In view of the revised prioritisation of government expenditure the news that the Turkmen government has chosen to devote so much money to festivities will not be welcomed by everybody. The following report in full comes from turkmenistan.ru:

As the Ashgabat correspondent of Turkmenistan.ru reports, Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov signed a resolution authorising the Central Bank of Turkmenistan to conclude a $1,868 million contract with France’s Bouygues Batiment firm for staging firework displays during the year.
According to the press service of the Turkmen leader, large-scale festive fireworks will be arranged to celebrate Day of Rukhnama on 12 September 2006, the fifteenth anniversary of Turkmenistan’s independence on 27 October 2006, Neutrality Day of Turkmenistan on 12 December 2006, the New Year on 31 December 2006 and State Flag Day on 19 February 2007.