SHOTLIST 1. French defence minister Michelle Alliot-Marie getting out of car and being greeted by French official 2. UN Lebanese and French flags 3. Wide of monument dedicated to former UN soldiers killed while stationed in Lebanon 4. French blue beret soldiers stood beside monument 5. Alliot-Marie walking 6. French soldiers marching 7. Alliot-Marie laying a wreath on the monument 8. Alliot -Marie with journalists 8. SOUNDBITE: (French) Michelle Alliot-Marie, defence minister "This is not an easy mission. It's a risky mission. This is why we, the President of the Republic first and foremost, have wanted to provide you with the means to fulfil it: the legal instruments, among them the precise definition of the actions to be undertaken, and also the military resources. This means tanks, armoured vehicles, arms and also rules of engagement. Each one must know that he cannot attack with impunity a UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon) soldier and that he cannot, he will not be able to, ignore the UN resolution. I think this is, for each one of you, a beautiful mission, a very precise mission because it brings hope: hope for the Lebanese and also for the world. I am proud and happy that this is done by French soldiers, under the directions of a French general, at a very delicate time when everyone will be watching you, will be judging you. But I am sure that they will appreciate your "know-how". They will appreciate the quality of the relationship that you will establish with the other countries who are also members of the UNIFIL; with your colleagues of arms from these other countries and also with the Lebanese people. So today I have come to bring you the trust that the President of the Republic has placed in you, the trust that I have put in you, so once again you carry with honour and pride the arms of France." 9. Various of French soldiers 10. SOUNDBITE: (French) General Alain Pelligrini, head of UNIFIL troops in South Lebanon "There is no contact with Hezbollah. When I have a problem with Hezbollah, when I have something I want to tell them, I pass the message through the usual channels - that is through the competent Lebanese authorities." 11. Medium of French soldiers talking to Pellegrini STORYLINE: France's defence minister travelled on Monday to southern Lebanon and the headquarters of UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon) in the coastal village of Naqoura, where she meet with the head of French forces, Major-General Alain Pellegrini. Michelle Alliot-Marie, who arrived in Lebanon on Sunday for a two day visit, first laid a wreath of flowers at a monument dedicated to former UN soldiers killed while stationed in Lebanon. Alliot-Marie told the French soldiers they would be carrying out "a risky mission" but added that their robust mandate and heavy armour, which includes Leclerc tanks, sophisticated Cobra radar systems and 155 mm artillery cannons, would deter any possible aggression. "Each one must know that he cannot attack with impunity a UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon) soldier and that he cannot, he will not be able to, ignore the UN Resolution", she said. Meanwhile, the commander of the UN Peacekeeping force in Lebanon said that his troops will not try to disarm Hezbollah, saying that was a matter for the Lebanese government. Major-General Alain Pelligrini told reporters, " when I have a problem with Hezbollah, when I have something I want to tell them I pass the message through the usual channel, that is through the competent Lebanese authorities". France will remain in command until early next year, when Italy is to take over. They will join hundreds of Italian, Spanish, Indian and Ghanaian and other French troops already deployed in the area. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/fa041be67c8f26f20f5d2e56096859cd Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

• published: 24 Jul 2015
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