Nicosia, Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides on Sunday condemned what he described as provocations by authorities in the north during an anti-occupation event organised by Famagusta municipality on Saturday evening.
Speaking after a memorial service for Archbishop Makarios, he said drones from the north had disrupted the demonstration and that Turkish marches and celebrations could also be heard.
Disruptions at annual event
Christodoulides said the drone activity represented the first such violation during the annual event.
“It wasn’t just drones,” he said, adding that it was also the first time, during his attendance at the event as government spokesman, foreign minister and president, that Turkish marches and celebrations had been audible.
He said the actions appeared intended to harass the event.
Response and Cyprus talks
The president said that, as developments emerged towards resolving the Cyprus problem, those supporting the partition of Cyprus and the continuation of the current situation would seek to create problems and difficulties.
He described the actions as condemnable and said that what needed to be done would be done, while stressing the government’s commitment to its objective.
Asked whether the timing of events in the north was coincidental, Christodoulides said it was not.
He said the Turkish occupying army may have sought to send messages, adding that he did not know who was behind the action, what preceded it, who gave instructions or why it occurred.
International effort
Christodoulides said the Greek Cypriot side remained focused on its goal despite such disruptions.
He said an international effort was underway and described it as promising, based on discussions held and developments observed, adding that every effort would be made to achieve a positive result.
