**Title: President Condemns Drone Provocations During Anti-Occupation Event**
President Nikos Christodoulides has condemned the actions of authorities in the northern part of Cyprus following disturbances caused by drones during an anti-occupation event organized by the Famagusta municipality on Saturday evening. His remarks came after a memorial service for Archbishop Makarios, the island's first resident.
In a statement to journalists, Christodoulides described the drone activity as “condemnable,” emphasizing that it marked a significant escalation in provocations during the annual event. He noted that this was the first instance of such a violation occurring during his tenure, which includes his previous roles as government spokesman and foreign minister.
The President highlighted that the drone disturbances were not the only issue, as participants could also hear Turkish marches and celebrations during the event. He characterized these actions as a deliberate attempt to harass those attending the demonstration. "As long as we see developments, as long as we see data in the direction of resolving the Cyprus problem, surely some who embrace the partition of Cyprus will seek to create problems and difficulties," he stated, referring to the Turkish side.
Christodoulides firmly rejected the notion that the timing of these provocations was coincidental. He suggested that the Turkish occupying forces may have intended to send a message through their actions. "I don’t know who is behind this action, what preceded it, who gave the instructions, why it happened, and so on. All this is reprehensible, there is no excuse," he asserted.
Despite the distractions caused by these provocations, the President reaffirmed the Greek Cypriot side's commitment to its goals regarding the Cyprus issue. He expressed optimism about ongoing international efforts aimed at resolving the conflict, stating, "We are making a great effort to start an international effort, which is promising."
In his discussions with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres the previous week, Christodoulides noted that the Secretary-General had made it clear that there should be no ambiguity regarding the intended goal of reunification. He emphasized that any notions of a two-state solution or alternative forms of resolution had been dismissed.
The events surrounding the anti-occupation demonstration and the subsequent drone activity have sparked discussions about the ongoing tensions in Cyprus and the challenges faced in the pursuit of a resolution to the long-standing division of the island. As the situation evolves, the Greek Cypriot administration remains focused on diplomatic efforts to address the complexities of the Cyprus problem.