Hollande visits Lebanon to show French support for the government

Описание: (4 Nov 2012)
1. Francois Hollande, French President, and Lebanese President Michel Suleiman arriving at news conference
2. Cutaway of photographer
3. SOUNDBITE: (French) Francois Hollande, French President:
"I've come at very critical time for for the region and therefore for Lebanon. And after a cowardly assassination that took to life of a remarkable man, the Brigadier General Wissam Al-Hassan, I'd like to express our full solidarity. This is a new test and Lebanon must once again be able to be capable of assuring its unity, stability and integrity. France will put full efforts behind guaranteeing Lebanon its right to independence, security and its unity. I'd like to once again remind anyone who may have interests in destabilising Lebanon, that France will use all that it can, because we consider Lebanon to be a model of unity that's lived through so many years of difficulty to preserve itself. You've contributed to that Mr President. We promise that in this particular moment of crisis, which we can see with Syria, that's currently at war, we will guarantee its security and stability."
4. Cutaway of reporters
5. SOUNDBITE: (French) Francois Hollande, French President: ++SHOT ZOOMS IN DURING SOUNDBITE++
"There must be no ambiguity, no more than there can be for the assassins of Hariri, there will be no impunity for those that killed General Wissam al-Hassan. France will provide all its help so that in the framework of this investigation, all information is revealed, all the elements are uncovered to shed light on those behind this act of aggression. The Lebanese demand it, the world demands it, and once again, I want to express my solidarity."
6. Cutaway of reporters
7. Pull out of Hollande and Suleiman shaking hands
STORYLINE:
France's president said on Sunday that his country will stand against instability in Lebanon, two weeks after the assassination of a senior Lebanese intelligence official sparked clashes between pro- and anti-Syrian groups.
Francois Hollande also pledged that Paris and the European Union will help Lebanon deal with an influx of more than 100,000 refugees who have fled the civil war in neighbouring Syria.
The 19 October car bomb that killed Brigadier General Wissam al-Hassan, a powerful anti-Syrian intelligence official, stirred up deadly sectarian tensions in Lebanon, where Sunnis and Shiites are deeply divided over the civil war in Syria, which has killed at least 36,000 people since it began in March 2011.
"I've come at very critical time for for the region and therefore for Lebanon," Hollande told reporters after meeting Lebanese President Michel Suleiman.
"After a cowardly assassination that took to life of a remarkable man, the Brigadier General Wissam Al-Hasan, I'd like to express our full solidarity. This is a new test and Lebanon must once again be able to be capable of assuring its unity, stability and integrity," he continued.
"France will put full efforts behind guaranteeing Lebanon its right to independence, security and its unity."
Lebanon's two largest political coalitions have lined up on opposite sides of the Syrian conflict.
The powerful Shiite group Hezbollah and its partners who dominate the Lebanese government have stood by Syrian President Bashar Assad, while Lebanon's Sunni-led opposition backs the rebels seeking to topple the Damascus regime.
Assad and many in his inner circle are Alawites - an offshoot of Shiite Islam and a minority in Syria - while the rebels come mostly from the country's Sunni majority.
Whilst in Beirut, he said France will give full assistance in the inquiry into the assassination of Al-Hassan.


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