The Image Makers section examines how a photo influences our view of reality. This week: French President Macron weighs his words.
It seems that French President Emmanuel Macron, visiting Kazakhstan on Wednesday, is still searching for words to appropriately compliment his hosts for their presentation of the Central Asian country’s culture and traditions. What will he say about the yurt, the beautifully decorated tent with tassels in which the nomads in the country traditionally reside? How to praise the panoramic landscape photos, the rugged steppes, the snow-capped mountain peaks, the fresh blue sky? And what about the artificial grass that rustles green under his feet? The president weighs his words.
No, it was not all grandeur that was on display during Macron’s visit to the Kazakh capital Astana. He was received there, with an economic delegation in tow, by his counterpart, President Kassim-Zjomart Tokayev. During this cultural outing between meetings, he also gave him a somewhat cartoonish double portrait of the two of them as a gift. In the background, another photo from this visit showed the Eiffel Tower and the 105-meter-high Baiterek, a national monument founded by Tokayev’s predecessor and sole ruler Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Don’t say, Macron must have thought, that our heads, as big as our torsos, are a bit too large. Shut up. And smile politely.
The French president visited Kazakhstan to strengthen his country’s economic and political ties with the former Soviet republic. The country is gaining economic and strategic importance. Not only has it been pursuing a more independent course since the invasion of the still influential Russia in Ukraine – less pro-Moscow. It has since become a major oil supplier to France – the largest after Norway and the US. And it supplies as much as 40 percent of the uranium France needs to fuel its nuclear power plants. 60 percent of France’s electricity is generated by these power stations.
About the author
Arno Haijtema is editor of de Volkskrant and writes, among other things, about photography and the way in which news photos determine our worldview.
To rule is to look into the future. Since a coup in July, anti-French rulers have been in charge in Niger, Africa, which until then was an important supplier of nuclear fuel. Then it wouldn’t hurt to strengthen ties with Kazakhstan. France is also in the running to build the country’s first nuclear power plant. With such major interests, nothing should disturb the diplomatic rituals. So Macron weighs his words, and shuffles gingerly across the fake lawn.
Undoubtedly, Macron is through his aides prior to the trip, was also reminded of the publicity disaster that struck another French dignitary during a visit to Kazakhstan in December 2014. On that occasion, President François Hollande received a traditional fur coat and matching hat as a gift from Nazarbayev. The Kazakh press service took a photo and posted it online. Reportedly, news channel France 24 wrote at the time, the Elysée was not happy with the photo of Hollande disguised as a stuffed animal, and it was removed from the internet a day later.
However, the intervention came too late to prevent the photo from spreading, and the glum-looking president became the center of widespread ridicule. The deadliest comment came from authoritative historian and media expert Christian Delporte: “A real hit for Christmas, this Hollande doll that children can dress up as they please.”
Macron willingly petted a pair of Kazakh tazy hunting dogs in front of the yurt on Wednesday. Watched two men wrestle. Took part in what looked like a Kazakh variation on petanque. Did not receive any gifts that could cause embarrassment.
In the evening, the quasi-relaxed French charm offensive moved from Kazakhstan to neighboring Uzbekistan. Macron arrived in time to attend a traditional Uzbek dance performance in a large hall, flanked by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.