much of it is about Macron himself and the chant that comes back all the time -- Macron stand down -- this is their rallying cry. They

want the French President to go. Will that wealth tax be enough to stop them? Let's face it, Hala. They have won in a sense. This is a French

President who said I will see through the reform agenda. No union. No opposition party had had managed to make him bend until now and this

spontaneous movement have managed to see him back down or address the fears and change his direction or speak to them more directly. Why stop now?

GORANI: Exactly. We'll see. Perhaps the specific set of proposals, policy proposals, will at least convince some of them not to go back out on to the

streets this weekend. Ben Wedeman is in Paris and speaking with someone -- I'm not sure. You're with a young woman named Natasha (ph). I don't know if

she supports the yellow vests but what is her reaction?

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: OK. Natasha (ph) is a young woman, 58, just like me. And she does support the general position of

the yellow vests. But, Natasha (ph), what did you think of the speech by the President?

NATASHA (PH), FRENCH WOMAN COMMENTING ON MACRON SPEECH: The speech by the President was hard at the beginning. Which was quite logic because he

cannot approve of the massive destruction that happened in Paris. Because this is not acceptable. Going in the street and telling the people and the

government that you don't agree with what they're doing and to tell the French people, the rest of the nation, that some things have to be changed,

I fully agree with that. But then he said that all of the people who destroyed historical monument and something like this would be punished and

very normal. Then in his speech he was for me -- there is always with him a little lack of empathy. He should be closer to the people. He's a bit too

much above everyone and everything. And then after that, he made promises and said many, many times I want, I want, I want. Wanting is just great.

Doing it is somewhat much better.

WEDEMAN: What you heard from him this evening, was it enough do you think to satisfy people or do you expect this to continue? Do you expect more

protests on Saturday?

NATASHA (PH): I expect, I expect now the beginning of negotiation. He has to sit with the yellow vests and start putting everything he talked about

in practice.

WEDEMAN: But the problem, of course, is that they don't have a leader.

NATASHA (PH): No. They don't.

WEDEMAN: How's he going to speak with them?

NATASHA (PH): I don't know. They're going to fight, going to have to find something, someone, some people based on what he proposed today because

they have to -- I don't know.

[14:20:00] They have to organize themselves. Because if they don't get organized how can they ask for things? It's not possible.

WEDEMAN: OK. So, in the absence of a leadership in the yellow vests and is this going to move forward? I'm trying to get an idea of will there be more

protests? What he said he would do this evening regarding the minimum wage and urging companies to give employees bonuses, is that enough?

NATASHA (PH): No. I think -- I think that what we have to change is much deeper than that. It's, you know, having a little bonus at the end, you

know, for Christmas, it's fine but it's like a tip in a restaurant. It's nothing very concrete. Now they have to sit and find people to sit with him

to try to fix things. If they have no leaders, they have no way to negotiate. This as a big mess -- it's not useful for anyone. They have to

be organized.

WEDEMAN: On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the best, where does he rank in this speech?

NATASHA (PH): Hmm. Like a six.

WEDEMAN: Six?

NATASHA (PH): Yes.

WEDEMAN: OK. Six out of ten. I don't know how that would go down with the yellow vests who have been protesting here since the 17th of November.

Today, there were more protests. Schools, for instance, 120 disruptions of French schools. 40 of them completely blockaded because the new educational

reforms have made it much more difficult for students to get into university. So, there are plenty of grievances, not all of them addressed

by the President. Hala?

(END VIDEO TAPE)

GORANI: Sure. Thank you, to you and to Natasha (ph). 58 is the new 38. 6 out of 10 in France is 12 out of 20. And if you're in school, you pass. In

the French system. Melissa Bell, thank you so much for joining us. Ben Wedeman, thank you for being there.

Now, we were talking about chaos in France. There's plenty of it in this country. I'm talking, of course, what's happening with Brexit. We return

live outside the U.K. houses of parliament after this. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:25:00] GORANI: Let's return to the reason we are here outside the British Houses of Parliament. Theresa May spent the weekend saying there

would be no delay to Tuesday's vote on the Brexit plan and then today the prime minister pulled the plug on it after sending out some of the top

deputies on television and on the media across the country saying, no, no, no. The vote is going ahead as scheduled. Standing in the House of Commons

she admitted what everyone else predicted for days, if that vote went ahead tomorrow, she would lose and most likely very badly. So, she is postponing

it and just listen to what happened inside the House of Commons, the jeers and the laughter she was faced with when she was making her statement.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

THERESA MAY, PRIME MINISTER, UNITED KINGDOM: We have now had three days of debate on the withdrawal agreement. Setting out the terms of our departure

of the EU and the political declaration of the future relationship after we have left. I listened very carefully to what's been said inside this

chamber and out of it. [laughter] To what's been said in this chamber and out of it by members from all sides. From listening to those views, it is

clear that while there is broad support for many of the key aspects of the deal -- on one issue, on one issue the North Ireland backstop, there

remains widespread and deep concern. As a result, if we went ahead and they would vote tomorrow the deal would be rejected by a significant margin. We

will therefore defer the vote scheduled for tomorrow and not proceed to divide the house at this time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GORANI: Well, Theresa May said the reason for the delay were major concerns over the Irish border. She said she would go back to Brussels for further

assurances over measures for a hard border of North Ireland which, of course, part of Britain and the Irish Republic and done little to calm the

chaos and the opposition leader pounced on that. Here's Jeremy Corbyn.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEREMY CORBYN, LABOUR PARTY LEADER: The government is in disarray. Uncertainty is building for business. People are in despair at the state of

these failed negotiations. And concerned about what it means about their jobs, their livelihood and their communities. And the fault for that lies

solely at the door of this shambolic government.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GORANI: Bianca Nobilo and Matthew Chance, Bianca, first you. The prime minister is saying, listen, this is still pretty much the best deal to

negotiate with the EU. We know she had phone calls with leaders over the weekend. Potentially it means they told her fine, we'll throw you a little

bone to try to get some slightly revised deal through parliament. But what are the chances that she can survive this?

BIANCA NOBILO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think Theresa May defied political expectations so many times over the last year and a half it makes

that question difficult to answer and why the predicament is stark at the moment is even if she goes back and extracts some superficial changes or

concessions for quite a while now there's talk of an exchange of public letters of Donald tusk and Theresa May outlining aspects of the future

relationship and adding flesh to the bones and likely only get several or maybe ten or so more MPs on side from what I understand because most MPs

have made up their mind on this. Either they don't back this deal because they think it's the worst of all worlds and tantamount to vassalage or want

to push for a second referendum but there's a select few in the middle to be swayed by small changes, Hala. So, I think she is in a difficult spot

because of that. There are, however, a chorus of MPs today expressing their concern of how long the government can delay this vote for because

technically according to the house of commons she can delay the meaningful vote until one day before Brexit on the 28th of march, 2019. That would be

pretty much politically impossible and she could run down the clock as long as she could to try to put people in that binary choice of her deal or the

default choice of crashing out without a deal in March.

GORANI: Matthew Chance, you were with demonstrators and protesters all day. What are they saying now after the vote was postponed by the prime

minister?

[14:30:00] MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Hala, that's right. I am as you can probably hear yourself, I'm distracted

by the fact there's a Boris Johnson, you know, lookalike singing a sort of lampooning pop song about the possibility of Brexit being abandoned because

that's the nature of the protests or the demonstrators outside the parliament building right now. Previously there were all stripes outside

here. People wanting a referendum. People --

GORANI: All right. Interestingly sometimes you have connections with people halfway around the world and the connection is fine and sometimes you have

a live report from someone who's literally 50 meters away and the connection goes down but, Bianca, what happens if the prime minister comes

back from Brussels with a slightly modified deal, puts it to parliament and loses? Then what?

NOBILO: Well, if the prime minister does that then we are in completely unchartered territory. And that's been recognized by members of the prime

minister's cabinet and indeed herself.

Now, the default position is that Britain will be leaving the European Union on the 29th of March 2019 because that is enshrined in British law in

the E.U. withdrawal bill. So that is the default position.

Now, there is not a majority in parliament to allow that eventuality to happen and many people argued that even those who voted leave did not vote

for a no deal and all of the economic repercussions that that would entail.

There has been even more momentum given to this movement for a second referendum also called people's vote. Even from within the prime

minister's own party. Dr. Sarah Wollaston, one of her own MPs has joined other doctor MPs to say that they believe in the principle of informed

consent and they think people should be able to have another say now, because now they know all of the effects of these various different Brexit

scenarios, so they say, let's put it to the people again.

They have the information and let's see if they still want to leave. So that's another option.

But also, if May's deal fails and she can't get it through parliament, then she's going to face some sort of vote of no confidence whether that's

triggered by the labor party, the opposition party. There's been plenty of talk about that over the last few days or triggered from internally from

within her own party.

Those 48 letters coming in and forcing a vote of no confidence in the prime minister from her and backbenches, Hala.

GORANI: All right. Bianca, so many potential scenarios and really we're looking at a very much a series of stories, the unknown ahead.

Still to come tonight, that remarkable day in the U.K. as the Prime Minister acts as a crucial Brexit vote. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GORANI: Welcome back. We continue our special Brexit coverage. Brexit chaos we should call it. The prime minister today pulled a vote on the

agreement she struck with the E.U. She's now going back to Brussels perhaps to get a few more concessions and put the vote or this agreement

before parliament once again.

Crispin Blunt joins me now. He's a conservative member of parliament who supports Brexit with or without deal. So, what could the prime minister

bring back from Brussels that would satisfy you?

CRISPIN BLUNT, BRITISH CONSERVATIVE MP: Well it's very difficult to see what they could be, because Brussels had made perfectly clear there's going

to be no changes to the deal. And it's the deal in legal language that we're being invited to sign up to. The deal in legal languages going to

hand over 39 billion bonds to the European Union with nothing coming back in terms of the future arrangement between the E.U. and the U.K. The deep

and comprehensive free trade agreement, which we all want, which ought to be rather more bankable than their 28 pages of aspirational --

[14:35:10] GORANI: But these are financial commitments the U.K. had with the E.U. and then it buys you your freedom. The one you so desperately

want from the European Union.

BLUNT: No, it doesn't matter. We get our freedom anyway and our freedom has been in touching distance. We've got 111 days until we leave the

European Union. That's the law that we've passed. The 39 billion is really a model commitment. It is certain not a legal commitment.

In all the three major areas of where that money will go, none of it is -- if it went to the ICJ, the U.K. would have a pretty arguable case to keep

the money.

GORANI: So if the prime minister comes back and says, fine, I've got a concession on the backstop, which is basically the insurance policy against

reinstating a hard border which we know republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Let's say it's limited in time. It's not open ended. Is that enough for you?

BLUNT: Well, you need to remember, this backstop is a load of nonsense. No one is putting in a hard border. The Brits aren't going to put it a

hard border. The Irish not going to put it a hard border.

GORANI: If you leave the E.U. and the Republic of Ireland is in the E.U., you must have a border, don't you?

BLUNT: No. We don't have that hard border. Where the customs checks are is can be amount of us. The World Trade Organization made it perfectly

clear that they are not going to be flying helicopters or sending people over to the border to make sure the border works in a way where the checks

are on the border.

Everybody knows that's a practical impossibility. And the E.U. have made it crystal clear to the Republic of Ireland that they're not going to be

insisting on a hard border. The Republic of Ireland said there's not going to be a hard border. The U.K. has said there's not going to be a hard

border.

So this backstop is a complete load of nonsense. It doesn't need to be in the agreement and there is a perfectly sensible, practical ways to make the

border work --

GORANI: Well, with technology or --

BLUNT: Yes, consistent with the WTO terms. They'd be perfectly happy for the WTO to -- and there are also -- so important point because under the

WTO treaty, there are security exemptions and there are other exemptions that the United Kingdom could apply for which would mean that all of this

is a barrage of nonsense.

GORANI: It sounds like you're saying that no matter what Theresa May comes back with that you won't support her deal and then what happens? Because

you're really looking at a situation where you might leave without --

BLUNT: No. I didn't say that.

GORANI: So then if she come back with some concessions on the backstop, what else would she need?

BLUNT: We don't need the backstop.

GORANI: So let's say -- OK. Let's say in a dream scenario, because the E.U. will not agree with that as we know. So therefore if she comes with -

- what would that -- what would the concessions look like for you to support it?

BLUNT: Well, we need to set what the prime minister always said that a no deal is better than a bad deal. Well, no deal is a deal. It's World Trade

Organization terms. And we've got 111 days for serious engagement with our European Union partners to make sure that we move on one day from the E.U.

relationship to the World Trade Organization relationship.

GORANI: That doesn't scare you?

BLUNT: No, not in the least.

GORANI: The decades of trade infrastructure built between the U.K. within the E.U.?

BLUNT: We're sitting with 39 billion pounds which we don't have to give to the E.U., which we say to our E.U. partners, look, help us make this

transition sensibly and stably then, of course, we would want to -- the money we would otherwise have given to 21-month long transition period. We

would obviously want to make a contribution to the E.U. budget for that period. Why not?

We might want to take up our pension liabilities even though we joined the European Union and we immediately started paying everybody's pension. So

we don't have to pay the pension liabilities. And then there's a whole issue of future programs to the E.U. which was signed off for us the U.K.

was in the E.U. for which we're not going to get the benefit.

Now, all of those things are pretty just simple in front of the ICJ. So we would want there to be goodwill and we would want to help the European

Union out and remember that twice as much trade in goods comes to the U.K. goes from the U.K. to the E.U. So in whose interest is it to get these

relationships working properly?

So European Union's interest and we need to get to that place where they understand there isn't going to be an agreement immediately. We're going

to go to a World Trade Organization terms. There's going to have to be a whole raft of special deals to make sure there's isn't any silliness over

the planes not flying.

GORANI: OK. Time is running out though for the special deals.

BLUNT: Well, we have 111 days and people need to start talking to each other. And that's all that needs to be done.

GORANI: Yes. We got to go. Crispin Blunt, thank you very much. Conservative Member of Parliament for joining me on CNN. We appreciate it.

And I promised that we would go to Brussels. Theresa May, as we mentioned, will now return to Brussels in an attempt to renegotiate the part of the

agreement that covers the Irish border.

Talk to us, Erin, about what European officials are likely to tell Theresa May. They want this deal to go through. Presumably when she spoke to

Donald Tusk, there was some talk of concessions? Do we know what those might be?

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, at this point, Hala, we heard from Donald Tusk shortly following her announcement to

parliament that the vote was delayed.

[14:40:05] And President Tusk, on his Twitter account, was very clear that there will be no renegotiation of this deal, that the E.U. was standing

firm on the deal as it has been agreed between her government and the E.U. They had a whole special summit in November ratifying the deal as is.

He has, however, called for another special summit for Thursday, for the 27 remaining E.U. member states to gather to take a look once again at Article

50 and the Brexit process.

He also said that they're going to be discussing, quote, "How to facilitate U.K. ratification. Now, it's unclear at this point what exactly that

means. There's been chatter here in Brussels perhaps about some sort of a side declaration relating to that backstop but that very much remains to be

seen.

Tusk also said in that tweet that they will be discussing no deal preparations as time is running out. No deal scenario that's been

described to me by E.U. diplomats as catastrophic for both sides of the channel. So we're going to have this summit on Thursday. It's unclear if

Theresa May is going to be invited.

Also, unclear if it will be instead of or in addition to the summit that had originally been scheduled for Thursday. That summit all 28 were

expected to be at to talk about migration and budget and other issues, any number of issues.

In fact, the E.U. is looking at but which sort of gets me to the next point, this sort of chatter I'm hearing in Brussels, the frustration that

this continues to play out rather.

And let me just pull up a Guy Verhofstadt tweet. This is what Guy Verhofstadt, the chief Brexit negotiator for European parliament had to say

about this parliamentary delay. He said, "I can't follow anymore. After two years of negotiations, the Tory government wants to delay the vote.

Just keep in mind that we will never let the Irish down. This delay will further aggravate the uncertainty for people and business. It's time they

make up their minds."

While Theresa May maybe looking for reassurance here in Brussels, she may be looking for reassurance from the member states dinner which she will

find no easy answers from the E.U. 27. Hala?

GORANI: All right. Interesting tweet Guy Verhofstadt. Although if he'd been reading the British press or watching British television it wouldn't

have come as a giant shock that people in parliament weren't supporting Theresa May's agreement with the E.U. Thanks very much, Erin McLaughlin,

in Brussels.

Still to come tonight, CNN has learned some of the details of the final moments of journalist Jamal Khashoggi's life. And it is more horrific than

a lot of people can imagine. We'll be right back with our exclusive report.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:45:10] GORANI: Now to another story we've been following since the beginning. The death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and his final moments

alive.

Now, key American senators have been speaking out about their horror after they were briefed by the CIA on its assessment of Khashoggi's killing.

Now, a source has given CNN a briefing on a transcript of an audio recording of Khashoggi's final moments. CNN's Nic Robertson was provided

with details of the translated transcript which we reproduced in this report. The transcript correlates with the CIA founding what the Saudi

team sent to Istanbul went with the intent to kill.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: CNN can now reveal Jamal Khashoggi's last words, "I can't breathe. I can't breathe."

These previously undisclosed details of what happened that afternoon in October come from a source who's been briefed on the investigation. The

source has read a full transcript of an audio recording of Khashoggi's horrific final moments.

Within moments of his fateful steps into the consulate, Khashoggi recognizes someone, asks why they're there. The answer, "You are coming

back."

According to CNN source, the Turkish transcript identifies that person as Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb, a former Saudi diplomat and intelligence official

working for crown prince Mohammed bin Salman whom Khashoggi knew. Khashoggi is clearly alarmed and replies, "You can't do that. People are

waiting outside for me."

According to the source, the conversation ends right there. The transcript indicates noises as people set upon Khashoggi and very quickly Khashoggi

can be heard saying, "I can't breathe." He repeats it again. "I can't breathe. I can't breathe."

What happens belies initial Saudi claims. His death was a grave mistake. CNN source says it's clear from his reading of the transcript Khashoggi's

murder was no botched rendition attempt. But the execution of a premeditated plan to murder the journalist.

But it is what happens next that is really horrific. The transcript records many voices, and noises. Then says, "Scream" from Jamal. Again

"scream." Then "gasping." Noises are identified as "saw" and "cutting."

Then, a voice Turkish authorities identify as Dr. Salah Mohammed Al- Tubaigy, the head of forensic medicine at Saudi Arabia's interior ministry. He says, if you don't like the noise, "Put your earphones in or listen to

music like me."

According to the source, Mutreb, the apparent leader of the team makes at least three phone calls during the murder to a number Turkish officials

identify as being in the Saudi royal court. Only Mutreb's side of the conversation can be heard but there is no sense of panic or an operation

gone wrong.

Mutreb tells the person in Riyadh, "tell yours," that the source takes to mean your boss or your senior, "The thing is done. It's done."

CNN reached out to Saudi officials to get a response from those named in this report. And were told Saudi security officials have reviewed the

transcript and tape and nowhere in them is there any reference or indication of a call being made.

A Saudi source close to the Saudi investigation says both Mutreb and Yubaigy denied making phone calls.

And while the transcript provides no smoking gun directly tying Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the killing, it seems to echo Senator Lindsey

Graham's sentiment after hearing the CIA's assessment of Khashoggi's killing. There's not gun, that's a smoking saw.

Nic Robertson, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GORANI: Well, CNN shared our sources' detailed description with the office of the senator who was briefed by the CIA last week and we were told that

the CNN report of the transcript was consistent with the briefing that the senator received.

[14:50:59] A lot more to come this evening, including a video of this football player has gone viral. But not for good reasons. When you see

it, you'll understand why it has reignited the debate over how to tackle racism in football. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GORANI: Welcome back. Now, for something just a bit different, in Japan, eating is a cultural experience like in many countries around the world.

And all this week, we're looking at new and traditional ways to do that in Tokyo. And today, an ambassador of a different kind gives us a taste of

the Japanese capital.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Traditional Japanese cuisine is about more than just food. Presentation is everything.

Here, in the peace and quiet nestled at the foot of a Mount Takao in Tokyo sits Ukai Chikutei or the restaurant with bamboo. In the garden, beauty is

preserved and nurtured.

HIDETOSHI NAKATA, HOST, SPIRIT OF TOKYO: Japanese food is all about respecting nature. You have to follow seasons. Then you have to follow

environment.

SEIJI YAMAGUCHI, HEAD CHEF, UKAI CHIKUTEI (through translator): I express the elements of Japanese culture in my dishes. It's maple season now, so I

decorated the dish with plenty of maple leaves.

NAKATA: Eating all about seeing, smelling, listening. This is Japanese culture.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Eating is an experience that stimulates the senses. And creates beauty at every step. At Tree by Naked, the artistry of food

takes a more technological turn.

Using projection mapping and virtual reality, the restaurant creates a full sensory dining experience. While still maintaining a connection with

tradition and nature.

RYOTARO MURAMATSU, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, NAKED INC. (through translator): Eating is very personal and it's a challenge to see what I

can express with it.

NAKATA: Actually, it was my first time to try the VR. It was -- that's why I was thinking, oh, what's coming out? What's coming out? He's next

to me but it seemed like he's not here. So it's -- it was very interesting.

That was very interesting, to have both experience, traditional way and a very modern way, but still you can have both experience here in Tokyo.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GORANI: And now to some pretty shocking video that has gone viral. You may have seen it on social media already. I'm talking about images of

football fans screaming abuse, allegedly racist abuse at a player during a match. The player is Raheem Sterling.

Now, he's calling out British tabloids saying they're helping to fuel racism. Alex Thomas has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[14:55:07] ALEX THOMAS, CNN INTERNATIONAL SPORTS ANCHOR (voice-over): The incident came as Raheem sterling went to retrieve the ball from close to

the crowd.

For legal reason, CNN has decided to blur out the faces of the spectators to sterling's right who alleged to have shouted racist abuse of him.

The Manchester City forward has not confirmed that he heard racist language but did post a message on Instagram the following day claiming the media

fuel racism by portraying young black footballers differently to others.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's young, intelligent, he's articulate, he's successful and he's black. That's not a positive cocktail for the media.

This could be a Seminole moment because, here, we have a current Englander national, top European star actually speaking out.

THOMAS: Sterling has experienced this sort vitriol in the past and spoke about how it makes him feel before playing in the World Cup earlier this

year.

RAHEEM STERLING, MANCHESTER CITY MIDFIELDER: You might say, he's a professional, get on to do this. But we're all, as you said, we're all

humans at the end of the day. Like if you even get a five seconds of that, you're just like -- anything that happen, my mom is always on the phone.

She's more the one that's stronger than me. She'll tell me how to get (INAUDIBLE) no, don't pay attention. But there's been times that she's

close to breaking.

THOMAS: England's Premier League says it supports the police investigation into the Sterling incident. But embarrassingly for such a globally famous

competition, it comes only a week after a man was charged for throwing a banana skin towards Arsenal's Gabon international striker, Pierre-Emerick

Aubameyang.

Alex Thomas, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GORANI: All right. Well, in the last hours, Chelsea, the team whose supporters shouted those remarks, has suspended four supporters over the

incident.

OK. I believe I have a few seconds to remind you what our top story is. And, of course, on "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS" they will be revisiting the

Brexit chaos of this country, as experiencing, namely that the Prime Minister, Theresa May, has postponed, has pulled the meaningful vote in

parliament over her Brexit agreement. She's going back to Brussels trying to get a few concessions and maybe retable that agreement, represent it to

members of parliament, whether or not she gets it through is an open question. In fact, pretty much everything surrounding Brexit these days is

an open question.

I'm Hala Gorani. A lot more after a quick break on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END