Deep Purple performs in Turkish Cyprus

Ömer Bilge NICOSIA

Members of rock Band Deep Purple arrive in Nicosia. Hürriyet photo

World-renowned rock band Deep Purple performed their hotly anticipated concert in Turkish Cyprus late May 24.

Around 20,000 fans from the Turkish side and the divided island’s southern site attended the performance, with the group playing its most popular songs. The band landed in Nicosia’s Ercan Airport in a British Airways plane rented for the trip in a rare occasion for the airport, which is closed to international flights apart from those coming from Turkey.

The band members were welcomed by the Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry officials, as international celebrities make rare visits to the country due to the pressure from Greek Cyprus and the international community.

The concert was organized to mark the 25th anniversary of Near East University.