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Tensions High at G7 Summit; Anthony Bourdain Passes Away at 61; U.S.-North Korea Summit. Aired 2-2:30a ET

Aired June 9, 2018 - 02:00   ET

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


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CYRIL VANIER, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Tough on friends, less so on adversaries. Donald Trump makes waves at the G7 summit in Quebec as he calls for Russia to rejoin the group.

From Canada to Singapore, in a few hours the U.S. president heads to Asia ahead of a historic meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Plus saying goodbye: we mourn the loss of colleague Anthony Bourdain, storyteller, traveler, chef and friend.

From the CNN Center here in Atlanta, I'm Cyril Vanier. It's great to have you with us.

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VANIER: So no verbal fireworks at the G7 summit in Canada, at least not in public. The acrimony over U.S. trade tariffs didn't boil over. However, whether the seven Western allies manage to produce a joint statement as they normally do is still an open question.

U.S. president Donald Trump arrived late to the summit. He'll also be leaving early. he met one-on-one with French president Emmanuel Macron for the first time since their sharp exchange on Thursday over trade policies.

Mr. Trump also met with Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, the host. They've been feuding over punishing tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum imported into the United States.

Some distance away in Quebec City, protesters marched through the streets to complain about the G7's economic policies. No major incidents were reported there.

Shortly before he arrived at the summit, President Trump caused another rift. He openly suggested that Russia be readmitted to the group, making no mention of why it was kicked out in the first place. Here's CNN's Boris Sanchez.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Donald Trump arriving in Quebec for the G7 summit, a summit that sources indicate that he was hesitant to attend. Though the president greeted his counterparts with smiles and handshakes, he is fighting public battles with some of the United States' closest allies over trade, the Iran nuclear deal, climate change and now Russia, after Trump suggested Vladimir Putin should have a seat at the table in the group of seven.

TRUMP: Russia should be in this meeting.

Why are we having a meeting without Russia being in the meeting?

And I would recommend and it's up to them. But Russia should be in the meeting. It should be a part of it.

You know, whether you like it or not and it may not be politically correct but we have a world to run. And in the G7, which used to be the G8, they threw Russia out, they should let Russia come back in, because we should have Russia at the negotiating table.

SANCHEZ (voice-over): Other G7 leaders disagreed, including British prime minister Theresa May, telling reporters, quote, "Let's remember why the G8 became the G7. And before discussions could begin on any of this, we would have to ensure Russia is amending its ways and taking a different route."

Some within the president's own party also dismissed the idea, Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse writing, quote, "This is weak. Putin is not our friend and he is not the president's buddy. He's a thug, using Soviet-style aggression to wage a shadow war against America. And our leaders should act like it."

Another sore spot: trade tariffs. After exchange barbs on Twitter with French president Emmanuel Macron and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, Trump touted his ability to strike a deal.

TRUMP: It's what I do, it won't even be hard and, in the end, we'll all get along. But they understand and they're trying to act like, well, we fought with you in the war.

They don't mention the fact that they have trade barriers against our farmers. They don't mention the fact that they're charging almost 300 percent tariffs. When it all straightens out, we'll all be in love again.

SANCHEZ (voice-over): Macron initially suggested Trump may force the other six G7 countries to sign an agreement without the United States.

Though he later posted a video of a private chat with Trump, writing, quote, "Dialogue again and again. Exchange try to convince constantly to defend the interests of the French and also of all those who believe the world is built only together with the U.S. president before the opening of the G7." -- Boris Sanchez, CNN, Quebec, Canada.

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VANIER: Earlier I spoke to CNN European affairs commentator Dominic Thomas and here's that conversation.

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VANIER: Dominic, first of all on the Russia thing, why does Donald Trump want Russia back in the G7?

From the U.S. point of view, what's the advantage to that?

DOMINIC THOMAS, CNN EUROPEAN AFFAIRS COMMENTATOR: It's quite extraordinary and yet maybe not so. First of all, it's completely inconsistent with U.S. policy, which, just a few weeks ago, saw a brand new round of sanctions --

[02:05:00]

THOMAS: -- being imposed on Russia.

And secondly, it's completely at odds with the ongoing Mueller investigation and it seems to draw further attention to the complicated relationship, to say the least, between Trump and his campaign.

But I think beyond that, when one looks at the context, let's just say, of Russia and the U.S., it's actually probably much more in common than perhaps we've been looking at initially.

I think that, first of all, if we just look at Russia in the post Cold War era, so many European countries that used to part of the sphere of influence of the Soviet Union are now part of the E.U. or countries in that region that want to belong to this particular space.

And Russian president Vladimir Putin has been working assiduously to try to undermine and weaken those institutions. And we know that Donald Trump himself has a deep dislike for multilateral agreements for the European Union.

And in fact, when it comes down to it, there is much more in common between Donald Trump and countries like Hungary, Poland and, most significantly, Italy, that just brought to power a coalition government that has also been saying these kind of statements about bringing Russia back into the fray.

So Donald Trump seems to ignore, first of all, or downplaying the significance of ejecting Russia from the G8 because of its total ignorance and respect for international law and because of its undermining of those particular institutions.

So when it comes down to it, I don't think Donald Trump shares the values of the people around him at the G7 summit at the moment.

VANIER: And this something that's been lost on no one, I think. Trump talks tougher at the moment with allies than he does with rivals.

Does he value traditional allies like Canada and Europe?

THOMAS: I think when one looks at the priorities of the G7 as they're set out at this meeting, starting off climate, total disrespect for the Paris accord and for that relationship and with historical allies.

When one looks at the question of security and peace, of course there's support for the attempt at denuclearization the Korean Peninsula but the tearing up of the Iran deal was a further affront to those particular relationships.

And, most recently, on the question of trade and jobs, the imposition not only of tariffs on the European Union and its friends and allies but justifying them through the security clause is a further affront to this particular relationship.

So I think really, when it comes down to it, and we see this now in the way in which the gathering of this group at the G7, except for the Italian prime minister, are considering yet again an environment in which it's the G6 or the G5 without the United States being incorporated in there.

We're seeing increasing resistance in the European Union and from leaders who used to consider themselves allies of trying to figure out how to go about doing business and politics without relying on the United States.

But it's profoundly disrespectful to these individuals and leaders.

VANIER: Dominic, the specific issue which caused the rift at this summit was trade. Listen to what the French president, Emmanuel Macron, had to say.

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EMMANUEL MACRON, PRESIDENT OF FRANCE (through translator): I think on trade there is a critical path but there is a way to progress all together. We had a very direct and open discussion. And I saw the willingness on all the sides to find agreements and to have a win-win approach for our people, our workers and our middle classes.

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VANIER: Is it possible to find a win-win solution or is it a zero-sum game?

If the U.S. wins, Europe and Canada lose?

THOMAS: On the previous issue of climate, it was Emmanuel Macron that spoke out, let's make the planet great again, right, in his play on Donald Trump's let's make America great again.

I think in this particular case, one should not expect anything out of the U.S. president. But this particular issue of steel and aluminum does not make sense to American industry.

So it's interesting to see how he's taken this position, which really has a lot more to do with trade and China and so on and so forth. And I would not be surprised if, on this particular issue, they find some kind of way of reaching some kind of agreement and he does back down on this.

But he won't back down on the other issues.

VANIER: OK, CNN European affairs commentator, Dominic Thomas, thank you very much.

THOMAS: Thank you.

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VANIER: He was one of the greatest storytellers, a CNN colleague of ours, Anthony Bourdain. On Friday, he took his own life. Chef, TV host, modern-day explorer, he was many things to many people.

And with his show, "PARTS UNKNOWN," he made good conversation and good food one of the absolute best things on TV. Erica Hill looks at an extraordinary life cut short.

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ERICA HILL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Anthony Bourdain was found in his hotel room in France, where he was shooting an upcoming episode for his show. He took his own life.

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HILL: As news of his death broke, the reaction was swift and heartfelt.

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ANTHONY BOURDAIN, CNN HOST: I don't even know what this is. I love you, noodles.

HILL (voice-over): Called the original rock star of the culinary world, the Elvis of bad boy chefs, Anthony Bourdain was a cultural icon.

BOURDAIN: Oh, delicious.

HILL: His mission, to explore the world. Meet the most interesting people. And of course, find the best food.

BOURDAIN: We ask very simple questions. What do you eat? What do you like to cook and everywhere in the world we go and ask these very simple questions, we tend to get some really astonishing answers.

HILL: Born in New York and raised in New Jersey, Anthony Bourdain began working in kitchens as a teenager, eventually becoming a celebrity chef.

BOURDAIN: Going to 70 (inaudible).

HILL: A best-selling author and TV host.

BOURDAIN: What do you think?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love this.

HILL: Behind his success, Bourdain struggled with demons, including an addiction to heroin, which he says began in a Cape Cod restaurant when he was just 17.

BOURDAIN: There was some dark genie inside me that I really much hesitate to call a disease that led me to dope.

HILL: Bourdain spoke openly about his struggles and about person who inspired him to do better.

BOURDAIN: I have a seven-year-old daughter now who I never would have had. I never thought. I looked in a mirror and I saw somebody worth saving. Or that I wanted to at least try real hard and save.

HILL: Using his celebrity to raise awareness about opioid addiction, along with his advocacy, Bourdain remained a passionate explorer, bringing his adventurous spirit to CNN in 2013, where he share his insatiable curiosity with audiences around the world on his series, "PARTS UNKNOWN."

BOURDAIN: All right. You're going to -- I will walk you through this. You're going to have walked me through this.

BOLDUAN: Former President Obama who joins Bourdain on "PARTS UNKNOWN" in Vietnam tweeting, he taught us about food, but more importantly, about his ability to bring us together, to make us a little less afraid of the unknown.

BOURDAIN: People tend to be proud of their food. They let their guard down when they talk to you, you see them at their most vulnerable and revealing in a lot of ways. So even people you have really fundamental disagreements with, maybe the different belief systems. If you're going to intersect anywhere, it's going to be over food.

Ah, the real deal.

HILL: Bourdain's passion resonated with so many, including millions who never met him, yet who greatly admired everything he introduced them to and the way he opened their eyes and their hearts to the world.

His dear friend, fellow chef, Eric Ripert, tweeting, "Anthony was my best friend, an exceptional human being, so inspiring and generous, one of the great storytellers who connected with so many. I pray he is at peace from the bottom of my heart. My love and prayers are also with his family, friends and loved ones."

Anthony Bourdain was 61 -- in New York, Erica Hill, CNN. (END VIDEOTAPE)

VANIER: And news of his death shook people around the world. Since his passing, we've been asking for stories of how he touched your life. Thousands of you have offered your heartfelt stories. You can read them at cnn.com and we will continue to update this throughout the weekend with some of your responses.

Anthony Bourdain's death is also a reminder of how big a problem suicide is. Take a look at the numbers.

In the U.S. alone, suicide rates increased more than 25 percent between 1999 and 2016. That's according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC also found that nearly 45,000 American lives were lost to suicide in 2016 alone. And suicide rates went up more than 30 percent between 1999 and 2016 in 25 states.

It also found that 54 percent of those who committed suicide in 2015 did not have a known mental health condition. Startling statistics to take in at this stage.

Now if you need help, if anyone you know needs help, a family member or friend, a colleague, reach out to the International Association for Suicide Prevention. They can guide you on how to get help wherever you are, whatever time of day.

Go to iasp.info and click on help.

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VANIER (voice-over): Of course we send our deepest condolences here at CNN to Anthony's family and those who loved him. Spent his life bridging cultural divides through food and he was followed by millions. Listen to him explain how he launched his career.

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BOURDAIN: I sort of, overnight, had an overnight success with a over- testosteroned, obnoxious memoir of a not-very-distinguished career in the restaurant business. One day I was standing next to a deep fryer and the next, I had this gig, where I'm traveling around the world, making television anyway I want, anywhere I want --

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BOURDAIN: -- living the dream.

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VANIER: Less than three days to go before two volatile, unpredictable leaders face each other in a historic summit. U.S. president Donald Trump says he hopes his meeting Tuesday in Singapore will be a friendly negotiation with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

The U.S. wants a denuclearized North Korea while the North is looking for sanctions to be lifted and security assurances as well from the United States. On Friday, Mr. Trump denied that he is underprepared, telling reporters has been preparing for this his whole life.

Here's CNN's international diplomatic editor, Nic Robertson.

Donald Trump, Nic, says he's been preparing all his life. You could make the argument that the Kim dynasty, taken as a whole, has been preparing for this for three generations.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Sure. President Trump feels that he's got the right gut instinct going into this. At least that's the impression that's been created, because he hasn't got the conditions going into these meetings to really have any big deliverables.

He's described it as a getting-to-know-you meeting. And it creates the impression he's trying to use that business acumen that he's accumulated over his many years in his career in that profession before becoming president, that he can walk into a room, size it up, size up the people in there and pretty much figure out how he's going to get the best deal.

His secretary of state ,Mike Pompeo, says actually he is prepared as well, that he gets near daily briefings, has been for several months on the culture, on the trade, on the military, on the history of the situation.

But president Trump's track record through his business career is not without some significant blemishes and pitfalls. And the Kim dynasty, as you say, has had many generations to prepare for this, understands the nuances, is skilled in the art of just leveraging out just enough to get by and not offer up anything.

And witness where we're at today. The meeting is going ahead. There'll be a handshake, maybe a joint statement. But I don't think anyone at the moment is expecting something of significant substance, real substance, that actually changes something, significant in the short term.

VANIER: In the long term, do we have a better sense of what the U.S. is actually after?

ROBERTSON: Denuclearization of North Korea; you know, the game plan that secretary of state Mike Pompeo is laying out is one that sort of goes along these lines, that we sit down, we get to know each other -- that's President Trump and Chairman Kim get to know each other.

And then we talk about the sort of security, you know, guarantees that we can give each other. I'm not going to hit you, you're not going to hit me or whatever that looks like in this complex nuclearized --

[02:20:00]

ROBERTSON: -- environment. Then there's a discussion about, you know, politically how we can get along, what that may be look like in the future before they ever get to the denuclearization issue.

So you know, there are many myriad pitfalls along the way. No guarantees that either of them is going into this knowing that they can actually get to the other end, hoping they can deliver to their respective audiences, Kim to the North Koreans, that he's actually on a level playing field with most powerful man in the world, if you will.

And President Trump delivering to his base what he said he would do, which was to denuclearize North Korea. But it isn't. It's the image of the beginning, potentially, of that process.

So the long-term goal is that aspiration for a more secure and safer North Korean -- Korean Peninsula, rather. But, you know, if you're South Korea, you're absolutely hoping this is going to work because President Trump has been the type of president who is an ally but, at the same time, the person who's bringing the most amount of consternation to this as a U.S. president, to the situation in Korea that they've seen in decades because he is as unpredictable, perhaps more so in their mind, than Kim Jong-un.

So if you're South Korea at the moment, you're really hoping this works out. If you're in the United States, you're probably look at this and wondering can President Trump deliver on what he said he's going to deliver?

These are two very different perspectives.

VANIER: Nic Robertson, reporting live from Seoul in South Korea, thank you very much.

And also an explosive new report from "The Washington Post" we want to tell you about, alleges that China hacked a U.S. Navy contractor. The Chinese reportedly got their hands on a trove of data tied to undersea warfare and submarines.

Allegedly they even stole plans to develop a supersonic anti-ship missile. Officials tell "The Post" the breaches happened in January and February.

Chinese espionage is not limited to hacking. A former CIA case officer has just been convicted of spying for Beijing. Kevin Mallory was accused of transmitting secret and top secret documents. A Virginia jury found him guilty on Friday. He now faces life in prison.

The U.S. president's former campaign chair has been hit with new charges in the Russia probe. Special counsel Robert Mueller's office filed the indictment against Paul Manafort on Friday. It also added his business associate, Konstantin Kilimnik, as a defendant.

They now face obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice charges over alleged witness tampering. Kilimnik is said to have ties with Russian intelligence.

Coming up, two volcanoes terrorizing communities in Hawaii and Guatemala. We'll have an update on when they could possibly stop.

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VANIER: By now, it's been more than a month since the Kilauea volcano erupted in Hawaii and it is still going strong.

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VANIER (voice-over): This here is new lava, new lava flow entering the ocean. It's pouring over about 1.5 kilometer of shoreline on the east coast of Hawaii's big island. Those big steam bursts rising up are laze, a dangerous cloud full of toxic glass and tiny glass particles.

All this comes as authorities have actually begun to let some residents of a lava-threatened neighborhood return to their homes; however, they are warning homeowners to be ready to leave again at a moment's notice.

And in Guatemala, fresh eruptions of ash and lava from the --

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VANIER: -- Fuego volcano are keeping desperate survivors from searching for their loved ones. The latest reports say some 190 people are still missing after the violent eruption that buried an entire town on Sunday.

Tropical storm Maliki now is drenching the Philippines and heavy monsoon rains are doing the same to India.

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VANIER: Thank you for watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Cyril Vanier. Stay tuned, we have got "LIVING GOLF" for you next.