In PART 1 of the interview, Mr. Ardanaz discusses the island of Martinique and the Bastille Day celebrations in Atlanta. In PART 2, Mr. Ardanaz discusses the role of the Louvre-Atlanta project in promoting French culture in the Southeast. PART 3 covers France's objectives for its E.U. presidency.

Now that “Freedom fries” are back to being “French fries,” Philippe Ardanaz, the French consul general in Atlanta, has planned a “Bastille Day” celebration on July 14 emphasizing the positive relations between France and the U.S.

During a video interview with GlobalAtlanta, he quickly pointed out that French-American political relations are in good shape in comparison to several years ago when they were marred by controversy surrounding the U.S.’s Iraq policy.

Since France has assumed the presidency of the European Union for the next six months, Mr. Ardanaz added that he will be taking his message of goodwill with the U.S. throughout the Southeast and explaining European environmental and energy policies.

He also said that he planned to use the national day celebration to be held at Atlantic Station to underscore the extent of French culture in proximity to the U.S. by highlighting the culture of the island of Martinique in the West Indies.

“Culture has been very important in re-establishing ties,” he said. “People also realized that boycotting French products is a way of firing American people who work for French firms.”

Cultural relations between France and the Southeast are healthy due to an unprecedented three-year collaboration between the Louvre Museum in Paris and the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, according to Mr. Ardanaz.

Not only have art treasures from the Louvre been on display in Atlanta under the agreement, but his consulate has launched a summer institute for teachers from throughout the Southeast to study the Louvre exhibits.

There also have been student and curator exchanges between the institutions.

The year following its launch in 2006, the project attracted some 450,000 visitors to the High, he said, adding that the number was more than expected.

He also said that the status of the High among U.S. museums had jumped to 11th or 12th from 21st or 22nd because of Louvre-Atlanta.

The third and final year of the project is to begin in October and will feature some aspect of modern art.

The Louvre-Atlanta project grew out of the French government’s cutting back of support of its museums to 50 percent, forcing them to raise the remaining 50 percent privately, Mr. Ardanaz said.

Inspired by the success of the New York-based Guggenheim Museum in establishing a branch in Bilbao, Spain, the Louvre decided to establish a collaborative model in Atlanta rather than New York or Boston where it would have more impact.

“This is something new for French culture. The French don’t like to have business with culture and there was a domestic debate,” he said. “French people now realize they have to have private money as well as taxpayer money.”

In keeping with the spirit of France’s national day, he called the change of attitude a “revolution” in thinking.

The “Bastille Day” celebration this year is co-hosted by the Martinique Promotion Bureau and will feature music, dancing and food from the Caribbean island.

Martinique is a department of France and although only four hours or so away from the U.S. by plane, only 2 percent of the 450,000 tourists who visit the island annually come from the United States.

Delta Air Lines Inc. has discontinued its seasonal flight to Martinique because of rising oil prices, Mr. Ardanaz said, but that the island’s tourist bureau still sees potential for drawing visitors from the Southeast because of its beauty and cultural characteristics.