French Flair and the "Art de Vivre": Ashgabat Celebrated Bastille Day
On Tuesday, July 14, the Yildiz Hotel in Ashgabat evoked the atmosphere of a refined Parisian evening as France's national holiday, Bastille Day, was celebrated. The gala reception, organized by the French diplomatic mission, brought together representatives of the foreign diplomatic corps, the business community, and cultural figures of Turkmenistan. Minister of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations Nazar Agakhanov served as the guest of honor on behalf of the government.
The official part of the evening opened with a speech by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France Philippe Merlin. Addressing the guests, the diplomat emphasized that the solid foundation for today's dynamic partnership between the two countries was laid at the highest level—during the May 2025 visit of National Leader of the Turkmen People Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to Paris and his talks with President Emmanuel Macron.
These agreements are currently being actively implemented. In the economic area, the Ambassador highlighted the successful work of leading French brands in Turkmenistan, including Thales, Bouygues Türkmen, TotalEnergies, Carpi, IGN-FI, MBDA, and CLAAS Tractor. Particular attention was paid to humanitarian bridges: approximately 20,000 schoolchildren and students in the country study French, partnership agreements are expected to be signed soon between the University of Le Havre-Normandie and several Turkmen universities, and archaeological research by the MAFTUR expedition in Ulug-Depe and speleological projects by the KRAC association in Koytendag are continuing.
In his response, Minister of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations of Turkmenistan Nazar Agakhanov warmly congratulated his French partners and noted the significant contribution of French business to the development of key sectors in our country.
For decades, construction giant Bouygues has made a significant contribution to shaping the architectural appearance of our capital, and in the high-tech sector, our flagship project has been the partnership to design Turkmenistan's first space satellite, the minister emphasized.
The minister also outlined promising areas for diversifying ties: from modernizing air traffic control systems, land cadastre, and rational water resource management to environmental technologies in the oil sector. Particular emphasis was placed on the joint development of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor as part of the European Global Gateway strategy, which is transforming Turkmenistan into a vital bridge between Europe and Asia.
After the official statements concluded, the French Ambassador took the floor again for a very personal and emotional moment. He announced that three embassy staff members, including himself, would be leaving Turkmenistan in the coming weeks. Philippe Merlin invited his deputy, Magali Katajar, and telecommunications specialist Christopher Hanen to the stage, expressing his sincere gratitude to his colleagues, the diplomatic corps (especially the embassies of the EU, Germany, Italy, and Romania), as well as Turkmen friends, French teachers, and the French community, led by the leadership of Bouygues Turkmen.
The Ambassador decided to make his farewell to Ashgabat a musical one. Accompanied by an orchestra, renowned vocalist Maysa Niyazova performed the legendary song "Non, je ne regrette rien" (No, I regret nothing) by the great Edith Piaf. This heartfelt and poignant moment left no one in the audience indifferent.
The informal part of the reception turned into a kaleidoscope of vibrant performances, revealing the multifaceted nature of contemporary French culture.
A presentation from the brand Dessange International added a graceful, almost cinematic touch. The stage was immersed in a mysterious artificial fog, rolling in soft waves. In this cloudy semi-darkness, stylists, like artists before a canvas, created masterpieces of haute coiffure (high hairdressing)—refined and daring evening looks—right before the breathless audience.
And just as the guests settled into a classic mood and headed outside to the reception area, where the reception continued amid leisurely conversation, a children's breakdancing crew burst in like a whirlwind. The B-boys and B-girls delivered a powerful burst of street highlights, performing daring, powerful spins and holding complex poses. This unexpected performance at a social event created an incredibly stylish contrast to the classic gallantry of the evening, causing a storm of applause.
The orchestra, conducted by the tireless maestro Rasul Klychev, provided the musical backdrop for the entire reception. The accordion, the true soul of French music, imparted a distinctive, vibrant Parisian charm to the sound. While guests mingled and savored the moment, the musicians performed a tremendous, invisible task, flawlessly sustaining the hours-long marathon.
The atmosphere of a true celebration was created not only by the performers but also by the well-trained team of the Yildiz Hotel. Their service was so tactful, attentive, and almost unnoticeable that it seemed like natural magic—no fuss, just a complete willingness to help and impeccable order.
There was also a touch of sporting excitement, as the evening took place during the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals, and guests eagerly wished the French team good luck. And although Spain's sporting fortunes later smiled upon them, that evening the hearts of the Ashgabat fans unequivocally belonged to France.
The evening ended, leaving behind not only a pleasant aftertaste of French flair and true "Art de vivre" (art of living), but also a firm conviction: the partnership between Ashgabat and Paris maintains a high standard and is looking to the future.
