A concert by Greek singer Despina Vandi in the Cesme district of Izmir was reportedly cancelled after she demanded the removal of Turkish flags and posters of Ataturk from the stage.
The concert to benefit education was held at the Cesme Open Air Theatre by the Izmir branch of the Turkish Education Foundation.
Despina Vandi, who was scheduled to perform a concert in front of a packed theater, never made it onto the stage despite waiting.
In a statement released some time later, Gulnur Sonbayraktar, head of the foundation’s Izmir branch, said the artist was unable to attend the concert at the last minute due to unforeseen reasons and that tickets could be refunded to those who wanted them.
The TEV Choir, which was scheduled to share the stage with Despina Vandi at the concert, sang the Izmir March, after which the audience joined in singing the national anthem.
“Leave the city limits immediately.”
Cesme Mayor Lar Denizli, who took to the stage, said the municipality fully supported the concert in the interest of education, but that he had been informed that Despina Vandi did not want to go on stage.
Denizli said:
“Because he wanted us to take down the Turkish flag and the posters of Ataturk. Never mind, I don’t think he is a person worth satiating the beautiful breath. We sacrificed too many martyrs to win these lands, and we are a people who believe and believe that brotherhood and eternal friendship will always triumph.”
Denizli expressed hope that what happened would serve as a lesson for the Greek singer, adding:
“No power can dare try to remove our flag or Ataturk’s posters. It is not even worth thinking about doing so. The woman should immediately leave the borders of this city, calmly and peacefully. But I hope that she will never go to any country again,” he said. “Look at the flag of that country, bought with blood, where so many sons of the nation were buried. “And I hope that he will not even think about taking down the flag that has become a symbol of them all. This will be a historical lesson,” he said.
After the speeches, the concert continued with song performances by the TEV choir.
