AXA Group supports La Saison de la Turquie en France ("Celebrating Turkey in France"), taking place from July 2009 to March 2010

France and Turkey worked hand in hand to prepare this Celebration, whose aim is to broaden knowledge about Turkey in France by involving not just official representatives and professionals in the cultural, economic and educational domains, but also artists, intellectuals, the general public and the media.

In addition to celebrating Turkey's outstanding cultural heritage, La Saison de la Turquie en France will also emphasize the vitality of the country's contemporary artistic movement and strive to build awareness about modern-day Turkey - a dynamic, open and innovative nation - through over 300 cultural events.

Henri de Castries, knowing that business, too, has a role to play in fostering relations with Turkey, naturally accepted to chair the Organization Committee for France.

"This positively forward-looking initiative offers a unique opportunity for companies to reinforce strategic partnerships between France and Turkey, and to develop relations in all areas of cooperation, namely the cultural, educational, scientific, academic and economic domains."

Henri de Castries mobilized 13 companies to form a Patrons Committee for the event, and AXA has made philanthropic financial commitments, donating both funds and skills.

Under the impetus of Henri de Castries, the Celebration will showcase more than just the artistic aspects of Turkish culture, offering an economic facet as well as many events to spark debate about today's hot issues with relation to Europe and the Mediterranean.

The Celebration is supported by France's biggest cities and regions, and beginning on July 1^st, events in Lille, Lyon, Marseille and Nantes will kick off the Celebration. On July 4^th, Mercan Dede and the whirling dervishes will give a concert at the Trocadéro in Paris.

One of the Celebration's highlights will be its official launch by President Abdullah Gül on October 8^th, at the private inauguration of the Istanbul exhibition held at the Galeries Nationales of the Grand Palais.